Mandala Monday

It wouldn't be Mandala Monday if it didn't come out on Wednesday, eh?

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to post reminders here, but there have been new mandalas posted each week this month nonetheless. You can download this week's mandala here. Unless I have miscounted, there have been 50 mandalas posted in 2008. I hope to have them all available in downloadable coloring books (as I did in 2007) within the next few weeks, so please stay tuned!

Happy coloring ... and Happy New Year!

December Views

It has been a VERY busy month, but here are a few of my December Views ...

December Views

See, our home has not just gone to the (sleeping) dogs! It's gone to the (sleeping) cats, too.

We have blue skies today, after our first measurable snow yesterday. An Alberta Clipper left us with just over an inch of it and the frigid temps to keep it around for awhile. For most of Saturday, everything was the most despondent shade of gray. The trees loaded with their prickly balls and spent leaves were of little consolation. But today, against the western blue sky after sunrise, these same limbs appeared uplifting. As the photo above so aptly reflects, I am hanging in there. Hope you are, too!

December Views

Sleeping greyhounds ... migrating birds ... prickly caterpillars. Just another December day at Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop.

Nourish

Do you know Karen Knowler, the Raw Food Coach? Trust me, you don't need to be a raw foodist to benefit from the wisdom generously shared in her weekly Successfully Raw newsletter. In the most recent feature article, Winter in the Raw - Part I, she invites us to contemplate the following:

"How can I use the darkness, coldness and mystery of the winter to nourish myself at a deeper level via my food choices, my lifestyle habits and the way I utilise this special time of year to reflect on who I am and who I am becoming?"

You already know about my S.A.D.ness. The ride between November and February feels very long, dark and cold. It isn't easy to adhere to a predominantly high raw food lifestyle. (No, I'm not a vegan or even vegetarian, but that's another post for another day.) And some days it is darn near impossible to get my fa-la-la-la-la on, if you know what I mean. If I could hibernate, I would. Gladly.

But Karen's words have given me pause and I find myself willing to explore this winter as a time for nourishment. I hope that they help you too.

December Views: A Month in Images

Come on, play along!

P.S.
There are a lot of sleeping animals around my house and I don't get out much, so consider yourself forewarned.

Mandala Monday

Ready to download here. Happy coloring!