Buddhist Boot Camp

A flower doesn't stop being beautiful just because somebody walks by without noticing it, nor does it cease to be fragrant if its scent is taken for granted. The flower just continues to be its glorious self: elegant, graceful, and magnificent.

Our Mother Nature has provided us with these immeasurably valuable teachers that blossom despite their short lifespan, stars that continue to shine even if we fail to stare at them, and trees that don't take it personally if we never bow down in gratitude for the oxygen they provide.

We also have an incredible and unlimited capacity to love, but the question is: can we do it like a flower? Without needing to be admired, adored, or even noticed? Can we open our hearts completely to give, forgive, celebrate, and joyfully live our lives without hesitation or need for reciprocity?

It seems like sometimes we go beyond taking things personally and are noticeably deflated when unappreciated. In-fact, devastated, we wilt in sorrow and then attempt to guard ourselves by withholding, using all sorts of protections and defenses. We get hurt (even angry), if our boss fails to recognize an astonishing feat, if a lover pulls their hand away, or when a friend forgets our birthday. Can you imagine a flower copping an attitude for not being praised, or the moon dimming its glow because we're too self-absorbed to notice it more often?

Make an effort to shine no matter what, to love unconditionally, and to be a kind and gentle soul (even when nobody is watching). And, if you're so inclined, hug the next tree you see and say, "Thank you!"

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This chapter is called "Love is the recognition of beauty" from the book Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye

Funny Friday - John Steinbeck Style

The Grapes of Wrath

Okay, I know you have been sitting on pins and needles just waiting to hear back from me as to what I decided to make with the beautify Bernat Waverly yarn, now that I decided NOT to make the crochet-along afghan (which was why I purchased this yarn in the first place).

Well, you can quit holding your breath now. I found the perfect pattern.....

Isn't she pretty ??  I already have the white and greens and I'm basically going to be replacing the browns in the photos with pinks.

I also considered this pattern (which I've posted about before):

I'm pretty sure I will go with the first one because it is all worked in one piece (no sewing) and also because I think the 2nd one would look better in shades of purple.

Of course, as much as I'd like to get started on this I have 2 other projects that I am going to finish beforehand.


1)  Patchwork Baby Afghan that I am knitting for my soon to be born great-niece
2) Around the World Afghan that I am crocheting for me (wow - can't believe I started that afghan that long ago and haven't made much progress on it - time really flies)

Yarn Love

 I love Lion Brand yarn - love them all !!  They have so many beautiful yarns and colors and their website is FANTASTIC - fully of patterns.  I have been a member of their website as long as I can remember.  Some of the patterns use to be free and some had a small cost (not too expensive - $0.99 - $1.99 - along those lines).  At that time, their free patterns were mostly the ones printed on the yarn bands but also available on their website.

Well many, many years ago, they made ALL of their patterns free.  I remember when I got the e-mail saying so - I went pattern crazy - printing out so many.  I was a happy girl. Heck, I still am a happy girl - they literally have thousands of free patterns and they are so well written.  Even the "experienced" skill level ones are easy to follow.

My favorite yarn of theirs is probably Vanna's Choice (named for the beautiful Vanna White), who is a fellow crocheter (she may knit too but seems like I heard she crocheted) - she has been their spokesperson for over 15 years.  I also love Pound of Love, Amazing, Jamie, and  Homespun.

I receive an email from them each week with new patterns and such.  But this week I about stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this.  How cute are these?  Itty, Bitty, Teeny, Weeny and insanely cute little skeins of yarn, called Bonbons.

They are so perfect for smaller projects, such as Amigurumi.  They come 8 to a pack in a variety of colors - just look at this cute little pack !  I can't wait to see them in person.  The Lion Brand website has them listed as $7.99 per pack - so about $1 a skein.  The yarn looks a bit like DMC (embroidery) floss.  One skein of DMC floss is 10 g and 1 skein of Lion Brand floss states 10 g (according to the website).

