This and That

The Liberate Your Art postcard swap has been announced.

I've participated for a number of years and it is a lot of fun.

In the past I've sent one of my photographs.

This year I decided to send one of my art pieces.

Since so many are dealing with a harsh winter,

I thought they might like seeing a little "Spring Fling"! 
Watercolor on Index card.

Before the big freeze,
this little guy came to visit.
I think he enjoyed the buffet.





The green you see in the photo is now brown. 
I would have had to cover the whole back yard in preparation for our big freeze. 
Seeing what makes a triumphant return to life will be an adventure!

I'm going to Commit To Sit!
Now in it's seventh year, this free 28-day challenge is an exploration of the tools of meditation led by teacher,
 Sharon Salzberg.
I joined this group several years ago and I need a refresher course.
It starts February 1.
If you are interested, you can find more information here.

I'm still reading The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel.
I found my copy of Real Happiness and am ready for the Commit to Sit month.
Paintbrush in Paris is about a cat in Paris written by illustrator Jill Butler.
Seems like I've been looking for a copy for ages -- adorable and a fun look at Paris.
Last, but not least, by Leisure Arts, Mirror Image Scarves. 

Rainy days were made for reading and crocheting.
So far, I've made two of the Mirror Image Scarves.
I'm using up my stash of Caron Cakes -- bought when they were on sale.
I'm liking how they are looking. 

When I work on a pattern from a book,
I make a copy of the pattern.
Do you do that?
I like to mark up the copy (instead of the book) ---
marking what row I'm on ... any "funny" directions that I had to figure out,
notes to myself -- even about the yarn. 
Just wondering!!!!!!!! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Yarn A Long

Hooking On Hump Day

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Metta Meditation

If you've been visiting Twisty Lane for any length of time,

you know I always wish YOU well and much joy.

It is part of my Metta Prayer and meditation

to wish myself, those I love and all those living on this earth

a good day!

Every now and then I receive something in my email or 

I find something on FaceBook that I think is worth sharing.

This is from the Elephant Journal and written by Michelle Margaret Fajkus.

May has 31 days and here are 31 daily aspirations to guide your
Metta meditation practice for the month.
Open your heart and join me!

1. May I be safe.
May I feel secure and grounded. May I feel a sense of belonging to the Earth. May I know who I am.

2. May I be happy.
May I be joyful. May I be content. May I live with bliss.

3. May I be healthy.
May my body be strong. May my mind be balanced. May I exude well-being.

4. May I be peaceful.
May I be calm. May I be patient. May I be loving.

5. May I live with ease.
May I relax. May I let go. May I just be.

6. May I be free.
May I be free from suffering. May I be free to be me. May I be liberated.

7. May you be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Visualize a loved one and repeat each phrase to them in your mind’s eye.

8. May you be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Visualize a neutral person whom you do not have strong feelings about and repeat each phrase to that person.

9. May you be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Visualize a difficult person, someone with whom you are having a conflict, or even an “enemy,” and say the phrases to them. (This one may take a while before you can actually do it!)

10. May we be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Repeat the wishes, visualizing yourself together with all your loved ones.

11. May we be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Visualize yourself and your wider community.

12. May you be safe, happy, healthy, peaceful and free.
Visualize the light of your metta reaching out to shine upon all beings on Earth.
The remaining aspirations are wishes for all beings, including ourselves.

13. May all beings be safe.

14. May all beings be happy.

15. May all beings be healthy.

16. May all beings be peaceful.

17. May all beings be free.

18. May all beings feel strong & supported.

19. May all beings be loved & cared for.

20. May all beings breathe & relax.

21. May all beings go with the flow.

22. May all beings express our unique power.

23. May all beings open our hearts.

24. May all beings listen.

25. May all beings imagine.

26. May all beings connect with our intuition.

27. May all beings connect with our divine nature.

28. May we all love.

29. May we all share.

30. May we all serve.

31. May we all unite in peace and harmony.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

And, before I forget, since this is May 4th --
May the Fourth be with you!

Good Morning!

From the winter 2007 edition of Tricycle.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

The Joy Diet: Nothing

Last week, the Next Chapter group, under the leadership of the wonderful Jamie Ridler, began reading The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices For a Happier Life by Martha Beck. Jamie suggested we make vision cards for each practice in the book. The first practice is Nothing and here is my vision card.

"To begin the Joy Diet, you must do nothing for at least fifteen minutes a day."

I was excited. This was something I could do! Something I used to do and for some reason (something I'll have to look into further) stopped doing. It was time to return to the "center of my being" and listen. Slow down. Tell my monkey mind TIME OUT!

I returned to one of my favorite authors and teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh and the book A Lifetime of Peace: Essential Writings by and About Thich Nhat Hanh. After greeting the morning and a new day, I began to count my breath. Breathe in and count one, breathe out and count one. Breathe in, two. Breathe out, two. Breathe and count to ten. If a thought comes along .. recognize it, send it away and start with one again. Each time count to ten. Counting attaches mindfulness to the breath. Soon I was reaching ten time and time again, without really realizing it. It was so nice to return to this form of meditation and nothingness.

This, however, is not enough for Thich Nhat Hanh. He believes you can "practice meditation when you walk, stand, lie down, sit, while washing your hands, washing the dishes, drinking tea, talking to friends or whatever you are doing". Whatever you are doing - it must be the most important thing. Be mindful.

I often find this "nothingness" while I am doing handwork ... knit, crochet, cross stitch. I zone out, get into a flow, tune everything out. Even what I'm doing just flows. And after, I am refreshed, whole, calm.

It's so nice to return to nothing. To put the do not disturb sign out.

So, this is my Nothing.

I hope you find yours.

Discovering the Little Things

For some reason today's Daily OM really caught my eye. Some days I just scan their latest email. Not true for today. I decided to share this little bit of joy with you.


October 2, 2008
Treasure Hunting
Discovering the Little Things that Make Us Happy

Life is full of little wonders that can make us happy. The sound of a baby’s laughter, a good book, the comforting smell of a favorite old sweatshirt, and the warmth from a cup of hot tea are simple pleasures that can easily put smiles on our faces. These “little things” are easily accessible to us and can be sources for finding happiness. A key to doing so is taking the time to put those rose colored glasses from childhood back on so you can easily find the joy in all the “little things” that life has to offer.

Finding a puppy rummaging through the laundry basket, trying on that perfect shade of lipstick, or discovering the extra change you left in your back pocket can turn into moments of delight. Like kids digging in the sandbox for buried trinkets, we may even begin to experience happiness when we engage in the seemingly mundane. Figuring out a software program can feel like deciphering a treasure map, and that first sip of tea in the morning can taste like a forbidden delicacy. Swaying to music playing on the radio can turn into an interpretive jig, riding a bike can seem like flying to the moon, and getting a phone call from that special someone can feel like winning the lottery. A pickup game of basketball becomes an exciting match among champions, and observing an elderly couple walking hand in hand can turn into a meditation on peace and contentment.

When we begin rediscovering that the little things in life can make us happy, we naturally want to share this joy with others. We may gush over a friend when we run into them unexpectedly, praise a street musician for their talents, or blow bubbles for the neighborhood kids to chase. We may even start to think of the little things we can do to make other people happy, which in turn makes us happy all over again. There is an endless supply of little things and little moments that can make us happy. All we have to do is look for them, and they’ll magically start to appear.

For more information visit DailyOm.com.