Category Archives: Contemplation

Writing from the heart!

~Stay within the lines – or not!

 

~

With colored pencils,

and uncolored scenes,

an experience begins.

 Let the kid in you surface,

with a still mind,

escape to a magical place.

 Without intrusion or restriction,

your free to explore,

a creation becomes yours.

~

You might have heard about the new pastime  – Adult Coloring Books. I recently learned about this hobby from two friends. Thanks to them, my interest was piqued. I found myself looking at some coloring books and decided to give it a try. I am glad I did.

I remember, when I was young, sitting down at the kitchen table with a coloring book and the biggest box of Crayola crayons I could get my hands on. It was a favorite inside activity and one enjoyed alone. I haven’t colored since and to be honest, didn’t even give it a thought. Until now.

Sitting here thinking about this post, I did a search on Adult Coloring Books and you wouldn’t believe how many web-sites there are dedicated to this hobby.

Sites speaking about the health benefits, about whats the big deal, how long has it been popular, where did it originate (Europe), why are these books becoming best selling items in places such as Barnes and Noble, or why 8 of the 20 best selling books on Amazon are Adult Coloring Books, and the list going on.

Interesting isn’t it, in an environment where we can’t seem to escape the technology that surrounds us, this simple activity becomes so popular. And peaceful.

Here’s one story published 12/30/2015 explaining its appeal…

Appeal of Adult Coloring

 

The Coloring Book I chose; Birds go figure!

Adult Coloring Book
Adult Coloring Book
Set of Colored Pencils
Set of Colored Pencils
It began
It began
Mandarin Duck
Mandarin Duck – my first colored page

Since purchasing my first Adult Coloring Book last month, I have completed six pages.  I show these pages, so you can see the intricate designs that most of these books offer and maybe to pique your interest.  Its not how or what I remember coloring when I was a kid! Its more fun!

You’re free to choose real or magical.

 

One might say,
coloring is for kids,
I don’t think so,
says the kid in me.
Coloring is for kids,
I don’t think so,
my experience enlightens me,
try it for yourself and see.
So tell me – do you enjoy coloring?

 

 

 

~At the end of this road…

At the end of this road sits a picnic table. Over the last few years while visiting JDSP, it has been a destination at the end of the day. This picnic table is old, weathered and scarred.

On many occasions we have enjoyed sitting at this table absorbing the beauty of our surrounding. Other times we have shared pleasant conversation or sat in silence awed by the fact that we were, well, just sitting here.

The girls know, when we reach the picnic table to jump up on its top. They will sometimes lay down, themselves enjoying the peacefulness of the area. Other times they are on alert, looking for some small critter they hear, that we don’t, rustling around in the Palmettos.

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Sheila, Skye, Howard and Kloud
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Old, weathered and scarred, but still functional. Perhaps just like us.

This year I noticed an addition; a brand new picnic table. I don’t like it for some reason; it is a replacement? I have to wonder what will happen to “our” old, weather and scarred table where we have created fond memories of being together.

I hope this old, weathered and scarred picnic table continues to sit right where it is; this table is one of my favorite places to reflect at the end of the day, and to view amazing sunsets. The new picnic table belongs to others, not us. It simply wouldn’t be the same.

I took these photos on December 15, 2015, standing on top of “my” table.

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 I hope you enjoy them!

 

 

~A Note From a Friend

This past week I received a card from a dear friend. I thought I would share with you the words.

For a friend…

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift.

A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift.

A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy and grace.

And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place.

~Jean Kyler McManus

Treasure your friends and let them know how much they mean to you. Thank you my dear friend for sending me such a beautiful card! Love always.