 

Considering that DMC is often on sale 5 for $1 and it comes in at least 87 different colors, it may be a better choice then Lion  Brand for these type of projects but the Lion Brand is just so darned cute !!   Plus I have not seen them in person so I don't know if they really are like DMC floss or not (they just appear to be from the photos and projects).   With this pack pictures above, I could so see myself make Georgia and Georgia Tech friendship bracelets !  The right colors are in there.

Anyway..... if you see these in the store anywhere, leave me a comment so I check them out - also, let me know what you think.

Funny Friday - Whatcha Thinkin ?

Happy Independence Day

This is my 300th post !!  I hope you have a Happy, Fun & Relaxing Independence Day !

2012 Movies - Version 06.2012

Listing of movies I've seen in 2012 (does not include TV movies or movies I've re-watched)

A ❤ indicates my favorite for the month.

June 2012

Mr. Popper's Penguins - pretty cute, would have been better without the poop jokes but I am sure it made the kids laugh.
Rock of Ages - just when I think I can't love ❤Tom Cruise❤ anymore, here he comes as Stacee Jaxx ❤
Hangover II - pretty funny-like the first one but set it Bancock
Kung Fu Panda II - cute, they set it up for a part III right at the end.
Brave - the latest Disney/Pixar creations - wonderful, of course !
Magic Mike - great dancing, not so great acting.

May 2012  

Monte Carlo - pretty cute teen movie with a Prince & the Pauper theme.

Going the Distance - Drew Barrymore flick - was ok but not her best film by any means

The Kids are Alright - pretty good story but too much unnecessary nudity

One Day - long love story, the finally get together and then tragedy strikes

Paul - alien movie where Blythe Danner drops the f-bomb, shows you how good it was - NOT !

Dark Shadows - way better than I thought it would be based on the reviews I'd heard - I really liked it.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - great legendary British actors in this movie, interesting to see Indian culture. ❤

April 2012

Eat, Pray, Love - better than I thought it would be.

Horrible Bosses - was okay, didn't hate it, didn't love it - but did not like Jennifer Aniston's character at all

Chimpanzee - so sweet, so amazing, incredible photography - wow !

Water for Elephants - the book was a bit slow to me, so was the movie - good acting though.

Pirates - Band of Misfits (3D) - funny, cute story - I love 3D

Larry Crowne - Tom Hanks/Julie Roberts.  I heard a lot of bad reviews for this when it first came out but I decided to watch it and I liked it.

Magi

March 2012
The Way - staring Martin Sheen, about a man taking over a pilgrimage for his son, pretty good
Legally Blond 2 - I love Reese Witherspoon but ... the first Legally Blond was great, the didn't need #2
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - very funny movie - romance but also drama - I loved it.❤
Cedar Rapids - watched on HBO, was just okay
Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son - also on HBO - also just okay
Bridemaids - not as crude as I thought it was going to be (really only a couple of crude scenes), it was a pretty good story but not sure what the big hoopla was about it.  Also don't know why Melissa McCarthy was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, she did a fine job but she wasn't any more special then the other girls in it.   

February 2012
Extremely Loud and Incredible Close - good acting, had a lot of narration, a little upsetting
Warhorse - Epic storytelling in classic Steven Spielberg fashion - I loved it ❤
Moneyball - true story - good but kind of slow for me
Ides of March - very good, incredible to know stuff like that (or worse) goes on in real life. 
Tree of Life - very artsy movie that was HORRIBLE
Midnight in Paris - sweet, charming and romantic. 

January 2012

Something Borrowed - good story but moved a little slow I thought

Mean Girls - really liked it

Hall Pass - just okay - was crude and predictable

Twilight - Breaking Dawn Part I - good, a little cheesy when the werewolves talked to each other though

Insidious - not as scary as I thought it would be but was creepy and spooky without gore

The Artist - I LOVED this movie - LOVED it !!    ❤ ❤ ❤
The Karate Kid (the newer one with Jaden Smith) - never saw it before, they should have named it The Kung-Fu Kid, I wonder why they didn't?
The Descendants - good movie, good acting, beautiful location