The Power Of Positive Thinking From The Etsy Forums

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."

- Flavia Weedn

"I think that we all, at some point in our lives, feel our "dreams" have shattered and we have nothing left. Does that mean you quit? No, you don't quit. If your dream has not come about, pick up those pieces and start again. It may be that your dream just wasn't right for you, or that you were not doing something you needed to be doing to attain that dream. Take that and build upon it. Maybe you need to come at it from a different direction, you might need to change the dream in order to get there. But whatever you do don't give up the dream...step by step, day by day work towards it.....eventually it will come true. Have a great Saturday, have some fun today and remember your one day closer to your dream!!"
Quoted by:
By Nana's Hands

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My Etsy bill has gotten waaay out of hand! I mean seriously, I have lots of great new products and I cannot afford to list them there. It's ridiculous, that and lack of sales don't help either. But I have hope, I know that things will turn around soon...right?

I've been trying to streamline my life and my shoppes. Business has not been good at all. I have a great sale going on in my Etsy shoppe and no bites. But I did make 2 smaller sales on my Blackbird's Closet shoppe :)

Something is always better than nothing :D

Here is my list:
-My daughter gets more beautiful each day. I hope to maintain my business to stay at home with her.
-The people at Dave's freelance gig(that ended today) really appreciated him and made it known with a very nice card.
-I got the best tweet today! Rings_Things@deirdreryan - #followfriday - Deirdre is like a welcome visitor in the tree outside your window (blackbird) ☺Dave
-It's the weekend!
-We miss Canela, but each day gets a little easier.
-Love TweetDeck! it's fahh-reee!
-rain
-looking forward to a Knit, Purl, and Nosh next wed. night at my local library
-although Dave will be not working, it will be nice to have him home.
-my laptop :D
-prayers
-faith

Testing http://www.ping.fm Green With Envy Sale. 50% off selection of photo blocks, rings, and pendants. http://blackbird72.etsy.com

things to be positive about

canela's passing was and still is traumatic. we received her ashes last week along with a paw print and a clipping of her fur. touching her fur i broke down again. i still look for her in her spots in the house and in the yard. i expect her to greet us when we come in the yard. we miss her so much.....

but i am thankful that she no longer is in pain with her arthritis and getting her shots. still her presence is missed.

here is my thankful list:
-my daughter
-my husband
-my parents
-my other family members
-my friends
-the rain we've been having
-the portrait session i did at someone's home on memorial day
-the ideas that keep pouring into my head to improve my jewelry products and my shoppe
-the online class i'm taking on css and xhtml
-my apple G5 only needed a new power supply, bad news it cost with labor $300+, good news, i don't need a new computer!
-migraine medication
-MS medication
-having health insurance for the moment
-sending out resumes to places that i could shoppe at ;) ie: Apple Store, Michael's, etc.
-letting go

Canela

Today around 6:30AM, I went downstairs and found our beloved Canela in the foyer on the rug, dead. We are beyond upset, but understand that her diabetes is what was the cause.

We took her to the animal hospital as soon as they opened at 8AM. We will be given her ashes in a few days. They have a separate room at the hospital where you can say your last good bye alone with your pet. In there is a tree with paper leaves where others like ourselves have written a sentiment about our loved ones.

Here is what I wrote:
Canela,
We brought you into our home in L.A. You found a true family with us. You knew when we were pregnant before us and stayed sweet and gentle throughout. The journey to NJ and now in peace with God. Forever in our hearts, your spirit remains. We will miss you always. Our "Boo", our "Precious".
Love, Mommy, Daddy, Jayden and Family

If you would like to remember her, please send a donation in Her name, Canela, to The Brittney Foundation All-Breed Dog Rescue. This wonderful charitable dog rescue is where we adopted Canela from.

Thank You.

time for an update :)

So much has been happening since the MS Walk. I have been so busy preparing for 2 art festivals this month. Plus some stressful moments and situations happened and I have been dealing with that and then some.

