Creating Chaos

It sure has been a manic manifesting Monday!

The day started out calm and beautiful with a gorgeous sunrise picture and Haiku for part of my daily creative practice:

Sunrise

Pink, fluffy, lovely
A beautiful tapestry
Renewing spirit

I met with my wonderful Manifesting Monday's group to look at goals for the week.  I realized that I accomplished a lot last week but not anything that I had planned so I regrouped and re-prioritized for this week.  I headed out to another meeting this time with my sweetheart Joe.  After that I was off to life at the Y with Ellen (a big thanks to her for dragging me out - I was feeling wimpy and waffling on going) and was pleased with my shoulder (even though I really de-loaded the weight to be safe).  Then it was already time for afternoon carpool!  After the kids were collected it was time to work on projects.  Sammie is prepping for an upcoming art project through the PTA and School so we had to pick up her prints at Costco and run by a friend's house to get a couple of opinions of which 5 to submit (she's a prolific photographer).  Then off to Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree and Home Depot to pick up supplies for an APArt Project that Alex has been working on for Habit for Humanity.  Both she and her dad did a project to help this organization.  They will be displayed at this weekend's Norcross Art festival.  I haven't seen Alex's yet, but here's a glimpse of Joe's....

 

 

 I did manage to squeeze in an important business call that needed to be checked off the To do list and check in on a couple of friends.  Oh and thanks toRuth Schowalter

and her clear directions I was able to add a button to my blog since I'll be starting the Blogtoberfest tomorrow with several friends :)

I'm feeling a bit chaotic with all the activity so I'm about to check out for the night with a nice bath and a bit of reading before heading to sleep.

I hope y'all had a Marvelous Manifesting Monday!

 

Christine

Creating a Week in Pictures :)

My painting in Progress - wanting more attention :)

 

My lifting buddy and friend, Ellen

Lizzy Drumming

Lizzy, Dillon & Sammie

Celebrating Jazlyn & Jocelyn

Dillon trying on my hat and goofing off for a picture

Something to add to the wish list :)

Seeing the moon at sunrise :)

Before the Parade 

My troop before the parade they lead @100 girl scouts from the Duluth Service Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a little over 1/2 my troop at Grandma Bells this weekend :)

A beautiful setting for tadpole catching and fishing

Hot dogs and S'mores of course

Stories and Songs

Sammie  relaxed and fishing

Creating for Balance

 

 

 

This is a photo of water that Sammie took that I LOVE!

 

I'm about to hit the road running today and will be out of pocket until tomorrow night.  Before I go I wanted to do a quick post (since I'm on a roll).   I thought I'd share a poem I did several years ago when my kids were a bit younger and I was feeling overwhelmed.  Lately I have to say I've been doing a much better job of being balanced in my creative spirit.  I think in truth leading with creativity (including this blog) and a couple of awesome groups I belong to have helped.  I hope you enjoy this beautiful weekend and I'll "chat" with you soon! - Christine

 

 

Drowning in the Ordinary

October 6, 2009 at 7:06pm

It is from the drowning in the ordinary
that I wish to break free.
Not completely, mind you
but in a way that balances it in my life.
Instead of being a swimmer
with her body submerged
and just the hint of
life giving breath receivers above the water
I long to be a wind surfer...
Dipping my toes in the water of normalcy
while balanced with the majority of my delighted being
above the current
laughing, playing in the wind
and feeling the sun upon my face.

