What I've Been Up To Lately...

This week I sent a few packages of handmade things out to places around the world. Also, I bought myself a new fancy sketchbook and we've been reading and watching a whole lot of Adventure Time.

I've been listening to Austra while I've been working this week. If you haven't heard them and you're into electronica, you might like to give them a listen. This album is Feel It BreakI highly recommend it.

This is one of the little bees I sent off this week. I love how they look when I flip them right side out after stitching them up. It's like meeting them for the first time and seeing what their little personality is going to be like :)

The kids picked a bunch of the daffodils that were in the garden. We're enjoying them very much.

I made this tomato, cucumber, avocado and cilantro salad last week. It was very delicious. 

The deer are coming to visit us almost every morning and evening these days!

And I caught a wild turkey in the garden a couple of days ago. They totally crack me up.

Have a great Friday!

♥ Andrea ♥

The Moon

*incredible moon photo courtesy of Trypode*

The full moon. It makes me a feel wild! There are so many stories where someone or something becomes wild and uncontrollable at the time of the full moon so I know I'm not alone (don't worry, I'm not a werewolf). The moon always has had a big effect on me. When I was younger, I was too distracted by all the things that are distracting about life to notice it's profound effects on me or at least to recognize what it was that was causing me to feel so differently at different times of the month. But as the years go by, the more I can see the pattern unfold each month.

As the moon becomes full, I become filled with energy and can accomplish many things all at once. If I am alone and have projects to complete- it is pure bliss for me. However, the downside to all this energy is that I am intense. So, if I am not alone with lots to do, I will spend this energy in wasteful ways and while interacting with others, I might dump it on them unintentionally by talking incessantly and then feeling badly afterwards about having been so long-winded.

As I've gotten older and luckily for me have had the opportunity to work from home and run my own businesses, I have begun to schedule myself around the moon. I don't do this in a really intentional way, I just have noticed that it's been happening on it's own as I pay attention to my body's cues. During the time of the full moon I try now to make the most of it. I spend time doing yoga and meditating and send all my excess energy out in a measured and controlled  loving sort of way rather than expend it in a frantic manner without purpose as I used to. And by spending less time with others during the full moon, I find I can focus my energy where I can use it best. For me this often means completing creative projects.

I know from hearing about other people's experiences especially as a homeopath and from working as a bartender for several years, that many people are quite effected by the moon and sometimes without their knowing. In bars you can really see it. I guess because people are drinking it is more obvious. People seem slightly crazy, their actions are often a bit wild and out of character on the night of a full moon. We recently purchased the beautiful latest release by Antony and the Johnsons, Cut The WorldOn the album, Antony speaks about his own experiences with the moon and notes that his brother who works in mental health has mentioned that it is known in his line of work that there are more incidents at the time of the full moon.

I find this all very fascinating and would love to hear from anyone about their experiences with the moon. How does the moon make you feel?

I wanted to point out this great post about working with the moon that Carrie did a while back on her Pink Elephant Academy blog. It's a nice read especially if you would like to consider planning your life a little more around the phases of the moon. She has a lovely sheet you can print out that lists recommendations for things an entrepreneur can consider doing during the different moon phases. Although it has been written specifically for entrepreneurs, it is useful for anyone.

For your reference, here is a link to the Farmer's Almanac list of full moon dates and times.

And here is a tour of the moon from NASA...

And finally, a couple of my favorite songs about the moon...

No post about the moon would be complete without linking to the wacky and hilarious, We Like the Moon from rathergood.com.

Enjoy the harvest moon tonight or tomorrow depending on where you are on our great earth!

♥ Andrea ♥

Let Me Live In My House By The Side Of The Road

Recently, I discovered this poem and it is lovely....

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the place of their self-content;

There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,

In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths

Where highways never ran-

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat

Nor hurl the cynic's ban-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife,

But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,

Both parts of an infinite plan-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,

And mountains of wearisome height;

That the road passes on through the long afternoon

And stretches away to the night.

And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice

And weep with the strangers that moan,

Nor live in my house by the side of the road

Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by-

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish - so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban?

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

- Sam Walter Foss

Sometimes I have felt confused about who I am and wanted to fly away. So I left my house to walk with others on their journeys, only to realize that my journey was back at the house. But each time I've returned home, I've brought something with me, something I've learned- like a souvenir for my house, something to remember the lesson by. And something, that makes me understand and love my fellow 'man' and myself a little bit more.

I adore poetry but I don't think I've ever shared a poem here. This poem is not only fitting presently on a mental/emotional basis for me but also on a physical level because as I mentioned last week, I have just started reorganizing and reinventing our house. It feels as though I am centering in more and more on what is right here and right now- and it feels like coming home.

Now I feel drawn to share a video of a related song by one of the best bands that ever did exist...

What's happening at your house these days?

♥ Andrea ♥

A Night Out and a New Cape

I was a lucky lady this Valentine's day to have had a night out in Toronto with my hubby. We went for a delicious sushi meal at Yuzu (I would certainly go again- food and service were perfection). Then we met up with our friends at the Pheonix to see Die Antwoord. The show was really great and for us the evening was also filled with  adventure and a sprinkling of mayhem.

The night out gave me an opportunity to wear my favorite new item of clothing, this incredible Carnival Raven Cape by the very talented Scary Kerri of Black Orchid Designs. I met Kerri when we did the Bazaar of the Bizarre Frost Bite show in December. I fell in love with this upcycled sweater with gorgeous feather detail as soon as I laid eyes on it. And let me tell you, I have never been approached by so many people wanting to compliment me on a piece of clothing in my life!

While all of her work is one of a kind, I'm sure that Kerri would love to hear from you if you are interested in having a piece custom made by her. Pop on over to Kerri's Etsy shop to see her work or to contact her for a custom piece. Her work is excellent, her prices are incredibly reasonable and she is a lovely person.

♥ Andrea ♥