tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45391084784652133922012-01-02T09:40:08.667-05:00*loving, laughing, and embracing that groovy subculture spirit*rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-58379480439507005322012-01-02T09:40:00.000-05:002012-01-02T09:40:08.677-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax0z0lPibpM/TwHBSq2pRkI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/7JWh1vs9gwg/s1600/153_Bookshelf_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax0z0lPibpM/TwHBSq2pRkI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/7JWh1vs9gwg/s400/153_Bookshelf_original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~may your bookshelf be as colorful as your life~</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-5837948043950700532?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-15376270285600556472011-04-22T17:26:00.002-04:002012-01-02T09:04:43.085-05:00aloha, readers.<br />i hope to find you well; it's been awhile since i've blogged and i figure Earth day is the perfect day to jump back in the game, it being my fAvorite holiday and all... : )<br />remember to hug some trees, turn off your lights when you leave a room, and unplug your chargers and other electronics from outlets when not in use to also cut down on energy-wasting and give a little love back to our planet. <br />otherwise, enjoy this beautiful video followed with an earth day prayer shared by Selena Fox and remember to love your mother!<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22439234" width="400"></iframe><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/22439234">The Mountain</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/terjes">Terje Sorgjerd</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we stop soil contamination &amp; deforestation.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we bring forth cleaner soil &amp; reforestation.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of the Sacred Earth, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we stop air poisoning &amp; ozone layer depletion.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we bring forth cleaner air &amp; atmosphere restoration.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of the Sacred Air, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we stop energy wastefulness &amp; pollution.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we bring forth cleaner energy &amp; energy conservation.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of the Sacred Fire, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we stop water pollution &amp; ocean destruction.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we bring forth cleaner water &amp; ocean preservation.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of the Sacred Water, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we put an end to social &amp; spiritual toxicity.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we bring forth peace &amp; spiritual harmony.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of Sacred Spirit, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we live in harmony with other humans.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we live in harmony with all of Nature on this Planet &amp; Beyond.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we work together to end Planetary sickness.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">May we work together to bring forth Planetary wellness.</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Power of Mother Nature, guide us in this work</span></em></div><em></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">to bring healing to Planet Earth.</span></em></div><em></em><em></em><br /><em><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></em><em><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So Be It.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 12pt 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">This Earth Day Prayer for 2011 by Selena Fox, environmental activist &amp; senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, is the latest version of the prayer she created and led at the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day in 1990 at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin, USA.</span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-1537627028560055647?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-53187205654996037202010-10-23T15:19:00.002-04:002010-10-28T23:32:05.031-04:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMUuEUAIcI/AAAAAAAAAYY/4-KjDz5jcfk/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMUuEUAIcI/AAAAAAAAAYY/4-KjDz5jcfk/s200/017.JPG" width="132" /></a>Besides being born on this month, October has always been my favorite time of year; when the trees&nbsp;turn brilliant colors&nbsp;and delicious smells escape from kitchen doors. As the scent of burning leaves and wood traverse the brisk&nbsp;air, I honestly just want to throw on my flannel, clogs, XL sweatpants and curl up with a book on my breezy front porch where the sun still warms. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMX9chApGI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2KIaiKfSUuM/s1600/Thanksgiving+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMX9chApGI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2KIaiKfSUuM/s200/Thanksgiving+012.jpg" width="150" /></a>Autumn in Virginia is just beautiful in that you can enjoy changes throughout the state during the whole month. Toward the Appalachians to the west, fall is slowly sweeping through the Blue Ridge in hues of burgundy, rust, and gold. In a couple of weeks the seasonal ripple will crash here on the shore, where the sweep of life, transforming, extends to continue cooling the waters of the Atlantic</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">There is much to be thankful for during this season. The Wheel of the year is turning again and as Nature cycles through her rhythms of life and death, there is much reminder for us to appreciate our ancestors and honor their memory while accepting their passing from this lifetime. 6 years ago, we said goodbye to&nbsp;my beloved grandma who was not just an amazing mentor and inspiration, but simply an angelic and otherworldly soul altogether. Learning to let go of her has been such a lesson and in learning, I am now able to remember her without grief or sadness but with awe.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMgJpOk1RI/AAAAAAAAAYg/Wt5K-jPevMw/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMgJpOk1RI/AAAAAAAAAYg/Wt5K-jPevMw/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The full moon of this month, also called the Blood Moon (named for the hunter-gathering histories of native tribes) is time for respect and appreciation to the things that sustain us and end their lives so that their energy may keep us alive; growing and changing. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMwqU2CsWI/AAAAAAAAAYk/mOY3be844EE/s1600/mooncat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TMMwqU2CsWI/AAAAAAAAAYk/mOY3be844EE/s200/mooncat.jpg" width="190" /></a>This is not a new concept, and while I absolutely adore the movie Avatar, James Cameron is not the creator of this idea of unity and sharing of energy, as much as people want to "Avatarize" this notion. Even Obi-Wan's description of the Force, "...it surrounds us, penetrates us..." is young to the slowly-spreading&nbsp;awareness of universality among beings. Our wisest ancestors knew that if we want to respect ourselves, then we must respect every part of life.</div>Part of my intention to accept responsibility for my actions includes even the most seemingly&nbsp;mundane actions, like eating. Though, thinking about it, what I put into myself is one of the most important and spiritual things I can do and not at all mundane. Before supermarkets, the yearly harvest kept shelter and&nbsp;sustainability on the forefront of people's minds while moving inward for the dark seasons; and hunting, harvesting, and perserving food was a mindful, hands-on experience.<br />I try to utilize that mindfulness now, making conscious consumer choices and showing gratitude towards those who have aided me&nbsp;along&nbsp;my&nbsp;journey (in a most Jedi-like fashion ;)<br />And so, in enjoying and appreciating this fall season, I reflect upon the many blessings that have gotten me to this point and now turn my focus inward to be thankful of each passing moment. <br />Some of the books I am reading with similar themes are:<br /><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0374212570&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1598693409&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0876122764&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">~ May the full Halloween moon bask you in her glow of inward-consciousness and outward-appreciation ~ </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-5318720565499603720?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-48040069556568151142010-10-13T13:35:00.001-04:002010-10-13T16:04:52.416-04:00I've been toying with the idea of vegetarianism for 3+ years, for a number of reasons, and only this last year actually gave up meat and embarked on a vegetarian diet. The change in energy I had was not just noticeable, but almost drastic! At first it was kind of difficult to figure out what to eat, but I have always been a vegetable lover so I kept my palate sharp with various legumes and crudites. It was somewhat easy to slip into the junk food and cheese pizza trap and I continue to make a conscious effort to avoid that as often as possible and get experimental with different plants.While I quit drinking cow's milk for the most part, I still LOOOVVVE cheese and just can't work with any vegan replacement (I mean, compressed soy, tofu, and water? gheuhh. no thank you) <br />Fortunately, I believe in moderation&nbsp;and I shop consciously for fish, cheese and eggs, avoiding hormones and unhealthy animals : ) After a short while I stopped having a yearning for meat altogether and was strictly ova-lacto-pescatarian... haha... for about 6 consecutive months. Then I would try a bite of chicken or turkey once in awhile but kept returning to vegetarian habits that were seeming more and more&nbsp;normal to me. Now it has been about 1.5 years since I've eaten red meat and only recently did I have pork again since that time. While temporarily tasty, I regretted this decision later.&nbsp; &nbsp;: /<br />While researching recipes and fall workouts this morning, I realized it is Vegetarian Awareness month. This doesn't mean I believe vegetarianism is right for everyone, but there are a lot of people who ask me about my diet or have misconceptions about the benefits and healthiness of eating vegetarian and so I think this is probably a good time to share some older and wiser resources with whomever cares to read them.<br />&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salagram.net/veg19.html">This</a>&nbsp;is a great site about the many aspects of vegetarianism.<br /><a href="http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/nutritiondata/2010/10/what-makes-for-a-healthy-veget.html">Self</a>&nbsp;magazine discusses the benefits of the habits.<br /><a href="http://mochimag.com/blog/2009/11/vegetarianism-and-veganism-healthy-diets-for-a-greener-lifestyle/">Here's</a>&nbsp;another comprehensive and helpful website, whose picture looked so luscious i had to steal and repost : )<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TLXsYogDE0I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/nbbQkQiRHQY/s1600/Vegetarianism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TLXsYogDE0I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/nbbQkQiRHQY/s320/Vegetarianism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mmmm, yea baby!<br /><br />Hope your veggicuriousness is somewhat sated; I'm going to make lunch : )<br />Happy and healthy living to you, whatever your diet may be~<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4804006955656815114?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-45304585017652997132010-09-28T04:46:00.000-04:002010-09-28T04:46:48.725-04:00So here's the thing: nothing is permanent....everything is subjective.<br />And while I'm grappling with the whole, "get a hold of your emotions, you have too much sentiment," sort of thing, I&nbsp;think nonattachment is one of life's greatest lessons.<br />Cuz let's face it, everything is circumstantial and temporary and blahdie-blah; I'm not the first to say this and I certainly&nbsp;won't be the last, but learning to let go can be a harsh and difficult lesson. And even if you learn it for one THING doesn't necessarily mean it will apply to another.<br />Case in point, I am somewhat particular about the few objects I "own" in this lifetime, let alone the space that I rent temporarily... but I still feel that everything is borrowed because what you take with you (ultimately) cannot be measure in weight or size, but in intellect and choice; in what you can&nbsp;endure, not what you have&nbsp;to show. <br />Things are merely objects moving from hand to hand to hand, possibly connecting us as&nbsp;isolated individuals, but stunting us in a social life devoid of&nbsp;real union due to attachment to inanimate items. <br />Could be a late-night rant, but as I get ready to move my stuff out of this home that I now love/resent and into another, it's important to realize this stuff and these buildings are not what I take with me, but the experience, and the lessons.