Creating Lists

Whew.  Today is one of those days.  I've been racing since I woke up this morning in the 5 o'clock hour.  I was able to get in some yoga even though I've managed to mess up my shoulder temporarily.  Morning routine was smooth even as my anxiety built about the upcoming day.  I have to confess sometimes I have a bad habit of overbooking myself.  For those of you that know me well I can imagine a guffaw at this point with a "Sometimes!!!"  This weekend is a good case in point.  One of the amazing things about Fall is all the wonderful festivals that come along with it!  This weekend is the Duluth Fall Festival:  http://duluthfallfestival.org/
It's always starts off with a fun parade which my girls march in.  Alex marches with the Duluth High School Orchestra - the only marching orchestra in the state ;)  and Sammie and I march with the Duluth Girl Scouts Service Unit.  After the parade my scouts are meeting up to travel to the North Georgia Mountains for a pseudo camping trip.  Since we're only staying one night we're sleeping indoors but will be having the campfire, hiking and other fun stuff that goes with camping.  So today has been a day of lists.  Lists for buying supplies for the DHS Orchestra kids snacks (forgot that list at home and had to wing it at Costco); lists for feeding hungry scouts and chaperons; lists for who goes where, when and why!!!  I love lists!  Not that they always make it with me to the store but they help to declutter my brain especially on days like this where it seems to be full of To-do's when it is longing for time to create!  So I'm putting in the work today to create a magical weekend of fun and outdoors for 16 really cool young ladies.  I'm also remembering to Breathe in peace and Breathe out love when I start to feel the stress of..."Oh my goodness what have you done!!!"

TGIF - Today Gratitude is Fundamental,

Christine

Creating Calm

I love days filled with sunshine and fall weather.  These are the days that make my heart sing.  Ordinary days filled with amazing ordinary things.  This morning on the way back from the High school I snapped a picture of the beautiful meadow with mist as the sun was starting to rise.  This picture doesn't do justice to the scene but it was such a wonderful moment that I had to try and capture it.  

A meadow at dawn off of PIB

It was a busy full day as usual.  Today's Creative Practice has centered around photography.  From this early morning picture to helping Sammie this evening organize her photos and prep for an upcoming Art competition at school.  

I hope you had a wonderful day too,

Christine

Creating Fun & Celebration

So today was a bit out of the ordinary - It was early release day for the elementary & middle schools for conferences and my friend Candace (a second grade teacher) asked me if I would watch her two precious kids - well Yes!  Since we're no longer at the elementary school I miss my regular visits with this amazing family so we were all delighted to have them over for some fun!  A few things we created - songs on the drums, songs on the guitar, computer games, and silly songs.  Afterwards we all went out to help another couple of special friends celebrate their 12th birthday. 

Lizzy & Dillon rocking the squid hats - Sammie photo bombing!

Squid Pic #2  :)

My friend Lisbeth with her girls Jazlyn & Jocelyn!  Happy 12th birthday!!

Today is also my Nanny's 86th birthday!  Nanny lives in Center, Tx in the log home my Papa built for her when he retired.  They have a love story for the ages and were married for over 50 years when my papa died.  In the picture below Nanny is a young woman in love holding the photo of her sweetheart who is off at war world II - my papa.  I have some other amazing photos I will scan in one day and dedicate a whole blog to their love story.  In the meantime - I spoke with my Nanny today - my Aunt Ann and Uncle Sam were in town and taking her out to eat for her birthday.  She was excited about how many calls she had gotten today and got a little happy teary.  Nanny loves having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around and was asking how soon she would get to see us.  

I love you Nanny & I'm so glad you were born!!! 


Love,

Christine

Creating Memories

Whew - I think I waited a bit too long to write tonight!  I'm ready to crawl into bed (7pm) and read the new book I started and get an early start on a good night's rest!  
Alex (15) cooked a great dinner tonight of 
Thai beef curry - It's so fun to have a daughter who wants to be a professional chef :)  I decided due to lack of brain cells tonight I will share past fun projects and a picture of a tree that I love :)  I did manage to create an invite for Art night tonight since a couple of people have asked recently and I've been missing them too!  So if you're in the ATL area and would like to join up - please do! 

Here is the link to the details: http://www.evite.com/event/017AUHLGNNPHRMID6EPDEVWUSDFEYA

Me in my favorite tree in Fort Clinch State Park

I love this photo I took of Joe and Sammie on the beach at Sunset

A family tradition to create Nut Tocies for special occasions such as holidays

One of the nature necklaces we made on Amelia Island

An owl rock I painted for a friend :)

A watercolor I did an an art night

Goodnight Y'all!