Last night, we noticed that Jayden who just loves to jump in her crib actually bent the support bar for the mattress! So today we went to Babies-R-Us and bought a toddler bed for her. It's a major milestone and we are very excited! My mom and dad are helping Dave with taking apart the old crib and cleaning out the room and then assembling the bed. I'm in our room watching Noggin with Jayden here in our bed. I would've preferred to have gotten her a twin bed with bed rails, but since the room she's in is really small and it's my parent's home, there was not enough room for it. Plus, honestly, we just don't have the money now for one.

So we do have a lot to be thankful for!

-my daughter
-my husband
-our family
-our friends
-our dog(who escaped a day ago at night and came home on her own the following morning!)
-the funds to somehow pay for a new alternator for my car and the COBRA monthly bill!
-rain
-warm weather
-cool weather
-the whole town is blooming!
-getting ready for 2 art festivals this month and within a week of each other too!
-pain medication

MS Walk Is Tomorrow!

And I have a new pair of shoes! HUZAH! They are Keens and I love them! I'll post a photo up of them soon :)

Today was a good day. It got up to 80 degrees in my area of NJ which is just south of Trenton and Princeton. My daughter got some much needed outdoor time. Dad mulched, Jayden dug dirt, Canela laid around doing nothing. My mom was able to get things done in the house. Dave and I went to the EMS store in Princeton Market Fair Mall to get much needed comfy shoes for tomorrow's walk and beyond.

Pretty much most of my church's adult choir is walking with me tomorrow so instead of singing our normal 8:30AM Mass tomorrow, we sang the 5PM Mass tonight. Unfortunatly my Fibromylgoa pain has been very bad lately and my left should was in a lot of pain during the Mass. Sigh...oh well!

Here's my list:
My daughter.
My husband.
My family.
My friends.
New shoes!
Our dog.
Going to Mass and singing in spite of severe FMS pain.
Awesome weather with sunshine and wind.
The Team Imagine t-shirts are awesome!
Prayer :)

Happy Easter!

photo by deirdre ryan

I just returned from singing Easter Vigil Mass at my church, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. I am an Alto and my mother is a Soprano. I have been a member since about after I graduated college and finally had some free time to make weekly practices and actually attend Mass weekly. I love to sing! I love and adore my choir members and we adore our choir directer, Jac.

So Holy Week is over. We practiced on Wed., and then sang Holy Thursday, Good Friday and then Easter Vigil. We get Easter Sunday off ;) I was not able to sing Good Friday, but I was there in spirit.

We wear our choir robes and tonight it was very hot in the choir loft. Holy Thursday we sang while following the Holy Eucharist into the smaller chapel. It's a little tricky to sing, walk, read the notes and verses and not trip on your choir robe ;)

I have so much to be thankful this Easter Season. So many to remember and so many that I am probably not aware of.





Here is my list:

-My daughter
-My family
-My husband
-Our friends
-Our dog, Canela
-The rain and thunderstorms and the sunny, windy weather.
-Photographing many new things that are blooming in my backyard.
-Creating new items :D
-Dying Easter eggs for the first time with our daughter :)
-My car is running great!
-Taking Easter weekend off.
-Prayer

Look What Flew Into My Yard Today!

This Yellow-crowned Night-Heron decided to casually hang out on one of the dogwood trees next to our greenhouse. Mom was doing something at the sink, looked out the window and there was this HUGE bird looking right at her. Black Creek is just down the hill from my house, and the Delaware River is right here too, so we have both fresh and salt water here.

Here is a site that describes it in more detail:
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

As of right now, it's hanging out in a pine tree that overlooks what used to be our fish pond.

Such a blessing to see this gorgeous bird close-up like this!

My good friend Heather gave me this information oh Heron Medicine:
Here is the info I have on Heron Medicine:
"Heron teaches us how to become comfortable in uncertain situations where we need to watch for an opportunity to arise and quickly grasp it. It calls us to take courage and follow our true path, which will be discovered through exploring our inner selves, and finding what draws us to action..."

