~Live Free or Die!~

Advanced apologies are in order, tonight I post from the confines of my plastic tent via my phone. We are camping in Thetford, Vermont tonight. It's raining although we left Saturday and had been lucky until now.

We left Machias on Saturday to go to Concord, NH to go to Granite State Music Festival. The pictures are from a little dock next to the festival. The gold domed building is the Capitol building, we saw some paw prints next to the river perhaps raccoon?, tadpoles, and rose hips. Tommorrow I will post more adventures!

~Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree~

Yesterday I was thrilled to find a little blast from the past, in the natural world: small group of horse chestnut trees.  When I was growing up as a little girl in Southern Germany we had about twenty of these in the backyard play area however ours were much older I believe. The trunks of ours were very thick, an adult couldn't even get their arms around one. Once my mother even tried to roast them.  We concluded then that they were not the typical Christmastime chestnuts we had heard about. They were very bitter, not edible. While I was standing under it taking pictures I took big deep breaths of the smell that I hadn't smelled for more than fifteen years.   When I own my own land I'd like to plant one.  I plan on visiting this one in the fall to see if it drops any burs with the nuts in it. I'd like to photograph one. There is so much I miss about Germany but I was so happy to have this little bit within reach again.  I was so happy to see one here, thousands of miles away in Machiasport.

~I feel so free I could have wings~

I've been doing a great deal of dreaming about showing my paintings.  The thought has always terrified me though.  A conversation that I recently had with a dear friend and local artist is beginning to convince me that the fear I feel is natural, and all artists feel the same to some extent.  He described to me what it was like when he started out. So I have come to the stunning conclusion that I will not only be showing my spirit animal collection here and on Pinterest; but I will also be offering the originals for sale on Etsy.  This is huge for me! I hope that everyone likes it! I have the nervous  jitters about this.  Oh my, I can't even explain.  Remember #6 on my list?  I've always sketched, painted, and doodled. My whole life. When I was about 12 I used to spend hours laying on my bed with markers or colored pencils, filling pages and dreaming. It was tradition in our house. Every Christmas I got art supplies as one of my gifts.  Because that is what I spent the most time doing.  It was my Zen before I knew Zen.  An empty page, I would stare at it imaging that it could become anything. The Mona Lisa, Starry Night, The Last Supper.  Every great work of art began as a clean slate. Once Bob Ross said "This is your bravery test." while I was watching him preform magic on a canvas. Every now and then I hear him say that. Okay here I go, I decided that July tenth will be my opening day !

~The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me~

  So much of our lives just pass us by, lately we've been making a point to simplify and have more moments of pure joy. Stop and look a moment, appreciate everything for what is there, and what we regularly don't see.

My gosh I've been so blessedly busy lately! There have been trips to the beach with my lovely boy, much watercolor painting (soon I promise!), and planning our vacation to New Hampshire (camping wooo!)  There has been lilac picking and ocean frolicking.  My head has been whirling with plans, ideas, and dreams of the future. Life has been so sweet, it's like the entire world is open and full of wonder.  I read a quote recently that said something like "It's never too late to do what you dreamed of doing." I believe it.  Wholeheartedly.

~Bad Little Falls~

Good morning! These pictures were taken Saturday,we were sitting on the bank of the river enjoying the view from the laundrette parking lot. Talking a little and relaxing. It was so nice that my son wanted to lay in the grass and close his eyes. He said he was a cat sleeping in the sun. He basked. Seriously beauty is everywhere if you are looking. We decided to do a little hometown tourist excursion. 

This is Bad Little Falls, in Machias, Maine. It is lovely, the sound the water makes is fantastic too.  The water crashes down in several places and there is the Main Street Bridge over it as well as a smaller footbridge that we went over with a small platform below.  One of the best spots for a picnic. (Soon I hope!)

Thank you all so very much!I've reached over 5,000 followers on Pinterest!  In celebration I have vowed to post more content and more frequently! ( I have a blog overhaul planned too!)  If you aren't already following me and want to you can find my page here: Zen Goddess Living!
Again thank you so much, I feel so grateful!

~Meditative Spring Cleaning~

In meditation you try to clear your mind. At first, your mind may be very busy and you might even feel that the meditation is making your mind busier; but in reality you are becoming more aware of how busy your mind actually is. Looking around at my life, my home, my vehicle, my phone, and my computer I realize that my mind is not the only thing cluttered with unnecessary things.
For me when I clean I like to listen to music. Something soft, like my stations here.  It helps keep me in a good head space, without slipping into negative thoughts or getting overwhelmed. I don't see cleaning as work, just as a gift I am giving myself, a clean slate. So I cleaned, donate and organized. Sitting down afterwords with a big deep breath. 

~Sudden Beach Day~

I've been working so hard lately! I've been working at my day job and on the spirit animal watercolor pictures. They are coming out great.  Plus I have a few side projects.  I had to take a day trip to Bangor. It's about 2 hours each way.  I got my nose pierced. I've wanted it for a long time.  I've always seen it on pictures of East Indian  women and loved it. It looks so exotic.  I got it pierced with a plain silver stud but after it heals I want to get a tiny gold hoop. 

A good friend gifted me with a bunch of extra yarn balls that were destined for the garbage.  They are varying shades of brown. I stared at them for a few nights trying my best to decide what to do with them.  Still undecided.  So the pressure of hustling around had me a little stressed.
Suddenly after work the other day I decided that we needed something different.  I was driving with my son and in a split second decided we were going to the beach.  We didn't bring anything, just went.  The beach we like most is Rogues Bluff State Park.  On one side of the road is a lake with two soft sand swimming areas.  Later in the year we will go there to swim. The water is still way too cold. But the ocean up here is too cold to swim in. On the other side of the road is a long row of rose hip bushes with little narrow paths leading to the beach.
There is soft sand at the top and lower rocks wash up with the tide. My son and I spent the afternoon walking together in the heavy sand with our pants rolled up to the knees, carrying our shoes.  We walked the beach plucking sea glass up like tiny jewels. I explained to him how it is made.  He finds a tiny shell here and there.  He found me a beautiful piece, large and smooth with an interesting shape, still clear but a little shattered inside.  He was so proud of his find as I oohed and awed. "Can you wear this on a necklace?" he asked me.  I always wanted to make sea glass jewelry... "I wish you could make bracelets with the sea glass. It's really pretty and ocean-y"

I thought it over I'd need a drill to secure the sea glass. What kind of fiber or metal could I use that is natural or recycled.  I had thought of it before but never really thought it through as an actual plan.  Every time I found a little bit of sea glass I've wanted to make jewelry but never have. I think it's time!  And that quickly another project falls into my lap.
We looked at our shiny little gems in wonder, I'm so excited at the thought of wearing our finds. How cool!
Inspiration comes from everywhere, I thought. Something about nature just makes everything come together for me. I looked out over the ocean, wishing cameras could capture the aura of the place, of our good moods, and the feeling of the warm wind and cold water.
The wind whipped my hair into my face.  I forgot how long it was getting. My bob from last year has grown out. When I put it in a high ponytail the tip of the tail brushes my neck. I'm kind of sick of ponytails.  Headbands would be a nice change.  I think that might be a good way to recycle that yarn...
Enjoy the  pictures from our day!  I think the spirit animal watercolor pictures may be ready for my  next post. See you then.