Christine

Creating Connections

“Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference.”
― John Wooden


So one of the many things I do, but I don't think I've talked about in my blog, is life coaching.  I have been coaching people on and off for over six years now and I love it.  Recently I was stating things I want to do and one of the things stated was increase my coaching business.  I realized as I prepared to write this blog and thinking back to the interesting things I did today that the last couple of weeks have been filled with coaching opportunities.  Just this morning I touched base with 3 people I coach on a regular basis - one for a quick check in and follow up to an intense session we had on Friday, one for a long session as she was in crisis, and one for a regular weekly session.  Whew - three in one day!  Plus throw in my morning yoga session, kids and carpool, the manifesting Monday's group I facilitate (could be called another coaching session if we were counting - 4), a master's swim and a girl scout leader meeting and I am one tired momma!  I feel my bed calling my name and whispering the sweet nothings of perfect sleeping temperatures, soft squishy pillows and my love.  As I think about today and what creative practices I participated in I was creating connections with people and health and wellness for myself and others.  Oh, and lots of doodles during the Unit Service meeting for girl scout leaders :)

I hope you had a Marvelous Manifesting Monday too!

Christine

Ps.  If you'd like to learn more about life coaching I'd love to chat with you.  I have two openings left on my weekly schedule!

Creating a Poem for Fall Equinox

Fall Equinox

The day our light matches our dark

Balance

A day for thin sweaters and shorts

The sweet smell of crisp autumn in the air

 Sunlight glistens on leaves that turned colors over night

 Possibilities of Fall tempt our senses

Hiking, Camping, Fall sports that bring out the masses

Breathe in Balance

Breathe out contentment

A sleepy hammock invites us to pause and read a book or nap

The grass is slowing down and so are we

The season calls to us of family

Thinking to the future of upcoming holidays

Yet enjoying the peace of the moment

A moment that includes fall produce

Mmmm pumpkins, squash, spices to fill the air

Like the chants of the cheer leading team

Fall is a time for snuggles

The time for new relationships and the strengthening of old

It is a time for remembrance

How lucky we are that the Harvest is in and it was plentiful

Gratitude for Mother Earth and all her blessings.

A Picture from our Hike on Panther Creek Trail in North Georgia

Creating Space to Play

What a Super Saturday!  Today was the Norcross Interplay playshop that Jennifer Denning came up from Atlanta to Faciliate!  We had a terrific group including a teenager and my sweet husband, Joe.  Sammie was present for an hour before she had to take off for another activity.  During that time she took photographs which are delightful.  

One of my favorites that Sammie took during a swing form I think

Joe and I during a walk, run, stop, lean form

 In Interplay there is a form that I love called "I could talk about."  This is where you say what you could talk about without going into detail.  So today on this rainy snuggly Saturday I could talk about....

....Meeting new friends and old and connecting with them in wonderful ways

....Seeing an amazing dad dressed as Batman for his son's birthday party

....My favorite dark chocolate bar from Sweetriot

....My kids who amaze me everyday

....All of the books that I want to read

....How grateful I am for my friends who came out for Interplay today

....My Saturday morning Yoga
 
....the to-do lists that I'm ignoring on purpose today

I could talk about those things....but I won't!
 
Gratitude for you,

Christine

Creating Calm

Full Harvest Moon this morning from my back deck through the trees

 My Day started out with a beautiful full Harvest Moon sighting :)  I had gotten a glimpse of it the night before but enjoyed seeing it again to start my day.  Did my morning Yoga and off went the day!  Got a lot accomplished (with always more to do - ha ha) but one of the more exciting things was my first ever guitar lesson!!!  I've been wanting to do this for years and I found out my neighbor teaches and was willing to 1. loan me a guitar until I find one I like/can afford 2. walk across the street and give me a lesson!  Win! Win! all the way around.  We've been trying to sort schedules for months so it was a treat today when we pulled it off and I got to play.  The big dilemma is whether I learn right handed or left handed.  I'm a lefty.  However, I do a lot of things right handed.  We had not discussed this ahead of time so he brought me a right handed guitar (I didn't even know there were left-handed ones!).  It was a little challenging. What I need to figure out though is if it was challenging because I'm a beginner and don't speak this other language called music (even though my kids are proficient) or if it is because I need to switch to a lefty guitar.  If any of you readers out there have input I'd love to hear it!  

