Autumnal Bliss

Magazineart.org

CHOCOLATE CREAM COFFEE
Courtesy of The Wedding Planner of the Carolinas

1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 cup coffee
Ground cinnamon
Sweetened chocolate powder
Grated orange peel

Whip all but 1 tablespoon of the cream. Stir the reserved tablespoon of cream and the chocolate syrup in a saucepan over low heat until mixed together. Add the coffee gradually, stirring the mixture as you do so. Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream and cinnamon, chocolate powder, and grated orange peel.

Spiritual Sundays: Brother Lawrence

Excerpt from, "The Practice of the Presence of God,"
by Brother Lawrence

To practice the presence of God is to live in the conscious awareness of Our Father, engaging in quiet and continuous conversation with Him. It means we live an inner life of unceasing prayer and we strive for all we think, say, and do to be an outward reflection of what is pleasing to God.

To practice the presence of God is to simply and humbly walk the closer walk. It is a closer walk because each day our hope is to get closer, to be closer to Our Lord than we were the day before. Ever closer. As both a direction and a goal, this closer walk is also a very potent, private, and personal awareness of the present moment with God. He lives in us as we live in Him.

How can anything this simple, this basic, be so profound and precious? Yet, it is. How can this walk, this conversation, this practice bring us any closer to Him than we are right now? Yet, it does. Thank You, Father.

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

from 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee', author unknown

Kimono

Good Housekeeping - Magazineart.com

Kimono - Something to Wear

This Japanese loanword designating a loose-fitting robe opens a big box of exotic associations for many English speakers, so it's somewhat ironic that the components of it in Japanese only mean "wearing" and "thing."

Courtesy of Visual Thesaurus

Be Who You Are

September 1915 - Magazineart.org

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss

I found this quote on Twitter and it started the wheels rolling... So often, I see people apologizing for who they are. God will never apologize for His workmanship and neither should we. Granted, our choices can steer us away from the original blueprint, but God takes pleasure in us, and He never loses sight of our Master plan and purpose, even if we do.

We should apologize for our poor choices and/or actions, especially if they adversely affect others. However, who we are is a personal thing between Daddy God and ourselves.

The Dr. Seuss quote (above) is a good affirmation. I would interject that "people" always matter, even if they think "we" don't. It's the inaccurate opinions and judgments that shouldn't matter or dictate to us. People are sometimes blinded by jealousies, insecurities, or a greater interest in themselves.

True friends are those who see us clearly and choose to love us anyway.

The Modern Priscilla

Magazineart.com

I love this issue of The Modern Priscilla, October 1926! Take a look at the enticing features listed on the cover. For 20 cents, a woman was transported into the topics that many of us still hold dear!

Laundry Ball

In making efforts to conserve energy and to show more respect for our planet, I have replaced my laundry detergent with a TrueGreen™ Laundry Washing Ball. The results have been rewarding and noticeable. I never thought I'd be trusting a ball to clean my clothes!

This little marvel is actually available for purchase on my website. Here's the product description...

The TrueGreenTM Laundry Washing Ball is an Extremely Earth Friendly and People Friendly Product that DOES NOT contain harmful synthetic detergents, perfumes, dyes or oils. The Washing Ball cleans your clothes without bleach or detergents in cold water. You will be amazed at how bright your whites will be. The Laundry Washing Ball is cheaper than detergents and bleach and much more convenient.

Laundry Ball Benefits: Reduces environmental pollution. Hypo-allergenic with no remaining chemical detergent residue in clothes. It's a must for those with sensitive skin. The Anti-bacterial agent eliminates mold, pathogenic organisms, and unpleasant odors. Free of dyes and fragrance therefore if you miss the smell you can use fabric softener in the washing machine or dryer sheets. Excellent cleaning with cold water and therefore uses less electricity. As there are no synthetic detergents there is no need for the rinse cycle which saves electricity and water. Protects the discoloration and oxidation of fabric caused by chloride in the city water and helps to maintain the elasticity of fabric. The most spectacular Bright Whites without bleach. Soap & detergent free - no soapy film or residue left on clothes. Reduces Scale, Rust and Lime buildup in the washing machine and pipes. Easy, Effective, Economical & Portable - I bring it on extended vacations.

Life Span: The TrueGreen™ Laundry Washing Ball can be used for 6 months on the basis of 18 pounds of laundry per day.

Ingredients: Powerful magnets - activate water clusters, softens the water and minimizes the size of the water molecule which helps with scale and rust removal of the washing machine and pipes. Far infrared and negative Ions - break water molecules hydrogen combinations into small clusters and forces the small water cluster being activated to increase its molecular motions, penetrations force and allows for a powerful washing power. It radiates negative ions to weaken the surface and inter-fabric adhesion so that the dirt comes off easily without any detergents. Antibiotic - for sterilization eliminates mold and pathogenic organisms in the washing machine. Alkali - Keeps the PH spectrum at the level of ordinary chemical detergents. Chlorine Exclusion - eliminates the chloride compound in water.

Sounds fascinating, doesn't it? If you're interested in trying this out for yourself, click HERE. Then click on the ShopToEarth icon in the upper right corner of the Home page. Once there, you click on the first ShopToEarth green tab and then on the TrueGreen link. You will immediately see their list of products.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

The southern region of California is an irrigated desert. Our falls aren't nearly as spectacular as the splendorous East Coast displays. In fact, most of America puts on a better show than we do. I do have a Liquid Amber in my front yard that stands about 20 feet from a regal palm tree and a flowerbed of tropical foliage and succulents. It sheds its autumn hued leaves against a backdrop of evergreens.

So, I find my autumnal solace with words, illustrations, and photos. Hence, I sponsored the DIAMOND POETRY CONTEST so that I could hear from the poetic souls of those who experience fall differently than I do.

I received 18 comments regarding the 6 Diamond Poetry entries. 16 of those comments included a vote for their favorite poem. May I add that most of the voters loved ALL of the poems and were challenged with selecting just one. Each poet painted wonderful images.

Finally, with a total of 5 votes, the winner is MISS SHABBY of SHABBY IN THE CITY! She may choose between a $10.00 Target or Starbucks card! Way to go Miss Shabby!

Hayride
itchy, kissy
bumping, laughing, flirting,
Autumn, Halloween, Christmas, Winter,
bundling, singing, celebrating,
snowy, jingly,
Sleighride