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I recently read these words in a post on Facebook from a 41 year old musician who has been given a time limit on his time here on earth. His post was powerfully written but he has taken it down. Sadly, I didn't ask permission to share so I didn't capture it in entirety but these words are forever engrained in my mind. What an amazing mantra.
His words will change the way I live. We all know that our time here is limited, and with each passing year the end becomes more real, yet until we are given a specific limited time frame, we probably don't give a lot of thought to it. Time lines - dead lines - put things into perspective. Miracles happen every day and I'm hoping with this wisdom he'll also find a way to extend his time. We could all benefit from his insights. "A cluttered physical interior is a sign of a cluttered mental interior. It keeps us from dreaming about who we want to be or could be. It's simply proof of what we were. Look around you. Does your home make room for the new or the old you? Is there space to evolve - to dream? Or is it a graveyard of things that remind you that your home really doesn't nurture you as it should?" Christopher Lowell's quote reminds me of the impact of clutter, not only externally but internally.The Vietnam Veterans of America are coming tomorrow to pick up donations. We've been collecting boxes in the dining room for two weeks in preparation and there is a great feeling about proactively getting rid of clutter and simultaneously helping an organization we believe in. When I was in high school I had an art teacher who explained the value of negative space. The value of a vase or bowl is in the internal space that allows us to fill it. A beautiful object needed space to be visible. She would set up a still life and have us outline only the negative space. Eventually the focus would be on the objects but initially she showed us the value of being able to see around them so that they were highlighted. Any treasured object becomes invisible when there is too much going on around it. Museums and galleries give objects space so we can actually see and enjoy them.  "Clutter is to our home as cholesterol is to our arteries." Marla Cilley uses cholesterol as a metaphor for clutter in the home to describe its impact. These are a few examples in her list of 25.
Marla, also known as F.L.Y. Lady, has an excellent program for decluttering and organizing. Her tips for conquering CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) are practical and doable, and her approach is light and humorous! I've gone through each room, closet and storage area, gathering everything I no longer use or need, and tomorrow we'll move everything to the porch to be picked up! Call 1-800-775-VETS (8387) if you'd like to declutter and donate to a great organization! It's a win/win for everyone! We followed Mycenea to Camp Hill after our visit. She was playing at Willow Park for their award winning 'Box Lunch Review", held on Fridays from 11:30 to 1:00 during the summer.
Just returned from a delightful mini vacation in PA visiting my daughter with a friend! Mycenea is professional musician and has been doing her solo act for years, gathering awards, accolades and being featured on the cover of magazines. She's living in a spectacular log cabin filled with instruments! One of the highlights of the visit was a listening to her new band practice for a couple of hours! They have been practicing for months but haven't taken the show on the road yet so we were very fortunate to be among the first to hear them!  The living room, which is more reminiscent of a music store, is filled with guitars, amps, there's a mandolin, standing bass, the drums . . . so many fun things to play with if you are so inclined!  For years I've had a secret dream to learn to play the drums. Just looking at this set gives me a rush! One of the most delightful aspects of this home is the story behind it's construction. The builder lived in a one room log cabin at the end of the property on a cliff over looking a stream. It has the appearance of a cabin created in colonial times but was built in the 70s and he stayed there year round until he finished building the main home.
 "Yesterday is ashes, Tomorrow is wood, Only today does the fire burn." In addition to being an artist, the builder was also a philosopher. Both properties are guarded by Sasquatch! They host a party annually in his honor. A kinder, gentler version of Bigfoot is featured here. 
Today's Creative Content Camp session advised us to take 10 photos a day for the next week of projects were working on - our images, in situ, our offices, studios and photos our selves in the process of creating. One suggestion was featuring out pets. Zippy doesn't get involved with my art, even though he is always near by, whether I'm paining, sewing, writing or in the garden. Rocky, on the other hand, would sit on my lap, on top of my watercolor paper,and nap in m basket of home made collage papers.I miss you Rocky. 
 is a gorgeous bouquet of magenta gladiolas from Trader Joe's. Cost? $3.99.
 The burgundy and green lettuce garden red oak leaf lettuce, curly red lettuce, basil, opal basil and red pansies.  The tomato garden has golden calendulas, yellow pansies, nasturtiums in both scarlet and gold.  Add shrimp, top with a vinaigrette salad dressing
and a slice of lemon, and dinner is served. |
Welcome!! I’m Mikell (pronounced Michael). If you love spicing up your life with herbs, recipes, decorating and crafts, symbolism and rituals like I do, I hope you’ll sign up for my newsletter and free Enhancing Your Life with Herbs e-book!
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MikellMikell is a writer, artist and professional treasure hunter, finding the greatest treasures in the wonderful people who enter her life! |
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