Tonight we're staying tucked in the house and creating a sense of calm and deep breathing before the weekend.  I'm going to make this entry short and sweet to go spend some snuggle time with my crew.  I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Interplay at the Lionheart theatre - 10am - Noon.  I hope you can come play with us!

Hope to see you in Norcoss tomorrow!

Creating a Great Day

Vermillion is the color of the beautiful sunrise I saw last Friday

 Today has been a terrific Thursday!  It started off with a quick am forward bend Yoga routine, followed by morning routine/carpool, which led to walking around the lake with my friend and running buddy, Heather.  After a quick dash to help a friend who need a ride I headed to my weekly Course in Miracles Group.  

I made it in time for a wonderful meditation.  One of the things that came to my while meditating was about my purple canvas and putting the sun that I saw at sunrise last Friday up in the top right corner.  Now you have to know that the sun was spectacular - one of the things that made it so was the color.  Now I know that the color can be called Vermillion.  I pulled out the paints and searched :)
Then I decided I was on a roll so I started playing with the size and position of the Heron that I want to be on the canvas.  There is more to come as I explore becoming a mixed media artist.  
 

Experimenting with the location/position/size of the Heron

On another note I am in Love with Ghee!  It's a new find for me from the Dekalb farmer's market and I have to say it is delightful on sweet potatoes!  Tonight I was rattling around the kitchen in a lullaby voice singing, "Where oh, where, is my Ghee" and I hear Alex (15) from the living room..."Last time I saw it - it was chasing H!"  Ha Ha - I love that girl's sense of humor and stage timing!

I am in Love with Ghee!

 In yet another random side note here are the daily doodles from afternoon carpool as I wait on the 6th graders.  I was thinking of blog idea and playing passing the time (and also having a backup for my daily creative practice).

Daily Creative Doodles from Carpool

 In a very random note - sometimes my phone startles me....

I am startled by the number of alerts I have from Groupon!!!

I hope you have had a lovely Thursday - I am enjoying the start of Fall here in Georgia and look forward to my perfect sleeping weather (61 degrees)

Namaste,

Christine

Creating Competence

Joe's creative picture :) of my phone taking a picture of the girls and I with Soyinka!

 

 

Today we said goodbye to my new friend, Soyinka Rahim who was flying back to Pittsburgh after her visit to Atlanta.   Before she left we took a quick trip down to the Chattahoochee River to soak in the peace and tranquility that awaits visitors at the park 2 miles from my house.  We enjoyed watching the Geese and Ducks and relishing in the beautiful sound of the water rushing over the shoals.  It was delightful!

Later in the day my friend Cheryl called and asked if I'd go on a bike ride with her at our favorite trail - The Big Creek Greenway.  I've been itching to get on my bike and since the girls are out with friends tonight and was excited to be able to say yes!!!  When we got to the Greenway I noticed that my back tire which I aired up before we left the house was not looking right.  I added a little more air and off we went.  I quickly realized that Bella (my bike) was not riding right - yep - that tire was going flat.  I sent Cheryl on her way as I headed back to her car and the pump before I replaced the tire.  I have been a serious cyclist for over 4 years now.  Today was the first time that I changed the back tire on my bike by myself - yeah me!!!  I had some sweet little kid helpers who were asking me questions about the process which made it fun and entertaining as I had some of those questions myself :)  Joe has shown me several times how it was done so I knew with some patience I could make it happen.  The tire was on the back so more was involved than just fixing the tube - it also included dealing with the chain and so forth.  You can see by the picture below that it was a messy job :)  

My messy hand :)

The repaired back wheel of Bella :)

What have you done that's new and challenging lately?  

Competent & Content,

Christine