Mini-Vacation Wonderfulness

5 days of relaxation. 5 days of no computer, no phones ringing incessantly, no one needing anything desperately-right now-this minute! Just a moment to relax...

Adventures in Strawberry Picking

Ah, the annual tradition of strawberry picking. Melissa, her two daughters, her mother and I went to Seamen's Farm in Litchfield, Maine. The berries were a bit small, but it didn't take us long to pick 14 quarts (6 for me, 6 for Mel and 2 for her mum).As I washed and dried the berries, my thoughts swept to all the wonderful things I could make with them!
Pies and breads and jams
Sundaes.....mmmmmmm!
And fruit tarts!
It was so simple: I blended 1 pkg of cream cheese, 1/4 cup of sour cream and a 1/4 cup of sugar with about 1 cup of strawberry puree (add this a little at a time - you may choose not to use quite so much...I was trying to use up the rest of the puree that I had made for the sundae the night before). Using this recipe for pie crust, I dug out my little moon and star cake molds to create the base .
Then topped each with a whole strawberry!
These will be finding their way to a couple of my friends. 2 more that I made will find their way to my sister's house and the last one I made...well, I had to sample it...just to make sure that it was edible, you know, before I foisted then off on others! ;^)

I hope you all have a fabulous week! I'm off for the next 5 days (Happy 4th of July to everyone in the States!) to enjoy a little of this and a little of this! I may pop in from time to time, but for the most part - I'm outta here!

Wild, Wild Horses, We'll Ride Them Some Day

What a fabulous weekend! I went strawberry picking (I'll save those picts and a recipe for tomorrow), I started painting the doors of my kitchen cabinets (only 4 more coats to go - ugh, I hate the paint I got, not the color - just the texture, but I need to use it up) and part of Saturday morning was spent hanging out with my friend Melissa and these two gorgeous animals.
Callie (foreground) and Soul (behind)

I haven't been on a horse in 23 years...needless to say I was a little nervous...especially since this guy is so big!But you know, once on, I was okay. Soul is very gentle and sweet natured. He reminded me of a very big version of my dog...only he's better mannered!

The day was perfect for riding - sunny enough to be warm, but windy enough not to sweat to death and to keep most of the bugs down. The only problem were the horseflies out in the fields; they were driving the poor horses nuts!
When we came back, both Soul and Callie decided to take dirt baths...it was so comical to watch them roll!

Can I tell you how much I ached the next day (and still do)? Oowww! I now understand the meaning of "saddle-sore." I don't know how those cowboys (and girls) do it! I think I just need to get used to it. But you know, I had so much fun...I can't wait to do again!

Everywhere I go, there's Buddha

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become ~ Buddha

I went looking for long curtains and a curtain rod, but found Buddha instead.

It was a moment of serendipity. I just started reading Sandy Boucher's Opening the Lotus: A Women's Guide to Buddhism. I bought it several years ago but never got around to reading it, back when I was studying "Alternative Religions" at university - I went to a Catholic Canadian University and had the opportunity to really study Catholicism (and realize just why it didn't work for me), as well as many religions aside from those that subscribe to Christianity. I was raised Catholic, but became a Pagan when I was 14 (I think my parents thought it was a phase). Growing up, very little emphasis was placed on Mary's role in Sunday school and in church, making it seem very onesided to me. I think I was searching for something that delved a little deeper into the divine feminine aspect, something that was a little more relaxed, a little more celebratory and that didn't send you on a neverending guilt trip. Now I'm in no way against Christianity - I reconciled those feelings long ago, but every now and then I have issues with believers of the faith...like the strangers who come to my door and preach at me, look shocked and appalled when I say I'm a Pagan and then rant at me for my "wrong" beliefs, telling me that I'm going to hell (and yes this seems to happen more often than I would like). This falls into my "things that really annoy me" category - if I can accept these people despite our difference in religious opinions, why can't they do the same? I've read the New Testament...I know for a fact that it teaches acceptance. Did they skip this part?

Okay, so anyway...this is was not supposed to be a rant, it was supposed to be about how I'm reading this book on Buddhism. Lately it seems that Buddhism is just jumping out at me - everywhere I go, there's Buddha (sounds like a book title). It made me realize that I really don't know as much about it as I thought and that maybe now is the time to read up on it. I actually own a few books on Buddhism, but just couldn't get into reading them (I'm a firm believer that no book will ever be read before it's time - if I can't get into the book, I set it down. Eventually, I come back to it...be it a week, a month or 6 years...and suddenly I can't put it down. It's just the right time in my life for me to read that particular book). And though I don't forsee me becoming a Buddhist, there are many aspects of it that I can identify with. I see many links to Paganism in Buddhist teachings (and I see many links to Paganism in Christian teachings - it's in the basic principles).

But I thought it was interesting that I had just picked this book back up and suddenly, I come across Buddha sitting on a shelf at a local store. And just having him in my hallway, his little fountain bubbling, there is a feeling of calm settling into my house. I really like that.

