When the spirit moves you...

It’s hard to explain the appeal of these animated figures,
which are filled with a mysterious (and melodious) substance.
But they have a way of becoming just what you need them to be:
a charming rattle,a calming influence when your mind is racing,
or a source of good spirits when you need a lift.

 My Mom is a breast cancer survivor 

(5 years cancer-free ~ love you Joanie!) so this, 

of course, is my favorite :D

Look at that face! Great gift ~ unusual and thoughtful.

These are the original Spirit Rattles, handcrafted and produced exclusively by artist Nan Emmett.  They are hand sized sculptures skillfully crafted from earthenware clay and measure about 3.5" x 3". The artist hand-makes each rattle creating a unique expression and resonance for each piece.  I don't have many left, but the ones I do have will be on my website shortly! Visit www.iloveredtulips.com and "like" Red Tulips on Facebook.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides

yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope."

~Frank Lloyd Wright

 

Take a time out....

Ah...into the thick of summer in the South...could it be any hotter? After six years here, I'm still not completely used the heat.  But I will say that the heat and sunshine produce the most beautiful outdoor landscapes.  Everywhere I turn....an abundance of blooms, full trees, green grass...absolutely lush and gorgeous.  That being said, among the many long lists of summer projects, one of my top "to-do's" is to start and end each day outside ~whether is be a long walk, working in the garden, or sitting on the front porch.  It is just plain peaceful and reminds me to be thankful of all that I have.  We are such a tiny piece of a huge puzzle that somehow fits together.  If I can hold onto this feeling after I've yelled at the kids to pick up after themselves.....after I've run up the stairs not knowing what I was looking for.....after I completely forget to pick up my daughter from camp.....I think it may be a great summer.  Ommmmmmm :)

"Look deep into nature,

and then you will understand everything better." 

~Albert Einstein

"Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... 

and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.

Everything is simply happy.

Trees are happy for no reason;

they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents

and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance.

Look at the flowers - for no reason.

It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are."

~Osho

Greetings!

I haven't blogged in what seems like FOREVER!  And frankly, we have been crazy busy with another high school graduation, out-of-town visitors galore, work and just plain life!  My head is completely cluttered with lists of things I haven't done.  And so, with that in mind, I've decided to try to get back to the basics....to look for inspiration - and motivation - from the coziest room in our house.  The family room.  Grabbing a cup of coffee this morning, I took some quick pics (from my iphone!) and I'm hoping to re-group, re-energize and just be thankful.  I'll keep you posted ....

Every house where love abides

And friendship is a guest,

Is surely home, and home sweet home

For there the heart can rest.

~Henry Van Dyke

a star fell from the sky

For the first time in six years of coming to the beach, I found a starfish ~ actually many starfish ~ perfectly shaped.  I assume it's because we were walking the beach just after the sunrise before the birds pecked away at the shore looking for their breakfast....but it got me thinking.....is there a story behind the starfish? Always in search of meaning and inspiration, I came across The Starfish Story.

The Starfish Story

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was struck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the young man he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The young man looked at him. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

Make a difference.

No matter how small a good deed may seem...

I also found that In Christian symbolism the Starfish represents the Virgin Mary (Stella Maris which means Star of the Sea) who lovingly creates safe travel over troubled waters and is also seen as an emblem of salvation during trying times. The Starfish represents infinite divine love. In addition to love, the Starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition.

Love ~ Guidance ~ Inspiration

Digging a bit deeper into starfish, I found a few fun facts:

***The Starfish is not a fish. It’s an echinoderm, closely related to sea urchins and sand dollars.

***Starfish are famous for their ability to regenerate limbs, and in some cases, entire bodies. 

***Starfish have no brains and no blood. Their nervous system is spread through their arms and their “blood” is actually filtered sea water.

All in all, I have certainly learned a lot about my new friend.

To me the Starfish is a reminder

to make a difference and spread the love.

Be Nice Or Leave

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

I bought a sign about five years ago "BE NICE OR LEAVE".  It hangs on on the inside of my back door ~ it's the last thing you see before walking out of the house and I just love it.  And...I believe every word of it!  I try to teach my kids to do their best and be nice ~ pure and simple ~ work hard ~ be nice.  With all the tragedy in the world, the tough economy, social over-networking (!), over committed lives we lead ......

we often forget the simple things in life.  Trust me, I'm not the perfect Mom that conveys calm positive messages to my children on a daily basis.  But, as I'm yelling at Dan to "get your  !*%#  laundry out of the dryer so I can put mine in" and at Kate to "hurry up and get in the car or the coach will make you and your entire team do laps".....I see the sign on my way out and am reminded to 

~ take a deep breath ~ 

and be nice.

Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
'Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
'Til in Heaven the deed appears -
Pass it on.
~Henry Burton, Pass It On

Sharing one of my faves...the Prayer Angel

“Prayers go up and blessings come down.”

We're often asked to pray for a loved one or to keep someone in our prayers. This prayer list seems to grow as my kids grow.....all of us having networks of friends and acquaintances....online prayer chains inundating us with those in need.  I hate to be a 'downer' but there's a lot of sickness and death out there lately!  On the other hand, we also have many blessings to be thankful for ~ an abundance of goodness that comes into our lives and reasons for celebration!  That being said, how do you remind yourself and your family to pray for those who need it ~ outside of Church? With our crazy busy lives, we don't eat together every night ~ Kate is off to volleyball, Dan is at swim practice, Kevin is traveling ~ how do we set a good example.....and remind ourselves to honor those who deserve it and have positive thoughts for those who need it?  Drum roll.........My new fave ~ the Prayer Angel!

A simple little porcelain figurine now sits on our kitchen counter with my hand-written "Prayer List".  She is only about four inches high and you can slip a card or photo in her hands ~ she's great for birthday cards too.  The Prayer Angel has really made a difference for us ~ reigns us in bit and serves as a reminder to pause and have a good thought or prayer for someone.

"I often pray, though I'm not really sure Anyone's listening; 

and I phrase it carefully, just in case He's literary."  

~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Signs of Spring!

It was sunny and 70 degrees in Atlanta yesterday and I must admit, I got my first pedicure of the season....so excited! We may have a few more chilly days but I'm daydreaming about the months ahead.  I took these pics of my garden last May and they are inspiring me to plan this year's garden...Enjoy!

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle 

... a seed waiting to sprout,

a bulb opening to the light,

a bud straining to unfurl.  

And the anticipation nurtures our dream."

-   Barbara Winkler

"Where flowers bloom so does hope."

-Lady Bird Johnson

Comfort Coffee

"Never forget the days I spent with you. 

Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven

When I'm missing my long distance girlfriends, I'll have a cup off coffee using the mug they gave me! I swear to you ~ it got me through some rough patches when I first moved to Georgia.  My family, of course, makes fun of me.  I'll mention that I'm having a cup of coffee with Kelly.....sipping from the 'shoe girl' mug that she gave me years ago....or tea with Dara in the tall angel mug...  Just to take a moment in the morning and think about how lucky I am to have such an incredible group of girlfriends...makes me smile and feel thankful. I'm lucky that I happen to have a  great relationship with my husband and my kids but I often wonder if it's because of my girlfriends ~ for their guidance and counsel....for their coaching and honest advice.  Here's to you ladies! Thanks for always being there!

“Truly great friends are hard to find, 

difficult to leave, 

and impossible to forget.”

HELP! I need a Technology Intervention!

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when your iphone charger is next to your bed …just in case an opponent should make a move in the middle of the night !  That’s right –

“Hi.  My name is Lisa and I am addicted to Online Scrabble and Words With Friends.”

I am not in the least bit a “techie” but I am attempting to remain somewhat hip by trying to keep up with my kids at least.  It probably started when I had to stalk my oldest son on Facebook – years ago – to keep a watchful eye on him.  That led me to my own personal Facebook and then to my Red Tulips Facebook page and now all of a sudden I’m tweeting, blogging and hiding in the bathroom playing word games on my iphone!  This is crazy!  I text my kids to take out the garbage and they’re in the basement – a yelling distance away! 

Is this the new ‘normal’? Is this how other families operate these days? I need feedback!  When I’m dead and gone will my kids say  “I miss Mom texting me to 'make good choices'” or “Mom came up with the highest word points ever!” ?!?!

Needless to say, I’m concerned.  Should we have a no phone/no computer time maybe on Sundays? Be careful what you wish right? ~ I’m not sure if I can go cold turkey!

The only thing I'm sure of (today anyway) ~ you can’t call me on my Kindle!

Happy Friday!

Well, I'm still not entirely sure how and when to blog but I'm definitely on the road to figuring it out! Sending positive thoughts your way!

Lucky 3-Legged Pigs! Who knew?!

This has got to be one of the most darling little good luck charms I've ever seen! 

In the small village of Pomaire, Chile, it is believed that “chanchitos,” or little pigs, bring good luck. Three legged pigs are considered to be especially lucky and are traditionally given to friends as a token of goodwill and love.

These adorably cute ~ and lucky ~ 3 legged pigs measure about 1-1/2" tall and about 1-3/4" long.  Hand made of clay in Chile, each little piggie is formed, dried, then smoothed and burnished with an agate stone before being fired. No glaze or varnish is used, the only ingredient is lead free clay. This is a hand made item, so no two are exactly alike, and each one has it's own blemishes and shades of color.


I am completely  fascinated by different culture's good luck charms!  What a darling gift for a friend going on an interview or a student taking a test or trying out for the soccer team.  Of course I've ordered many, many little 3-legged pigs as we need all the luck we can get.


I'll keep you posted. And PLEASE ~ give me any suggestions you might have for other uniquely interesting  and meaningful items for Red Tulips.

(On a side note do you think the term "break a leg"

directly affected the 3-legged pig?! 

Same concept....I'm just sayin'.)

Sand Dollars

Always in search of new products that have special meaning ~ and attempting to ignore the MISERABLE weather we're having in Georgia this week (I know...be thankful it's not snow), I was dreaming about the beach today, actually the ocean.  One of the first times we brought the kids to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, we were happily sitting by the the water until the Lifeguard's whistle blew and blew and blew........at MY daughter, Kate, and her girlfriend!!!!  Completely dumbfounded and embarrassed, I discovered they were getting "busted" for taking Sand Dollars out of the ocean.  Apparently, they are "protected" and you cannot remove them from the water.  This, of course, was news to me.  The girls returned the Sand Dollars to the ocean. Months later, I researched the legends of the Sand Dollar and they now hold a whole new meaning for me! No wonder they're very collectible. 


"The Sand Dollar is actually the skeleton of a small marine creature, related to the starfish, the sea cucumber, the sea urchin and the sea lily. It has a fascinating petal pattern on it, which are made by five sets of pores on the upper surface. These are actually pores which sea water moves in and out of, allowing it to move."


 These are a few beliefs I dug up ~ what you believe is up to you! (If you have any other lore to share, please comment!)


>>>Sand Dollars are the coins of mermaids, who accidentally drop them, and which are then washed ashore on stormy nights.

>>>Several of the legends tell of 5 little doves, hidden inside the sand dollar. These are often difficult to find as you need to break open the sand dollar. In fact they are the 5 jaws of the sand dollar, joined together in a circle, which, when broken apart, become individual dove-shaped pieces. I have only seen a picture of this, but they are remarkably like little birds. 

This is my favorite:
>>>It is said that Christ left the sand dollar as a symbol to help the evangelists teach the faith. The five holes commemorate the five wounds of Christ, while at the center on one side blooms the Easter Lily, and at the lily's heart is the Star of Bethlehem. The Christmas poinsettia is etched on the other side, a reminder of Christ's birth. According to this legend, if you break the center, five white doves will be released to spread goodwill and peace.



Needless to say, I have found a few products for Red Tulips that incorporate the Sand Dollar and will let you know when they arrive!


Have a great weekend!


Lisa

My Voice

Blogs are intended to give the reader an opportunity to hear the author’s “voice”.  As a small business owner of Red Tulips, and a middle~aged woman on the verge of menopause searching for contentment, I’m not really sure what approach to take here! Making a decision to blog is the first step.  Now……what to write about? After a few sleepless nights (watching Criminal Minds because my hubby has been traveling ~ love having complete control of the remote) I have decided to dig deep.  I will attempt to blog about those things & people that bring me ~and others~ great joy and contentment. It may be a book, a good luck charm, a person or my dog ~ not sure yet.  This goes along with my beliefs about The Secret (which is another topic entirely).  The more positive thoughts you have……..the less negative thoughts you have. I believe this 100% and have adopted this way of thinking about four years ago. It has changed my life and I’ve never been happier.  Don’t worry ~ I haven’t gone off the deep end.  I have managed to preserve my sarcasm, cynicism & sick sense of humor on my journey!

my first attempt at blogging....

It is truly amazing to me how important the sun has become in my life!  Originally from Chicago, I know what cloudy, overcast, snowy days are like.  I am quite familiar with the bone chilling winds that whip through your body at high speed.  I was accustomed to burning candle after candle, turning on all the lights in the house.....it was not a big deal! We could go days and sometimes weeks without a ray of sunshine. 

 And then, five years ago,  I moved to Georgia.

I can honestly say that the more sunshine I get - the happier I am!  

Maybe it's my age and I truly appreciate being positive and happy....maybe it's the fact that we have 2X the sun in Georgia than we had in Illinois.  Perhaps I suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Whatever it is - I LOVE SUNSHINE!

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them,  and try to follow where they lead."    ~Louisa May Alcott