<br />Hunter S. Thompson said, " Buy the ticket, take the ride," and maybe I still don't fully understand that statement, but now I appreciate the fact that the end result never renders as much as the experience of the journey itself.<br />Ups and Downs. Ebbs and Flows. We cannot be good without being tempted by bad... the lesson of the experience is key. You can't really be attached to the object, but the experience and memories will always tag along with you...urging you to be better...<br />Learning and progessing without attachment... this is my practice of late.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4530458501765299713?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-80156290397961984522010-09-09T14:49:00.001-04:002010-09-09T14:57:54.392-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe it's leftover summer energy,&nbsp;maybe it's the start of the school season; regardless, I am motivated and somewhat anxious this early September. Trying to channel some of this energy into writing has been effective but I often lack direction and progress in much of a swirly-zigzag fashion, moving back and forth between different sections of my story, and rendering indecisive towards some of the details. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My frustration makes me itch and I want to see what I am working toward in more of a visual way, so0o0o I got together with another forward-thinking sister and we had a crafty night of collaboration and connection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a smudge of sage, we grounded and took time to set our intention and a swirl of visions came to me. So I'm thinking, "sweet, cuz this is a groovy/dreamy vision board,after all" and I really tried to open my mind and observe my thoughts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I saw many things, most often a house where I can have my family and my garden, a hub peace and love and a lovely, natural way to give back to the planet. I saw myself as an active, healthy gardener, steady in her yogic practice and genuine in her passion for story-telling and the written word. A place and a position to truly call my own, as independent, sustaining,&nbsp;and eclectic in my career and&nbsp;lifestyle as in my spirituality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After snippin, gluein, and clippin down a complex path of thought and emotion, here is the end product.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TIkjc3q2RbI/AAAAAAAAAYI/5kKHMDMtImE/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TIkjc3q2RbI/AAAAAAAAAYI/5kKHMDMtImE/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While my fingers were organically arranging what my head and heart were collaborating, I was caught up in good company. When I stepped back and checked it out after finishing I was touched by, what I deemed a beautiful, pertinent motivator to look at everyday. So far,&nbsp;working like a charm.</div><div style="text-align: center;">; )</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8015629039796198452?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-53772492587467663472010-08-21T16:20:00.000-04:002010-08-21T16:20:58.813-04:00'Ello friends. <br />Haven't blogged in awhile; I've been traveling and working on a few projects as this sultry summer wanes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAI87VMWqI/AAAAAAAAAXg/JlG2JhGkkV4/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAI87VMWqI/AAAAAAAAAXg/JlG2JhGkkV4/s320/094.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The view of the marina from the Beaufort, NC waterfront</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have really been practicing my yoga even more&nbsp;these days, and working at <a href="http://www.peaceloveandbalance.net/">Peace Love and Balance</a>&nbsp;has allowed me to attend more classes and get over my practice-in-public anxiety : ) Recently, <a href="https://iloveyoga.com/teachers.php">Dwight Garcia</a>&nbsp;came and did a 3-day workshop, here in Virginia Beach, and let me tell you! i have never been bendier or sunk into savasana faster and with more intensity than after his 2.5 hour Urban Vinyasa session.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAJnSToWnI/AAAAAAAAAXo/nrTHbWTrKqg/s1600/IMG_6486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAJnSToWnI/AAAAAAAAAXo/nrTHbWTrKqg/s320/IMG_6486.JPG" /></a></div>Before&nbsp;I got&nbsp;all&nbsp;loosey-goosey and blissed out, Brad and I were doing some flying yoga and Dwight helped me get up into flying shoulder stand! This pose was so fun and freeing and let's just say I have been doing some serious ab-work since ; )<br /><br />I FINALLY started writing my book, and I mean aside from the gazillion post-its and&nbsp;notebook pages of ideas and outlines and storylines that litter my bungalow.<br />I've also been reading like crazy, nothing new there, but my material these days has not only moved my soul, but has been quite inspirational in situating my heroine in&nbsp;the fictitious web i've begun to spin. <br />One book in particular, written by a professor who taught a class on Harry Potter at the University at Edinburgh, really pinpointed key moments and attributes in the Harry Potter saga (which I believe to be a timeless,&nbsp;literary Hero's journey post-Lucas/Campbell/Jung) that distiguish the hero from living a mundane life.<br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1846940931&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>You may or may not know I'm a bit of a nerdy Harry Potter nut, but I just love the story JK Rowling constructs, which as a kid whisked me away to a beautiful fantasy, and as an adult speaks to my code of ethics, notions of morality, feelings of polarity and the knowledge of being special and powerful (not without fault, might I add!)<br />That being said, the Harry Potter saga is representative of the human condition and the individual in society, creating and recreating his own experience and consciously choosing how his life will be after events occur that are out of his control.<br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0399142789&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />This also the theme of another lovely book I just finished, Conversations with God, in which Neale Donald Walsch speaks to God through himself (which, let's face it, is how we all talk to God) by asking different questions and upon placing pencil on paper, receives the answers. Though I felt there was a lot of fluff, there were very important messages tucked into the conversations that spoke of love and the divine that comprises each&nbsp;of us.&nbsp;Gods and Goddesses we were born, nothing to be "saved" or "damned," and as powerful and limitless as we think we are and seek to be. <br />This idea resonates strong with me; as an eclectic pagan, I somewhat avoid organized Religion and the organizational structures that accompany them because it's hard for me to learn something conceptually rather than experientially.<br />Of course it's fine to live your truth through someone elses viewpoint, but as myself and a wizened minority of people have opened our eyes to find, truth is interpretational and union is reached everyday, if you choose. <br />This book really drives that home. <br />"If I do not go within, I go without." <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAwbEDXRcI/AAAAAAAAAXw/csLiu0ET9cQ/s1600/yoga9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THAwbEDXRcI/AAAAAAAAAXw/csLiu0ET9cQ/s320/yoga9.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week's intention goes to honoring my puppy dog and best friend of 14 years, Pete, who was the most loving, obediant, friendliest, truest companion I could ever hope to have. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THA0N6hzuaI/AAAAAAAAAX4/XWfIG7Hvkuo/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/THA0N6hzuaI/AAAAAAAAAX4/XWfIG7Hvkuo/s200/028.JPG" width="177" /></a>Looking forward to seeing you again, my friend. I'll throw that perpetual frisbee, and you can show me how to be better. &lt;3</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-5377249258746766347?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-50877603166429073942010-07-20T11:07:00.002-04:002010-07-20T11:34:15.618-04:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. being outside, soaking up the sun,&nbsp;and digging my hands in the dirt :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW66g08x4I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/cJO4OmuWQk4/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW66g08x4I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/cJO4OmuWQk4/s200/017.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">my little neighbor Reality, finding her space and&nbsp;planting her parsley</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. the natural way soil exfoliates sweaty skin..and it's like it applies itself!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. taking deep breaths of them bloomin' greens, come late spring</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWtbolMsRI/AAAAAAAAAVo/dVXGNamXe_g/s1600/011+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWtbolMsRI/AAAAAAAAAVo/dVXGNamXe_g/s320/011+(2).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. tending to and caring for a bed of baby plants, hell even adolescent plants need rearin'!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW3ZW27kQI/AAAAAAAAAXA/FuLM0kWvj4Q/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW3ZW27kQI/AAAAAAAAAXA/FuLM0kWvj4Q/s320/031.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">5. the workout of weeding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWskUAbTTI/AAAAAAAAAVY/Jxzxwk8TryQ/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWskUAbTTI/AAAAAAAAAVY/Jxzxwk8TryQ/s320/007.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">6. watching pretty flowers bloom and then watching them turn into lush fruits</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW1DBdHVKI/AAAAAAAAAWw/4leZos97sBs/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW1DBdHVKI/AAAAAAAAAWw/4leZos97sBs/s200/001.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW3mtKtprI/AAAAAAAAAXI/EXkdPYznNlI/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW3mtKtprI/AAAAAAAAAXI/EXkdPYznNlI/s320/002.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(The eggplant on top is actually&nbsp;the fruit of the purple flower bloom, above!)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">7. making a tangy basil pesto and becoming famous in the neighborhood (fugettaboutit!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWw5Aw4fvI/AAAAAAAAAWg/rUESPzxHSFg/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWw5Aw4fvI/AAAAAAAAAWg/rUESPzxHSFg/s200/044.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">8. being able to avoid the supermarket to make a meal (you don't even want to know how much this thrills me. sometimes supermarket = i'm cold, i'm impatient...pretty much my downfall)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWwmR9ecxI/AAAAAAAAAWY/40pnHBBY2Jc/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWwmR9ecxI/AAAAAAAAAWY/40pnHBBY2Jc/s320/016.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW1VCLaUdI/AAAAAAAAAW4/YXxTwgeux64/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW1VCLaUdI/AAAAAAAAAW4/YXxTwgeux64/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWvn2-Y2cI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ER81uTCk3zU/s1600/032+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEWvn2-Y2cI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/ER81uTCk3zU/s200/032+(3).JPG" width="148" /></a>9. my one-on-one contact with many interesting bugs or winged creatures...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">10. the way i feel after munching the healthy and delicious veggies of my labor!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW022JPNtI/AAAAAAAAAWo/Alt0c1-s_f4/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TEW022JPNtI/AAAAAAAAAWo/Alt0c1-s_f4/s320/041.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-5087760316642907394?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-48973241475895971012010-07-04T14:11:00.003-04:002010-07-04T17:23:47.461-04:00Do you remember waking up on a sunny 4th of July to the sound of lawnmowers buzzing, relinquishing that sweet and tangy smell of fresh-cut grass?<br /><br />Did you spend hours that day, setting up the sprinkler just right, so that you could make it all the way to the splash-pool at the end and accumulate as little grass as possible? <br /><br />How many daughters helped their moms and aunts and grandmas cut up watermelon and spread red, checkered tablecloths over picnic benches?<br /><br />How many sparklers could you hold in your hands while twirling them around in the twilight, just as the fireflies came out to dance with leftover burgers and sugar-rushed children?<br /><br />Even though you polished off a pound of potato salad, did your mom's friend make you a container to take home with you?