The Web

No, this isn't a post about the world wide web,  I just want to share a few photos that I snapped this morning.  While walking Tuesday (yes, that is the name of my daughter's dog) I noticed a shimmering patch of crystals tucked behind a neighbours hedge, upon closer inspection I found that it was a spider's web spun flat over a tiny patch of their lawn and on which water droplets were suspended.

water droplets on spider's web
Sandra King-Allikas

intricate spider web with water droplets
Sandra King-Allikas

Crystal-like water droplets suspended on spider's web
Sandra King-Allikas

How delighted I feel when I discover such nearly hidden treasures.  Beauty is truly all around us, we need only to slow down and discover it.

Thank you for taking a few moments to stop by My Turquoise Kettle Life.

May you find the beauty in today,

Sandra

Sugar.... ending the love affair.

I've hesitated all week about addressing this topic....shhhh... I haven't had any refined sugar or processed carbohydrates for the past 6 days.





raw sugar cubes

Several years ago my dad loaned me a book called "The Sugar Blues" authored by William Dufty. Frankly, I was shocked by the claims of the damage that sugar causes us. After a few weeks however, I comfortably let those nasty concepts slip right off of my radar screen. A few months ago a Youtube video of Dr. Lustig's lecture,  "Sugar, The Bitter Truth" , once more had me riveted by the idea of how much I might be able to improve my health and wellbeing by reducing/eliminating harmful sugars. (This lecture is 90 minutes long but I listened to it twice, the second time asking my husband to listen as well.) These reports are no longer shocking, at least they ought not to be, everyone seems to be aware of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup and other refined sugars on our health.

Why then did I hesitate? What exactly was I waiting for to motivate me to make this change, a health crisis? Hmmm. I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer but it finally dawned on me (ok ,by "finally" I mean after sampling way too many cookies and squares baked for the Women's Summer Studio during the past two months and a big dinner at Baton Rouge Restaurant followed by birthday cake last weekend) that I really want to reduce or eliminate harmful sugar from my diet.

No, I mean it! I really want to give up the sugar habit.

I read about other people's experience of eliminating sugar from their diet: the headaches, cravings, crankiness and fatigue. But I also read about how much better people felt after living sugar free.

I dove in without too much of a plan. The first casualty was my love affair with  Mr. Mini-Wheats. I guess you could say that the writing was on the box, once I realized that he wasn't good for me I was able to leave him on the shelf.   I read and re-read labels and allowed myself to fill up on fruit, oatmeal with unsweetened soy milk and lots of veggies, lentils and rice.


I wouldn't have thought myself capable of having lunch without a slice of bread (and I will look for an alternative to the bread I was using) but I haven't had or even craved bread since I began. Weird....that is all I can say... it’s weird. I don't crave the sugars; I haven't had a headache, felt weak, or crabby.

Today I'll visit the health food store and check out some alternative grains and I've made a longer than usual list of fruit and vegetable to stock up on. I really don't know if the cravings will suddenly begin, if my body and brain will read me the riot act and revolt. Who knows?  For now I'll carry on and I will keep you posted.

Thanks for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

Wishing you a (naturally) sweet day,

Sandra

Women's Summer Studio Continues to Grow

As the summer chugs along the Women's Summer Studio continues to grow and participants continue to inspire and amaze me with their creativity.  There seems to be an attitude of fearlessness amongst most of the artists which allows them to push, experiment and discover themselves as painters.

There are currently twenty women participating in the Studio.  What I love is how varied the energies are during different studio sessions.  Some groups are hushed, working intently while classical music whispers in the background, while others are infused with an electric energy where the group is singing along to Abba and Blue Rodeo.  What fun! 

Women's Summer Studio 2012

Women's Summer Studio 2012

What remains constant for me is a real sense of connection, respect and love for each of the women I have the honour of meeting with each week.

While I have my morning quiet time I whisper their names and ask that each of them be blessed in their lives and their creativity and that the Studio would be a fun place of nurturing, connection and artistic expression. 

There remains three weeks of Studio time.  I'm excited to see what projects will be realized before the session comes to a close.  Check back in a couple of weeks, with the artists' permission perhaps I can post photos of some of their work.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Wishing you a perfect summer day,

Sandra

Keeping Summer Entertaining Simple

This past weekend my husband and I hosted a barbeque for his side of the family to celebrate a couple of birthdays as well as to say farewell to a family member who is relocating to Ottawa.
With approximately a dozen people expected, my goal as always was to try to keep it simple!

