Word of the Year

Taken at Gainesville Nami Walk for Mental Health Awareness Festival 

As has been my tradition for years, I once again chose a word/phrase to focus on for the new year. Considering how much crafting I did last year, it's no surprise that this word came immediately to mind: 

MAKE

Yes, I mean it in the literal sense as in the making of my blankets and other cozy things, but also in a more abstract, spiritual way. 

Make...love. Make..amends. Make..friends. Make..peace. Make..meals. Make..a tidier home...Make time for reading..Make healthy choices..etc. etc. etc. 

This was my chosen word, but then, another kept coming up for me as well..

MORE

When I first watched the movie, One True Thing, and of course read the amazing novel upon which it was based, so many great moments jumped out at me, so many quotes, including this one: 

"Your father always says that, 'less is more,' to me, 'more is more." 

Being a Leo who has never achieved "minimalism," and struggles with "moderation," I can totally relate! So, I've decided that my phrase for 2023 will be:

MAKE MORE

Make more love..make more friends..make more peace..make more meals..make a more tidy home..make more time for reading...make more healthy choices..etc..etc..etc..

I love it, and have already started implementing some of it into my daily routine. Well, mostly the making of blankets, but I will be working on the rest, little by little. 

I'm still really easing into the year, haven't found the oomph to do very much. I haven't gotten back to my walking routine, but I'm giving myself a break, knowing that I've had these slumps before and I always work my way through them. I have been reading more, dedicating some of my early morning to my book instead of social media. I'm making more mindful choices in my day to day life, and that feels really good! 

One area that Beren and I have been working on is our tv screen time. Since he retired, we have spent too much time in front of the television, bingeing series after series, which is fine. We have a lot of "free" hours in the day, and as long as our family's needs are being met, I don't feel too guilty for vegging out on the couch, especially since I'm always crocheting as I watch. We usually chose quality shows, mostly British dramas & mysteries, but this year I'd like to focus on more movies. I adore films, have always said that I could literally go the theater every day, so why not create that experience at home? 

The thing I missed most during the pandemic..
I was thrilled when I could finally return to the theater! 

I have been logging our films on Letterboxd, and our tv series on TV Time (I'm sure I could combine the two but I like both platforms for different reasons). If you're a member of either of these, let me know so I can follow! 

Here are the movies we've watched in 2023, thirty-one so far! Some are oldies that we missed, or wanted to watch again, others are new to us. These include the films we see at the theater during our usual Tuesday matinee movie-and-a-coffee date!

I guess that's it for now. Today the "laundry fairies" need to work on Mount Washmore, I'm hoping they also pull the ironing board out and tackle a few of Beren's Hawaiian shirts. I have a phone chat date with a dear friend, and also should tidy up a bit around here. In the meantime, I hear my crochet hook calling..

Have a beautiful day! 

Rapunzel

Rest

I'm taking a course by the author Patti Digh called First 37 for 2021. Each day we receive writing prompts and encouragement to go deeper, live with intention, create more meaning in our lives. I am really enjoying it so far, already feel more peaceful and enlightened and am enjoying the community of Like-minded people. Well, today's instruction consisted of just one word: REST. 

After the insanity and chaos of yesterday's political drama, that's just what I intend to do today. I'm going to breathe deeply, move slowly and allow my body and mind to calm down. There's a lot of work to be done in our country, and I hope to do my part, but for today, some healing is needed. 

Have a beauty-full day,

Rapunzel

On My Hearth: Creole Black-eyed Peas

photo by Kali

Because 2020 was such a freaking mess (to put it mildly), I am not taking any chances with this year! Not only did I make my own batch of lucky black-eyed peas, I also gifted a bag of Rancho Gordo to each of my daughters. Everyone prepared her own recipe, wish I could have tasted them all but, alas, distance prevented that from happening. I had to settle for just my own, which is so delicious and, like every recipe from Susan Voisin, is always a hit! 

My photo doesn't do it justice, head over to FatFree Vegan Kitchen and grab the recipe for Creole Black-eyed Peas.  I usually serve it with a hunk of cornbread alongside, but after a few indulgent holiday meals, I need to get back on track with my eating plan before my jeans are any tighter! I'm starting with Square One, listening to Chef AJ each morning as I walk, cleaning up my kitchen and preparing compliant meals. I'll have those few pounds gone in no time. 

The walking is so important, I really feel it when I miss a couple days in a row. So, back to regular movement, structure and focus and routine! 

