Meditation, Inspiration, Appreciation

 Meditation

 

Everyone needs a spot to sit and meditate.  Meditation is something that doesn't come easily to me.  I'm very type "A" and find that sitting and clearing my mind ends up being one giant re-evaluation of everything I need to be doing while I'm supposed to be sitting still.  I will think of errands I need to run, or emails I need to return, or even re-visit conversations in my head and think of all the things I "should" have said.  I'm trying, I really am, it's more than something I want to learn to do, it's something I've been told that I need to do!   I wonder when my brain got so full, when I lost the ability to transcend reality for just a short while.  The bench above sits on the front porch of my parent's house.  They are both gone now, and the bench is looking worse for wear, but this was the bench where I could while away the hours as a child.  It was where I sat to put my  shoes on if the pavement was too hot, where I ate Popsicles on a summer's eve, where I sat for hours chatting with friends or waiting for a date, and where I dreamt about what it would be like when I grew up!  Now that I'm all grown up, and then some, I need another bench, one that will let me sit, one where I can listen, and one where I can dream...a place to meditate.

 Inspiration 

It's funny how you can meet someone who lives miles away or who you barely know and find so much in common with one another.  Friendships that are formed from just a few emails or those chance meetings.  Just today I had one of those days.  This morning I had a wonderful couple of emails from Kim at Bella Della Farm.  If you haven't visited Kim's blog then you really should.  I found her through Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl (another favorite), and between the two of them I can always count on finding a beautiful photo to make me smile and bring me a little ray of sunshine no matter how my day is going.  Both of these talented women provide me with inspiration as they capture the simple beauty of everyday living.  It's a trait I hope to develop as I continue my quest towards learning to take better and more interesting pictures. 

Just look at this amazing image that Kim has on her blog right now!

Photo:  Bella Della

Can't you just feel the wind in your hair, the sunshine on your face, and the smell of the grass after an early spring shower?  And don't you want to know what's just around the bend?  Kim invited us all to speculate what lies around our "own" bends in the road this morning with just this one beautiful  photo.

 Appreciation

 

Recently I was given this wonderful award by the lovely Tina from Rubies Place.  You may remember Tina since it's her beautiful home that is my current featured home.  Thank you Tina, I truly appreciate this lovely award!  And now I'm supposed to tell you a few things about myself.

1. My favorite color ...Oh Gosh, I have a million favorite colors, but if I had to pick just one it would be a soft blue/green like seafoam.
2. My favorite book ... To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. (Same as Tina!)
3. My favorite movie ... Love Actually, and the movie Crash with Sandra Bullock (it had a lot of language in it, but the message of that movie was so powerful and thought provoking).
4.  My favorite actor ... Paul Newman.
5.  My favorite actress... Katherine Hepburn, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, and Diane Keaton...I can't choose just one!
6.  My favorite  food ... Fresh peaches or corn on the cob!
7.  My favorite place I have visited... Oh another tough one!  Robin Hood's Bay, Thirsk, & Beachy Head (All in England), Montpellier (France), and Quebec City (Canada) .

It's time for Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky.