Yes, I know its January and most people are done with Christmas. I do love the holidays and could have a bit of Christmas year round.  Why not enjoy the pretty colors and sparkles.  The real reason I have this block out is actually more to do with my New Years resolution.  This is going to be the year of finishing.  The number of UFO's hiding around my house is getting embarrassing.    This is a log cabin block, I have several others already finished.  All I needed was one more to make 12 blocks altogether.  So now I can decide if I want to make one larger quilt with 12, 12" blocks or two throws with 6 blocks each.  

This is a Japanese expression loosely translated to mean finding the beauty in the less than perfect because it is less than perfect.   As a quilter, this is a hard concept to embrace.  We get so lost in trying to achieve the perfect quarter inch that our work can lose character and end up with no personality.  I yearly take part in the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt challenge over on the Quiltville blog/facebook group.  the clues are given once a week from Thanksgiving to New Years, give or take a bit.  We have no idea what the quilt will end up looking like, its an act of faith in Bonnie's skill as a designer.  This year we have begun with a small block that is challenging.  I was so focused on perfection I was becoming frustrated.  Sometimes if a quilt is coming out wrong I put it away and forget about it.   But why really, I'm not perfect, I'm certainly not permanent and I'm not finished.  This quilt is a step in my growth.  It represents me in the stage I'm in and that's a beautiful thing.  So I'm leaving my imperfections, my drip of coffee and my tiny ink spot and someday, someone will look at my quilt and say isn't that beautiful.     

To Join in the fun link up with Bonnie's blog,     http://bit.ly/2hUJQHB                                           #onringolakequilt,   #quiltvillemystery                                                                                             

The last days of summer

Summer in Maine is short and this year was no exception. Fall is beautiful as well, but leaves me a bit sad for all of the things I didn't do over the summer.

What do you do, when you have nothing to do?

I woke up this morning at 4 am, ugh!  Not a morning person.  I couldn’t go back to sleep so I started my coffee and thought I’ll watch an episode of a TV show as a little treat.  My thinking was that If I watch my show at 4 am it won't interfere with the list of chores I have to do today.  But fate had other plans for me, the internet is down.  The internet is my TV since we don’t have cable ( nor want cable) I watch a few things on Netflix and Amazon Prime. So no TV and also no Facebook or email to read.  I felt kinda lost, my little treat time has been taken, disappointment is making my other options look not so good.  I could quilt, or read, or embroider, or knit,  or do my yoga practice or or or, but I’m not.  Why is it when we get our mindset, it is to so hard to change it?  The internet being down is actually an opportunity for me to do any of those things, all of which I love to do and often wish I had more time for.  SO don’t look a disappointment as a loss, try to find the opportunity in it.  I’ve got quilt to make for a new grandson 

Yoga and Me

PEARLS OF WISDOM,

Yoga does not get easier,  You get better.

Most of the time when I mention to a friend that I do yoga they say something like, “Oh, I could never fold like a pretzel” or “I can’t stand on my head!” Why do we automatically jump to the conclusion that we can’t do something when it is proven to be so good for us? Is it fear of the unknown or the misunderstood.  Fear of failure? Or is it the photos we see of pretty little twiggy girls bent in half smiling that sets an unreachably high bar for us? 

Yoga increases strength, core strength that is so vitally important as we age. Yoga increases flexibility of body and mind.  Yoga reduces stress, improves sleep and respiration.  Yoga does not cost a fortune, and you can start today in your own home.

Let’s dispel a few myths about yoga.

** You do not need to be a twiggy 20 something to do yoga.  Yoga may lead to weight loss and increased efficient digestion.  You can, however, practice yoga with middle-aged pudge.  Yoga is gentle, never forced and if it hurts you’re doing too much.  Everyone progresses at their own pace and should take it one step at a time.  Can’t touch your toes, that’s ok, touch your skins or knees.  Slowly relax and stretch a bit more and work up to it (or down to it, as the case may be)

**You have a bad back or bad knees, can’t get on the floor.  Yoga does not need to be on the mat on the floor.  You can yoga in a chair.  Leg lift and stretch. Twist side to side. Shoulders and neck and worked on.

** You’re too embarrassed to take a class..  Check out your local adult Ed or community center.  They often offer classes that are not in a gym full of twiggies.  If you’re still worried, call and ask what the average age of the class is.  Ask if it is beginner appropriate. Ask what you should bring, mat, water bottle, socks etc.  An added benefit to taking classes at a community center or adult ed is that they are usually low cost.   And if you still can’t bring yourself to go to a public class,,, look on YouTube, free yoga!!

** Your too tired to do yoga, ( a yoga buddy actually said this to me when she missed class)  Yoga will give you energy.  Not a run a marathon type energy but a calm, deep feeling of satisfaction and happiness.  Morning yoga sets the tone for the day. 

Most of us have taken care of family all of our adult life, now we deserve to shift our focus to ourselves.  Heal your body, strengthen your body and open your mind to a new experience 

What Really Matters

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What really matters is not how you look,,,but how you see.

"WHAT REALLY MATTE