Unity

Somewhere over the rainbow...

Get out there and spread JOY...each and every day! 

WE ARE ONE! 

Tuesday Afternoon

Why did the geese cross the road?

To get to the pond, you Silly Goose!

Oh, the simple things in life...

Linking up today with Kara at A Spirit of Simplicity.

Stop by to say "aloha"...

Radiant

The other day I had the privilege of performing with my ukulele friends for a Senior Citizens Luncheon.  A lovely event, with the best food.  Don't know that I have ever had Filet Mignon for lunch before, but hey, that with Roast Turkey, Baked Ham and all the perfect side dishes, was an incredible way to spend a few hours away from work.  Yes, I blew off a few hours of work to entertain this group at their ceremonial luncheon to swear in the new officers.  And I certainly wasn't leaving without dessert, even though I did have to take it on the run to get back to work before my coverage expired.

Anyway, on my way out the door carrying my Martin C1K Ukulele on my back, a lady sitting all alone by the door motioned for me to come to her.  I always love to engage the elderly, for they are full of wisdom and some wonderful stories of days long ago.

As I approached this woman, she reached out her hand to say, "You are beautiful.  And not only on the outside.  There is a special beauty that comes from within you that radiates and shines.  It makes me smile!"

Well, I asked her name, told her mine, as we shook hands.  But I could not leave there without giving her a hug and telling her how much that meant to me.  Her words to me made my whole day!

Now here I am always happy to be giving of myself to bring joy to others.  It's who I am, it's what I do.  We go out regularly and strum the ukulele at the hospital, and we do the nursing home circuit, as well as other venues, and I absolutely love it.  And I love it because what I witness first hand by doing something so simple as strumming and singing for these folks, makes this little light of mine shine even brighter.  Some of these residents just come to life and sing their hearts out at the first strum of Five Foot Two, or Bill Bailey.  Those who can get up and boogie, do so, and I for one, am not one to just stand still as I strum Let's Twist Again.  I am still trying to figure out how to strum and do the twist at the same time!

Anyway, I will continue to spread joy, to bring smiles, to radiate my true light from the depths of my soul, because that is its true purpose. It was given to me so that I can share it, in hopes that someone out there in darkness will see the light, and know they are not alone.   I am blessed!

I will conclude with a little strum of...

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!

Ukulele Madness

SUMMER STRUMMIN' AT TWO CROW COTTAGE

Hand painted by Sandy "Rosebud" Scarano

Well since we did not get any snow, and I do mean zilch, nada, none, and all around us here in New York, everybody else did, I am putting all my ukuleles to work with some island strumming, in hopes that it will come.  I know, be careful what you wish for, but I like the snow, so this is kind of like a SNOW DANCE on ukulele.

Love my Martin C-1K uke.

Now Martin here, is my performance uke.  I belong to a Ukulele Group that goes out and about to bring smiles and good cheer to the nursing homes in our area....for free!  We also play at the local hospital, the annual Toys for Tots Drive with the US Marines, Relay for Life fundraisers, and on occasion at a couple day cares.  It's great fun and, though Martin is the go-to uke at performances, I haul 3 others out to hand out to the residents so they can try their hand at ukulele madness.  And they love it!

Hospital lobby gig!

I first laughed when a friend of mine brought me a ukulele to try, because I had no idea what to do with it.  He just told me that it was an extra one that he had lying around so, I thought I'd give it a go.  Well, I gave his uke back to him, wondering why in the world you need more than one ukulele...
 now I have 6!!!  3 sopranos, 2 of them painted with a beautiful island scene, 1 tenor, 1 vintage Avalon Banjolele that was my Father's and Martin!  I invested in Martin, because if I was going to engage in an activity such as strummin' a ukulele, I was going to get a good one to make sure I was giving it my best shot.  The bottom line here is, my Mama is born and raised on the beautiful island of Kauai, and what better way to honor her, and my island family who I got to visit not too long ago, sending back a new tenor uke from Honolulu.  And I wear Mama's picture, every time I head out to play!

Nursing home gig!