New Bag and Office Art

So I know I said I needed to show off my new pants and the headband/dana that I made, but it was so cloudy this morning that the lighting at home was horrible for taking pictures...but I did make this bag last night on a whim and without a pattern. I love the fabric, but I forgot to add pockets to the inside lining (oops!). It still works and it holds a lot of stuff! I have a book, an organizer, a wallet, a camera, sunglasses case, keys and a zipper purse of things that I don't rolling around the bottom of my purse all tucked in!

Also, we have new art work in the office! Yippee, it's fabric and fiber! It's the work of a group of five artists. They are Catherine Worthington of Brunswick, Natasha Kempers-Cullen of Topsham, Katherine Harman Harding of Freeport, Stephanie Green Levy of Brunswick and Mary Allen Chaisson of Harpswell.

Some of my favs:

"Green Spirit" by Natasha Kempers-Cullen

work by Stephanie Green Levy

work by Katherine Harman Harding

"Jewels" by Mary Ellen Chaisson"Magic Moment" and "Life Energy Celebration" by Natasha Kempers-Cullen
close up of "Life Energy Celebration"
"Walk on the Moon" by Stephanie Green Levy
"Village II & III" by Catherine Worthington
(these two little ones are my definite favorites of the exhibit!)

Foxy Loxy and Postcardie Goodness

This little friend came to visit the field next to my parents house...and hasn't left. As a matter of fact, she's building a new home. I tried to get a good look at her to see if she was pregnant, but I couldn't tell. Click on the "View Slideshow" button to see more photos of her. I was all of 15 ft from her, taking these shots. She ran away once, when I started walking back to the house, but she came back, only to run away again when I took the dog out for a walk. She's rather ratty looking (I think that's because she's shedding with the hot weather), but she's cute!

Completed this weekend were the postcards for Andrea's swap! Mine are a bit bulky to be sent as is (and they have beads glued to them that would get destroyed in the sorting machines at the post office), so into envelopes they have gone and are just awaiting postage.

The idea was to create a "summer" postcard...things that make you think of summer (I've already received 3 of the 12 from my list and they are just so funky and creative! I have them on my fridge right now). They were supposed to go out by the Solstice...but as you can see that didn't happen!
Oh so, have I mentioned just how much I love my chief of staff? He closed the office at 3:00 on Friday and told me to get out, to go start my 3 day weekend! He totally rocks!

Oh oh, I have to remember to take picts of my latest creation (the very functional headband/dana - you'll see) and the island pants I found over the weekend (the link shows you what I mean by island pants, mine are grey rayon with an embroidered, sheer black organza overtop - again I say, you'll see).

Anyhoo, I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Finally...

We adjourned at 10:32 last night and if I hadn't been so tired, I would have done the happy happy dance of joy! I'm still exhausted - at the end of today, this will have been a 60 hour work week. :^(

I don't like 60 hour work weeks. They remind me of when my soul was owned by a retail conglomerate and 17 hour days happened EVERYDAY!

But yesterday I did seek some respite in a lovely, sunny little spot

A place to put my feet up soak up a little sun
watch the summer sky roll about
And rest my tired eyes

It's back to work today, but now to blissful quiet. Silent halls that, not 12 hours ago, were packed with people: Senators, Representatives, lobbyists, citizens, staffers, reporters, camera crews.

Today, they will go back to their normal daily lives.

And so will I. Here. In the quiet.

Solstice Blessings!

May the Blessings of the Solstice be yours, in times of light, times of dark, and all those changing times between. For wherever you pause, may you always remember that you carry with you the seeds of hope, the seeds of joy, the seeds of change to plant in the changing light of the year.

~ Christina Aubin

1 AM

We were in session until 12:45 this morning.We're still not finished.
I'm working on 4 1/2 hours of sleep,
and I took these photos on my ride home from work.
I hope we finish everything today because by 2 PM, I'll either be giddy and silly...
or asleep.

I need a vacation

I've said it before, but I really enjoy my job. I work in the Maine Legislature (Office of the Senate President), but we're not a full-time legislature, which means every two years, we have a new legislative session and every two years there is the possibility of not having a job (a bit nerve-wracking). Our legislative session is broken up into 2 individual (regular) sessions. The first session is the longest running (normally) from January to June. Our second session runs from January to April (sometimes May). In my office, session normally starts off busy, slows down a little as committees settle into their work on bills and then speeds up like a freight train when the end of session approaches. Paperwork comes in furious piles. Tempers flare and suspicion abounds at the slightest notion of someone's bill going the wrong way. Lobbyists hover, staff members scurry and the media camps outside each chamber in hopes of a scoop. Rumors circulate and questions are asked: Will tax reform go this way or that? Will the State health plan make it or be scrapped? Will a certain Senator have a meltdown in public...again...or just in the privacy of her caucus...again? Ooooooh, the drama!

The biggest question today is about adjournment. Today is the day when they should finish their work. Will they? Many have been asking this. Everyone has a guess...a date and a time (and $5 in a pool - keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow night at 11:12 pm).

There is an air of anticipation here today. A calm before the storm. How will it all end? When will it all end?

And my question...when can I take a vacation?

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I leave you with two really great Imogen Heap songs: