Living Nativity

We started a new Patterson family tradition this year- Christmas caroling at our local church.  We went last Sunday evening and added our voices to the choir & churchgoers- everyone sang traditional holiday songs.  There was a good turnout, the weather was crisp yet comfortable, and the church provided hot chocolate and cookies afterwards (talk about incentive!).  And while we were all singing, the live nativity set up to add to the holiday spirit.  I was able to get a few shots- they came out on the blurry side, but the energy and pageantry is hopefully captured. 

The Write Time

Near- future project:  once the excitement of the holiday season is finished, I'm going to return to my roots and get back into serious writing. A couple of months ago I finished writing song lyrics for an old friend who is working on rebuilding his old music group (Agents of Oblivion- an indie band from the late 90s founded by Dax Riggs and Chuck Pitre- Google it and prepare to rock out). It took a while to devote the time needed for this venture- several months' time- but the end results were satisfying, and my friend was blown away.  Basically I took Chuck's instrumental version of the music and added the written lyrics to the melody. It was a different process from just writing whatever is in my head without the accompanying music.  It was fun to remember the good ol' days when my writing was front and center- I used to write pages and pages of poetry in an old black and white composition book, and share it with my friends in the band, who expressed sincere appreciation for my words.  It was a time that I felt pride in my work.  The process was a good reminder that I am squandering this writing gift by not making the time for it every single day/several times a week. It got lost in the shuffle of work, home, volunteer work etc., when it should have been first on the to-do list.  I've heard many famous writers speak of the writing process they way you would exercise- its a muscle that has to be put to use each and every day, to stay fit and to yield positive results.  Like any other venture, you can't make anything happen by sitting on it- whether "it" be writing, exercising, doing ANYTHING.  Now its time to get back to work- my work- and make things happen again. Maybe this blog is a good place to start.

Santa Paws

"Please have snow....

And Mr. Beau....

and presents under the tree...for me....."

After having purposely misquoted the lyrics to this old favorite, I have to admit the only thing on the above wish list that I want- I already have.  Beau, you're the best Christmas present of all.  *hugs*

Winter of the Soul

The holidays are almost here.  This is a very emotional time of year for most of us, and when a tragedy hits our family, it becomes magnified tenfold.  This is supposed to be the time of peace, love and forgiveness, but so many of us are wallowing in ugliness, mean spiritedness and negativity.  That is something that can be changed.  We can change the world, the universe, with very little effort.  But we have to want the change- we have to do something Here and Now and stop wasting time on the hamster wheel.  Be a bigger person than the one from yesterday.  Reach out to those less fortunate, the lonely, the sick, the sad, the excluded, and let the world know what kind of person YOU are in the process.  And when you're walking the lonely road of grief, remember the angels walking a step ahead- and the ones without wings that are walking alongside.

Fashionably Late and Keith Richards

I have been tardy in my blog writings of late- there have been many difficult tempests in my life that have needed tending to, Halloween swirled in like a  swift storm (and the weeks spent preparing for it are finally over), and a lot of home remodeling is in the works as we get closer and closer to the holiday season.  There were also many setbacks- small arguments with folks that escalated into big  monsters, and family drama that has reared its ugly head again and again.  Its been hard to post on a blog that is dedicated to sharing only the positive, with so many negatives in the mix, which is why I took a break from writing.  So I'm back here again to play catch-up and to focus on something other than the recent chaos.

Creativity has been on my mind a lot these days.  Right now I'm plowing through "Life"- the autobiographical novel by Keith Richards. A wild ride indeed- but give the man credit, he is his musical generation's epitome of the man who survived the insanity of his times and emerge 'elegantly wasted'.  He knows how to write song lyrics and build music, and is not afraid to share that knowledge with others.  I've gotten some useful information from the pages of "Life", applicable to learning what goes into guitar technique and how to (I hope, I hope!) take it to the next level and write songs.  It takes guts to reveal your magician's secrets to the audience.  I tip my hat to him for his courage in doing so.

