Smiles

Instead of writing yet another crybaby blog today I have decided to share with everyone the little smiles that come to me. In picture form. In a list encompassing the past week. I'll start at last Wednesday.
I feel silly sometimes, because I am totally that person who takes pictures (and a gajillion of them at that) of everything and truly it is so that I remember. I do so much and life is flying by. So today I spent some time reflecting. This is my life and these are the things that make me smile.

1. I got stuck driving behind a truck outfitted with Monster-sized wheels. This brings to me so much delight. I love Monster Trucks and it is the best thing ever to ride in them.

2. There was a fiesta day at work and I coerced my students into bringing me multiple bags of popcorn and my favorite, snowcones.

 3. Darth Vader Orgone. Nevermind that orgone is amazing with everything it does (most simply it transmutes negative energies into positive energies) but I found a Darth Vader specimen and already sent it on it's way to it's new home where it will hang out and do good for someone who is amazingly good (and check out that black tourmaline work!)

May the force be with you

4. Satine, my adorable new kitten, discovered the excitement that is yarn. I discovered how great it can be to clean it up from all over my house, multiple times, multiple days in a row. I love her.

5. The sandal collection at the amazing crystal concert we attended last week which included sneaky swimming, for-real fairies, new awesome amazing friends, angel wings, and mushroom potions.

 

6. I went to a fancy luncheon and ate my boss' face while he was honored for his amazing achievements. I can't wait to be a lawyer someday.

7. I have amazing haggling skills. Also at the fancy luncheon they were apparently also honoring mustard. I casually spoke with an event worker and secured this bottle as my own.
This brings me much joy.

8. When I take away the privileges of television and the iPad, it forces my children to get creative. In this instance, I think the batteries just died, and Marilyn kindly asked me for permission which I then granted to her (such a lovely child she is). She therein liberally applied makeup in an artistic fashioning "like an Indian woman does!". Mallory was thrilled with her temporary tattoo and declared that she would never bathe again as to preserve it's freshness and quality.

9. I tent-crashed on a friend's impromptu camping adventure. I asked if there was room for a woman and her dog, and indeed there was. We hiked 1-2 miles (I would guess), in the wet rainy dark to an obscure camping spot hidden deep in the woods of Mohican. It was an interesting night and it was truly something special. I discovered I can breathe life into fire, very well, and that I am easily one with nature.


little slug, big forest

 



 10. I got lost somewhere out in the country of Ohio, and it was wonderful seeing all of those amazing country clouds.


Do you see the dolphins in the clouds?

 

 



 11. I got to spend quality time doing something fun with my dog. She doesn't get that as much as she should. She was knocked OUT by the camping trip.

12. After I went camping and worked and volunteered at a booth at an art fair for a few hours, I unexpectedly got to see one of my new favorite bands play at the Beachland! The Commonwealth! They are really awesome and I actually paid real cash money for their last album!
I like this picture because it is while they were all fiddling with something on stage. Shortly thereafter I met a new world friend who was carrying around Fluorite and Moldevite in his pocket. That's a whole 'nother conversation.

13. Then I got home from this long and utterly exhausting day to have the most wonderful card ever in the mail at home. This gives me faith in humanity and in the goodness of others. And if it is you that is reading this blog, I cannot thank you enough. You make me cry, because it is really unexpected and truly needed. IT MAKES SUCH A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE! It really does,because actions speak louder than words. Always.

 





 14. Marilyn's friend was super psyched to see her at her birthday party- which is a huge relief and I'm so happy- because she's making friends. Real friends. Friends that she will hopefully know for the rest of her school years. I'm doing something right.

[picture not included because another person's child is also in the photo]

 

15. Cracking open the Greek soap that a wonderful friend gave to me many many many years ago. 



 



16. I bought a fancy pen for $1.99 that has my name on it. I want to sign anything and everything that is official from here on out with it. This is from my Secret Shanta purchasing power.

17. My friend is a natural pro with my children and although we have been friends for many years, she finally got the opportunity to meet them in person and indeed, she loves them.

18. She's so good, she helped Marilyn collect a ton of little mushrooms and over 20 fireflies.

19. And she was thrilled with her special gift of HOT DOG BANDAIDS!

20. Everyone was exhausted by the end of the day: Especially Mal & Satine

This is the stuff that melts my heart and makes me love everything.

 

 

21. That people listen and cherish and relish in the language of the birds. And they appreciate the beauties of the song sparrows.  [picture not included because I didn't take it]

 

22. My friend G came over to make me some traditional Hispanic dinner (except it wasn't traditional as I was already requesting vegetarian modifications-tee hee hee) and he scorched the bottom of one of my pots so much it is still soaking 3 days later, but he also brought ice cream which I everything-in-the-kitchen-cabinetted the hell out of and it was delicious. I love good friends and I love ice cream and I sometimes love wine. I wouldn't have put myself through all of this, but I'm glad he showed up and did, and also in the meantime made me realize how much I have been doing.

Walnuts, peanut butter and Oreo delight

 

23. The gorgeous orgone pendants I ordered forever ago FINALLY came in the mail. Mallory loves hers (it wasn't really meant for her) and she is absolutely thrilled and honored to wear it all of the time. They sent me the wrong one- but I love them.

 

24. My sister visited and she has vet tech pockets big enough to fit a kitten into them. It was also her first official meeting of the new member of my family.

25. I figured out how delicious raw fruit can be put into appropriately matching tea

Mango within Black Mango Tea

26. I also figured out how to work candles with crystals, and that I need some large selenite pieces for my massage work, and how I am am going to do up some of my new crystal craft projects. Big aHa! moments for me in this area this past week.

Yellow/Orange Calcite can effectively be used with candles for healing work on the Solar Plexus & Sacral Chakras

27. I made this amazing kick ass Cinnamon sugar butter acorn squash. It was the best thing I have eaten lately above anything else (except ice cream)

Squash like a boss

 

28. My friend M, who helped me build this patio, randomly showed up and decided he was going to put the finishing rocks on it (I've been taking forever to do this part and it is really time and labor intensive and he just went ahead and did it). I have some of the best friends ever.

 

29. Another good friend of mine did something absolutely amazing and incredibly sweet and I'm so thankful because again, it makes a HUGE difference in the quality of my life and how much I have to worry about things. I don't like to stress and when that is lifted off of me, it is a huge deal. But he said not to be too big and showy with it, so I improvised.

30. It was also whoever who had my phone # last's birthday and I was getting all of the text messages meant for her. Including this GIF

The exciting part was when the man popped out of the cake. Wasn't expecting that!

 

 

30. Today I looked at my garden and it is growing. For sure the pumpkin and the zuchinni and the cucumbers and celery and potatoes. There is a ton of clover also. And wild strawberries. It is going to be interesting when I finally go in there and start identifying what I planted versus what planted itself.

I like the au natural approach to gardening

31. I figured out an excellent new elixir, which should help to break up lower chakra blockages.

Amethyst, red calcite, citrine, citroid, mookaite, yellow jasper

32. These faces

and just now

 

33. Slushies from Students

Again- because they know what happiness it brings to me. And earlier someone brought in rolled oreo truffle balls. I cannot complain at all.

 

So that's been the goodness of my past week in a nutshell, and I'm not going to lie, things are good. They are. It is how I perceive it and like I've posted previously, I haven't been personally feeling top notch but I feel better with the support and love of those around me. I really couldn't wouldn't be able to do it or make it through without the love and support of my friends.

 

I just have to keep it all in my memory and hope that it keeps this sadness at bay.