"The heron is a long legged wading bird. There are about 60 species of heron including several species called egrets. Most egrets have white plumage that is highly prized as ornaments in oriental ceremonies. Herons are often seen standing motionless, as if in a meditative state, on its long thin legs."

"This stance symbolizes its ability to maintain balance through proper focus. Its inner foundation is secure although not fixed.When the heron feeds it stands in water its neck is bent in an S shape.The flowing pattern of the letter S reflects the rhythm of this bird. Understanding your personal rhythm and responding to it accordingly is imperative for those"

"Herons are seldom seen flocking together. They are solitary birds that enjoy their own company. Heron medicine people are independent and willing to make changes when the need arises.They do not need a lot of people in their lives. This can sometimes lead to challenges in personal relationships especially if the other person has needs that require constant attention. Maintaining some type of social interaction and not withdrawing from others completely is helpful."

"Herons stand out in their uniqueness and know how to take advantage of things and events for their own benefit. By observing the heron, its actions and its lack of action we learn how to perfect our personal flight through life.Herons hold a silent power, their grace, agility and majestic presence reflect balance. This balance is the gift they offer to all who choose to receive it.

From http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.sayahda.com%2Fcyc.html as well as Animal Speak by Ted Andrews"

Those who know me...this is SO true!

My sister in-law says that this species of heron or the black crowned ones are rare sightings.

UPDATE:
my sister in law said: "Yes I just checked my birding list and one person said he saw 30-40 black crowned and only one yellow crowned (in their proper habitat, no their backyard."

what a long week!

but it was a good one :)

not everything was fabulous, but you need balance in our lives. if bad stuff never happened, then when it does, you wouldn't know how to deal with it. granted though, some things are so bad, that it seems that nothing can help. but let's not worry about the "if" or "when" and focus on the now :D

i have been spending most of this week preparing my work area in the basement to be more organized so that i can be more efficient. plus, it just HAD to be done. that and re-organize and clear out my childhood room.

i took apart my 2 white bookshelves, dusted them off and used some purple fabulouso cleaner(which by the way...ROCKS!) hauled these downstairs and put them back together again in the basement. i'm actually very handy with tools and ikea furniture doesn't scare me! LOL of course my mom helped since dave works in nyc everyday. try doing this with a very curious toddler grabbing everything in sight :P

so i did this and on monday was when i started. however, since i was feeling great, i overdid it. basically i crashed and burned on tuesday, wed., thursday and by friday, i was feeling better. but i wisely waited until today, saturday, after dave's doctor's appointment, to have him help me bring the last shelving unit to the basement.

so now my room's looking better, the basement's still a huge mess, but you can see that organization is happening there. mom and dad have been a huge help too. my goal is to create a peaceful area in the basement where we can all watch some t.v., and i can work as well.

now dave and i can finally create a peaceful area called Our Bedroom, and move one or two dressers in. yes, my white "shabby chic" childhood furniture is still here. those who really know me from grade school and high school, will remember them. i still need to take down my hersehypark and sesame place pendants down from my door. but my unicorn sticker lightswitch plate will remain ;)

i need to find a place for my childhood books that are not ready for a toddler's hands. i have a lot of them. next project, my closet...sigh. i swear i still have my pink gunne sax dress that i wore for my 6th grade graduation in there! LOL

tomorrow i sing at the 8:30AM mass with the adult choir. moday night i am going to my first every Healing Mass. i'm not sure what to expect, but i will go with an open mind :) i'm looking forward to having some peace :)

so at long last, here is my list, enjoy!

-my daughter
-my husband
-my family
-our friends
-our dog
-zip fizz
-david finally starting his humira injections today!
-the hope that dave's arthritis will get better :)
-my car feels like butta when driving again
-taking new photos that will be soon transpired into great photos
-meeting new people this past week
-rain
-sun
-good tempatures outside
-feeling love