Be Your Own Superhero

Today is the unveiling of the Superhero Zine, with proceeds from the sale of these zines being donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Please take a moment to click on the cover of the zine to be taken to the site where this zine can be purchased and to discover what this project is all about.

A Little Pay It Forward

photo originally uploaded by james-2.com

I believe in the theory, call it Karma if you like, that what we put out into this world will come back to us in abundance. This includes the good and the bad.  In this case, I am talking about the good we put into the world. This is a simple theory really and one that is based on having faith and trust.  To trust in your actions and have faith that what you believe will come to pass.  It may not be something that is evident immediately.  It may be something that happens in the future.  But for every good deed done, every opportunity for making a difference in the world, we increase our chances of the blessing being returned.

The beautiful Christina of Soul Aperture decided last week that she would do a pay-it-forward with 5 of her commenters being chosen to participate and receive a gift of her blessings.  I was one of the chosen.  This means that it is now my turn to pay-it-forward into the world.

If you would like to receive a gift from me -- no idea what it will be, just something that I hope will enrich your day or your week, please leave a comment in this post and let me know.  The proviso to this is of course that you must be prepared to play this forward with your own giving.  Keep in mind that whatever is given need not be handmade or handcrafted.  It can be anything that you choose to give to your recipients.

I will have my son choose 5 random names from those who would like to participate, at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30th.

Isn't there something wonderful about spreading kindness into the world?

So You Want To Be A Super Hero...

Get Ready to Fly!

Every year since my breast cancer diagnosis I have done something towards fundraising as I feel it is important to do my part to give back for all that was done for me. Even before I joined this incredible and ever increasing circle I was someone who would donate to breast cancer research. In part it was because my grandmother (who passed away before I was born) died of metastasized breast cancer, in part because I am a woman and had been touched by others in my life having this disease and I believe on some level, knowing that this was something I would see in my own future.

I've done the run for the cure, I've held a yard sale for the cure, I've sold items I've created. This year I am doing something different and something that I hold very close to my heart. This is a project that I had been thinking of doing for some time but had no idea where I wanted to begin or how to proceed. I gave it plenty of thought and felt that when the time was right, I would hear the answer. And I did.

I was reading a blog, one that I had drifted to, and on that day, the writer said "it is a good day to be a super hero" and I smiled because I could feel the inspiration taking root. Ideas began to form, thoughts to swirl and I had this sense of "I can do this!" and felt such joy at knowing I had the makings of this year's fund raiser, but also something meaningful to me for the future.

As my idea began to take shape I contacted some of the people I find inspiring for a multitude of reasons, and asked them if they would be interested in contributing to this idea, to collaborate with me to create my vision.

I believe that we are all Super Heroes. We have that potential and we have that ability within us. Some know it sooner than others. Some are comfortable with it and live their lives accordingly. Some are uncertain and want to be able to declare themselves but haven't found the voice. It is my desire to help those who are unsure to find that voice and to be the Super Heroes they are meant to be.

I'm not yet ready to reveal the fund raiser...that will come in a few days. You'll have to be patient. In the meantime, I am happy to reveal to you where this fund raiser will be held and what the next step on my journey is all about. You'll find it right here.

A Glimpse -- The Monarch Meets Miss Ruby

Last Sunday was a perfect day for being at the nursery. Our front garden is almost complete but we knew that we wanted to add a butterfly bush. Sheridan Nurseries had a sale, half off the Black Knight Butterfly Bush so we thought we'd take a look. I didn't see myself having "The Black Knight" in my garden as I kept asking if we'd also need "The Boy Wonder".  Yes, my comic humour is often "sad", but I delight in finding humour in life!

Not to worry. The beautiful Miss Ruby was available...while the Black Knight is a bush with dark purple flowers, the Miss Ruby is a jewel as you can see. Miss Ruby was also full price but worth every penny.


We located the spot we thought would be most deserving of this bush, put the pot on the ground and came in to make lunch.

Before the plant had even been placed into the ground, this delightful Monarch came to pay a visit. How magnificent this butterfly looks against Miss Ruby. How quiet and how peaceful to stand for 10 minutes or more just watching this butterfly. How magnificent that nature accommodates so beautifully and how blessed we were to notice!  With all my practice with nothing during the last week, just being still and watching this magnificent creature was true "nothing".

Having this bush where we can see it from the front of the house will bring us hours of pleasure when the butterflies return next year.  I'm glad we had the opportunity have one visitor before it was time for the monarchs to head south.

This was my glimpse for the week.  Tell me, what beauty did you see this week?

Unfortunately...

While blog browsing the other day I came across a post that made me laugh. Some days it's just good to laugh, even if it's over something completely silly or inane. The point of this post was to use google...type "unfortunately" and then your name and see what comes up.

If you put these thoughts into some form of "order" it actually makes a funny little story.

I thought this was a very creative way to spend part of my day ... why not try this yourself and discover what is "unfortunate" about you!!

♥

Unfortunately Sherry cannot grace us with her beautiful keyboard solos but she is able to bang her shoulders against the keyboard.

Unfortunately, Sherry could not use hers due to fingernails.

Unfortunately Sherry doesn't really seem to grasp the concept of video.

Unfortunately sherry did catch the imagination of drinkers in the later 20th century.

Unfortunately, Sherry ends up getting sucked into another section of the sewers.

Unfortunately, Sherry is not often recommended with seafood.

Unfortunately, Sherry's laziness isn't shared by the hundreds of thousands.

Unfortunately Sherry has retired from sewing.

unfortunately, Sherry got blessed with the tall genes.

Unfortunately Sherry was only able to have 2 litters.

Unfortunately, Sherry was nervous about being on the air.

Unfortunately Sherry couldn't be here tonight.

I Have Learned Nothing...Chapter One

At Jamie's suggestion last week, I made myself a vision board about joy. I spent a great deal of time browsing through the many magazines I had saved over time and clipped out things that made me smile or made me feel warm inside. I chose things that have meaning to me, things that have brought joy into my life, even those tiny feet! I love 2 year old feet...there is something magical about feet that size. Every time I look at this vision board I am reminded of the joy that abounds in life.









Chapter One of "The Joy Diet" deals with nothing. The art and the practice of doing nothing for at least 15 minutes each day. Not as easy as it sounds given that we are a society that has been programmed to "do", to be on the move, to not be idle and to feel that "stopping" is tantamount to treason. A challenge it was to scope out my 15 minutes and do absolutely nothing. To embrace stillness and to think no thoughts, to keep my mind blank and not allow it to wander to things I needed to do, places I could be, etc.

Martha Beck, the author of "The Joy Diet" gives a number of examples as to how this can be accomplished. Armed with those ideas I barricaded myself in the shower. I knew this would be 15 minutes I would take each day and there would be no disturbances from the telephone, the computer or anyone needing me. It might not be at "exactly" the same time each day but it will be close enough.

It took some time but I did manage to sit for 15 minutes and think no thoughts. I sat on the floor of the bathtub, and let the water cascade over me. I opened my arms and my hands, I closed my eyes and visualized myself sitting in a pond, under a waterfall. The warm soothing water sluicing over my body relaxed me and as I concentrated on my breathing, I pictured waves in the pool, and birds flying quietly. Whenever a thought began to creep in, a bird would take it into its beak and fly away with it.

On another day as I sat in my sanctuary, I visualized a small but comfortable room with nothing but white fluffy cushions to sit on. I swept the room with a corn broom, and waved away the cobwebs. Each cobweb was a thought or a persistent image I did not want. A window opened, with sunlight streaming in, and a warm breeze blew the sheer curtains to sweep out all remaining thought.

Each time I did this I found my breathing slowed and my body became very still, but very relaxed. It was peaceful and I felt light and almost weightless.

The first day I put this into practice I didn't quite come up to the 15 minutes. I managed 10. My first instinct was to say "that's all I managed today, I'll get out now." But I didn't. I realized that I could stay there for the entire 15 minutes, even if I wasn't meditating or visualizing. It was my 15 minutes and I was going to squeeze out each one. Just thinking that brought me joy!

Adding this to my daily routine all week has given me insight and allowed me to be creative in how I can achieve this state of "nothing". With this chapter under my belt, I look forward to adding more joy to my diet. During the coming week we will work on "truth".

It's In the "Stars"

I don't read the tabloids or "entertainment" magazines, but you can't avoid "seeing" them at any check out counter. The headlines are often enough to make me laugh as I stand there, waiting my turn to pay.

Nothing against this woman, but this did make me laugh when I saw it on an entertainment blog I like...

edited -- for those who got here late, the video has been removed by the maker.  Apologies!

Exploring My Colour Palette With Flowers

As part of my homework for the Spill It! class, I have been checking out colours that my eye is drawn to. Carmen suggested a trip to a nursery or the nursery section of a home centre and as a trip to the nursery was on my agenda for Sunday, I grabbed my camera and off I went.

At this time of year, colours are specific, especially in nurseries. The following is what my eye caught as I walked through the nursery. Bright and abundant. Bold and bursting with life. Complementary colours working together. I didn't "think" about what I was seeing...I lifted the camera and began looking into the viewfinder and clicking. No thought to composition or design. My eye was reaching over and seeing just "colour".








Next stop is paint chips. I love me some paint chips and browsing the colours. This should be fun...need to make sure I bring a "large" bag!!

Sing As If No One Is Listening...

The other day I was visiting someones blog and they had posted a You Tube video of this song.

It reminded me of how much I loved this song, how easy it was to sing along to, that it's something that brought me joy. Never mind that so many people would walk up to me and tell me how much I looked like Toni Tennille. It must have been the hair!!

What I especially like about this clip is others singing along and it reminds me that it is great to sing, to sing out loud and to sing as if no one is listening...to never be afraid of how you will look or sound. If you want to sing, then by all means, sing it out!

Give Peace A Chance

Today is International Peace Day. Something very much worth celebrating as blogger Rhonda Roo has pointed out in hosting a Peace Day Party.

Peace is something we've been searching for and seeking for centuries. Is it wishful thinking to hope that the day will come when Peace will reign throughout the world?

Peace was the main platform of the 1960s when we were asked to "give peace a chance", to "make love not war" and we hoped that "peace would guide the planets". We are now established in a new millennium and we are still seeking that elusive hold on Peace.

If we could take this one day of Peace, to water it and nurture it, allow it to flourish into a week and then a month and then a year, is it possible that this universe would be united with a common benevolence? We start with ourselves and our neighbours and we work towards Peace within ourselves one day, one person, one experience at a time.

Make today your commitment to Peace. Start with yourself. Make Peace with who you are, what you can be, regrets and recriminations. Then make Peace with others in your life.

If you click on the badge above it will take you to the rest of the Peace Train that Rhonda has connected.

A Glimpse - I'm Going to Spill It!!

This is my Glimpse for the week.

I'm going to get my hands dirty and make a mess, and within that mess I am going to create beautiful art.

I'm taking a workshop called "Spill It" with artist Carmen Torbus which begins October 1st and already we have homework, before the class even begins!

There is some part of my brain that holds the concept that creating art means being neat and tidy. It means staying within the lines and following a pattern. I'm not sure why my brain holds this impression. I've been trying to shake this off like gum that has become stuck to my shoe. I know it isn't the truth and over time I have been learning to stick that crayon outside the lines as I experienced with Wreck This Journal. I've been learning that what I conceive in my mind is not necessarily what needs to be spread across the canvas and that in keeping those rigid ideas I am not allowing my true gift to shine forth.

So I'll make a mess with those paints and splatter and spill and revel in the joy of creating with colour and depth and texture and wild abandon. Stay tuned...there is a fierceness that is just waiting to burst forth. I can feel it!

Feel like getting your hands dirty with creative juice? To register for Carmen's workshop, click on the badge at the top of the page.

I've also just learned that Carmen is offering a free tuition to one lucky participant. Check out the details here.

Creative Saturday -- Someone Else's Creativity

I'm not terribly creative today, even though it's Saturday and I'm making a point to be creative on Saturday. I have "a million and one things to do" that are all considered creative but I'm not sure they would be fit to print!!

Given that October 1st marks the start of breast cancer awareness month, it seemed like a good day to introduce this beautiful collage sheet.

I didn't make this -- I have yet to figure out how to create beautiful collage sheets. That may be something I add to my bag of tricks down the road, but for now, this one was made by my friend Carolyn Lodge who writes the blog Magpie-Pixie.

Carolyn is one of those very versatile, creatively talented individuals who is always trying her hand at something new. Last year for breast cancer awareness, among other items that she created and sold, Carolyn also did a collage sheet. This year she put her talents behind this beautiful sheet.

If you are interested in purchasing this to use in your scrapbooking, journaling, or mixed media art you will find it listed in my etsy shop for $3.50. Each time it sells, I will add it again. All proceeds from the sale of this sheet will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Thank you Carolyn for providing my creativity this week and for your support of this worthy cause.

Feasting On The Joy Diet

I read this book by Martha Beck when it first came out a few years ago. I read it quickly and enthusiastically because it was so fulfilling. At the time I didn't bother with any of the exercises or prompts at the end of each chapter. I left the book with the expectation that I would remember everything. Given my residual chemo brain (I love that I have something to hang my memory lapses on...it isn't really chemo brain, that has long passed), naturally I didn't retain everything but the very basic premise.

I'm all about the joy. I'm about finding the joy in the day, in the unexpected, in the very simple things in life. Imagine my joy when I discovered that Jamie Ridler was dedicating The Next Chapter to The Joy Diet! Weeks worth of reading through the book, talking about each chapter, sharing ideas and thoughts with others who are part of the book club discussions, meeting and getting to know new people. It's going to be delicious!

I'm more than eager to begin the next chapter. If you're interested, why not join us? Click on the badge which will take you to the home page for The Next Chapter - The Joy Diet.

Arms Wide Open

My little super hero -- ready to leap tall buildings, jump from rock to rock and take on the world.

From this age and younger, to the present time, this child has embraced life and all it has to offer. He's kept his arms wide open and his options open and he meets life with gusto. His sense of self is healthy and whenever I look at this photograph I think he's saying "look at me world, here I am."

Things change. It's inevitable. This photograph was taken 16 years ago when we were in Myrtle Beach for the second time. When we were there last month those rocks and that little pool no longer exist. Gone at the hands of one hurricane or another I'd expect.

And that little boy? It's been a long time since he was that size. He's a young man now. But he still keeps his arms and his options wide open. And his wing span is as big as his heart.

What I Choose...

I talk about positive thinking around here. I like to feel positive and to put forth my best foot, my best attitude. It's a choice I make every day when I waken, about how is it I want to greet the day and what my expectations will be. In talking about my best foot, that would be my right foot.

But not every day is a sunny day. Some days are slow and tiring, some days I just don't have "it". The "it" is usually something physical that drags at me, slows me down, tries to permeate that good feeling and it's a challenge to keep the smiling inside to show on the outside.

As much as my cancer experience was a positive one on many levels and in many ways, there are drawbacks and lingering aspects that I deal with sometimes daily, sometimes I go days without this and only notice when the weather is "bad" or I'm tired, or I've done too much. Two years post all treatment you would expect the body to have bounced right back.

Well if I had been twenty years younger when I was diagnosed that might be possible. In my case, the taxane based drug was the hardest on my body. I had four rounds of taxol which affected my bones quite severely but I managed to get through it with the help of pain medication. It did leave me with one toe that is almost completely numb and does ache on a constant basis. At the time I was having the taxol it was quite debilitating and I overcompensated my walk to avoid using all of that foot as much as possible. That lead to tenderness and ache in that hip. I can live with it and I do and I adjust my schedule and my activities as needed. I never let it keep me down or prevent me from carrying on. I knew there would be side effects from chemotherapy, I knew some might be long term or permanent. Let's face it -- I was pumping poison into my body. That can't be good!! And yet, it was good, it did so much and the benefit was worth the cost of what I deal with now.

Today is one of those days. I have been doing too much over the last few days, I have had too many late nights and today my body is speaking to me loud and clear. I choose to hear it, but I still choose to find the joy in the day.

When given the choice, I hope everyone chooses to find the joy in the day.

The Test That Never Happened...

I've always been good about keeping appointments, about being on time and making sure that if someone says "you need" or "I want you to have" that I am there. Ingrained habits from childhood? Maybe. Or maybe more that I have just always been attentive to and vigorous about my health.

Then came cancer and I lost the "control" to some degree about deciding whether or not I would do this that or the other. There is no doubt that I still held the reins for the final decision on what treatment I would have, if I wanted treatment at all or if I would prefer alternative to traditional. In this situation I trusted the oncologists, both chemotherapy and radiation and followed the "programme" that was laid out for me. I continued to be my usual self when it comes to doctors and medicine asking question after question. Whatever is being put into my body I want to know all the ins and outs about why and what does it do and what will it possibly do. As everyone needs to be -- I am always informed and aware of what is going on with my body.

After cancer treatment I felt depleted. I felt "doctored out". I had seen so many doctors for so many things. I had seen technicians and nursing staff sometimes daily (during radiation) and I reached the point of "enough". I needed a break from the merry-go-round of hospitals and doctor's offices. However, ending cancer treatment doesn't mean that you are "finished" with all of that. There are follow-ups with all the doctors and follow ups in certain tests and you come to realize that you are "in the system" for life. On some levels that is comforting. On others it becomes a chore.

Roll forward to my stress echo of a few weeks ago. The appointment to which I ultimately said "no". There I was, dressed for the treadmill, finishing my breakfast and getting ready to head out the door when I stopped and put down my bags, picked up the telephone and cancelled the test. It had been in the back of my mind I admit that, but there was no hesitation in cancelling. I knew it was the thing to do.

If I felt that this test was necessary and I really needed to have it, I would have gone without a backward glance. I knew that this test wasn't necessary. I knew I had a 2D Echo booked (this week as a matter of fact) and felt that if there were any results from that test that showed concerns I'd have the doctor reschedule the stress echo. I'm not dismissing my heart health. I was making a decision based on my own connection with my body. True, these tests show different aspects of the heart function. But I'm tired. I'm done. I'm seriously just wanting to get on with life and not be feeling like a specimen all the time.

I'm not advocating cancelling appointments for tests or follow ups that a doctor feels are necessary. I'm advocating taking some control over your own body, knowing what you can handle and what you can't. My reluctance and humour over having to have the test were telling me not that I was afraid of the test...more that I was putting myself into a situation that I felt was unnecessary. We'll see if the cardiologist agrees with me when I next see him!!

How "The Other Half" Lives...

In my voracious need "to know", I've been reading a lot of autobiography over the last few months. These are my most recent forays into the lives of the "famous". These are my thoughts as I've closed each book.

Some people just have WAY too much money. Some people spend that money frivolously. Some people would be too embarrassed to write about all that over abundance (while some obviously are not). Some people have raised children (or one child) who feel they deserve a life of entitlement. Some children really do learn what they live.

I'm not a "fan" per se of Maria Shriver's, and this isn't really an autobiography, however, when I saw this book on the shelf in the library I was intrigued as to what sort of "things" Maria wished she had known before she went out into the real world. These are valid points spoken with truth and humility.

Goldie Hawn is one of those women who is breaking molds...the way we think about life and age, the way we think of women who reach their prime and then some. Goldie is not some ditsy blond who hasn't a clue. This is a woman who has lived and loved, learned a lot along the way and has a warmth that flows from the pages. Makes me want to say, "when I grow up I want to be Goldie."

Aside from the drugs, the rehab, the perks that come with celebrity, Marlee Matlin has survived abuse, she has done good works on behalf of the deaf (closed captioning on your television being one) and she proves that having a disability is not a handicap. Interesting bit about Rob Lowe as well!!

I don't recall watching "Little House on the Prairie" or any of the television movies Melissa Gilbert appeared in, but I certainly knew who she was. Another tale of alcohol addiction (par for the course in Hollywood perhaps, but also addictive as part of her personality), this woman up to three bottles of wine per night (I'd be dozing off by the end of the first, never mind the extra stress on my bladder!), another abusive relationship (due to alcohol and drugs on the part of the abuser) and more information about Rob Lowe. That boy really got around!!

At the end of the day I'm glad I'm on this side of "the other half", but there is always much to learn and much to be grateful for when you peer into the lives of others.

A Glimpse..Past to Future...

This is my glimpse for the week. Have you stopped laughing yet?!?!

Looking back through old photographs and this one of a Halloween night. I would have been 4, just turning 5. My sister would have been about 18 months old.

