Crazy Quilt Cloak ~ finally!

I finally got started putting the patch pieces on my crazy quilt cloak!!! I am so excited about starting it. I was hoping to have it done by next month, my 10 year pagan-versary. However, I don't think it will happen, starting so late, the embroidery alone will take many hours. The piecing does go a lot faster than I expected though. Watch for more updates as this project progresses. Yeah!

Below is my adorable Egyptian Mau, Cleopatra snoozing on the porch swing. Such a darling.

(This is the middle of the back)

Recommiting to Yoga

I have recommitted to my yoga practice through the WoYoPracMo website, and I am so glad. I have been very unmotivated in these last few weeks as far as yoga goes, and realized that the time when I have been the most stressed, I could have been enjoying the stress reducing benefits of yoga, and I was not doing it on a regular basis. So, when i got the email announcing that May is the month to re energize your yoga routine I jumped at the chance to have some accountability towards my yoga practice, by signing up for it through WoYoPracMo, I will have support and sympathetic ears should I need motivating. This morning, I took my mat outside on the porch and enjoyed a beautiful spring morning of yoga in the fresh morning air. The deep breathing was much more pleasant with flowers on the breeze. I plan to do it outside every day that it is nice. It is very invigorating to my routine. I will also be revamping my eating using the Yoga Cookbook. Beginning with grocery shopping tomorrow. Yeah!

Crafty Gatherings

Here, gathered by my sewing machine is the makings of my first hippie skirt. It is to be denim & blue calico patchwork with an appliqued sunflower on the front. I figure it will be my "logo" skirt, since I am calling my little cottage business, "Sunflower Designs", after my fave flower. I hope to get started on putting it together this week. I already have the denim cut up. These are actually recycled jeans.

The other plans I have are for recycled shopping/tote bags. One like I posted before, made from old t-shirts. The other is made from the seat of blue jeans. So cool. I will share a picture as soon as I finish the first one. Wish me luck on this venture. I am excited by the possibilities, and the fact that it is so "green" and eco-friendly for Mother Earth is the best icing! Whee!

What a nice day. The sun was shining, spring is in the air. David and Sophie are finally getting over the stomach virus, whew, we had a rough weekend. But thank the Goddess it is over and they are both able to eat again. Now to get started on all the cleaning that did not get done, except for laundry, there was plenty of that. Oh yeah!

I have been thinking more and more about decluttering and getting our things pared down to a much smaller amount. I mean the amount of toys alone, for one little girl, is amazing. I have even went through them already on several occasions and got rid of bags full, only to have the floors covered and nothing in its place again soon after. So in the spirit of spring, I am making a plan to go through the entire house this season and declutter, reduce and recycle as much as is possible. This in addition to our usual spring cleaning. I want to work on, also, getting rid of and using less plastic. Especially "disposable" plastic, like bottles and jugs and bags, etc. We already have phased out our bottled water in favor of a water filtering pitcher. (Made of plastic, but hey, what can I do?) Now I just need to figure out how to get my diet coke in something other than plastic. LOL And I use reusable shopping bags when I remember them, damn, I forget them way too often, so that is another thing I will work on. I recycle everything that our local center will accept, which at this time is limited to, #1 & 2 plastic, steel and aluminum cans, and glass. I also recycle paper and cardboard, but I have to take them to the center, they won't pick them up at the curb. Go figure. I try to do that only once a month, to save driving, and combined with other errands, so I have a huge box full at most times in my kitchen. LOL I really want to go greener, during my winter hibernation, I have let a lot of things slip, like using the dishwasher too much instead of hand washing and a few other things. But now that I can feel the Earth Mother awakening, I want to really get down to business in helping to keep Her green. I will let you know how we are doing.

Those wonderful resolutions

Well, its 2008. Funny, it doesn't feel much different. Except that it is much colder today, as befits January. I rang in the new year in my husband, David's arms. {sighs;remembering} Today I must begin those dreaded/anticipated resolutions. I make some every year, most of them don't ever make it past February, but there have been a few.....This year one of mine was to take up yoga again after a long time. I did it! I got up this morning and went through a whole range of poses. Boy, it was not as easy as I remember it being before. Partly due to the fact that my three year old, Sophie, was trying to do her own version of the poses as I was. That was something to see. She's actually quite good and followed the video nearly as well as I did. I hope to fit in the yoga every day. It does make a difference in the way I feel and carry myself, immediately. Its pretty amazing really. I recommend it.

Now I sit here with my toasty fleece throw around my shoulders and a steamy cup of Chai latte, mulling over the other resolutions I made and trying to get psyched to proceed with them. In no particular order......

* begin yoga and walking routine

* get back to clean eating, grains, fruit, veggies and lots of water. (I'd love to kick my diet coke habit, but alas, I am only mortal.)

*continuing Goddess study with my circle sisters and on my own

* become more involved in the pagan community, (even though it means driving to Knoxville regularly, I need it.)

* work on my photo scrapbooks, (I am so behind)

*continue my herbal studies, incorporating the magical as well as the medicinal

*begin study of death midwifery as a life calling

* growing wiser as my fortieth birthday approaches

I am really looking forward to a busy and productive year.