Have a beauty-full day,

Rapunzel~

Structure

 

Each January I choose a word or phrase to be the theme for the year, and this year is no different. I wanted to select something spiritual or meaningful, thinking that the last 9 months of Covid lockdown should have resulted in a personal revelation of sorts. Honestly, no such thing happened. What the pandemic has done is confirmed the truths I already knew about myself, and given me "permission" to embrace the things I wasn't quite willing to before. I'm no longer going to apologize for being an introvert, for needing a lot of alone time, for preferring to stay home, for not enjoying crowds and noise. There's nothing wrong with wanting to hunker down with my husband and my pets, read a book or binge on Netflix. I'm not a bad friend if I would rather meet at a coffee shop for an hour or two than commit to a full day or night of socialization. While I understand that as grownups we sometimes have to step outside our comfort zones, do things because our family or friends enjoy them, that is more the exception than the rule from here on. Forced social distancing has helped me shore up some boundaries I was already building, and that feels good. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hermit committing to a life of solitude; I enjoy the company of friends and family! I'm just more and more discerning about where and with whom I want to spend my leisure time. 

So, the primary word for 2021, the one that's been coming up for me for some time, is..

Since retiring and moving to Ormond, I've had a lot more time on my hands, and find myself wasting too much of it. At the end of the day, I look back and realize that I've spent too many hours puttering around the house, scrolling social media, and generally floating through my day with little accomplished at the end of it. For months now I've been trying to implement a routine to add some structure and meaning to my days, and I think I have a plan in place or at least a rough draft which can be tweaked as needed. 

Also, I am choosing a second word, one that served me well a couple of years ago and continues to pop into my head many times a day..

Whenever I get distracted, I gently remind myself to focus, pay attention to the task at hand, be in the present moment. There's rarely anything so urgent that needs my immediate action, I don't need to multitask. It's fine, preferable in fact, to just focus on this one thing. Whether it's a text message, a fleeting thought, a nagging reminder..it can wait its turn. Breathe. Everything in good time. 

So, that's where I am right now. Still building, putting a concrete plan in place, but I know what I want the finished product to look like, how I'd like to spend my days on the whole. That's half the battle, right? 

Rapunzel~ 

Great Castle Update of 2012

Since returning "home" from Ormond last week, my family and I have been doing some serious work on the Castle.  It's been quite a long time since I last redecorated, and the place really needed updating.  Honestly, I haven't bought furniture since moving here in 1998! Yikes! I think it's time, don't you?

Family Room Before - circa 2005-ish

We started on the family room, replacing the torn leather couches (thank you, Loki!) and old oak wall unit. A trip to IKEA was in order, Kali & Jesus were kind enough to pick up, deliver and install for me!

Kali, my designer/delivery gal/assembler/IKEA pro!

Jackson "assisting" Jesus with the assembly

Jezebel getting in on the act

Loki thinks it's a playground

Ta-Da! We just need a few more decorative items and we're done! 

Jez loves the new sofa!

Lucifer found a new perch

Recliner Kitties

We're in the process of setting up the office area and awaiting more furniture delivery, so stay tuned! I'm so excited, what a wonderful way to start the new year!

Rapunzel~

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve, originally uploaded by Rapunzel*.

Happy New Year to all of my blogging friends!
Here's wishing that 2010 brings peace, joy and magickal moments to us all!

Brightest New Year Blessings,



P.S. Because a couple people on both of my blogs have mentioned the dress I'm wearing in this pic, I figured I should spill the beans. It's 100% silk, INC brand, and I paid a whopping $2.50 for it at a thrift store in Daytona. LOL! Better yet, the proceeds went to an organization for abused women. Good deal all around, right?

Kicking Out 2009

I know it's only Dec 26th but I'm calling 2009 over. Kaput. Finis. I'm making a fresh start, today. No waiting until the stroke of midnight or the traditional popping of the cork. My family and I are gathering up the past year's heartache & pain, stress, drama & turmoil & tossing them to the curb. Goodbye, 2009. Though you had a few nice moments for the most part you sucked, big time.

With that out of the way, I can focus on the future, on 2010 which will be fabulous. Each year instead of, or sometimes in addition to, the typical New Years resolutions I also choose a mantra, a word or phrase to focus on for the 12 months to come. I've been pondering this for a couple of weeks and no matter how hard I tried to come up with something more original, one word persistently made it's way into my mind. I was still on the fence about it until a few days before Christmas when I opened a holiday card from my dear friend Benzaiten.



Once I saw this beautiful picture, so appropriate for those of us living in less than a winter wonderland, I knew it was a sign from the goddess! Not only have birds been significant of late, these are the exact colors of the living areas in the Ormond Beach house: ocean blue and sand, a serene, peaceful palate that is so unlike my home down south and yet one which I've been suddenly drawn to. I will be taking this lovely image to the craft shop this weekend, having it framed and then it will hang prominently in my new home, reminding me that whenever possible, in any circumstance, I should simply choose Peace.

Brightest New Year Blessings,