Progressing confidently towards the dream... the transformation of a shutter

She was greying and unkempt

when I first noticed her.

She had been left to wither in an old barn in the Ariège,

at the foothills of the Pyrénées.

Her big sisters (huge old wooden doors)

were still protecting her

to the extent that I nearly didn't notice her there;

so well was she hidden

by shadows and cobwebs!

She seemed so folorn that I wanted to bring her colour.

I sang to her, read to her...

From the beginning; it was always Thoreau (my favourite)

There was never any question about that...

His wisdom can inspire the most greying of spirits

We shared secrets, she and I.

She told me she had never seen the sea.

So I dressed her in the Bleu de L'Ile d'Yeu.

She pleaded for some embellishment,
so I dressed her with a page of history from her region.

Petit à petit we have built her a new life together

Like me, she now feels equally comfortable

with tradition and progress.

 And in her we have reconciled the two.

.

But there's more to discover in the old girl yet

She hasn't had her final say...
Maybe later today I will give her the final touches.

Maybe it will be tomorrow when the mess monsters go back to school

that we shall chat over coffee and gesso!

In the mean time I'm off for some inspiration
at Seth's Secret Sunday

2010: Action-Packed with Pink!

It's pink Saturday over at "Beverly's How Sweet the Sound." Well it will be tomorrow but I won't be home in time. So I said to myself, 'Ange, your first New Year's goal is going to be writing a pink post. EARLY.' Pink, to me, being the quintessiential colour of optimism and hope, and therefore a great way to start the year. Me voilà!

Funny though. It's only the first day of the new year and already it feels like time is flying... literally slipping through my fingers. Honestly, where did the day go??? It is nearly time to go and fetch the messmonsters from their grandparents' house, a five hour drive from where I live in Toulouse. But I just had to meet the first goal I set myself for this year - just to set the record straight that 2010 is going to be a year to reach those goals!

 

By the sound of the following definitions which I've just found here, Pink might even be just the colour we all need to launch ourselves with bright abandon into a very promising new year. Here are a few reasons why...

Pink is said to:

Stimulate energy

Increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate

Encourage action and confidence

The time has come and I have to be on my way. Excuse me while I race off to slip into something a  little more pink that will boost my energy levels for the long drive ahead! Hmm - Maybe I have just the time to paint the inside of the car a bright fuschia before we go!

Blessings and may all your projects in 2010 packed pink with action and confidence!

Oops, nearly forgot! Don't forget to enter into my give away at my last post. 

It's open to all - darling followers or not!

Go confidently forward... Don't you agree?

Yesterday I visited Sherry's blog and she introduced me to Don Miguel, not personally of course, but to his Four Agreements. If you visit her (and I suggest you do), you will find out more about Don Miguel than I can tell you. I can only say that his first agreement struck a chord deep within my soul.

THIS, is why I started calligraphy. THIS, is why I constantly seek new words of conviction, strength, love and encouragement to pass onto others. THIS is my most cherished belief... 

The Four Agreements:

Agreement 1

 Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2

Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3

Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4

Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Thank you Sherry - I needed to hear (read) it again. This time through Don Miguel.

And with these wise words may you too go confidently 
in the direction of your dreams...