At some point during the weekend, my husband brought out this old family photo of his grandparents hosting a summer meal in front of their farmhouse. 

A simple outdoor summer meal circa 1930's

Studying it I was taken with how simple, elegant and relaxed the scene looks.   A bunch of black-eyed-susans gathered up in a glass vase, the wooden chairs, the pastoral backdrop of country fences and fields.  How beautiful and serene his grandmother looks (far right).

I tucked the photo under a fridge magnet to remind myself of what really matters when bringing together family and friends for an easy summer meal.  I let myself take several short-cuts and crossed a few things off the to-do list: weeding and edging all the gardens, washing the kitchen and bathroom floors (really....people will be traipsing in and out with shoes on anyhow).  I kept the menu simple, (marinated chicken breasts, a green salad, a pasta salad and a rice dish with birthday cake and ice cream for dessert) used disposable plates and serviettes and except for barbequing the meat, everything was prepared ahead of time. 

It turned out to be a relaxing evening.  I had lots of time to sit and chat with the adults and to run about the garden with our grand-daughter picking leaves and floating them in the birth bath, playing with the garden hose and generally being silly.

Given that it was a Sunday, our guests left around eight-thirty and by nightfall my husband and I had dismantled the tables, relocated the chairs and with some help from our daughter (thank you!!) all the dishes were done.  Remembering that what lasts are the connections, the feeling welcomed and sharing time together, it is easier to let go of our need to overwork the details and ourselves. 


Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a simple summer day,

Sandra

The Sanctuary of the Garden

Due to a last minute change in itinerary, I found myself in the luxurious situation of having no scheduled plans for this morning.  I made myself a second cup of tea and with camera in hand did a mini-tour of the garden.

What a sanctuary my garden has become, with its mature trees and shrubs we enjoy complete privacy and this being a weekday morning all was tranquil and serene.  Aside from dodging spider webs (yuck!) it is a peaceful oasis of colour and beauty.


Impatience



Spirea

Whimsical Garden Door

A number of years ago we salvaged this door and I painted flowers and  greenery on both the upper and lower panels.  This summer it found a home in the garden creating a touch of whimsy.

Hydrangea

 A small water feature with four camera-shy goldfish is a soothing spot to sit and finish my tea. 



A water feature is a soothing sight and sound in a garden.



How much wiser I would be to embrace more of the moments between scheduled activities and really savour them, for how quickly these warm summer days will blend into the cool days of autumn and then the cold crisp days of winter. 

It's easy for me to fall into the trap of doing, moving and looking about for ways to be productive.   I grew up believing lazy was a four-letter word.  While there are miles between lazy and unhurried, relaxed and mindful, I still find it difficult to let up on the accelerator of my life and enjoy the scenery, to stop and see the sights and sounds, to stop and smell the proverbial roses.

To that end I will allow myself the unhurried pleasure of soaking up the beauty of my garden more often, I will commit to walk softly, to look and to see the beauty, to listen to the birds, to watch those spiders (yuck) spinning so beautifully.  And to more fully appreciate the freedom that is mine.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you an unhurried day,

Sandra

Women's Summer Studio 2012

This week the Women's Summer Studio was in full swing. I could not have been happier watching the women who attended creating, experimenting, sharing ideas and painting....such a beautiful collection of women and their creative expressions.

Some of the work is minutely detailed, others are bursts of wild colours and still others, deep expressions of emotion, moved me to tears. I am delighted to see new artists emerging, women who are painting for the first time and loving it. To their amazement they can paint and paint beautifully.

I've always felt that the "Art World" would have us believe the lie that only some of us can paint. They shroud the Artist in mystery attempting to create a holy reverence for this Creative Being. We are expected to hover through the gallery speaking in hushed voices ... careful... you are walking on holy ground.

Yes, creating is a holy activity but like prayer, song and dance it isn't reserved for a select few. We used to believe that we needed a high priest to speak to God on our behalf, now we know that we all have direct access to a loving, inclusive God.

Likewise the visual arts are for everyone and perhaps most especially for those who have been told they can't draw, that they aren't creative, that they have no sense of colour or composition or some such nonsense.

I am delighted and honoured to be able to watch the ideas and emotions of these painters unfurl and find expression on paper and canvas. Thank you to each of the participating artists for allowing me to be a fellow sojourner on your creative journey.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a creative day,

Sandra