Another thing on my mind is Fashion (with a capital F.)  Maybe as a result of all the musical novels I've read lately ("Starman", "No One Here Gets Out Alive", "Life", etc.), and all the fashion blogs out there (the biggies are listed in fashion magazines like Glamour and Cosmo, among others).   Not to mention the fact that as the holidays glimmer on the horizon, clothes are important for all those family and community events.   Fashion through the ages is a big source of interest to me, especially in connection with the changing music of the times.  Music and fashion have always been linked-the 60s were all colorful plumage and hippie movement, and each proceeding decade a dance of ideas and stories, some classic (the 40s), some bizarre and overwhelming (the 80s), yet all a timeline of style.  Our societal history is revealed in the different styles that have come and gone through the ages, the things we borrow from and make new as the years pass.

I'm an avid reader of magazines that deal with fashion in its many manifestations- Glamour, Vogue, W, Cosmo, Martha Stewart Living, Oprah.  Yes, those last two were intentionally included- fashion isn't just how we clothe our spirits, but our homes and lives.  Then there's the J. Peterman catalog- a wonderful semi-annual collection of clothes that are stylized, old-fashioned, timeless and classic.  Each fanciful sketch is accompanied by a writeup, a story that makes for some lovely anti-advertising.  (I attempted something similar when I had my necklace line posted on Facebook.)  My bottom line as far as fashion goes: clothe your soul- and we are never the same person each day.  But balance your fashion sense with practical matters like place, and timing, practicality and comfort.  Some folks fixate on merely outshining everyone else, not concerned with clothing who they are as individuals- and that's when fashion becomes nonexistant.  If you want to style yourself, you have to know all the dimensions and facets of your true self.  Keith Richards pops back in this segment, as I remember reading about his style evolution- he had a very interesting and particular style- feathers and bones in his hair (a nod to the villagers he lived with back in the day); gypsy clothes (as the original traveling man on tour with the Stones); pirate clothes (Pirates of the Carribean was an extension of his real style from the look of it). He had different components that remained time-tested and true.  And he was fascinated with symbolism- things symbolic kept close to his heart, including a skull ring as a reminder of mortality.  The end result is a man who defines his own style, doesn't pander to the masses, and despite his disregard of public opinion is still counted among the most fashionable men in music today.  Bottom line: My definition of style is to be who you really are, on the inside, and manifest it on the outer level.  

Today's lessons: Work.  Play.  Be fancy-free. Clothe the spirit.  Feed the soul.

Transitioning into Autumn

Its the last day of September, and my Zen moment arrives in the change of season- a shifting of the light, a departure from humidity- a welcome respite from the furnace that is our summer- a time when you can take a deep breath and fill your lungs with air that has an edge of spice and cold to it.  October is a fun and exciting month of transition- with its arrival comes cooler weather, warm sweaters, spices, autumn leaves, looking for the "Great Pumpkin" at local church pumpkin patches, an awakening of twilight activities, a bounty of fairs and festivals, costume changes, baking bread and cookies, celebrating Halloween, picnics in the park, and last but not least, celebrating our third wedding anniversary. 

Another note on the changing season- its time to dig out the Halloween decorations and start decking the house on the first day of October.  My Zen moment is found in memories of former Halloweens, and the knowledge that this is the one time of year we can be little kids again, and celebrate the simple things- like candy and costumes.  Its good to revisit the past, and to get in touch with imagination and magic. Halloween is the vehicle that gets us there.

Wishing everyone a happy autumn and harvest time!

Looking for a sign...

Its refreshing to know that the church has a sense of humor.  I was looking for a message or a sign this Sunday morning- and here it was :)

Feathering the Nest

There's something so rewarding about decorating your home- feathering the nest.  Adding an area rug and slipcovers/throw pillows to the sofas & loveseat to bring some color and personality into the room- small touches that speak volumes.  Being on a shoestring budget makes one resourceful when it comes to home improvements.  And burning candles- the smell of vanilla and cinnamon are the perfect accompaniment to making our nest feel like home.  Domestic bliss- this is my most recent Zen Moment. The added bonus of a dog who's smart enough to get around the "no paws on the carpet" rule injects some humor to the cozy moment :)

