I have not been a very good blogger for over a week now, I was reminded last night when my hubby started to write his. So here goes.
I managed to cut Daisy's hair, it took several sessions and lots of wriggling and squirming (Daisy not me); she looks so thin and scrawny. Ashley says she doesn't look cute any more, but I think she does regardless. She's staying with our parents soon while we go away and its not fair for them to have to spend hours going through all her knots.
I managed to finish 1 painting and knitting my cardigan. I shall buy the buttons for the cardigan today then it needs a good wash. I can then start on my new paintings (portraits of Nat and another of Ashley) and finish the large one in the garage. I've put some of my artwork on Etsy, I haven't had any sales yet but who know, maybe I will. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CherieDeakin
Our artcentre/studio idea is taking shape, not the way we had envisioned but we are all committed and hard working. Saying that, I haven't been this past weekend and I need to pull my socks up. I'm waiting for the decision as to whether the One Planet shop is going to be set up on Abbey Street, if not we will have to sell our work on market stalls in the north west, get a business going that way.
I'm on my way to work right now, on the commute between Oswaldtwistle and Darwen. Don't know why I included you all into this information but I did so it must be relevant.
I did lots on chanting over the weekend, tozo on Saturday and kozen rufu on Sunday. I really like Kelli's Gohonzen, I've heard people talk before about having experiences with their own Gohonzen or those belonging to others. While I was chanting on Sunday my vision started to go out of focus like I was looking at one of those 3D images, I then started to see really happy smiles and I got a sense of real happiness. So Kelli if you're reading this that was my experience at your house.
Nat has been silly with his mobile phone recently and built up a huge bill. We told him he would have to repay this money to us and what a powerhouse he has been. I wanted him to know how it would feel to earn that amount of money then he could get an idea of the actual value of it, rather than it being an abstract notion that 'Bank of Mum' provides. He's been doing lots of jobs for us, his Gran, taking dogs for walks, digging and work on his Gran's allottment. He's going to work as an electricians mate for a couple of days this week and next with mu Uncle Len. So far he's made £120 in a week, I am so proud of him for having the strength to stand up to the challenge and succeed. This is a lesson in life for him, and he will remember this and hopefully take away the notion that whatever challenges he has to face there will be solutions that only require his effort and determination to succeed.
I've had to take my bike back to Halfords and get my money back, the pedal fell off again in Rishton on the towpath, I then had to push it all the way home. I was not a happy bunny!!! It had only just had new parts fitted and had been in the shop for 2 weeks. Ashley phoned them yesterday, and arranged for the bike to be returned. When we went to the shop a young lad started trying to diagnose what the problem and solution was, I could feel my blood start to boil as why he couldn't have done this when the bike was in his possession for 2 weeks I don't know. He said he had never seen the problem before, well mate it was in your shop for the last 2 weeks, surely you would have seen it then. He even said that the part that had fallen off was well worn, cheeky thing, that was the new piece that they had fitted. He asked if we minded if he had a look at fixing it again and taking it for a ride, I told him I didn't mind at all as long as we got a full refund immediately. Which we did then got on our way. That kind of service should have been provided 3 weeks ago, not when the problem had occured 3 times.
I played a funny prank on Ashley yesterday, he was upstairs about to start working on the laptop. I telephoned him pretending to be a cold caller from MSU Home Direct, I put on the worst accent ever. He put the phone down on me, so I called him again pretending to be the same person, he thought it was a real call, until I told him that the service I was providing was to inform him that his wife was sat downstairs waiting to watch a film with him. It was very funny, cos my accent was terrible.
Anyways we only have 9 days until our hols, I am looking forward to it, and it can't start soon enough. Adriana, my freinds daughter is in Italy at the moment, I saw some holiday pics on facebook and made me hanker for the sun.
I heard some news about someone I knew on Sunday that made me think that they must have some real saddness deep inside themselves. I wish I could reach out to this person and bring a ray of sunshine to them but I don't think they would appreciate it. So I shall offer this quote instead and hope that it flows through the ether and lands in their heart and in their head and plants a seed.
"Relative happiness is also based on comparison with others. We may feel this kind of happiness at having a newer or bigger home than the neighbors. But that feeling turns to misery the moment they start making new additions to theirs! Absolute happiness, on the other hand, is something we must find within. It means establishing a state of life in which we are never defeated by trials and where just being alive is a source of great joy. This persists no matter what we might be lacking, or what might happen around us. A deep sense of joy is something which can only exist in the innermost reaches of our life, and which cannot be destroyed by any external forces. It is eternal and inexhaustible."
"It is natural for trees to bear fruit in the harvest season, and in the same way, "old age" is a period of ripening. It can be the most valuable time in human life, when we have rich experience, deeply polished character, and a pure and gentle heart. The loss of certain capacities with age is nothing to be ashamed of. Rather, I feel the various infirmities of age should even be seen as badges of honor and worn with pride. There is a saying that goes, "To a fool, old age is a bitter winter; to a wise man it is a golden time." Everything depends on your own attitude, how you approach life. Do you view old age as a period of decline ending in death, or as a time in which one has the opportunity to attain one's goals and bring one's life to a rewarding and satisfying completion? The same period of old age will be dramatically different depending upon your own outlook."
"For me a woman's true beauty lies not in her appearance, but deep within her heart. A woman who makes all-out efforts and who exerts herself wholeheartedly in her field is beautiful; she really shines. She looks sharp and focused and full of confidence. This kind of radiance will always outshine for me any external beauty related to what a woman is wearing. In fact those who are aware of their inner beauty do not need to seek borrowed beauty from outside. And, sadly, those who care only for their physical appearance are often spiritually impoverished and trying to conceal that lack with exterior trappings."
Daisaka Ikeda
Bye bye earthlings, I will blog soon
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