Summer Fun

A few of my scouts at sunrise on Tybee Island

 As fall fast approaches I want to take a moment to give gratitude for the amazing summer we had.  It was a summer full of family, friends and fun! One of the highlights was a girl scout trip to Savannah and Tybee Island followed by out of town guests/friends from Texas.  I was downloading pictures yesterday from my phone and it brought back sweet memories that I thought I would share today.  (the blogging and picture story being my daily creative practice)  

One of the many beautiful sunrises we captured during this trip!

Alex's Henna tattoo of a dolphin she did herself :)

Crossing the bridge in Charleston S.C. after leaving Tybee island/Savannah

Chris, Sula and Rachel (Bekka no shown) our sweet friends from Texas

Very cool giant Elephants we found on our journey to S.C.

The Angel Oak Tree in SC - a 1500+ year old tree we detoured 6 hours to see :)

My foot touching the ancient tree and saying hello

One of the many pictures from aquarium that I love

Seeking a daily creative project....

Today has been a busy day full of tasks.  Several important things have gotten accomplished and I started back with my Master's swim class for the first time in 3 months.  

When I thought about what I wanted to blog about today the mundane tasks seemed too boring and I realized that I hadn't had much fun today.

So I went in search of a daily creative project to post about :)

I looked around at what needed sprucing up as I prepare for out-of-town guests this weekend and I noticed the stars and moon sculpture that my dear friend, Cheryl, gave me years ago and that I still adore.

 

 

 

Before Picture

Joe pulled up in the driveway as I was working on it and watched me paint as he finished up a conference call.

He got out to take a peek but couldn't take it because of my "technique."  I laughed-today my purpose was a quick spruce and completed project - no perfection needed!

He was a sweetie and helped me put it back up - it took two of us - I captured a picture when he was trying to get a leaf off that had "stuck" since it was still wet (gasp) when I requested it be put back up.

Joe my super helpful husband :)

 The project was fun and quick (completed with the spray paint I had in the garage) and what I call a productive procrastination :)  Now back to cleaning the house!

The spruced up Stars and Moon - they shine again!

I hope you're having an incredible Manifesting Monday.

Peace,

Christine

Satisfying Soul Sunday

What a yummy weekend!


Last night the crew and I went to the Beltline in Atlanta to participate in a lantern walk.

To say it was incredible feels like an understatement.  There were well over a thousand people with creative lanterns gathered together to kick off the Art on the Atlanta Beltline temporary exhibit.  

The lantern parade was at least a mile long as we walked (sometimes danced and skipped) along the Eastside trail heading towards Peidmont Park.  At one point pretty early on we began walking next to a fun-loving woman who was touting a portable music player and dancing her way down the path/parade route to popular music - the kids were in heaven!

As I looked around at the magical and creatively lit night I spotted Ruth & Tony who were witnessing this spectacular event!  What a treat!  We had hurried introductions, a quick hello and snapped photo by Ruth (Thank you!!) before we took off again to catch up with the music!
 

Picture that Ruth took :)  Sammie is in front, Kilt wearing Joe, Alex, our friend Eva and myself

The whole world Lantern :)

Picture Sammie took before the parade started - I know it's "blurry" but I love it!  It's a star lantern swinging :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm guessing in total we walked about 5 miles - it was a beautiful night!  One of my favorite moments was when a violinist joined us in the parade and played with the "jam box" and totally rocked out some popular songs as he walked.  It was magical and my girls (who are strings players) LOVED it!  We got back to la casa after 11pm.  

Joe and I had made plans to go together to the early service this morning at UUCA.  I was impressed with the fact that we made it after our late night.  This morning service was about Praise music UU style!  Let me tell you - pure awesomeness ensued!  We had so much fun and felt so full of joy afterwards we decided to stay for round two of the second service!  So two full services full of song and thanks giving.  I know I stated in yesterday's blog that I wanted to practice my singing for the upcoming Interplay so Voila it is done!

This afternoon we tuned in to see Lissa Rankin's PBS special Mind over Medicine - Wow!  She's awesome and I highly recommend you check out her book - I've been following her for a while now on FB and she's great! 

What has not gotten completely done yet is the house - sigh.  I did get to watch a beautiful web being spun yesterday in the sun when I went outside to clean the cobwebs off my back window.  The spider releasing the web out into the universe with no apparent destination (just going on faith) was magical.  I toted Sammie to and from her photography class and I'm loving seeing her enthusiasm and joy for this new hobby (she took the above world photo).  Alex hung out with friends and had been cooking treats today.  Joe is currently enjoying a Sunday afternoon nap.  So all is well with the Gautreaux Gang on this beautiful sunny afternoon in Georgia just as I hope all is well with you.

What have you been up to this weekend?

Namaste,

Christine

P.S. I loved this picture of Joe and I from last night :)

 

Cleaning and Creativity

This morning as I take my time getting started, I'm sitting here enjoying a cup of my favorite Ceylon Black Peach Tea and contemplating my day.  After the very late night blog post I wanted to start my day with creativity.  I've been playing with this for the past two weeks since I've started blogging daily.  It truly does make a difference with my day when I lead with creativity at the forefront.  Just like it makes a difference to me when I lead with my Yoga and meditation/prayer time.  So this morning I jumped out of bed contemplating writing my blog first thing this morning before I cleaned the house.  Great wisdom you say, or procrastination - probably a little of both!

As I ran outside barefooted in my house dress to take a picture for you all of my beautiful flowers in my front yard - I laughed.  I laughed with the joy of looking for beauty to share.  I smiled with the feeling that creativity wells up in me even when it's something little like trying to get a decent picture with my iphone.  
 

Today is a day for cleaning around the Gautreaux Gang Hideout.  I made some headway this week in between fun activities but I want to get some deep cleaning done including shampooing carpets and dusting ceiling fans (yuck). I may have out of town company next weekend and I love having an impetus for getting major cleaning tasks done.  I've always had a love/hate relationship with cleaning my house.  I LOVE to have a clean house - It makes me feels like I can breathe when the Fung Shway is flowing and I have the space to create.  Of course I hate am not a fan of getting it there.  Especially since I live with a house full of artists and anytime the house is completely clean it seems everyone gets the same bug to immediately create a new mess project in honor of the cleanliness!  So this has always been one of my challenges in regard to liking/loving the process.  I love Flylady who shared this banner this week:

Of course today it will be way more than 15 minutes to bring La Casa back into balance between the laundry and floors.  So what am I going to do about it?  This morning I decided I was going to clean with creativity!  I have loved remembering over the past two weeks how much creativity I have in my life between my family, writing, cooking, playing, exercising, friends and actual artwork.  Today I'm going to apply it to cleaning - I decided one of the things I can do is sing while I clean -since I've been wanting to practice for the upcoming Secrets workshop for Interplay.  I've also decided to keep my eyes open for neat picture opportunities within my house to create memes and such for the blog.  Of course the trick with this one will be not going off on a tangent of photography which (in my opinion) is so much more fun than the original tasks.  I'm going to reward myself tonight by going to the Art on the Atlanta Beltway Lantern Parade with the family - We've never been and it looks fabulous,  So I'm off to get my chores done and even as I write this I'm in a happy place thinking about leading with creativity!

Happy Saturday Friends,

Christine  

Fabulous Friday & Meatball Madness :)

I just found this picture and thought it was too funny since it's 11:02 pm and I'm writing my daily blog before Midnight so it counts for today!






Today has been a fabulous Friday full of fitness, friendship and fun!

The morning starting with my usual routine which includes Rodney Yee and Morning Yoga.
After a delightful morning with my girls and car pool.

My neighbor and friend Ellen & I headed to our YMCA to lift weights. We've been doing the strong lift program so today was Squats, Bench Press and Barbell Row.  We love being strong women!!! 

After the Y we headed off to the Decatur Farmer's Market - What a treat! 

Terrific food, International choices and interesting people.  We were on a mission.  The plan - buy the supplies to do a big "cook" for some freezer meals.

After our shop and lunch we headed to Ellen's house to cook.  Let me tell you this woman is a master!  I learn something every time I am with her and as a bonus she is fun and funny to hang out with.  Today was chicken meatball creation day :)

We had a fun time creating Asian Meatballs for two meals (one set to go with Lion's Mane that was served for dinner tonight) 

Indian Masala Meatballs for two meals for the freezer and Italian Meatballs x 2 also.

If it wasn't nearing midnight I would give you a hint of the recipes and pictures which would have to be of them in my freezer since we didn't document the actual process (*reminder for next time*).

Ellen held down the fort while the meatballs cooked and I scurried back and forth for afternoon carpool.

We wrapped up in time for me to head home for dinner - which was already cooked (yeah us!) and delicious!!!

Next I headed off to book club.  Can I just say that I love my book club!  It was our first meeting in a while since we took the summer off and it was so nice to reconnect with these fantastic women.  They are witty, smart and just all around amazing.  As we sat around on my friend Irina's back deck in the candlelight, with the nice summer breeze carrying the sound of our laughter out into the world I took a moment to look around and give gratitude for how lucky I am. 

I have an amazing support group and network of friends.  In my neighborhood, in my city and on the web.  I am Thankful for each and every one of them and for each and every one of you who take the time to read my blog - even when it's just a recitation of what I did today since it appears that for this morning person this time of night is waaaaay to late to write with any creativity :)

Wishing you a good night and sweet dreams on this fabulous Friday,

Christine

The Importance of Rituals

I have participating in many rituals in my life.  

When I typed the word ritual in Bing the following appeared:

Definition of ritual (n)

Bing Dictionary

rit·u·al

 [ ríchoo əl ]   

1. established formal behavior: an established and prescribed pattern of observance, e.g. in a religion
2. performance of formal acts: the observance of actions or procedures in a set, ordered, and ceremonial way
3. system of rites: the system of set procedures and actions of a group

Synonyms: ceremonial, procedural, ceremonious, sacramental, formal

 

Today I participated in the memorial mass for my friend Janet's mom.  Janet's mom, Diane, died of cancer last week - she was in her 80's.  I didn't know Diane, but I do know her beautiful daughter, her son-in-law (David, my co-leader) and her granddaughter, Jamie (one of my girl scouts).  So today I showed in up in support of this family that I love to help them celebrate the life of their mother and grandmother and to help mourn her loss.

 

This particular ritual took me right back to my childhood.  The church had almost the same carpet as the one I grew up in (except I think ours was a little more obnoxious of a red) and the different colored pews, beautiful stained glass that tells a story and so much more.  The scent of incense in the air was familiar (and yes that brand still gives me a slight headache) as was the tolling of the bells.  

 

So as I sat responding to the call and response even though I haven't been to a mass in years it was like putting on an old coat from the back of your closet.  One that didn't quite fit right anymore but had a wealth of memories. 

 

When I think about the rituals I've participated in over the years there have been many:  Baptisms, Confirmations, Weddings, Funerals, Memorials, Dedication Ceremonies, Girl Scout Award Ceremonies, Pipe Ceremonies, Smudging, Adoption Placements and more that I'm sure I'm forgetting.    

 

Rituals also make me think of my friend, Sheila's new book:  Warrior Mother:  Fierce Love, Unbearable Loss and Rituals that heal.  You can check out the video trailer for her book here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y12Wj06_nAI.  As her title says, Rituals heal.

This week I had a dream about a soul sister of mine from Texas, Mary Grey Bear and I sitting in a pipe ceremony together.  It wasn't clear in the dream what the specific ritual was for but I know it was one of healing.

With all of the news and insecurity in our world this week I am feeling the call for healing.  Healing ourselves, healing our families and healing our world.

 

Even though I am not a Catholic anymore it comforted me and inspired me that the new Pope Francis called for a day of prayer and fasting on Sunday over the situation in Syria.

 

On September 7, he said, people will gather at St. Peter's Square from 7 p.m. to midnight, while other churches hold similar community events.

"Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace" he said.

  

A gesture, a ritual, to help us heal. 

 

It makes me think about a bookmark I have in my journal that reads:

 

"If there is to be peace in the world,

There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,

There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,

There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,

There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,

There must be peace in the heart."

 

Lao-Tse  

 

 

 

Wishing you peace in your heart today and always,

 

Christine

P.s. Before I left for the funeral mass this morning I found a peace sign charm - I held it throughout the service infusing it with love and peaceful energy before giving it to my friend, Janet after the service.  That was the inspiration for tonight's blog. -C

Celebrating Joe :)

Today is my sweetheart's birthday.  Today he turns 48.  Happy Happy Birthday Joe!  The above picture is one of him jumping for joy (beside Sammie who had landed) in celebration of the sun rising on Amelia Island.  One of the things I love most about Joe is his playfulness.  We met over 23 years ago when I got my first full time job at the Oasis Car Wash in Nacogdoches, TX.  He was the manager of the Detail center (which was his full-time job as he put himself through college).  He jokes that yes he was my boss for a year - a long time ago - and then we got married!  When we met we were both dating other people and so we were just friends.  I thought he was a nice guy (still do) and he was cute.  Two days after I started working with him his current girlfriend showed up, got hired which was a ton of fun since she didn't like me and told Joe on many occasions that he wasn't allowed to talk to me.  We laugh about this now as one of the many reasons I believe in past lives since it was very apparent that she knew something was between us long before we did!  We all worked together for a year and I left to pursue other work interests more related to my degree.  Nacogdoches was a small town so we would see each other around town and say hello.  Four years later I was invited to a mutual friend's wedding and reception.  Vance had tracked my roommate and I down personally to hand us our invite since we had recently moved.  On the day of the wedding we remembered the invite (yes we were young and distracted) and my first thought was "I have nothing to wear!"  Well, we figured it out and my friend and I cute-i-fied (I know it's not a word but that was what we were doing) ourselves and arrived a little late to the wedding.  After a beautiful ceremony it was time for the reception.  On the way out of the church I saw Joe and my ex-boss and went to say hello, looking both ways for Joe's girlfriend before I approached.  I found out pretty quickly that they were no longer dating (still talking though) as she had moved to Houston.  Well wasn't that interesting - I wasn't dating anyone at the time either.  I remember there was a huge thunderstorm that night.  It blew in after everyone arrived at the venue and had just gotten settled - the lights went out.  Looking back I'm sure this caused lots of distress for the bride and her big day.  For us it was pure romance!  We talked for hours and reconnected.  We officially started dating in October 1993 and we got engaged New Year's Day of 1994.  I am one lucky girl.  For those of you who don't know Joe he is funny.  He loves to laugh and tell jokes.  He also loves to Dance.  You can find him at the YMCA most Tues/Thursday nights and sometimes Sat/Sun dancing with the Zumba class. He is an incredibly talented artist who can draw and/or paint like a master. 

Joe at the LionHeart Theatre posing with the set he painted

And yes, he's brilliant.  He's a scientist - Senior Field Service Engineer who's day job includes installing, teaching people how to use and repairing numerous instruments like DNA/RNA sequencers (the who done it machine on CSI Miami).  Joe's an athlete who completed the Houston Marathon for his 40th birthday and helped me train and competed with me for my first triathlon for my 40th birthday.  

Joe at Dragon Con!

Joe and I at a concert in the park in Duluth this summer :)

All dressed up for an 80's party!

Ready for Dragon Con 2013!

He is a fun and loving dad who tells way better bedtime stories than me.  I could go on and on!  I know, enough already. 

I should add that no, he is not perfect (and for sure I'm not)   but he is willing to work on himself and our marriage and he strives to be a great dad to our girls.  

I just wanted to share with you today a little bit about this amazing man who is my partner, my husband, my friend, my lover and my soul mate.  I am grateful that he was born and I'm so lucky that I can call him mine.

Happy Happy Birthday Joe,

Christine

 

Posing in the kitchen & yes he cooks too!