<br /><br />Were you late to the game across the street, in the park? or did you make it to the outfield just in time for the ump to shout, "play ball!"<br /><br />Were your neighbors upset when your little brother and his best friend decided to unleash the Pyromaniac Pack at the end of your driveway? ; ) How long did it take you to clean up the next day?<br /><br />Do you still feel like a kid, sprawled out on the grass with her family and friends, silenced into awe and wonder as fireworks burst and boom in the sky above, a symbol of victory and unity?<br /><br />Do you tear up when you think of the thousands of people who have stood up for our Country and our freedom to think, our freedom to choose, and our freedom to act?<br /><br />When the frolick is done and night is back to dark, are you proudly satisfied&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;participated in such community camaraderie, touched by the atmosphere of the yearly ritual?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TDDOOK_nx7I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/4h5vwAT2_eM/s1600/weeping+willow+firework.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TDDOOK_nx7I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/4h5vwAT2_eM/s320/weeping+willow+firework.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">my personal fave, the weeping willow :)</span></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">In a soothing yoga practice this morning, my marvelous friend Betsey quoted, "Freedom is the chance to be better."</div><div align="left">With her, I am moved by this&nbsp;and pray for ALL cultures and nations to have peace... to come together... and to remember the freedoms and priviledges that our nation allows us and those&nbsp;which we sometimes take for granted.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Happy 4th of July, everyone!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4897324147589597101?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-23067563759286548162010-07-01T21:33:00.000-04:002010-07-01T21:33:21.733-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC08srMDiDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0ux8o30t2kg/s1600/img_6913_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC08srMDiDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/0ux8o30t2kg/s320/img_6913_21.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">to do <em>good</em>, you have to do <em>something</em>~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC08f3Qx7pI/AAAAAAAAAUY/edfGPNTud3U/s1600/Healing_Mandala_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC08f3Qx7pI/AAAAAAAAAUY/edfGPNTud3U/s200/Healing_Mandala_6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>*when the pupil is ready to learn, the teacher will appear*</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">(in reference to not only my recent commencement at <a href="http://peaceloveandbalance.net/">Peace Love and Balance</a>, where Betsey inspires me daily with her love of yoga and her offerings to the community, but also to my internship and employment at Avalon farm my last semeter at JMU)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC089F9y9LI/AAAAAAAAAUo/s-wcQHCdWCE/s1600/Mandala+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC089F9y9LI/AAAAAAAAAUo/s-wcQHCdWCE/s320/Mandala+7.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>there are no facts. only interpretations.</em> --nietzche</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC0-kRAFjVI/AAAAAAAAAUw/JMJhIVM7FnQ/s1600/healing_mandala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC0-kRAFjVI/AAAAAAAAAUw/JMJhIVM7FnQ/s320/healing_mandala.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>"with a fool no season spend, nor be counted as a friend"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC0_gfUBfyI/AAAAAAAAAU4/vLeL3Bhfnm4/s1600/index1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC0_gfUBfyI/AAAAAAAAAU4/vLeL3Bhfnm4/s320/index1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">the more we act in love and service to each other, the more fruitful our fields will be</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC1BCBocpNI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wustcOiohAk/s1600/sacredcentresb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TC1BCBocpNI/AAAAAAAAAVI/wustcOiohAk/s320/sacredcentresb.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-2306756375928654816?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-13986141867247093172010-06-30T14:19:00.004-04:002010-06-30T14:58:21.187-04:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hola and happy humidity! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPla2Q4ZlI/AAAAAAAAASI/BZjzEGOYQsk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPla2Q4ZlI/AAAAAAAAASI/BZjzEGOYQsk/s200/015.JPG" width="133" /></a>This first week of summer has been one for the books, my friends. I hope you have remained hydrated and cool as a cat to combat this heavy heat.&nbsp;I went outside with my coffee and a new read the other morning and the air was so damp&nbsp;I practically ruined my library book just reading on the porch for 20 minutes. Though the heat does provide the perfect time for swimmin, plantin, and groovin ; )</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Check out this LED hoop vortex my new friend Holly is stirrin up down at the beach! now that's too cool.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi6KBI_tEI/AAAAAAAAAUI/PxPhxy1y_EQ/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi6KBI_tEI/AAAAAAAAAUI/PxPhxy1y_EQ/s320/061.JPG" width="212" /></a>The summer has really started with a bang, things are heating up while I'm trying to cool down yet soak in the sun and dance dance dance on the sand! <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn3/index/_/sport/soccer-futbol/?cc=5901&amp;ver=us&amp;ex_cid=2010_psrc_wcup_gene_tune&amp;partner=Google">World Cup</a> games have been entertaining, heartbreaking and pulse-stopping. Interesting refereeing is for sure, but I do love the on-edge excitement,&nbsp;fans,&nbsp;sounds, players and skimpy, sinuous advertising&nbsp;of the soccer season : )&nbsp;I don't think I'll be upset if I have to look at another Italian team underwear add or slow recap of Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a goal. Bring it on, advertising team of World Cup 2010!</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some groovy things I've been up to during this last week of summer solsticeness and full moon debaclery.</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPlNaUH90I/AAAAAAAAASA/EgzQTiTb5AQ/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPlNaUH90I/AAAAAAAAASA/EgzQTiTb5AQ/s200/019.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPlnAa4YBI/AAAAAAAAASQ/usnINHXVPgM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCPlnAa4YBI/AAAAAAAAASQ/usnINHXVPgM/s320/018.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A&nbsp;little dusk-time cycle through the neighborhood was a nice welcome for the shortest night, as it was comfortably warm and breezy when the fireflies came out to dance. Chris was working so I took this peaceful ride solo and embraced the twilight enchantment and atmosphere of beachy suburbia, settling into the evening.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgr26GBWBI/AAAAAAAAASg/6NOvWaj5e6w/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgr26GBWBI/AAAAAAAAASg/6NOvWaj5e6w/s320/020.JPG" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;The next day i was enthralled by beautiful flowers and fuschia foliage outside of a friend's house.&nbsp;I thought these ones, flanking her brick pathway,&nbsp;were the prettiest leaves and really bright with summer!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">After&nbsp;I got home and showered post-poolday, I needed healthy sustenance so I made a tasty pea pepper parmesan pesto.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgrjqEisUI/AAAAAAAAASY/BWqWgb5K8nk/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgrjqEisUI/AAAAAAAAASY/BWqWgb5K8nk/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">precisely!</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi52eaCNpI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Eb_VGZQzzmo/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi52eaCNpI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Eb_VGZQzzmo/s320/039.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi5oZ8WclI/AAAAAAAAATw/CFLRIQaS6jY/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi5oZ8WclI/AAAAAAAAATw/CFLRIQaS6jY/s200/053.JPG" width="133" /></a>There was a little shindig called Sandstock down at the Va Beach oceanfront this weekend. Above is the <a href="http://peaceloveandbalance.net/">Peace Love and Balance</a> tent, where Betsey set up a bunch of beautiful jewelry, made by some of her local friends, hip yoga wear and other comfy apparels along with incense, bumper stickers and other fun knicknacks. At 17th st. with a lovely seashore backdrop, Betsey, Brad, and some other friends set up shop and welcomed talkers, shoppers, chalkers, and passersby galore who enjoyed the free music, ranging from a jammin Grateful Dead cover band, Fleetwood Mac covers, Journey cover band, and so on and so groovy forth : )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Other tents beside the Peace Love and Balance tent were <a href="http://www.hollyhoopsva.com/HoLLyHooPs%21%21/Home.html">HollyHoops</a>, where Holly was selling&nbsp;various crafts&nbsp;along with&nbsp;her gorgeous handmade hoops and dancing it up with many of her different sizes, jewelry and purse vendors,&nbsp;and tie-dye you-name-it on the other side of the hoops.&nbsp;I met so many interesting people and awesome friends this weekend, such fun and peaceful vibrations :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I got my hair wrapped by another hoopster, Courtney, who took a generous hour and a half to wrap my 12 plus inches! I felt so bad for her fingers as she continued with other girls' locks afterwards, but I have&nbsp;always wanted this done and&nbsp;LOOOVE my beady/hempy hairwrap!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Other real sisters and graceful hoop dancers were Allyson and Victoria, who had on some colorful crocheted tie-dye that I had to get a peice of! Victoria was helping me with my hoop tricks too, can't wait to hang out with this cool chick again : )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi5_pYMvYI/AAAAAAAAAUA/ykEq_561fnI/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ru="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCi5_pYMvYI/AAAAAAAAAUA/ykEq_561fnI/s200/080.JPG" width="132" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that we have had some rain and the heat has finally broken, things are cooling down...only to heat up again soon i'm sure. such is the nature of the strange and beautiful wave of life! After sandStock this weekend, I began my first day at Peace Love and Balance on Monday and LOVELOVELOVE it! I am so blessed to be offered a job where I hang out&nbsp;regardless, and to be part of something wonderful and beneficial for the community was my ultimate goal for working and Betsey is manifesting that daily.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently, going boldly in the direction of your dreams is truly the way to go, my friends! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">: )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-1398614186724709317?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-32856349549488158212010-06-28T01:32:00.000-04:002010-06-28T01:32:47.242-04:00<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgx1kkiJUI/AAAAAAAAATg/ZPtZrBnubjk/s1600/039+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgx1kkiJUI/AAAAAAAAATg/ZPtZrBnubjk/s320/039+(2).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">baby cucumber plants in their new bed</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvsf9_BUI/AAAAAAAAATI/Ni1Lu3VDGBM/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvsf9_BUI/AAAAAAAAATI/Ni1Lu3VDGBM/s320/033.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">growing and adapting</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgwOUPogbI/AAAAAAAAATY/hfa8EFAHxr0/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgwOUPogbI/AAAAAAAAATY/hfa8EFAHxr0/s320/043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">stretching out, curling up, growing on runners and flowering prettily!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvRFt_WLI/AAAAAAAAATA/7r7W1-ozH_0/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvRFt_WLI/AAAAAAAAATA/7r7W1-ozH_0/s320/036.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">little tiny cukes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvE8Lk-pI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ISG06KIeWIo/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgvE8Lk-pI/AAAAAAAAAS4/ISG06KIeWIo/s320/030.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">growing right nice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgzbmFKL_I/AAAAAAAAATo/ksC0FwYZ0Rg/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TCgzbmFKL_I/AAAAAAAAATo/ksC0FwYZ0Rg/s320/035.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i dug deeper and found this 17 inch monster hiding this morning!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3285634954948815821?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-30087921030482961192010-06-20T14:31:00.001-04:002010-06-20T14:39:52.928-04:00I've been making a habit out of throwing my book and towel into my bike basket and cycling to the beach as these days have been getting warmer. Sometimes Chris and I go together, othertimes I go alone, stretching out on my towel on the sand and sunning to the smell of salt and suntan lotion. There's something nostalgic to me in lying on the beach reading a good summery romance novel while digging my toes in the sand, dipping in the cool ocean water and then waiting for the heat to dry my shoulders well enough to reapply the SPF 15 I managed to remember. The soothing surf nearly calls for nap time as I lose myself in the stories Nora Roberts so intricately weaves.<br />Ah. The beach :)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TB5dF_e007I/AAAAAAAAAR4/ivLqeEJbuzY/s1600/castello+scilla" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TB5dF_e007I/AAAAAAAAAR4/ivLqeEJbuzY/s320/castello+scilla" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">there's me in Scilla, Italy</span></div><br /><br />It's Sunday, Father's Day 2010, so here's my bloggly shoutout to my awesome daddy! The Hartless patriarch is not only a PhD. genius mathematician and engineer, but a bicyclist, motorcyclist, auto-trading, ebay-enthusiast, woodworking, multi-sport athletic west coast-originating&nbsp;compassionate yogi papa : )<br />Happy day to all Fathers out there!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3008792103048296119?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-78577905281778113392010-06-17T12:05:00.000-04:002010-06-17T12:05:36.932-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBpGRNT-eyI/AAAAAAAAARw/S92GirDZ2kg/s1600/007+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBpGRNT-eyI/AAAAAAAAARw/S92GirDZ2kg/s400/007+(2).JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pretty sure we've narrowed it down! going to try and be strict about it, now... ; )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="right" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-7857790528177811339?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-31749238999386710612010-06-15T10:43:00.003-04:002010-06-15T11:58:51.392-04:00Good Morning!<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These days are more and more scorching... can I refill your lemonade? <ice clinking="" cubes="">&nbsp; Ahhh that's better : )</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBA9qbITI/AAAAAAAAARA/Oyc8l_I2pE0/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBA9qbITI/AAAAAAAAARA/Oyc8l_I2pE0/s320/020.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I just returned to the beach from my parents house in Forest, VA, where I went and spent a nice loooong weekend, helped my dad finish the basement, got to see some old friends, and really enjoyed some quality R&amp;R with my fam. Spent most nights on the back porch, eating, drinking and chatting, and even logged in some hours at the pool like old times with my brother, his lady, and his best friend. Last time we all did this together I think we were each half our current size : ) so it was nice.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeAtxmvlUI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/W-LDKxC5qXs/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeAtxmvlUI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/W-LDKxC5qXs/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br />My vacay home&nbsp;happened to coincide with the start of the 2010 World Cup (forza Italia!...next to the US, of course) which made me remeniscent of my time in Italy in 2006, where we went and watched Mondiali games in dirty, crowded piazzas with hundreds of diverse fans speaking in many different dialects.<br />It's not that I mind watching&nbsp;this year's&nbsp;tournament&nbsp;in an air-conditioned living room with leather couches, it's just....different...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeAYGtwGTI/AAAAAAAAAQw/0e3XHN4qK1g/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeAYGtwGTI/AAAAAAAAAQw/0e3XHN4qK1g/s320/024.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But mama knew how to celebrate, whipping up a Caprese salad with the basil and tomatoes we planted 2 months ago. Mmmmm fresh and scrumptious!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I always eat really well when I'm home, since my mom should be on the Food Network and lo0o0oves to feed people, ("You're too skinny, Mangia!") and since we usually walk around the neighborhood at night, critiquing the houses and lawns, it's the perfect healthy balance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a couple of happenings that caught me by surprise this weekend:</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBXTbWK1I/AAAAAAAAARI/LXkZPW-DCO8/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBXTbWK1I/AAAAAAAAARI/LXkZPW-DCO8/s320/034.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Got some sweet new wheels for my ride. Now my little "Red Lady" is aqua-friendly.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeLEX6icBI/AAAAAAAAARg/iexOm6SeWoc/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeLEX6icBI/AAAAAAAAARg/iexOm6SeWoc/s200/044.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBrclX9gI/AAAAAAAAARQ/629FuEZa7wQ/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeBrclX9gI/AAAAAAAAARQ/629FuEZa7wQ/s320/041.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Uh... holy canoli, my zucchini about tripled it's size and my cucumbers (they are in the middle, stretching out on runners) are flowering and spindlier than ever. Check out my sweet banana peppers...Yowza!<br />Now we have to cook out so I can grill up some of my veggies and whip up a fresh salad : )<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeLSCYPpiI/AAAAAAAAARo/WLM9mrae39I/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBeLSCYPpiI/AAAAAAAAARo/WLM9mrae39I/s320/032.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh yea and I guess one more little thing happened.... MY BROTHER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND GOT ENGAGED!!!! I'M GONNA HAVE A SISTER!!!!! I CAN'T STOP USING CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even though this beauty on the left has been a part of our family for...oh, say 8 years?!? she is now officially weighed down with a shiny rock. (don't worry I was with him and tried it on when he bought it, just to make sure it was legit&nbsp;;)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself, as the numbers on the thermometer go up and up I'm just trying to keep pace with this shaker-summer...and we haven't even reached the solstice yet!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Got a PHISH&nbsp;show to go to later(woooo!) and a wide expanse of beach to relax on now. I think I'm going to take my notebook and sketch out some ideas to clear my head...going to need much brain capacity in the next few months to come! =)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Love is all around &lt;3 Have a beautiful day!</div></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3174923899938671061?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-6506743509312076592010-06-13T01:24:00.000-04:002010-06-13T01:24:42.174-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">am i nutso or does this just look freaking awesome?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBRqzGJUCjI/AAAAAAAAAQg/1BUPcosYJrQ/s1600/biospheretreehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="610" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TBRqzGJUCjI/AAAAAAAAAQg/1BUPcosYJrQ/s640/biospheretreehouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />this 7-level home is super green! if you have aspirations of treehouse living...<a href="http://weburbanist.com/2008/06/23/15-more-tree-houses/">here's</a> even more delight for ya ;)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-650674350931207659?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-9710372622461715582010-06-07T14:57:00.001-04:002010-06-09T12:26:13.267-04:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Happy Monday, good people!<br />I've been busy in the garden these sunny days, as I had sorely needed to weed, and now these greens have plenty of room to stretch and grow. Granted I haven't been keeping up with my yoga practice like I've been needing to, so my lower back was hurting after weeding; but after awhile I began a rhythm and was belting some of my favorite tunes to the plants. I think they liked it, they seemed to perk up after I warmed up and got on pitch, which only&nbsp;took 15 minutes or so&nbsp; : )</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have constantly been applying <a href="http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/earthworm-castings/">earthworm castings</a> to the garden and it was mixed&nbsp;in with the potting soil for the plants I potted up before putting in the ground (most of them) and then I applied more on top of the soil after weeding. You can see the young plants in some of my earlier postings and now check out why I totally endorse this earthworm&nbsp;s^%t!</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA03bg7iolI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Mrme_A8ahOQ/s1600/018+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA03bg7iolI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/Mrme_A8ahOQ/s200/018+(2).JPG" width="132" /></a><img border="0" height="267" qu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA0wzElAsrI/AAAAAAAAAPY/G0KFd1kobf8/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Now that I've weeded a bit, you can actually differentiate the plants!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA00_bo-vmI/AAAAAAAAAP4/_VbZ3ACcGeQ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA00_bo-vmI/AAAAAAAAAP4/_VbZ3ACcGeQ/s200/014.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA00qZUpEjI/AAAAAAAAAPw/4syQmZZ-1VU/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA00qZUpEjI/AAAAAAAAAPw/4syQmZZ-1VU/s320/015.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lush basil and tomatos are getting ready to make delicious caprese!<br />(I actually had to cut the basil back already because it was getting so big and ready to flower, I didn't want the leaves to get bitter. I did enjoy a tasty pesto from the clippings, which I'll post in some of my food installments)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA01hNh5cfI/AAAAAAAAAQI/YwJSR45HU_g/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA01hNh5cfI/AAAAAAAAAQI/YwJSR45HU_g/s320/011.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Eggplants are blooming : )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA01S9L7gPI/AAAAAAAAAQA/1n2YQKVeiaQ/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TA01S9L7gPI/AAAAAAAAAQA/1n2YQKVeiaQ/s320/017.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cucumber, here.&nbsp;Love watching these babies grow, they are so spindley and interesting!</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div align="justify"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B000VZV9Y0&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B00082ZQX6&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>I'm jamming to a couple rocking tunes as I chill out in my bungalow and check up on my favorite blogs, and of course, tweets and facebook postings. There's too much to do online these days! Whatever I totally love it ; )&nbsp;but&nbsp;you know I&nbsp;love to stay balanced and spend more of my time in the real world, exploring nature, this ever-changing ocean that almost laps up at my residence, and what&nbsp;I put into and how I move my body.</div><div align="justify">Focusing on my practice is so&nbsp;important and coming back to the mat feels so freeing, back in touch with my Self, and my muscles,&nbsp;and my peace, and my inner silence.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Getting on the mat and then back outside to give the plants a drink.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I hope your Monday starts you off for a wonderful week! and remember</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">*the bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song*<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-971037262246171558?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-12533336594588935582010-06-04T13:29:00.001-04:002010-06-06T09:26:57.958-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkkbhmrUrI/AAAAAAAAAOo/oVn4j-pyK7Q/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkkbhmrUrI/AAAAAAAAAOo/oVn4j-pyK7Q/s320/025.JPG" /></a>When I walked in the door last night, Oliver was in a most relaxed state. This guy loves to have the house to himself so he can stretch out/ knead/ climb on whatever he fancies...as if he's entitled. Pshh, Puss can't even eat the mosquitos that fly inside in the evening, he just playfully bats them around on the ground for guess-who to clean up after.