INspiring Women..........Canadian

Canadian Women...............Can you name these women?

Probably easy to name the women as they are in the news as Canadian Talent in music and dance.

distinguished Canadian women

What are their accomplishments?

Hope you take a moment to share your answer.

 There are many Canadian women who have accomplished much in their life that are briefly in the news.  Then, there are many women who have extraordinary accomplishment that live in small towns or cities or rural areas.

Can you name women in your community who are accomplished in the music and dance field that don't have their photo in a National paper?
Are these the distinguished women that volunteer their talents of music and dance in local schools, churches, theatres, and other areas in the community?
Would you share the name of an inspiring women that you know in your community?
Let her know how much she is appreciated.
I'm not searching for  correct answers.....I want to make women aware of the numerous talents of Canadian Women.

 In my opinion.........Mothers are at the top of that list.
Think of what mothers Accomplish every day and don't have their photo published.

Hope these  Canadian women, in the photos, inspire you.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to read about Canadian women......come again tomorrow to see other inspiring, distinguished women -- bring your tea and sit on the porch.

A Way to Begin the Day

The way of the Three Steps

Native American Way to Begin the Day

Stand on Mother Earth.  Race any direction you choose (take one step forward, as you look about, up and down)

O Great, Holy Spirit, I take this step into the day you have given.  I embrace all I see – the season, the wind, the fragrances, the weather.  Let me always accept the day given with a grateful heart.

(take one step forward)

O Spirit of Life, I put my arms around myself, all that I am, all that I can be.  I stand here in my own history, with all my mistakes and victories.  I hold all those I will meet today, in my journeying and in my work.  I try to walk gently on this earth.  Let me walk gently through the lives of my work companies and friends and family.  Though they make way for my passing, may they spring back, neither broken nor bruised.

(take one step forward)

O Glorious Spirit of Mystery, I put my arms around you.  I do not know what will happen to me today, but I accept it.  Give me a heart of courage and believing, so I may put my trust in you and fear nothing.

From the Plains Tribes – Native American

From the book Woman Prayers:  Prayers by women from throughout history and around the world    --by Mary Ford-Grabowsky

Every morning I say this prayer and think about my day.  I think about the Spirit of God that blesses me each morning with a new day, the four seasons and living in Canada, who would know what the weather will be like.

Then I think about the people I encounter........how do I greet them.  This prayer is a reminder to be gentle with all those I meet, whether I like them or not. 

Finally, embracing the Spirit of God to help me accept this day.......to not act or react out of fear but to act out of love.

Do you have a special prayer?

Please share your morning spiritual ritual.

Come again............bring your coffee, sit and read and hopefully leave a comment.  Love to hear from you........Mar

MAy BAskets

May Basket  for May 1st

Supplies------- tissue paper and scissors, brad or tape and candy.

Take one sheet of tissue paper, unfold and smooth out.

Fold one corner over to create a square.

Cut the excess piece off of the top, this later becomes the handle.

Set the handle aside.

Take one corner and fold over to another corner.

Continue to fold , corner to corner

Keep folding.............

keep folding until the tissue paper is about 2 inches wide at the top

Now cutting................DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH or you won't have a May Basket.

Start cutting about 4 inches or so from the botton point.  Cut one side just close to the fold but not through the fold. now.............

Turn the Tissue Paper around and cut the other side........not all the way through.

I have cut all the way through and either ended up with a basket that doesn't have a bottom or a short one.  Just have to remember that not all things line up evenly so just be careful as you cut.

Cut till about 2 inches or so from the top.

Gently unfold.

Your May Basket.

Gather the four corners

Fold the piece of tissue paper that was set aside for a handle

 

Attach to the top......I used a brad but the handle can be stapled or taped.

Glue a decoration over the sharp points of the brad.

Gently open up the tissue paper, place Candy in the very bottom.

Now you have a May Basket.

As children we hung the May Baskets on the doors of older people or someone you loved, shouted "May Basket" and ran as fast as possible.  The other person was to try and catch you and give you a kiss.

Have Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.........glad you could join me for the making of May Baskets.  Bring your tea and come again.........Mar

EAT...pray....love

Love this photo.....................

Rachel Snyder writes about EAT from her book 365 Words of Well-Being for Women

Break bread together, share meals together, feast and potluck and dine and wine together!
Cover the table with your salads and your pastas,  your tricoloured casseroles,
herb muffins,
homemade chili,
watermelon, grapes,
and ice creams and yogurts.

Feed each other big, drippy spoonfuls of lasagna, kimchee, fried chicken, borscht.
Handfuls of key lime pie, rugelach just like your grandmother made, flourless chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and
anything at all drizzled in chocolate 

Taste everything together, and say Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm and Aaaaaaahhh and Ohhhh and lick your fingers and lick somebody else's fingers, too.
EAT  as much as you want--or as little---and know that there will always be somebody who really, truly, more than anything else, wants to do dishes.

Do you enjoy eating some or most of those foods?

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully you had a piece of cake.............come again soon.

eat.....PRAY............love

  I love to Eat.
I take time to Pray.
The Love of my family is different than the love I have for friends.
Did you see this movie?
Did you read the book?
I have many times and plan on watching it again. 


Who doesn't love to eat...............but do we eat for the pleasure of enjoying the flavors of our food?  Are we mindful while eating?
It depends on the food that I'm eating.  After cooking a meal, I'm not always in the frame of mind to enjoy it.......cook, eat and then let's get this kitchen cleaned up so I can sit down and relax or read or knit or whatever.

My morning starts with prayer........my rosary.........until lately that is. I don't like some of the wording that is in the rosary so I decided to change it, well that hasn't worked either.  So I tried another way of praying and that certainly didn't inspire me.  So what do I do now?  I quit.  Who needs prayer?  How many people do you know or think you know that do not pray? That was my reasoning as to why I don't need to pray.  That wasn't a good thing for me.  I ended up feeling empty and no sense of direction.
Has this ever happened to you?
What did you do to turn your prayer life around?
eat.pray.love cover
I love my grandchildren unconditionally.
I love my husband, who is so kind and gentle, and my children, whom I've always believe have been such a wonderful gift from God.
Do I love others like we are taught as children?  NO.
I haven't reached that state of perfection like Jesus, whom we are taught to believe that Jesus loved everyone.  I'm not Jesus.  I try and I fail.

eat.pray.love...another cover

I know I deserve something beautiful..........my life is filled with beautiful things.......family, friends, events, knitting, painting and nature and the not so beautiful things help me to look at life and change so that the beauty can be created.

Thanks for stopping by and sitting on the porch............I've been away for a few days baking for other people to enjoy...........stop by again and enjoy the Beauty.

KNitting sweater pattern

Secret Garden Sweater

 On the search for yarn for my next project that I will be knitting for my daughter in a silver gray.  Unique design on the back should be fun to do.  The pattern is free from Drops Design.

What colour would you knit this sweater?

Come and visit again on the porch and see what the next knitting project is.........thanks for stopping by.

CReate

Create something from nothing. 

 From this to this......................

Drops Design 103-1

Create a lovely reflection of your inner self.

 Create a business that offers quality service............
 Yarn Store in Black's Harbour, New Brunswick

Create something with your own hands. 

 Use clay, wood, stones, wool, felt, nails, food, flowers, paint, paper, duct tape, stickers......... 

 This was created for my granddaughter's Cat in the Hat Birthday Party using card stock and red duct tape.

 Create a wall hanging out of all those bits and pieces you've collected over the years. 

 Create jewelry out of just about anything. 

 This jewelry was created by a wonderful woman who gives the monies to Helping Hands for Haiti

 Create a garden the butterflies and birds and children will love to come to......

  Create a sanctuary where you can sit and enjoy nature, feel part of your neighbourhood and be one with God...................

Create a very special ceremony to celebrate your birthday.

I created the most awesome Birthday Celebration when I became the age of fifty.  There was a fortune teller, lots of desserts, games to play (if you wished), areas for those who wanted to sit and chat and in the evening was a candlelight ceremony with readings written by women whom I admired, yards and yards of fabric that streamed across the garden in the colours of the rainbow, lighting of candles, a female priest presided over the ceremony, lots and lots of music and at the end each woman was given a container of bubbles to blow and have fun with.  The women had to make the greeting card and not purchase...........amazing creativity.....awesome cards.

  Create an altar that honours you, the special person that you are;

 create a life that honours itself

KNitting........free children's pattern

            
Colourful Children's Sweater pattern

I knit this sweater for my granddaughter using Berrco sock yarn with shades of pinks, purples and hits of lime green along with a bit of bling.
What I really liked about the sweater was the way it fit her petite body.  Around the waist is ribbing which pulls the other wise baggy sweater into shape.  Garter stitch is used on the bottom before the ribbing and st st on top. I only put button holes from the ribbing up to neck.
The sweater is light weight is great all year.

Do you have a child's sweater pattern to share?

Come again......and enjoy your quiet time on the porch.

KNittting pattern.....free

Eileen's Sweater from Knitty

I was seaching Knitty for a sweater pattern and came across this beautiful sweater.  The pattern is free for downloading, which I did and now I'm on the search for yarn.

The sweater is a totally different type of knit for me..........I love creating cables and Celtic knots.

Hope this pattern may stir your creative juices.  Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by and checking things out.  Come again.