Some Cactus shots from Bonaire.
without.
can't decide which I like best.......
I will fly to Bonaire tonight and will be away for 8 days.
Hope I can keep in touch there.
Happy Cactus Monday!
This rainbow lotusflower mandala is for Lynn, in out ABC ATC's swap.
Have a Rainbow Day!
This came in the mail yesterday!
And the outstanding work of Soul!
And last but certainly not least............Lovely cards and a fabric ATC from our dear Lynn: Queen of the Quilts and Wizard of the Sewing Machine!
Thank you all so much!
Mail has never been this much fun since I started blogging.
Every once in a while some gems fall on my doormat!
Hope you have lots of things to be thankful for!
This is the mandala I made for Marja!
(click to enlarge)
The mandala has lots of Far Eastern symbols.
Such as the yin yang symbol, lotusflowers, mala and
the Temple of Heaven which is in Beijing China.
Marja has 33 as birth number, just like Lolo!
This is a rare master number and these people are here on earth with a special quest.
Their acts of kindness, tenderness and compassion will lead to the transformation of the world's consciousness.
Marja's birth number is painted with 33 Chinese Butterflies in the colors of the rainbow with mother of pearl.
The Mandarin Chinese word for butterfly is "hu-tieh". "Tieh" means "70 years", therefore butterflies have become a symbol for a long life.
In our culture it's a symbol of transformation because of its impressive process of metamorphosis. From egg, to larvae (caterpillar), to pupa (the chrysalis or cocoon) and from the cocoon the butterfly emerges in her unfurling glory.
What a massive amount of transition this tiny creature undergoes. Consider for a moment the kind of energy this expends. I daresay if a human were to go through this kind of change we’d freak out!
Imagine the whole of your life changing to such an extreme you are unrecognizable at the end of the transformation. Mind you, this change takes place in a short span of about a month too (that’s how long the butterfly life cycle is).
Herein lies the deepest symbolic lesson of the butterfly. She asks us to accept the changes in our lives as casually as she does. The butterfly unquestioningly embraces the chances of her environment and her body.This unwavering acceptance of her metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here the butterfly beckons us to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. She understands that our toiling, fretting and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature – she asks us to recognize the same.
Happy Animal Wednesday!
Christmas cactus bloom
(not for trade)
My Christmas cactus is growing ready for it's next bloom, which wasn't at Christmas last year , but 2 times before and after.................
Happy Cactus Monday!
9 Hearts and 11 Rainbow beams
Today I am home, I am thankful for that.
Since 2001 I have been home on the 11th of September......
I remember that day driving home and the spot where my husband called me to tell me to put the radio on and that a plane has hit the WTC tower.
I listened and couldn't get the picture.
Home, I watched tv and watched it for days................
Saw the 2nd plane fly in the second tower.
I can't even tell you what I felt then.
I cried so many tears and realized this would change my life as it would the lives of so many.
I didn't know any of the victims personally , but all these stories, all these images are burned in my memory.
This event also changed the way I experience my profession forever.
The cockpit door closed forever. Became armored.
No more kids allowed there.
Intense security measures everywhere I came, sometimes even ridiculous.
It changed the way I looked at people and passengers.
That year my husband had a serious car accident as well and all kinds of anxieties showed up, like fear of flying and driving a car and I called ill for a while, seriously thinking of changing my profession. I saw a phychologist for a period.
I started my work again and healed slowly like the rest of the world but I still have a scar in my heart.
This year I didn't plan on being home this day but the universe took care of me (again), I still don't want to fly on this day................
Be safe and may your hearts heal.
Yesterday Marja came to pick me up for a surprise lunch.
But first I had a surprise for her.
Champagne and a birthday gift: a birth mandala.
We have been friends for about 44 years.
I am so thankful that we renewed our contact 9 years ago.
Now we are closer than ever before.
Marja took me for lunch to restaurant "Het Katseveer", which was very elegant!
And the food was delicious!
Thanks Marja for being my friend and for this wonderful afternoon!
It is blue and green and for a lady with an elephant ankle............................
Get well soon!
(I'll mail it tomorrow)
Osprey by Lolo
Click to enlarge and admire the eyes!
Her art is always amazing!
O= for Ornament
A lovely shiny cat ATC and cute stickers
from BT
Besides being a amazing gardener, BT has a creative mind
and makes the most wonderful ATC's.
Awesome Frida hanger!!!
by Stampmaiden.
Isn't it fabulous?!
We share the love of Frida and this surprise
came together with her N
= for The Naughty Nutty Nude
( Frida is still nicely wrapped in this picture..............)
I am always amazed how all the things I receive are so beautifully wrapped!
An original Lynn!!!!
Wan in her Blog anniversary give away!
Lynn is a wizard with fabrics, Queen of the Quilts!
Thanks so much everyone!
So much to be Thankful for today.
All these wonderful gifts I received lately.
(shown in random order)
That my kids are happy and healthy.
(My son Felix who turned 11 today)
Being home again.
And having so many nice (blogging) friends!
I have had a busy today but I will try to visit you all soon!
Last week I left for a 6 day trip to Panama
and took my son Lars with me!
6 days without internet.
we had a marvelous time!
and saw lots of animals.
We enjoyed the Old City
Saw a lot of birds
Caught a fish
Swam with dolphins
Saw numerous whales
which were all awesome
and impressive
Saw whales and dolphins together
Lots of pelicans
a big lizard
a small one
More whales.............
jumps
and came really close!
No need to tell I had the time of my life and Lars too!
Happy Animal Wednesday!