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I'm learning a lesson from this guy and going to stretch out on the beach like I own the joint :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkl4J9n0hI/AAAAAAAAAPA/QuEBSdL7Yrk/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkl4J9n0hI/AAAAAAAAAPA/QuEBSdL7Yrk/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkkuli3xkI/AAAAAAAAAOw/XlyIF0AqMAg/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAkkuli3xkI/AAAAAAAAAOw/XlyIF0AqMAg/s320/028.JPG" /></a></div><br />I find that when I make time for myself, whether in the form of yoga or cleaning or laundry or exercising or even aside from these things, in some sort of meditation to just simply be....and breathe....and relax, is when&nbsp;I am at my most peaceful and most grounded state, with energy reserves to draw on whenever I'm ready to get stuff done! (because however hard we try, stuff still needs to get done...)<br /><br />I believe a lot of energy lies dormant within ourselves and when we feel that burst of creativity and are ready to be active and enlivened, having had a certain amount of relaxation enhances our experience in the present state of being. <br /><br />Some people are reading this and saying to themselves, "yea right. i'm busy, lady!" <br />Easier said than done, I know. <br />When I had mucho stuff to do and was running around all crazed because my adrenaline levels were on the rise is when I needed to remember to relax the most, and usually when I had the hardest time doing so.<br /><br />Now I feel like I am harboring relaxation and ideas are seriously bubbling to the surface! Having time to chill means having more time to think and create and analyze and understand. I've been scrapbooking like a mad woman, combining my writing with my pictures with my creativity with my love for books and colors :) Chris says I'm blogging in the real world again. ha. <br />I also feel an increased awareness as to the possibilities out there. Different opportunities, as far as local publications, businesses, and just people looking for hard workers, have presented themselves and I feel fortunate to have an array of options available to supplement my bohemian lifestyle.<br /><br />Hunter S. Thompson, one of my faaaavorite authors, once said, "if you want to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to get locked up."<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0679785892&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /><br />I&nbsp;get bummed thinking of how many things one must pay for in order to survive, and thus my very great, very pertinent,&nbsp;long-time-coming shift to sustainability.<br />I need very little, really, in order to live and relax and be happy... and quite honestly the more&nbsp;I provide for myself, the happier&nbsp;I am!<br />the joy and peace&nbsp;I get from gardening runs deep.<br /><br /><br />*reading, relaxing, planting, dancing, thinking, making, loving, praying*<br /><br />I love this lifestyle and it is not mine or your's or anyone in particular's... it is just a way of being...it is there for everyone.<br />maybe you have similar themes in your life or experiences along the way?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAk2hmVwDeI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/aIKEBZS2ZYc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAk2hmVwDeI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/aIKEBZS2ZYc/s320/006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">may your day be so bright as well~</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-1253333659458893558?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-14755859935768939542010-05-30T22:19:00.002-04:002010-05-30T22:56:51.895-04:00Happy Memorial day!<br /><br />First off, some of you who knew me as The Hartless Companion (which&nbsp;Chris said sounded like a bad romance blog; unfortunately I agree...) and then <em>bare feet ~ free spirit</em>, please understand that I am never set on labels and I think I have FINALLY found a blog title that I feel more accurately represents my intentions...so, sorry for the indecision...the Witty Hippie is here to stay, my friends!<br /><br />I wore a pensive smile&nbsp;this afternoon&nbsp;as&nbsp;I wrapped up my employment at the Rte. 58 Delicatessen, where I worked as a server for almost 2 years, to explore my creativity and pursue some serious gardening and writing that I have been&nbsp;kindling&nbsp;for the past year&nbsp;or so. While I knew it was my time to move on, it was surely a bittersweet week, saying goodbye to all the amazing beings and network of minds that I have been around steadily since I was hired in the fall of 2008.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMFhM_RV-I/AAAAAAAAAOI/8TwEX7zf2H4/s1600/DELI.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMFhM_RV-I/AAAAAAAAAOI/8TwEX7zf2H4/s320/DELI.bmp" /></a></div>Finally at home and in my man's flannel (heheee! guys' stuff is comfier) I realize how I will miss seeing these beauties every day.<br />Amidst all the bustle and the craze and the egos and the feelings and the&nbsp;burns and the burn outs and the bad&nbsp;math and the bad manners&nbsp;and the hulabaloo of a full time job, sometimes bonds are made that exist outside of the workplace as the&nbsp;thoughtful individuals we are.<br />Not only will I see my friends frequently (like at the beach tomorrow : ) but the internet (obviously) provides the perfect medium to support each other as we wander our own paths.<br />I look forward to the next time I walk back into the Deli and how the absence will feel, after not having been away for more than a week for the last 21 months!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMOmDiPyAI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/MLkF0Q2fkqA/s1600/stevie+leibie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMOmDiPyAI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/MLkF0Q2fkqA/s320/stevie+leibie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have made so many connections and really want to&nbsp;thank the many customers who have been funny, friendly and supportive. I even thank those of you who were inappropriate and at times, obnoxious! (hehe just&nbsp;kidding mr. "Leiby" ; )<br />And of course a "Thanksh Bosss" to Mr. Goldberg for keeping me around this long and allowing me to meet said persons and have such fun and frivolity!<br /><br />I did my best and want to express my sheer gratitude to those of you who appreciated my work, enhanced my experience, and also became my friends. For this, I am blessed _/ \_<br /><br />Of course this is sappy...I'm a sentimentalist...why do you think I want to be a writer? <br /><br /><br />Sigh. I positively reminisce and know it was the perfect way to go : ) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMOo7bD54I/AAAAAAAAAOY/Cyv-dY0-6E0/s1600/out+deli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/TAMOo7bD54I/AAAAAAAAAOY/Cyv-dY0-6E0/s320/out+deli.jpg" /></a></div><br />I have been extremely fortunate in the jobs I have acquired and managed to retain (knocking on end table, here) and will be babysitting, performing odd jobs, and hopefully writing some freelance articles to float through this capital-consumerist society (with feelings of which I won't divulge on now!.....you're welcome)<br />For now my goal is to be as mindful as possible, focusing on my yoga practice and&nbsp;helping my garden to flourish so we can eat raw, organic greens all summer long and give back to this little splotch of earth.&nbsp;By consuming little, creatively channeling ideas and making some sweet connections, I think this semi-sabbatical will suit me just fine!<br /><br />~This life's not a resumè, it's a ride~<br />(i'm excited for where to go next...teehee! ; )<br /><br /><br /><br />thank you thank you, to all who serve. please be safe and have a happy holiday!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-1475585993576893954?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-84067193136452282092010-05-29T18:06:00.003-04:002010-06-13T01:16:28.964-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S__MuZsivpI/AAAAAAAAANI/YXgcceUhuJ4/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S__MuZsivpI/AAAAAAAAANI/YXgcceUhuJ4/s320/001.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">During last night's&nbsp;glowing full moon, Chris and&nbsp;I were wide awake around midnight and decided to ride through the neighborhood down to the ocean. There was hardly anyone out on the boardwalk so after biking a couple miles or so, we headed home along the inlet to see the moon reflecting so peacefully on the flowing water.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We love being outside and active and this is just easier when avoiding all the traffic and tourists the season brings to the area.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S__o8tZnD5I/AAAAAAAAANg/e-0zFB5r4Oo/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S__o8tZnD5I/AAAAAAAAANg/e-0zFB5r4Oo/s200/005.JPG" width="133" /></a>Things are certainly shifting as this spring weather is warming....just look at my little toms! ~~&gt;<br />They are growing larger and more delicious by the hour : ) <br />I find that as I eat more live and organic food, i feel more Alive and authentic in my body and my Self. Plus, what better way to work out, soak up some sun and get your hands dirty all at once than a morning in the garden!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You probably can't tell, but I used a stem from an old bouquet of roses, saved the dried petals and then had a nice sturdy stalk to put in the ground for tomato support!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm trying to use whatever materials I can, really, so that I not only cut down on waste and costs, but also enjoy my hodge-podge of a garden and the stories that went into creating it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I cannot believe it but this is my 20th post, readers! <cheesy grin=""></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have really enjoyed this blog thingie so far (and will continue to : )&nbsp;and owe a lot of thanks to some amazingly creative people and wicked cool blogs out there. There will be many more, I'm sure, but these funky blogs have surely inspired me in setting up and formatting my own blog.<br />many thanks to you folks:<br /><br /><a href="http://simplyyogini.blogspot.com/">SimplyYogini</a><br /><a href="http://theorganicsister.com/">TheOrganicSister</a><br /><a href="http://www.itsallaboutyoga.com/">The Everything Yoga blog</a><br /><a href="http://freespiritlife.blogspot.com/">Free Spirit Life</a><br /><a href="http://holisticmum.blogspot.com/">Holistic Mama</a>&nbsp;and also her blog <a href="http://bohemianshadows.blogspot.com/">Bohemian Shadows</a>&nbsp;(sooooo beautiful!)<br /><a href="http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/">Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom</a><br />my buddy Jake's super fun blog <a href="http://justafuntime.blogspot.com/">Just a Fun Time</a><br /><a href="http://goofyspirituality.com/">Goofy Spirituality</a><br /><a href="http://goodgreenwitch.blogspot.com/">Good Green Witch</a><br /><a href="http://www.happyjanssens.com/">the Happy Janssens</a><br /><a href="http://agreenspell.com/">A Green Spell</a><br /><br /><br /><br />i hope this memorial day weekend finds you safely enjoying your holiday... and as i'm inspired these days, i'll leave you with one of the quotes fueling my drive.<br /><br />*be bold! go confidently in the direction of your dreams* <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...and so shall i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ; )<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8406719313645228209?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-85263599526071124542010-05-24T11:34:00.010-04:002010-05-24T11:54:57.195-04:00<span style="font-family: inherit;">good morning!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">i hope this monday finds you fresh for a new week. if you are a total LOST-head, like me, maybe you are aware that the show wrapped up with the 2.5 hour (tear-jerker)&nbsp;finale last night. while many people stuck with&nbsp;LOST through all the confusion and 6 years of time-traveling, and some dabbled at first then returned years later with renewed interest, i feel like this show (though crazy and confusing at times) was embedded with important ideas of knowledge, philosophy, and spirituality. the themes of connection, redemption, and riding&nbsp;the island-of-life's many waves rang through the&nbsp;whole series and i have truly enjoyed the story.&nbsp;what a great metaphor for life and death, rebirth and love. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">everything is connected!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_qVZFcaxmI/AAAAAAAAAMc/lDLQmioo6jc/s1600/flaming+chalice+stained+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_qVZFcaxmI/AAAAAAAAAMc/lDLQmioo6jc/s320/flaming+chalice+stained+glass.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">my head has been buzzing these past few days. here is what </span><a href="http://www.tarot.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the experts</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> say for us Libras:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Monday, May 24th, 2010 -- Even if you're exhausted from a recent struggle and aware that the issues are not fully resolved, you still may feel much better today. You might be concerned that your current vulnerability could lead to disappointment, but you also are intrigued by the potential of a major breakthrough in your life. Don't be afraid to take a risk in the days ahead; you cannot count on anyone else to know what's in your heart.*</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">i've quoted howard thurman before and now, more than ever is when i feel i must do what makes me come alive, not what&nbsp;hinders my strength and spirit. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">my dad loves to quote Shakespeare, "nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">hamlet has a point. where Denmark is his personal prison, we also have our own, devoid of how it is viewed by others. i also interpret this quote as, if you change your thinking, you change your attitude...but sometimes where you are and what you are doing is no longer congruent to who you are or what you believe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"i am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together..." john lennon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">~<a href="http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&amp;c=words&amp;id=13848">this</a> is one of my all time favorite articles on being spiritually centered by believing and acting your truth... respecting and loving yourself, leading you to your best possible attitude toward the planet and toward others.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">~check out these super cool </span><a href="http://www.freespiritspheres.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">tree spheres</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> that my friend Ron sent me the link to...my dream of living in the trees just became a little more realized!</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~<a href="http://simplyyogini.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">her</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> blog is totally awesome and i really dig how she has weekly intentions. what a great way to focus</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">~<a href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/05/8-ways-to-take-responsibility-for-yourself-now/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ElephantJournal+%28elephant+journal%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader"><span style="font-family: inherit;">this</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a great, pertinent article on taking responsibility for your thoughts, words, actions, and therefore life. what freedom this brings about! what contentment!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and so...following my daily musings, it should fit that my weekly intention is </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><em>RESPONSIBILITY</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">though a slightly different context, i think jerry seinfeld would agree i'm the master of my domain : )</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="right" style="text-align: center;">*i will take responsibility for my thoughts, words, and actions because this is how i am creating the mosaic of my experience! in this way i will have more control over myself and be able to sing sweeter and shine brighter*</div><div align="right" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="right" style="text-align: center;">;&nbsp;)&nbsp; have a lovely day!<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8526359952607112454?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-32334225580087616382010-05-23T01:50:00.001-04:002010-05-23T01:51:41.686-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i7r-K1i3I/AAAAAAAAAME/ZOnT7AqhKx0/s1600/cool-treehouse-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i7r-K1i3I/AAAAAAAAAME/ZOnT7AqhKx0/s400/cool-treehouse-10.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">maybe someday i'll be out of the bungalow and into the trees&nbsp; : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i9MLKieTI/AAAAAAAAAMM/35hfdHvYJIw/s1600/blog+seperator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="42" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i9MLKieTI/AAAAAAAAAMM/35hfdHvYJIw/s640/blog+seperator.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">today's things that move me:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B001NLJ3NU&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">an amazing and inspiring woman and her hub of awesomeness, <a href="http://peaceloveandbalance.net/index.aspx">Peace Love and Balance</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i_Asb9LqI/AAAAAAAAAMU/dr75MWJ6_Gc/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_i_Asb9LqI/AAAAAAAAAMU/dr75MWJ6_Gc/s400/016.JPG" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*thank you kindly for reading my mumbling and musings : ) enjoy your last week of may!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3233422558008761638?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-88466047302135615632010-05-19T10:10:00.002-04:002010-05-19T10:12:13.276-04:00<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v8eAie3AI/AAAAAAAAAKw/utLHuCH0YzY/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v8eAie3AI/AAAAAAAAAKw/utLHuCH0YzY/s320/173.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Good Morning!<br />As I am overcome with nostalgia these past few days, it is the perfect time to post some of my favorite pics from the trip my mom and&nbsp;I took to New York City recently. <br />Here to the right you'll see the beautiful Donna as we selected our meal in the dining car (which, I gotta say, were&nbsp;some of the NICEST dining experiences that I've had!)&nbsp;of BBQ ribs for this lady and a tasty, shroomy,&nbsp;vegetarian dish for me.&nbsp;The train ride&nbsp;was so fun and comfortable and quaint that I don't think I'll go to the airport for some time... (which seriously excites me. I mean, check the fresh flowers on the table, and the lush scenery...&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage">Amtrak</a> totally rocks!)<br /><br />So we finally got to the city and much to our delight, one of my mom's oldest friends (and my very own Godfather ;)&nbsp;met us at Penn Station and together we traipsed around the city.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v5-kfwMEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/C505CPVVr6M/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v5-kfwMEI/AAAAAAAAAJg/C505CPVVr6M/s320/006.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v65HLXbAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/qzp28cSsVks/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v65HLXbAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/qzp28cSsVks/s320/051.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A couple salads and&nbsp;un poco&nbsp;vino later, mom and I went to see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Opera-Full-Screen/dp/B0007TKNIS?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Phantom of the Opera</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0007TKNIS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />... AHHHHMAZING... and then narrowly escaped the <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/times_square_bomb_scare_S4thM9LQOcY1YKro3bGeoI">hulabaloo at Times Sq.</a> when we got out of the theater. (Can't give enough love and appreciation to <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/home.shtml">NYPD</a> and <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.shtml">FDNY</a>&nbsp;for going into action and attaining control in that amount of chaos!) But we got back to the hotel safely, thanks for all the love and concern from friends and fam. : )&nbsp;We were super fortunate to be able to get back into our hotel for our required amount of beauty sleep, whereas others closer to Times Sq. could not!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The following day we went to see the musical <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-2003-Original-Broadway-Cast/dp/B0000TB01Y?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Wicked </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0000TB01Y" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />and, have mercy, I'll never be the same! Such amazing performances left us stunned so we headed up to the rooftop bar of The Peninsula, per suggestion from a few Va Beach friends, to recover and lighten our wallets with tasty cocktails and (again)AHHHHmazing atmosphere....see above right .....iii KNOW!?!?!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_FsAdjfxiI/AAAAAAAAALs/sAss8mg6A1E/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_FsAdjfxiI/AAAAAAAAALs/sAss8mg6A1E/s320/031.JPG" wt="true" /></a> <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sometime amidst the Broadway exhibitions, we managed to get downtown to Chelsea, where we met up with my friend Ryan to get some <a href="http://www.mbchelsea.com/">Murray's bagel's</a> for brunch... quite honestly this place is becoming somewhat of a tradition in my New York excursions... and then walked to a lovely little nearby park. We scored some karmic righteousness by helping a little old lady whose nurse accidentally dumped her onto the pavement, and also&nbsp;remenisced and waxed philosophical,&nbsp;which has been known to&nbsp;happen in our&nbsp;chance outings&nbsp;: )&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_FwvoPDPpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/UcrVx0zHrY0/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S_FwvoPDPpI/AAAAAAAAAL0/UcrVx0zHrY0/s200/031.JPG" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love meeting up with Ryan in New York, because as he is not only one of my oldest friends, he is quite cute and eclectic in where he brings me or what he chooses to&nbsp;reveal to me in this colassal city.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><br />After our little jaunt in the park we went to meet mom's friend Keith and I fell in love. He is hilarious and sooo friendly that I contemplated moving to New York just to be able to go out to lunch with him (at least)once a week. We could quote&nbsp;FRIENDS and he could aid my quasi-creative circuit with his sharp decorator-eye and texture-love!<br />Sorry, I get sidetracked. I just love remembering that afternoon when the four of us went to a fresh, earthy, organic restaraunt that Ryan&nbsp;found&nbsp;and ate tasty raw food over inspiring conversation. Being surrounded by colorfully awesome people is my favorite : )</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v8GHlQebI/AAAAAAAAAKg/6kPG5OPGgzU/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v8GHlQebI/AAAAAAAAAKg/6kPG5OPGgzU/s320/130.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom and I also took a bus tour, which I was opposed to at first, because c'mon, I'm trying to look like a New Yorka, here! But it was actually super informative and negated cab/train fare for 24 hours! Not only did one guide drop a couple of great FRIENDS facts when we got down to the Village, but the other guide was so funny it was more of a NYC comedy tour while on top of a double-decker bus : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Does the building above look familiar? I wish I could have gone into that coffee shop and gotten a "Central Perk" coffee!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v7F2Vf1fI/AAAAAAAAAKA/2-7iSlr6NL8/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v7F2Vf1fI/AAAAAAAAAKA/2-7iSlr6NL8/s320/076.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We also got onto the set of Good Morning America early Monday morning. As you can see we were yuckin it up with Juju Chang and Robin Roberts and they were both really pleasant women! Met some really funny people on the set and some nice fellow audience members too. We Hartless women are rarely less than replete with options of entertainment.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v7PpikO4I/AAAAAAAAAKI/B51W2vC3ABo/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-v7PpikO4I/AAAAAAAAAKI/B51W2vC3ABo/s320/088.JPG" wt="true" /></a>We climbed 82 flights of stairs to get to the top of the Empire State Building... yea, UP THERE! Wellllll, alright so we didn't have to wait in line at all and then&nbsp;got right on the elevator, big deal. It was still a long&nbsp;1.4 minute ride. Slight vertigo at the top but it was really cool being up there, even though visibility was at 0. I don't know if I watched too much Sleepless in Seattle as a tot but it felt really familiar being at the top...hmm. We also met some nice Romans&nbsp;up there&nbsp;and I got to practice&nbsp;il mio Italiano un poco&nbsp;: ) And don't even think it, NO WAY did we go to the 100 somethingth floor at the top of the spire. Nope. I have watched Discovery Channel specials about maintenance on that thing and then had scary height dreams. It was windy enough on the Observation Deck! I do want to go up there again on a really clear, sunny day, though, and get to&nbsp;check out&nbsp;the whole city. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Whew... I am winded just reliving it in my head and through my fingers!&nbsp;With&nbsp;the mind-blowing&nbsp;shows we saw,&nbsp;the tasty food we ate, the lovely people we enjoyed, the atmosphere we imbibed, and even the hustle of the city, my impatience and my mom's sore feet, I am reminded of the intensity of my nostalgia for this legendary trip. I always have a magical time in New York and I have loved this crazy place for a long long time. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">thanks again dad! i love you mom! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and may you all drink in the experience of your wanderings~</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8846604730213561563?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-15532514548664597232010-05-15T00:40:00.000-04:002010-05-15T00:40:20.890-04:00<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">It's a beautiful morning in Virginia Beach! hot and humid on this sunny Friday, and a perfect day to finish putting in my vegetable garden : )&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-4b2jhk-bI/AAAAAAAAALk/265ctd49VqM/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-4b2jhk-bI/AAAAAAAAALk/265ctd49VqM/s320/021.JPG" width="214" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">brewed my morning joe and i'm ready to go</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2f9H7IWKI/AAAAAAAAALM/N-tz1OwFzJc/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2f9H7IWKI/AAAAAAAAALM/N-tz1OwFzJc/s320/023.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">before the afternoon sun hits, this bed will have doubled and these guys will have some neighbors!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2ga44C8mI/AAAAAAAAALU/htG1Ql2dJI0/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2ga44C8mI/AAAAAAAAALU/htG1Ql2dJI0/s320/026.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">after a rainy thursday and a little leverage, the grass came right up and the dirt shook right out, back to enrich my vegetable bed : ) (Lots of earthworms and spiders were left as my finest workers!)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2g22LnzGI/AAAAAAAAALc/RXnZBxxNb6c/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-2g22LnzGI/AAAAAAAAALc/RXnZBxxNb6c/s320/029.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">now my bungalow garden is twice it's size and we're housing red cayenne pepper, zucchini, yellow belle pepper and cucumber besides the previously put-in tomato, basil, onion, and&nbsp;white eggplant.&nbsp;on the shelves are a variety of&nbsp;lettuce and herbs, from rosemary, lavender and sage to dill and cilantro.&nbsp;this summer is proving to be a healthy and deeeeelicious season!&nbsp;</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>tunes &amp; reads i'm currently digging, whilst digging:</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0738714291&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I love Ellen Dugan's Herbal for practical and magical uses of all sorts of greens~</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>this new moon felt&nbsp;like the perfect time to finally read yogani's <em>deep meditation,</em><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=097646554X&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>&nbsp;which my dad recommended to me about a year ago. this is a really simple yet comprehensive meditation manual and i have found calm in starting and sustaining a meditation practice this week. thanks dad!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>After seeing <em>Wicked </em>on Broadway, I am ADDICTED to the music. the soundtrack has been on repeat since.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Because of another groovy blog, i have also been dancing it out to Beyonce's <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halo/dp/B001KR5RKA?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Halo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B001KR5RKA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, which is just such a jamtastic song that i am already out of breath.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span>And then there is the band Iration, whose album&nbsp;<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Bomb/dp/B003B7MING?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Time Bomb</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B003B7MING" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;is so chill and welcoming for this beachy spring and summer. </span></span></span></div><span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B0000TB01Y&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>well, mates, thanks for following my fun and frolick in the garden! i wish you a safe and blessed weekend and leave you with this quote that inspires me to live my dreams, which feels so0o0o0o0o good : )</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>"don't ask what the world needs. ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. because what the world needs is people who have come alive."</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>dr. howard thurman</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-1553251454866459723?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-40234131994197703302010-05-07T20:45:00.000-04:002010-05-07T20:45:09.881-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a morning beachy ride...a new shovel...and i'm off!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M376R_9TI/AAAAAAAAAHs/LaXg7_6psWU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M376R_9TI/AAAAAAAAAHs/LaXg7_6psWU/s320/001.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it started out as a patch of grass...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M4Xkk-yXI/AAAAAAAAAH0/IuzlU5VyDJY/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M4Xkk-yXI/AAAAAAAAAH0/IuzlU5VyDJY/s320/002.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but singing 'a little help from my friends' in my head transformed the time i spent digging and before i knew it, the grass was gone, while the dirt and earthworms remained! ( by turning in some <a href="http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/index.html">ocean forest potting soil</a> i fluffed up the bed and got my days workout, all in one : ) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M41dgj_8I/AAAAAAAAAH8/A5lnfoLkbRI/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M41dgj_8I/AAAAAAAAAH8/A5lnfoLkbRI/s320/003.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">got my veggies in! (well, some of them :-/ )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i thought the board lying right where the hole in the fence was, was kind of enchanting so i left it where the gnomes, fairies, and kitties of the 'hood wouldn't traipse through my bed...shyea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M5RBH8T3I/AAAAAAAAAIE/08HYwsc1R1o/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-M5RBH8T3I/AAAAAAAAAIE/08HYwsc1R1o/s320/004.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><br />at this point, the Italians say, "basta!"<br />enough work for today, time to chill and enjoy my bungalow garden and soon the fruits of our labor! (note: this garden is soon to be expanded...stay tuned...)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4023413199419770330?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-61805380261640086392010-05-06T17:27:00.000-04:002010-05-06T17:27:57.209-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in a small valley northwest of Harrisonburg, Virginia there lies a 17-acre paradise. this small biodynamic farm, run by a 60-something couple, Solly and Lorinda, supplies the local farmers market patrons with delicious organic greens and juicy vegetables. Lorinda also makes her own soaps and vinegars, along with salves and tinctures. i was fortunate enough to work here for 6 months in college and in that half-year, i became reenchanted with the nature i had been distracted from~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Muniu5mJI/AAAAAAAAAGs/y6lKTDwFkmU/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Muniu5mJI/AAAAAAAAAGs/y6lKTDwFkmU/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+006.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MwFxE7m4I/AAAAAAAAAHc/QhVcofSFSTY/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MwFxE7m4I/AAAAAAAAAHc/QhVcofSFSTY/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+032.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all sortsa greens!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mu_gedRfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/9LmZ9BMGB4k/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mu_gedRfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/9LmZ9BMGB4k/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+009.jpg" tt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MvXhP_eeI/AAAAAAAAAG8/O40uiWEAqC8/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MvXhP_eeI/AAAAAAAAAG8/O40uiWEAqC8/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+010.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Astor helping the weekly harvest</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mv1dg5dEI/AAAAAAAAAHM/AUWxAziSbDI/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mv1dg5dEI/AAAAAAAAAHM/AUWxAziSbDI/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+025.jpg" tt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MvgD0YIII/AAAAAAAAAHE/7qL7UyYHxQ0/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-MvgD0YIII/AAAAAAAAAHE/7qL7UyYHxQ0/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+018.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mama love</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mv7ASMGJI/AAAAAAAAAHU/oByOr3QGlUQ/s1600/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S-Mv7ASMGJI/AAAAAAAAAHU/oByOr3QGlUQ/s320/farm+and+sorrells%27+wedding+031.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-6180538026164008639?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-37074284263177351052010-04-27T09:24:00.001-04:002010-04-28T14:50:05.490-04:00"Do your practice and all is coming."<br /><br /><br /><br />...sometimes i am distracted, and then i am reminded to simply <em>get on the mat... </em>and i open up... and i'm <em>free~</em><br /><br /><br />breathe, smile,&nbsp; and have a b. e. a. uuuutiful tuesday!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3707428426317735105?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-4279608852209658412010-04-26T15:23:00.000-04:002010-04-26T15:23:13.856-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S9XoAauH8MI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VrQzMi4T0_Y/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S9XoAauH8MI/AAAAAAAAAGg/VrQzMi4T0_Y/s400/015.JPG" tt="true" width="297" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-427960885220965841?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-27038886628436089432010-04-24T02:20:00.000-04:002010-04-24T02:20:04.321-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S9KKle35anI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ZFvDi4eiBgs/s1600/clear+belief.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S9KKle35anI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ZFvDi4eiBgs/s400/clear+belief.JPG" tt="true" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on a whim, i bought a couple of colored permanent markers and went crazy one day after a stressful day at work. while i never discount the benefits of a good by-yourself dance sesh, doodling about the positive aspects of my inner nature and lifestyle helped me to focus my energy towards progress and peace rather than ranting or gossiping, which often perpetuates the cycle of negativity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it is most necessary to my soul to get back to my inner nature once i'm home from playing my role at work. peace among myself and my homelife is the only way i can help promote peace among society!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">plus...super cute and fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*namaste*</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-2703888662843608943?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-87684874269180713652010-04-21T23:18:00.003-04:002010-06-13T01:03:09.867-04:00current fascinations this earth day:<br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B00004XR5G&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />*<a href="http://blog.nature.org/2009/04/raise-an-organic-toast-to-earth-day/">this guy's organic toast</a> to earth day!<br />*<a href="http://www.nature.org/activities/art23424.html">composting</a><br />*<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/sustainability/">learning about progressive ideas toward sustainable living</a><br />*<a href="http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&amp;c=words&amp;id=13718">this critique</a>&nbsp;of Shakespeare<br />*<a href="http://www.ordinarycourage.com/">Brenè Brown's blog</a><br />*<a href="http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/04/21/challenge_yourself_this_earth_day">this activist's perspective</a><br />*<a href="http://agreenspell.com/">her blog</a><br />*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-Directors-Anniversary-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B001NXDSLQ?