Gratitude

I read in the Reader's Digest that gratitude can help you be more healthy, less stressed, and more optimistic. People have been studying how gratitude affects a person's well-being, both physically and mentally, and it seems to be quite a powerful force for good. Not only does it help a person feel better personally, but people who live gratefully are more likely to help others, which makes other people feel better, too.  So it becomes a big, beautiful circle of gratitude. I like to think of myself as a grateful kind of person, but the scientists that did the study suggest keeping a gratitude journal.  Apparently, taking time each day to remember and write down things for which you are grateful, helps you become a happier and healthier person. I will give this a try. And I will incorporate my gratitude journal into my blog. Feel free to comment and add your own "grateful moments" as well.  Let's all get happier together!

Another colorful necklace, in many shades of blue

Here is a beautiful necklace in shades of blue. I combined light and dark purple amethyst, tri-hue blue tanzanite, clear quartz (it looks like ice droplets to me), faceted cathedral beads, and sterling silver. I made this during the last (I hope) hot weekend of fall, in anticipation of the crisp, cool weather that should be on its way in October.

I've been feeling colorful lately

Well, been staying indoors to beat the heat and humidity lately, and I've done a couple of designs with lots of color! Here is one that has lots of juicy green and orange, including peridot and citrine, and sterling silver. It's a 20 inch necklace that will not be ignored! It may look good enough to eat, but it's not edible. :-)

The Great Pumpkin - smells like childhood!

I grew up in rural Wisconsin in the 70s, and we didn't have cable television. That means it was a really big deal when the Charlie Brown specials were on. Back then, the only time I could see cartoons was on Saturday mornings, unless you count Sesame Street, Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers on PBS.

Anyway, even though we have The Great Pumpkin on DVD now, and can watch it any time of the year (and we do!), it's still a special thing to see it on the network. It doesn't matter that I'm 30-something with kids of my own. When we sit on the couch to watch Linus in the pumpkin patch, it's almost like being a little kid again. Thank you, Great Pumpkin, sincerely!