Animals as Medicine for the Soul

Zen moments are sometimes very difficult to find.  During times like these, I find that helping the less fortunate is a productive use of time and energy, and a reminder of how blessed my life is despite some ongoing sorrows.  The most  recent Zen moment I have to report on this subject, happened last Saturday- helping the SPCA during an adoption event at Clearview Mall.  My assigned dog was Jace, a year old pitbull puppy- a sweetheart with a coat like a tiger, and an endless amount of playful energy.  We met so many people that day and made some new friends.  Jace hugged and kissed his way into many hearts, especially mine.  I'm no social butterfly, but taking on the cause of helping this puppy find a home helped me network successfully with complete strangers.  Its not about "you", its about "them".  And the gratitude from this dog was reward in itself.  He sat in my lap and nestled against my heart.  We weren't even an hour into the event when I knew it would be rough having to go separate ways at the end.  And as predicted, by the end of the evening it was very hard to load him in the puppy truck and say goodbye.  Helping Jace out was one of the best weekend evenings I've spent in a long time.  He showed gratitude, affection and love, and I'll be keeping tabs on him to make sure he gets adopted before his time at the shelter is up.

Word of advice to the folks out there: if you have the resources (all it takes is love and basic food/vet bills), adopt a pet.  You'll get your mind off  your worries, even momentarily, taking care of someone less fortunate who will provide instant gratitude.  If you can't change your lifestyle to adopt a pet, then consider volunteering at your local animal shelter- the folks there are grateful for whatever you can contribute and you can make your own schedule, whether its an hour a day or one per week or even one per month- no amount is too small.  The cats and dogs are grateful for any bit of time and attention you can bring them. And the love you will get in return will stay with you and enrich your life.

Tea Time

Happiness is tea time- a good book- and lovely company.  This is a shot of a long-ago summer with Beau, who was only a pup at the time.  Tea time is both medicinal and good for the soul.  It gives us a moment in time to unwind from the day's events and chaos.  It is my go-to place for serenity.

Thought of the Day- Procrastination

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way.  Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.  Then life would begin.  At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."  ~Fr. Alfred D'Souza

There is no "perfect time" to begin.  I think a lot of us fall into that trap of perfectionism, and fall prey to the teachings of its cousin, procrastination.  All the stars have to be aligned, all the variables equal across the board, before we give ourselves permission to begin to live. If all is not "just right" something dire will happen. Or so we lead ourselves to believe.  We will not allow ourselves to go on blind faith, and underlying these notions is the gripping fear of failure.  We have to disable that notion and take hold of our sense of adventure.  Stop overthinking your every move- this is not a chess game.  Its a game of "Start or Wither".  Stop building walls to climb and obstacles at every corner.  Embrace life in all its glory and all its faults and "please to begin".  Walk into the water barefoot to feel the gritty ground beneath your feet- it may be your last chance, before an oil spill, or an earthquake, or a rapture, takes away the moment.  Use all five senses or they will go to waste.  Get your toes muddy with the sand and the tides.  Jump in headfirst, or risk never having swum the currents of life. 

Slice of Rainbow

The Beginning

Welcome to my blog. This is my first zen entry- a focus on the positive things in my world.  I wrote a prayer for my loved ones this evening- long overdue and something that I'm not in the habit of doing- then took my dog Beau out to the backyard to stretch his legs as the evening wandered into sunset. Once there, I discovered a rainbow, its fading tapestry of pastels stretched out across the evening sky. Birds were perched on telephone wires before it. Rainbow without the rain- a rarity. My first Zen moment of the day. I ran inside to grab my camera, and fired off a few shots. Will post them here later.


I found something that had been lost, buried under resentment and grief and pain- forgiveness. The kind that creeps up on you when you aren't looking for it and makes you realize that this life is short, this journey measured in mortal steps that are fleeting and few. You can let the pain eat at your guts and haunt your soul and form a cancer in your memories of loved ones- or you can make up your mind to put the pain to rest, wipe the ugliness from your soul and give a requiem to the death of it all. Then move on. Not free from what has happened- but free to put it behind you and not let it run interference with what will be. By not allowing the pain to hurt you or change you, you become stronger than the evil. You conquer and come out victorious. You battle and come out scarred yet triumphant.


Today it was easy to be thankful- it was a blessing to have a day free from responsibilities (except for tending the home fires). Reading. Music streaming. Cooking red beans and rice with cornbread- all Southern standbys. Clean laundry and a hot plate of food to end the day. A summer day with my dog and ribbons of time on my hands. Time to reflect and dream. And that half-faded rainbow at the end of an evening free of rain.


Wishing everyone an evening of serenity, forgiveness and tranquility.