Coffee Thoughts...

The left overs are put away...if not already devoured, which is the case in our house...They just don't seem to stay around long...but soup will be made today!!! And now it is upon us....The Christmas season...I for one give in to some of the "commercial" aspects of it...I did go out and do the shopping frenzy on Black Friday (not so much for the "door busters" but for the feel of the holiday season...like a gun being shot off at the beginning of a race!!) But, this year, now that I have that out of the way, I am going to wrap myself around the spirit of hope for the holidays...I have decided that my tree will be decorated in stars with messages of peace...hope...love...faith on them ...I will be making stars with messages as gifts to give for others also...This has been a very trying year for me in a great many ways...It has also been a year of learning and growing...of discovery and love...this year has been unlike others in that I have listened intently to my inner voice more...I have discovered strength that I did not have...and love that was locked away...I have found a way to continue forward even in the face of not knowing where I am headed at times or what is around the next corner...This season, of giving will be as homemade and as simple as I can make it...It will be filled with as much laughter and love as possible...and I will smile and sing as much as my heart will allow me to....This year I will be present...I will not be concerned with presents!! This year, I will rejoice in the life that I have...I will dream of the things that can be...and I will honor all that touch me...This year, I will be present...no pressure...no worries...no troubles...(and of course....a lot of coffee!!)
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Happy Thanksgiving...

From my house to yours....

Wishing all the most bountiful Thanksgiving season...May you and yours be surrounded by the love and wonder of life...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Today, as I was driving there were hundreds of crows on the lawn in front of a building...they were in trees...on the lawn...flying about....what a sight to see...and this came into my head...

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Acts Of Kindness...

This list was gifted to me....Now, I pay it forward to YOU....Try one every day...I am starting with number 10 for the date...and going forward till the end of the month....Or make your own list....Acts of Kindness....they are beautiful things from the inside out...

(http://www.daretobeanangel.com/)
ACTS OF KINDNESS
"I expect to pass through life but once.
If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing
I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or
neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. " ~ William Penn

You Can Make Your Own Life Better by Doing One or Two of
These Simple Acts of Kindness Every Week:
1. Write a note of appreciation to your mail and newspaper carriers.
2. Compliment a stranger, with sincerity and a smile.
3. If you know someone in financial difficulty, anonymously mail them $5,
$10 or $20.
4. Look for anything that can be put away, fixed or picked up.
...(put shopping carts away, pick up some trash, fix something that's fallen
over ...etc.)
5. Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.
6. Volunteer your time at a charitable organization.
7. Write a note to management about an individual who has treated you nicely
while doing their job.
...(a waiter or waitress, grocery clerk, sales person, mechanic ...etc)
8. Buy something for a stranger from their Amazon.com Wishlist.
9. Cut an article out of the newspaper that would interest a friend and mail
it to them.
10. Leave 'Have a Nice Day' stickers for a receptionist or front desk.
11. Clean up gravestones at a local cemetery.
12. When you go out to dinner, order a dessert to go and give it to a
neighbor.
13. Send a card to someone in the military overseas.
14. Start a conversation with a co-worker that you don't know.
15. Tutor a child in your neighborhood.
16. Put change in the slots of a row of vending machines.
17. Visit a nursing home and spend time with a person who doesn't get
visitors.
18. Put an item you no longer need on Craig's List Free Spot for your
community.
19. Leave something for someone at an area where it might be most used.
....(a book in reading area, an umbrella near door on rainy day, a few
magazines at an airport ...etc.)
20. Pay for the toll charge of the car behind you.
21. Drop off a toy or game at a hospital or a homeless shelter.
22. Get some groceries for a financially-

struggling family.
23. Mow someone's lawn, rake their leaves or shovel their snow.
24. Get a picture you have taken of a friend and send it to them with a note
recalling when it was taken.
25. Offer to baby sit for free.
26. Offer to change the oil, filter or the like for a "non car" person....
27. Take flowers to a hospital ward and give them to someone who hasn't had
visitors lately.
28. Volunteer to read to children at the library.
29. When you fill up a click card for free coffee, free gift, or whatever,
give the card to a stranger.
30. Make a CD of your favorite songs and give it to a friend.

This the season to be full of grace and gratitude...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Coffee Thoughts...

Daylight savings time!! HA! So I am really up at 5:30 instead of the usual 6:30...So I did a little painting and drank a pot of coffee before my usual hour...And now I will start my day! HA! Got to love daylight savings time that throws you completely out of whack for a couple days...I love how they say you get an extra hour of sleep!! Who are they that say that and do they live in my house?! I hope you did better than I did with your sleep!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie