Monday, November 15, 2010

on your mark, set, get ready...


The holiday season is upon us.  LITE-FM radio station is already playing Christmas songs and so are the department stores.   Neighbors are decorating their homes outdoors.  Here we go again...Take a deep breath and begin your journey.  If you wish to make this holiday season a little smoother, allow me to share some tips as to how our beloved planets can guide us in the right direction.

Everything is energy and everything is connected through the metaphysical.  How we use that energy is manifested into our life.  Your actions and life's happenings are not coincidence, but rather what you've created through your own consciousness.  Your future is what you put into action today.  The scientific world has a fancy term for the study of energy - energetics, and it applies to all physical matter.  Knowing that all matter is connected, we can look at celestial bodies, astrology and other metaphysical mediums of learning as energetics because they are all made up of energy, both seen and unseen. 

Astronomy is the science that deals with the material universe beyond the earth's atmosphere (sun, moon, stars.)  Astrology is the study that interprets the influence of those heavenly bodies on human affairs.  These two studies began to converge near the beginning of civilization.  Early men became interested in astronomy when they gazed up at the stars, observing the movement of those heavenly bodies and how they corresponded to the seasons.  The realization that the suns, moons, stars and planets moved in a precise, consistent motion allowed ancient civilizations to keep track of time more easily.  This same realization caused mankind to ponder how the energy from the astronomical movements affected our lives.  Repeated cycles involving the earth, sun, planets and constellations brought on the recognition that when this influence was exerted upon human beings, certain events occurred.  Astrology was born.

Astrology, the rotating seasons and the movement of the stars led these stargazers to realize that there were physical influences taking place between the heavens and the earth.  Since the movement of the stars was consistent, they could put a meaning to their movement through the date, place and time of anything's origin.  That is how we use complex mathematical and astronomical formulas in astrology to forecast future events based upon your birth information.  When we realized that future forecasts could be made for those living on earth through the position of the stars and their influence in various positions, mankind started looking for more answers.  We were created with certain transcendental senses that made us believe that even though we could not see the smallest unit of matter, we perceived that everything was made up of some type of energy and we knew the influence was there. 

Look at the atom.  It is the cornerstone of all matter and in itself is energy personified.  Science has proven our early ancestors' hunches correct and now knows that the atom never dies.  Indeed it transforms and becomes a part of another entity.  It remains constantly in motion.  This is a great example of why transcendental knowledge trumps mere concrete knowledge.  It allows us to perceive the reasons behind everything, something we as human beings have always sought.  Mankind has always looked to the transcendental and metaphysical, the underlying theoretical properties of physics, to give a reasonable explanation to something we don't understand, yet innately feels has to cause a particular physical reaction.  That thought process, supported by quantum physics, explains energy.

The mysteries of astrological and metaphysical activity such as the stars moving through the heavens, a psychic foretelling your life's past and future events, or a medium communicating with your loved ones are spiritual energetics.  Those energies encompass all matter of transcendental learning by using the mystical side of information to understand the physical. 

Our lives as they were yesterday, as they are today, and as they will be tomorrow, are all about energy - the energy we give forth and energy we invite.

Reading your horoscope provides more than just a few assumptions about what might happen for you on that day.  Understanding the connection of spiritual energetics in your life will prepare you to focus your energy on the best outcome that you desire, to make changes today if necessary so that they will manifest tomorrow. 

Here are a few tips as to how our planets will affect us during the holiday season.


Neptune rules dreams, inspiration and creativity and has been withholding its powers since May 31 (retrograde) causing confusion, but has gone direct on November 7, making life brighter and easier.


Jupiter is associated with gifts, happiness, luck, profits, good fortune and even miracles.  It is known as the planet of healing and has been asleep since July 23.  Jupiter will go direct on November 19.


 Venus is the 'love me' planet, providing love and fun of life, romance, leisure, beauty and is linked to profits.  She settled down to get her beauty sleep since October 8 (retrograde) but will move full steam ahead when she goes direct on November 18.

 
Since both Jupiter and Venus have been retrograde, it is important not to sign any contracts before November 18 as both planets are weak and not very effective.  After this day, go for it!  A perfect time to purchase items that embellish or beautify (jewels, perfume, expensive clothing) should be acquired between November 18 - 30 for these items are ruled by Venus and she will be direct and in full swing.


Uranus is the planet of all things newly invented and original.  It is the planet that rules unexpected surprises and the Sun will signal Uranus on November 19.  This could be a four star day for many of us.  We also have a full moon on November 21 that may make many dreams come to fruition.  One thing is for sure: this cheery full moon will be one of the most beautiful, tender and enchanting of the year.  All full moons have influence of four days.


Mercury - ah, here we go.  This stinker of a planet will make our December a messy month, for it will go retrograde from December 10 - 30 and we will feel the effects as soon as December 1.  Since this planet rules communication, appliances, electronics, contracts and transportation, it is crucial to refrain from the purchase of new computers, television, or other machines with moving parts, for it will be a disaster.  Your recipient may not like the gift, the item may not function properly, or a drop in price may occur later when a newer model comes out.  When this planet retrogrades, there is a slowdown, delays occur, postponements and miscommunication. This creates confusion and mayhem.  Ugh.  Get a gift certificate instead!




It would be wise to shop for all your holiday presents in November, as well as any expensive items for yourself.  However, there are two days that will be the exception, and believe it or not, they are Black Friday (November 26) and Black Saturday (November 27)Huge sigh... These are the big days for consumers to do their heavy holiday shopping and give retailers a chance to see their ledgers go into the black.  Unfortunately, on these two days, Mercury, which rules transportation, agreements and commerce, will pick a bad fight with volatile Uranus, which rules unpredictable events, and it is not a favorable day for travel, shopping, signing contracts or starting new ventures.  You can purchase electronics and appliances anytime all through the month of November, excluding 26 and 27.

Not only will Mercury be retrograde, but a major lunar eclipse will occur on December 21 which will surely bring unexpected events, changed agendas, shifting priorities and unforeseen conditions.  Last minute holiday preparations and shoppers will face mounting stress.


The hardest part of holiday shopping is deciding what to get for those on my list.  I knew about the above predictions, so I began brainstorming a few weeks ago and decided to go with three Cs for our boys.  They expect two of the three -  cash and cologne - for it has been a tradition that I provide a new scent each year, but the third will remain my secret.  I must leave something for them to wonder about, even if they are all grown up.  There is something about the element of surprise on Christmas morning that captures the young at heart.  Their parents are planning a romantic getaway at Champagne Lodge (another C) so our holidays should be smooth sailing.

Everything is energy.  Everything touches. 

The true connection is made. xo

Friday, November 12, 2010

lovely days

Steve made this strawberry in his ceramics class and it adorns our kitchen table, reminding us of how talented he is.  We continue to enjoy another lovely day thanks to the blessings Mother Nature bestows on us, however fleeting they may be.  Now it's time to focus on the upcoming holidays, for my nephew, Robert, has been sending me messages about Thanksgiving dinner, put in his menu request and making sure we have our home decorated, for he enjoys looking at our Christmas trees.  Wayne already plans on decorating the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, so we shall be able to make his wishes come true. 

Today I made tacos for the family and Big Daddy's chili which we will deliver tomorrow.  I had a bunch of apples so I decided to make a Nutty Apple Crisp dessert.  I just pulled it out of the oven and the whole house smells good. 


Nutty Apple Crisp

6 cups thinly sliced apples
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup steel cut oats
dash of cinnamon
1/2 cup musli mix
1 cup trail mix with nuts
1/2 cup chocolate morsels
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 pinch salt
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup orange juice

Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Toss apples with lemon juice and water in a shallow 2 quart baking dish.  In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon and salt.  Mix to blend thoroughly.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles course crumbs.  Mix in trail mix.  Crumble over apples to cover completely.  Drizzle orange juice on top and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until top is lightly browned.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Enjoy.  xo





Wednesday, November 10, 2010

a night to cherish

date night on hump day

Yet again we indulged in a delightful dinner at Dao.  This time Mike and Margarita joined us for the first time.  The owner, JoJo, provided a complimentary appetizer with crabmeat and Margarita and I had my all-time favorites, seaweed salad and dragon on fire sushi.  The boys devoured pad thai noodles and chicken teriyaki.  Wayne enjoys his mai tai libation and I sip the cucumber splash.  We discovered that Dan created this famous drink and it is very popular here.
wayne and mikey

Dan was off this night so we sat in a booth instead of dining at the bar which provided for a different experience.  It was heartwarming to share their plans for the future and see how excited they are together.  We are thrilled when they share details of their nuptials and include us in the creation of their wedding.  Life has a way of bringing balance and we continue to celebrate happy times.  
The evening graced us with a gorgeous amber-toned crescent moon and our weather continues to bring  gentle reminders of Indian summer.  The year is almost over and it has been smooth.  That's the best word to describe it. 
crabmeat salad appetizer
seafood salad
dragon on fire sushi
pad thai and noodles
chicken teryiaki

It's fun to break up the week by dining out.  What started out as simple dinner plans turned into a night to remember and cherish forever.  Another moment that takes my breath away.  xo




Tuesday, November 9, 2010

joys of autumn

We continue to enjoy some beautiful weather here in the Midwest and I look for excuses to be outdoors as much as possible.  I am not a big fan of raking leaves at all.  It is such a futile endeavor, for once you rake them up, more fall down.  Luckily the wind has been blowing the neighbors' leaves away from our lawn, but when they get stuck in the bushes, it's time to clear things out.  Wayne always says "pay me now or pay me later" and we found it is much easier to clear the gardens in spring when we do a little diligence in the fall.  All the trees and bushes are trimmed and yesterday I spent the day clearing the bushes and corners of collected leaves.
I discovered a new tool that is now my best friend for these projects.  Yep, that's duct tape, but this thing is very powerful and when you work a corner filled with leaves, they seem to dance in the air, a most delighful thing.  I played around all day and blew away everything unwanted.  It is so much easier to rake the leaves into piles for pickup after using this mighty blower.  The secret to putting leaves in bags is to crunch them down so more fit into the yard bags.  I only used three for the whole house, but probably would have needed double if I didn't crush them.  We decided to use our electric trimmer and leaf blower tools one last time this year and purchase gas powered for the spring season.  The extension cord is huge and let me go all around the house so I could play with 'hercules' as I call him.  I had so much fun I decided to go to my Dad's today and do the same for his garden.  Another excuse to be outdoors again. 

The joys of being a gardener.  Who knew we could find such simple pleasures?

After a lovely day, I prepared spaghetti for the hungry mongrels at home and bought some deli.  This treat hits the spot:  Half slice of Italian Pane bread, lightly spread with mayo, three slices Boar's Head turkey pastrami (delicious) and one slice provolone cheese; broil for a minute (like Quiznos) and indulge.

Enjoy your day.  Let the sun shine.  xo

Sunday, November 7, 2010

rocky and bullwinkle


These bewildered critters have been living in our bedroom walls for a very long time.  We set traps and checked the roof for openings and they continued to find a way in.  Until today.  Wayne found a little opening and secured it with bricks inside and wood outside.  We caught Rocky and Bullwinkle in the act trying to re-enter their new abode.  Sorry guys....


They were so cute to watch and knew we were on to them.


It was as if they were pleading with us to let them back in.


Now what to do?


Here's a captured moment with Steve and Pontiac grazing in the grass.


Smooches for Thumper.



Finally a glimpse of the early sunset after adjusting for daylight savings time.

Now I'll continue playing with my new toy.  All my favorite songs are uploaded and I am adding some fun Apps. 

Happy days.  xo


Saturday, November 6, 2010

techin'

my very own Apple 4G iPhone

We finally bit the bullet and expanded the hi-technology in our lives.  We are always the last to try whatever is new and exciting in the big world of newfangled toys, so here we go.   We were going to wait for the Microsoft Windows phone, but heard too many negatives, so we went with the best tool available on the market - for now.   So many bells and whistles to explore.  It is truly an amazing contraption and there is an App for everything. Nice.
his and hers

It is overwhelming for me, a simple domestic goddess, to have all sorts of options at my fingertips (literally) but once I figure things out, I am sure to enjoy the perks.  I look forward to the navigation most of all.  Now I hope to never get lost again as long as I keep my new gadget handy.  The best part of making this change is it costs us only a few pennies more and we put Dan on our plan, so his fee has reduced drastically, and he can guide us through the steps on how to play with our iPhones.  Win-win.  These are super early Christmas presents to each other. We have been warned not to purchase electronic or big ticket items while Mercury is retrograde next month, so all gifts will be bought in November.  Better to be safe than sorry. Thanks to technology I am shopping the internet for the gifts, comparing costs and reading reviews; then Wayne buys them online.   

Brighton Park home

The former torture chamber is officially on the market for sale.  The realtor found it was built in 1911, so it is almost a century old.  This mission was long, grueling and laborious, but our efforts are already paying off.  Now we wait and see who will own this home that was loved by so many in the past.  I feel 100 pounds lighter (too bad I'm not) now that things are settling down.  Steve made a funny comment the other day as I was recovering from a physically challenging project.  His words of wisdom: "you better start acting your age."  I'll try to take heed, sweet sunshine. xo

Have a great weekend.  

Remember to set your clocks back an hour tonight. 

Less sunshine for awhile   :( 






Sunday, October 31, 2010

happy halloween

Boo's pumpkin carvings
(cheshire cat)
all on one pumpkin
(leatherhead)
have a booo-tiful day
(witch)
flo (progressive) and mayhem (allstate)
take no prisoners
mikey, margarita and ozis
hippie
strawberry fields forever
peace
ponti pillow pup




HAVE FUN AND BE HAPPY XO