I love being surrounded by animals! They teach me how to relax, how to play, how to love unconditionally and, generally, how to live my life. I am forever grateful for each and every one of them - they are truly my angels!

I've wanted to use this photo for my Christmas card now for several years. "Kisser" is forever the relaxed cat. She moves slowly and loves to be loved. A bit overweight because she also loves to eat and takes each bite with intention and total enjoyment.

This photograph encompasses how I like to spend holidays - relaxed, not going anywhere fast and taking long naps. It is the antithesis of what most of our culture seems to do around the holidays.

As we move into the holiday frenzy of shopping, visiting family & friends and, generally, being more stressed, may you take the time to simply stop and relax, let go of stress and know that the holiday celebrations can be simple. Give gifts that have meaning - something you've made, something that expresses your gratitude for that person being part of your life or a certificate of service, like cooking a meal, to be used at some point during the year. Celebrate the gifts that surround you without over spending and creating more stress later.

May your holidays be filled with the joy and peace of the season! Celebrate quiet moments with family and friends as well as with yourself.

Blessed holidays everyone!

Quiet Meditation

Sitting. Quietly in meditation. Breathing deeply. Stretching.

Sometimes, my mind becomes quiet and I float off into a meditative bliss. Other times, try as I might, my mind stays active with lists of things that must be done or that would be nice to have done. Then there are the times that my dogs will lick my hands, climb into my lap or nudge me from my sitting - it is then that I laugh and finish by playing with them.

Still, I meditate daily and trust that the simple activity and repitition of sitting quietly relieves my stress and anxiety of this life of mine in a current world where stress can often be felt in the air.

My house is filled with gentle reminders of quiet meditation - photographs, altars, candles, incense and music. Outside, my gardens all have statues of Buddha, Quan Yin and even a turtle to remind me of the joy I find in meditation and that my life can be a meditation when approached with a quiet mind and a quiet intention.

I will continue my daily practice and find joy in the intention of a stress-free life with meditation as my outlet for relieving stress and living in harmony with nature, with God and with source energy that is in everything.

Connecting to My Roots and A Very Creative Summer

This has been a summer of connecting to my roots, my childhood and creativity! I've been canning everything from any and all seasonal fruits into jams, spaghetti sauces, bread and butter pickles, kosher dill pickles and more to come... I've also been writing, photographing and sewing. This photo is my latest creation - a pillow from some fun fabrics put together into a cheerful addition to my daughter's collection of pillows I've made for her over many years. This is my most fun one yet. I think I'll continue by making some festive pillows for my own couch, bed and guest room. I even tie-dyed a T-shirt! And, I might do more just for the fun of it!

I've had one of the most creative and fun summers I can remember in a long time! When I'm not at work, I'm hiking in the woods (something I do every day) and considering what creative project I can do next. Although it's been a particularly rainy, wet summer here in New England, I'm finding ways to make the best of time spent indoors.

Connecting to my childhood roots is like an obsession for me. For so many years I've done other things, in fact, anything that would take me away from what I learned in my childhood. Now, in this economy, much of what I've learned is helpful and, perhaps, essential. I am enjoying re-learning how to can anything. I'm wondering what will be next.

I am writing about projects I'd like to do this winter. I'm already planning knitting, sewing and spinning projects. I think I might enjoy this winter as well. Focusing my creative energy into what I can make is inspiring and energizing!

What are your creative projects?

A Happy Rooster!

Found this chap standing in the middle of bottles, watering cans and coco-cola coolers at Brimfield on my way out. He made me smile as I could almost hear him at sunrise waking the neighborhood!

Contemplation

I am reminded of the importance of silence and contemplation which leads to clarity and inner calm. Few words. I am following the invitation to silence.

Illusion or reality? Or interesting perspective?

Another Brimfield photo that caught my attention! I imagine waiting for the audience to arrive.

Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to be an artist. I was envious of my friend, Toni, and her watercolors; David and the photo's he created and then his stained glass; my friend, Deb, who has made her life's work her art. I love to go to craft and art shows to see what 'artists' do, always envious of the talent, ability and time to create.