The photo was taken at the neighbour's house across the street. I don't remember this Halloween at all, but in looking closely at my mother's face she is drawn and looks uncomfortable. I'm thinking that it was around this time when she had dental surgery in order to have the partial plate I always remember her with. I'm also thinking she was in too much discomfort to even think about Halloween costumes.

Halloween was never an event with store bought costumes. We decided what we wanted to be and it was always something simple and a costume was rustled up from whatever was in the house. One year I went as a painter, another year a lamp, there were years I went as a hobo and one year as a baby. I usually created my own costumes. It explains where my love of doing this for my children was developed. I recall the year I made costumes for my sister and her friend...they went as a pair of dice made out of boxes I had painted and men's suspenders. Great fun.

But these costumes?? Oh my. I'm guessing that my mother trailed us across the street and our neighbour (her best friend) pulled these together for us. My sister was a pirate and likely wearing a costume that had at one time belonged to the youngest boy in this family of 3 (who were like brothers to us -- we were all very close and spent a lot of time back and forth in one another's homes). Ar matey!!

And me? Well, I'm obviously a super hero. Super Man? I can't imagine anyone would have thought to call me Super Woman...we hadn't achieved much in the way of women's liberation at that time. But dear goodness...I'm wearing a boy's long underwear and the "S" (which could of course be for Sherry) is made with hockey tape! I have no idea what I'm wearing on my head but I'm disturbed that I'm minus a cape..what kind of super hero has no cape?!

Fun memories with laughter included.

This is a glimpse not only into the past but into the future. A little sneak peek into something that I'm working on that excites me very much and will be unveiled in a few weeks. Once a super hero...always a super hero!

Creative Saturday

I've been inspired to be creative on Saturday as per following Chocolate Covered Daydreams. I had a few ideas about how I would be creative but as the day slipped away most of those ideas seemed too involved, industrious and time consuming.

It's the time of year when produce is in abundance...baskets and baskets of fresh produce at farmer's markets and in grocery stores. I had some peaches on hand that were going to be "lost" with only 3 of us here to eat them (and really, it's down to just me when it comes to fruit and digging in every day unless I pack it in school lunches, and peaches just don't travel well), so I decided I'd make a peach cobbler. I've never made peach cobbler before but how hard could it be I thought.

When my boys were young children I baked all the time. It was something I loved when I was a child and wanted to give to my own children. It's been a long time since I donned the apron for some Betty Crocker time.

I went through some recipe books and found this one that had belonged to my sister. She bought this her last Christmas and after she passed away, it came to me. I look at this every Christmas but I have never in nearly 10 years ever used it or made anything from it. Until today.

I followed this recipe

Using my peaches

and some beautiful blueberries (I made sure none fell on the floor and that I had no skids or splits...once per summer is usually my limit!)

This is what ended up in the pan....

And this is what came out....which we will enjoy tonight after dinner with a little cream or ice cream.

Have you been creative today?

It's Better In the Beach...

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, perfect for a stroll along Queen Street East in the Beach area of Toronto. Lots of windows to browse in, shops to enjoy and a cold Starbucks java chip frappuccino to finish the walk.

Here is a little of what caught my eye as I was enjoying the afternoon.

First stop Aix-En-Tric which sells beautiful jewelry.

I love the elegance and romance of their window and would be quite happy to have these red shoes! Look closely I think I managed to get myself into one of these photos!

Next stop was Carload...the most amazing fruits and vegetables are always on display. I loved he pop of yellow from these lemons. Treated myself to 4 of those, a yellow mango, some fresh figs and a cantaloupe.

My favourite shop in the Beach for tea and other tea accessories is Pippins. At present they are located in a smaller spot while renovations are being completed for the re-opening at their original location. I love how they are decorating. And good taste? The wall fountain with the lion is the same one we have on the front of our house. Excellent taste I would say!

Jane Hall is definitely all about style...(look there I am taking the photo, and there's my other half holding my frappuccino!).

Aren't these painted chairs amazing? They remind me of the ones that Dawn Supina creates.

A sign that caught my eye on the side of Castro's Lounge...

And this is the view you get when you look to your right, down from Queen Street on any of the connecting avenues...Lake Ontario.

Maybe it IS better in the Beach!