Happy Monday – A Moment of Gratitude!

Hello and happy Monday! I am getting this out late because I spent the morning nursing my garden. I say nursing because in addition to the funky weather this summer, our vacation getaways and my less than enthusiastic maintenance this last month and a half; my poor garden has suffered. So this morning after dropping off Nick, I decided to go salvage and care for my plants. My girlfriend, Ashley is one of my big inspirations and usually this time of year, I am sitting around a bountiful veggie garden and explosion of blooms and texting her about my daily happenings in the garden. But this year has to go down as one of much neglect when it came to the garden. So in the midst of my pity party, I put on my garden shoes and headed out to water and make adjustments, but I realized that despite the lack of care, there were so many things to be grateful for in my garden. Above is a Phlox that my former neighbor gave me before she moved. I just had to stop and smile at this delicate beauty.This lovely yellow rose bush was ripped out of the grown when we had some major plumbing work done in June and I was so afraid that it wouldn’t last after being transplanted to another area in my garden. But today, to my surprise I peeked behind my echinacea and there this single beautiful bloom greeted me.
I don’t know if you can see what’s happening in this photo but I had my sprinkler on my side lawn and went inside my house to talk with my son while I waited to move the sprinklers. I had set a timer on my phone to remind me to go out and turn off the water. When I came to the door to come outside, I saw between 6 – 8 birds (mostly Robins) running in and out to the sprinkler and washing off. It was the cutest thing to see. So the total bird-lover in me decided to let the water run a few more minutes to let them cool off and play.
I wanted to share these photos because I wanted to show how small miracles are happening around us all every day and all we have to do is slow down and be open to receive them. I could have stood out there and grumped about the veggies that didn’t come or the excess leaves that are already falling from the trees but I chose to look at the beauty that exists when I open my eyes. I am grateful for the nature that I can come into contact with right in my yard every day and I do not take it for granted.I know Monday can be stressful with all of our ambitious to-do lists but just make sure you pause for a few minutes in nature today and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised.

Belinda

New card: Blessings

gardenlady2I have had this beautiful digi from Mo’s Digital Pencil for some time now. As you know, I love to be in my garden and watch things grow. So I decided it was time to color her up. I used paper from two collections: Basic Grey’s Highline and Dear Lizzy’s Lucky Charm.  I also added some sequins and used my pearl pen to add a little more on top of each sequin. Can you guess where I got the vellum from? I actually had some left from the sheet I ran through the Silhoutte from my Project Life accents I made so instead of throwing them away, I took out a border punch and made a few. No waste in this craft room. I like how it softens the look.

gardenlady1

Lately we have been spending long hours in the late afternoon and evening on our deck and I enjoy taking in the beauty of the garden but the sights and the sounds of the birds, butterflies and bumble bees rock  my world.  They are so amazing and they are a gift so I make sure to remind myself to take the time daily especially while the weather is nice.

I recently watched an amazing TED talk by Louie Schwartzberg, an amazing photographer and filmaker who captured the most beautiful time-lapsed photography in nature.  Then set it to film with a voice over that reminds us we are interconnected to nature and not to take it for granted. It is a blessing. That we should make gratitude a priority.

gardenlady3

So when I looked for a sentiment for this card this video popped into my brain and  I found the perfect sentiment from my Autumn Blessings stamp from Flourishes.

I hope you can take time today to enjoy the beauty of nature and let gratitude warm your heart.

Belinda

 

Home Decor: 30 Days of Gratitude

I displayed them on the wall behind my desk so that I can see it every day.

I displayed them on the wall behind my desk so that I can see it every day.

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! I have been away pretty much the whole week.  My youngest caught the stomach bug so I have been doing a whole lot of laundry and cleaning up things.  It hasn’t left much time for crafting and now I am truly behind on my Confessions work.  But then this time of year always lends itself to sick days, extra errands and more doctors appointments right?

So I am not going to complain instead I am going to share my latest crafty home decor that I bought off of Jessica Sprague’s website. It is called, ’30 Days of Gratitude’. I printed up and cut out the files then assembled these cute little envelopes. The instructions came with different ideas for displaying these envelopes and I knew on the wall behind my desk would be the perfect place.

 A close up of the envelopes.

A close up of the envelopes.

It fits so nicely on this wall I love looking at it.  Apollo has taken a liking to it too and each day he pulls out a card to read the encouraging words.

Apollo reading a card.

Apollo reading a card.

Before bed, I ask each of my boys and my husband to list 3 things they are grateful for and they have to be different from days prior. Then I write them on a piece of paper.  I think I might have to make a little mini scrapbook of our days of gratitude.  Perhaps I can make it an on-going album so I can get the boys to truly establish a more grateful life.

Each card has a unique quote on them.

Each card has a unique quote on them.

I hope you too can find more moments to pause and reflect on the many blessings big and small in your lives.

Have a blessed day!

Belinda

 

 

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