All of my life, I've enjoyed wtiting, photography, scrapbooking and creating things. I'm quite handy with a sewing machine and can make a pattern for nearly anything ~ like my couch covers that can easily be removed with no zippers, buttons or fasteners. I've made Hallowieen costumes for my daughter, knit sweaters, spun & dyed my own wool, made clothes for myself and my daughter and have even made curtains for the windows in my house. I know how to crochet, weave and knit and even make wine simply because it interests me and I love the process of creating.

This last year, once finished a book and holding something tangible in my hands, I've decided to go for it and declare my artistic self. Reading the last few issues of Artful Blogging, I feel encouraged even more to go for it and pursue my artistic expression.

So any of you in cyberspace who come across my blog will be the first to observe and witness my unfolding self as an artist!

You will get to be withness to my photographs and my learning to use Photoshop. My entries may not be daily as I do have my day job and business to keep doing to pay the bills. Any feedback, encouragement or kind words are most welcomed!

There is something about order within disorder that interests me even though my life always seems to be in some stage of disorder. Yet, there is a sort of ritualistic & repetitive order to it which keeps me on track and sane.

I have my ritual on rising each morning, returning home each evening and also when I arrive at work each day. I like those times of order to my day. At all other times in my day I can be creative, playful and expressive. I am very grateful that my work as an acupuncturist is very creative. When not at work, my creative expression is through my writing and photography which make me very happy!

One of my favorite places to go where there is order within disorder and endless opportunities for creative photography is the Brimfield Antique event each year. I take a day to wander and notice what catches my eye. I am always delighted & surprised by what I see with or without looking through my lens. What is even more exciting is that Brimfield Antique show happens 3 times a year so if I missed anything, I can go back and I usually do!

The photos above are from last weeks trip to Brimfield. Or I should say, the photo above is from my trip to Brimfield and the other is playing with photoshop!

I'll post more photos from my trip over the next few days, so stay tuned.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

I lived in a yogic community for 14 years where I did yoga and meditation for several hours a day. I loved that practice and often find that I miss the extended practice time. I still love yoga, meditation and mantra and continue to practice it daily. Without it, I find myself scattered and unfocused.

I believe that if more people had a regular practice of relaxation, meditaiton, quieting their mind, yoga or QiGong, we would all experience a more peaceful and loving world.

Nature's Art

This picture was taken early one morning last week while walking my dogs. I carry my camera with me wherever I go as I find that nature provides its own artistic expression. I've never seen snow roll off a roof this way before! Early morning donuts! I returned to only a cup of coffee without the donuts to start my morning.

This photo reminds me to always expect the unexpected and then celebrate the joy I see! Soon the snow will be gone and I can return to hiking the trails around New England, camera in hand. I am always looking for the geometry in nature and this is a perfect expression! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. The donuts are now melted and I am looking for more art in nature as the snow melts and spring finds its way into my morning walks.

Ice melt is such a delightful thing in New England after a long winter. Today is March 1st and I feel a sense of hope that Spring is indeed on its way even though more snow is in the forecast tonight. Season changes are always a time to re-evaluate life. Moving from winter to spring is a time of leaving the internal, quiet experience of the cold, dark days into a time of new growth and emerging renewed. Spring heralds a sense of excitement, growth, shedding layers of winter. May this photo be a reminder of the melting of whatever is held to keep us warm through the winter and the hope of new growth as spring emerges new and fresh!

It is New Years Day and I am happy! The holidays are over and life can return to normal. Just outside, Orion is rising in the sky. Seeing Orion always makes me smile. Like seeing a deer in the woods or a fox walking down the road in the early morning, seeing Orion always leaves me feeling that all is well.

My prayer and hope for this new year is that it will be a year of possibility and fulfilled dreams for everyone. I don't write resolutions, I write intentions. What are your intentions for this new year? I write my intentions on prayer flags and hang them outside. When I walk outside I am reminded of my intentions ~ I like that.

I've named my blog "Shiba's Nest". You might wonder what is that? I love dogs and my dogs are Shiba Inu's ~ a Japanese breed full of energy, life, devotion and love. They are my companions and my home is their nest that they allow me to share with them. For that, I am grateful! At the beginning of this post are photos of my lovely girl, Sachiko.

Enjoy & Happy New Year!