There is a great new revival of the ukulele.  Give it a try.  I promise you, it is reasonably priced, quite easy to learn, even I CAN DO IT!  It will surely make you smile:)  And hey George Harrison played the uke!

 Jammin' with Kara at A Spirit of Simplicity.
Stop by and say, "ALOHA" 

Winter Warmth

When old man winter decides to grace us with the windy chill in the air, that can only mean one thing...snow is coming, it is time to load the wood stove!

Thankfully, we have an abundance of wood fuel this year just in case we get dumped on and faced with the bitter below zero temps.

However, with the warm days and an expected 70 degree very unusual Christmas Day, the wood pile gathers strength for its intended use as HEAT, just as soon as the temp drops.

It's a beautiful day, as the fog and light rain provide us with a beautiful backdrop for the much cooler glow of Christmas lights.  They are mysterious and glorious rays of light to attract you to your very own light within.  Remember the little song, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

Well, find your light and sing that song...it's the most wonderful time of the year, and I am very happy and grateful to be celebrating it this year with my AB FAB family and friends!

So here's to you and yours...from my own winter warmth!    With much Love, and Peace and Joy!

Universal Language of The Setting Sun

My last sunset at Waikiki...awesome!

Since I have returned from my journey to the island paradise of Hawaii, I haven't fully retrieved all of the zillion photos I took on many devices during my stay with my "bruddah" and other family members.  And since I always enjoy the wonderful island shares from my new friend Cloudia of Comfort Spiral, I thought I would share a few of my own for Skywatch Friday.

Now, I have been to the islands before, long ago as a young girl with my Beautiful Kauai Island Mama.  I was strictly a tourist on that maiden voyage.  But this time, I connected in true Aloha Fashion with the island people who are my family.  The language, the music, the food, and of course the scenery will forever be embedded in my soul.  There is something quite spiritual about the peaceable kingdom that is Hawaii.  Including the current work of Pele, the Goddess of Fire who is spreading hot lava from Kilauea on the Big Island to ensure that her people stay grounded on this earth, as they tune in to the vibration of the Universe, connecting each and every one of them with cosmic joy that is shared by all living things.

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” ― Lao Tzu

The Aloha Spirit is alive and well.  We are all connected in this Universe.  Tune in and feel the peace and joy in abundance. 

Coming Home

Sunset at Waikiki

"Nothing is worth more than this day"

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I have been absent from blogland, so that I may honor my Mother in a very unique way by carrying her heart and soul back to her island paradise of Hawaii.   It has been many years since she left the islands, before the commercialism and tourism took hold, and before Hawaii even became a state.  

It was wartime when she met my soldier father, married and started a family, and I have discovered that I have many family ties there among the many islands, though Kauai is her birthplace.  And it truly is paradise.  I even got to strum the ukulele on Waikiki Beach...

Meeting family for the first time and being so far away from home was abit overwhelming, since I made the 5000 mile journey all by my big, bad girl self.  But I must say, all the anxiety and worry was for nothing because it was an incredible trip, full of great joy.   And I am very happy to say that my island family members are so full of the true Aloha Spirit that has been a part of my own soul as well as my siblings', and even my own children.  They are beautiful people, so harmonious, and I am truly blessed at this stage of my life to discover an extended family so full of life and love.  I even have a lovely 13-year old hula dancer cousin.   

Even though Mama passed away many years ago, she was with me, and I know in my heart that she is happy and resting in peace.

Aloha O'e Mama...until we meet again...

Stop Thinking

Sometimes external forces try to breach the inner sanctum of Beingness producing angst and stress.
Take deep breaths, lie down in quiet solitude, close your eyes and listen to the beating of your heart. Just listen.  It will echo throughout your brain and resonate to the depths of your soul.

There is no room for angst, anger, hatred, or stress in the Body Temple.  It is your mind producing thoughts and dragging out emotional baggage that will disrupt the peaceable kingdom of your natural state of Being...your true authentic self.

Listen to the beating of your heart.  Its message is clear.  Release the negativity with your exhale.  Just let it go.  STOP THINKING!

LET THE ALOHA SPIRIT PREVAIL! 

And then continue on with the hula~la happy dance of life!

Strum on....