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace &amp; Music Director's Cut </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=B001NXDSLQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />(40th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition)<br />*this <a href="http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/">magazine</a><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*virginia beach&nbsp;farmer's market where my buddy from <a href="http://www.thegardenbox.net/">the garden box</a> is making me a cedar herb box this weekend!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*<a href="http://www.greenyoga.org/">the green yoga association</a>... and everything associated! <br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=193360901X&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>seriously, these guys totally rock.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*<a href="http://www.ecover.com/us/en/">ecover products</a> i found at the farmer's market</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*the glow i got from hanging with my amazing family on the beach!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*my clay-pot garden...thanks for watering for me today, Mother Nature ;)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*the Norfolk Tides baseball game Chris and I are going to with our bartender-buddy and his wife...play ball<br />* the universal compassion <a href="http://www.earthday.org/">this day</a> has evoked within good people for 40 years. AWEsome*</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1894622391&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8_Ci8DDXVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/TStLtSroIDo/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8_Ci8DDXVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/TStLtSroIDo/s320/044.JPG" width="214" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8-6-L4e9OI/AAAAAAAAAFM/yBoA7Ep9tow/s1600/treehouse_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8-6-L4e9OI/AAAAAAAAAFM/yBoA7Ep9tow/s320/treehouse_01.jpg" width="293" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8768487426918071365?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-88185972884128002342010-04-21T14:18:00.000-04:002010-04-21T14:18:21.450-04:00<a href="http://www.tarot.com/gallery2/main.php/v/going-green-by-zodiac-sign?feature=going-green-by-sign-pg-in-ar&amp;sms_ss=blogger">Going Green by Zodiac Sign</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8818597288412800234?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-46416519994739587222010-04-17T10:06:00.000-04:002010-04-17T10:06:59.984-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8myTUDO_XI/AAAAAAAAAE8/0Fv9GMf5qKI/s1600/earth-day-2009-sacramento.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8myTUDO_XI/AAAAAAAAAE8/0Fv9GMf5qKI/s320/earth-day-2009-sacramento.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><em>happy 40th birthday <a href="http://earthday.nature.org/?gclid=CPbnxcTmjaECFRNZbQodbXpuUQ">earth day</a>!</em><br />while a mere 40 shrivels in comparison to the 4 billion something years our mother earth has been here, 40 years of passion and activism is still pretty encouraging! I loved Earth day as a youngin and the feeling it stirred in me of connection and a reminder to be reverent of the planet&nbsp;everyday. Now as an adult, I strive to make conscious choices; to be unharming and to start giving back to Gaia what I have received, not just now but always.<br /><br />I started this springy morning with a trip to the farmers market early, only to find all the vendors absent until 10:00! It makes me yearn for warm summer days where I am the first one up and the morning is mine to read on the patio or go and pick out the lushest greens from the early-rising farmers.<br />I think of the <a href="http://harrisonburgfarmersmarket.com/">market in Harrisonburg, Va</a>, where neighboring farmers/artisans come together to vend and commune with music and dancing while the citizens pick out their tie-dye or handmade soaps or basil plants. I love the community a small town can provide and the special, secret places that draw me in like a magnet.<br /><br />My favorite store at the beach, <a href="http://peaceloveandbalance.net/about-us.aspx">Peace Love and Balance</a>, is having its 2010 Earth Day celebration today with a <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2010/04/earth-day-2010-peace-love-and-balance-earth-day-and-haiti-flea-market-american-red-cross-blo">flea market and blood drive for Haiti</a>. Betsey, the owner, is so adorably positive and active in bettering the community in her own way that I am moved to be better. Besides fab yoga wear, she makes awesome second-hand clothing and condones recycling bags, tags, and you name it! This chick is all about reusing,&nbsp;promoting mindful consumption and about spreading love and joy. When I need an awesome hug or just wanna share a smile, I stop in to see those beautiful people!<br /><br />Today is unwinding gloriously, as I just found out I have the day off from work...yippee! While I'm grateful for my job, I'm excited to kick off my Saturday with some flowing yoga, a cup of dark roast on the patio with this sweet book, <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gaia-Girls-Enter-Earth-Welles/dp/193360901X?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Gaia Girls Enter the Earth</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=193360901X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, then a little organic, local produce before a hoola-hooping, sidewalk-chalking, community-integrating eArTh DaY extravaganza!</span><br /><br /><span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=B0000DI88C&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Whew! On that note, I'm off to the mat to practice my favorite yoga dvd and get ready for the day. I hope you have a wonderful and warm weekend in preparation for this earth week and for a more conscientious society : ) &nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4641651999473958722?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-71679592365215119942010-04-14T01:44:00.000-04:002010-04-14T01:44:07.726-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8VVttIJxXI/AAAAAAAAAE0/TY3AMUcDkB4/s1600/happybaby_sm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8VVttIJxXI/AAAAAAAAAE0/TY3AMUcDkB4/s320/happybaby_sm.gif" wt="true" /></em></span></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>after a lonnnng day at work, happy baby pose makes me sleepy :)</em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-7167959236521511994?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-71797564150260553342010-04-11T08:01:00.000-04:002010-04-11T08:01:57.587-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8G5ISDlEDI/AAAAAAAAAEs/pSEk9jCcPW8/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8G5ISDlEDI/AAAAAAAAAEs/pSEk9jCcPW8/s320/025.JPG" wt="true" /></a>my best friend taught me about happiness and love</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-7179756415026055334?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-42056194880333681462010-04-10T22:38:00.002-04:002010-04-10T22:54:27.342-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8E51FLVYAI/AAAAAAAAAEk/69qq2eJMnUE/s1600/green+yoga+assoc..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S8E51FLVYAI/AAAAAAAAAEk/69qq2eJMnUE/s320/green+yoga+assoc..jpg" wt="true" /></a>i'm all about king dancer pose today.&nbsp;through life's waves,&nbsp;this pose not only revitalizes me, but empowers me to be stronger, more balanced and keep moving up!&nbsp;</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-4205619488033368146?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-76420726884646204752010-04-06T22:38:00.005-04:002010-04-06T23:00:12.245-04:00i love taking long drives. the 4 hour trip back across the virginia woods to my parents house is especially pleasant, stretching from the beach through the swamp and transforming to long rolling hills flanked by cotton fields which perfectly offset the blue peaks to the west. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7vyjVVWfcI/AAAAAAAAACk/M93qTY7sZjM/s1600/peaks_of_otter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7vyjVVWfcI/AAAAAAAAACk/M93qTY7sZjM/s320/peaks_of_otter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457222062325530050" /></a><br /><br /><br />i race the sun home, making it with a few hours of light to spare and am able to have a flowing ashtanga practice with my dad in the late afternoon sun, and then help my mom grill salmon on the back porch just as twilight beckons. <br /><br />free of obligation, i sit back with my wine glass and thank the goddess for my family and our small place in the mountains, where I find my <span style="font-style:italic;">true </span> rehabilitation.<br /><br />*may you have many blessings bestowed upon you* <3<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-7642072688464620475?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-87697827038148065782010-04-05T12:15:00.002-04:002010-04-05T12:24:02.361-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7oM5K0W1xI/AAAAAAAAACU/y7lU-FVoP60/s1600/peacefingers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7oM5K0W1xI/AAAAAAAAACU/y7lU-FVoP60/s320/peacefingers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456688074808809234" /></a><br /><br /><br />often i act on a whim and venture to uncharted waters where, sometimes, i meet the most amazing people who affect me in such profoundly positive ways that I spend the rest of the day thanking the Goddess for bestowing so many blessings upon me. <br />sometimes a little insight from your fanclub is the boost you may need to remember the essence of your smiling goodness and then to see it on others! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-8769782703814806578?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-5911759243473088222010-03-29T22:35:00.004-04:002010-04-07T23:07:59.127-04:00<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=agreenthumbwa-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0143038419&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align:left;padding-top:5px;width:131px;height:245px;padding-right:10px;"align="left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />i just started elizabeth gilbert's eat pray love and i can't put it down! well-written and entertaining, her story resonates with me on a personal level through her love for italy and her studies of the culture and language (as I minored in Italian in college and traveled to Europe to study the Italian culture and language...among other things.)<br />obviously this best-seller is a favorite for many, but this has made my bookshelf as a true gem :)<br />*prayers for love and light on the road to shambala*<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-591175924347308822?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539108478465213392.post-30643722640555311882010-03-29T17:50:00.003-04:002010-03-29T18:21:14.028-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7EhSYvcT-I/AAAAAAAAABs/VPdI8YyHUDc/s1600/further240.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454177223485181922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6l7apyX32M/S7EhSYvcT-I/AAAAAAAAABs/VPdI8YyHUDc/s320/further240.jpg" /></a><br />"try not.<br />DO.... or DO NOT.<br />there is no try."<br />-yoda<br /><br /><br />though I was born in 1985 and not 30 years earlier to participate in such a socio-cultural revolution as the hippie movement as I would have liked, i believe those of us who choose peace, love, compassion and sustainability, can keep the subculture alive and active throughout our generation and in our hearts.<br /> i am not just a wanderer, but a seeker of peace among myself and those i'm connected to so that it may be possible among cultures and someday, among nations.<br /> ~iamyou, youareme~<br /> up til now, history has shown the need for understanding, self-awareness, conscious living, and nonviolent practices so that we can carry out what our parents, aunts and uncles started in the 60's and eradicate hate, ignorance, and eventually war.<br />even the smallest gesture counts, for i believe taking action is truly an assessment of our grit.<br /><br />each day i will do at least one of these things:<br />smile<br />give 16 hugs<br />breathe deeply<br />stretch toward the sun<br />talk to a flower<br />hug a tree<br />meditate<br />be polite to a bee<br />laugh<br />get on the mat<br />plant herbs in my garden<br />ask the Mother Earth to borrow her fruit, that all energy will be restored eventually<br />plant flowers for my grandma<br />smile in awe at the divine<br />dance<br />ignore a road rage opportunity<br />wave at my neighbors<br />pick up a piece of trash<br />tell someone i love them<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4539108478465213392-3064372264055531188?l=hartlesscompanion.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>rachaelHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629508019544961832noreply@blogger.com0