Tarot Tuesday 11-24-15

Today's card drawn is "The Lovers".

The obvious meaning of  "The Lovers" concerns relationships, in particular, romantic love relationships.  This card represents perfection, harmony and mutual attractiveness.  The bond between these two is very strong and is usually indicative of a marriage or a long-term relationship.

As with any tarot card, however, there are different levels of meaning.  On a personal level, this card represents that you may be establishing a personal belief system and becoming more sure of your own values.  It might be a time when you are figuring out what you stand for and what your own philosophy on life is.  It is time to make up your mind about what is and what isn't important in life.  Stay true to yourself. Don't try to be anybody but who you really are.

"The Lovers" can also stand for major choices in life.  You might have a dilemma in which you will have to take action or make an important decision.  Something might happen that changes your plans.  You might feel like things are not going your way, but later it will turn out to be for the best.  You need to think about the decision and choices you are facing. These decisions are very important so it is imperative that you choose the right path.  If there is an easy way out, you need to decide if it's really the right path for you in the long run.  Sometimes the more difficult path is the better way to go, especially when thinking of the long-term and deep effects it may have on your life.

Are you finding yourself at a moral crossroads?  Do you have a decision to make regarding whether to take the moral high road or low road?  Be sure you consider all the consequences before you act. Your own value system might be challenged at this point and, therefore, you need to make your choice based on that system.  This really might be a difficult decision for you, and there certainly is a right and wrong choice in this particular instance.  One choice will benefit you greatly in the future, but the other will lead you down a negative path.  It would be a good idea to seek some advice from someone you trust before making your final decision.  Make sure you are being completely honest with yourself.  Examine your own feelings, motives and personal values carefully.  Look at each option deeply and with a sense of what it will bring in the future.

Wow, that's a pretty serious card.  Too serious for this cold, wintry November Tuesday.  Does this card apply to you today?  Here's wishing you some time to reflect on the major decisions in your life and for clarity in making those decisions.  Have a very decisive Tuesday!

Monday Musings

Happy Winter Monday!!

Just like that, it's winter.  I love the snow, so I don't really mind.  I really enjoy all the seasons and I think it's so nice to live in a place where I get to experience them all in their fullest.

Since last Thursday, it's been quite an exciting and fun few days.  Bright and early Thursday morning I got KD to the Opus bus (they had to be there by 6:15 a.m.).  Then I took Angelle to school with all of her stuff for All State.  Early afternoon, John and I left for Ames to see and hear the wonderful Opus honor choir concert.  Angelle was able to meet us there and watch with us.  It was one of the better 5/6 grade Opus groups I have ever heard there.  They were fabulous!  All of the choirs were.  After the concert, we went to eat at "India Palace", our favorite Indian restaurant in Ames.  That has become a tradition for us.  They have the best tandoori chicken!  And it's never very busy on Opus evening, which is nice, too.

After our wonderful dinner, we took Angelle to audition for her small ensemble part for one of the All State songs.  What an honor just to get the recall.  After the fairly long audition process, she was part of the ensemble and was able to sing with the ensemble on a special part for the girls All State song.  So proud of that girl!

On Friday and Saturday during the day I attended the Iowa Music Educator's Association conference. I always enjoy that and come away with some new great ideas and feeling inspired and uplifted about what I do.  This time I got some great ideas for using junkyard percussion and doing some listening using parachutes, paper plates and tennis balls in my music classroom.  I also learned about something called the "Brain Dance".  I'm going to learn a little bit more about that, but am hoping to start using it in my music room soon.  Also, I will be looking to buy a small parachute to use for listening activities.  Such great ideas!

Friday evening was free for John, KD and I, so we did a little window shopping in downtown Ames. It was snowing, so it was quite beautiful there.  John bought KD a model airplane kit and they will have fun working on that together, I think.  Then we went to the movie "Mockingjay 2".  KD and I are into the Hunger Games series of books and movies, so we really enjoyed the movie.  It was new to John, but he is a great sport and I think he enjoyed the movie.  Friday night was also our first snowfall here in Iowa, and we got several inches of snow.  So, after the movie, it was a bit challenging for John to drive around Ames to get us back to our room, but he does well in adverse weather conditions.  He dropped us off and went to get us a pizza for supper.  Our hotel room was in the Memorial Union hotel and had a fireplace.  It was really nice to watch the snowfall outside while sitting by the fireplace with a cup of tea.

Saturday brought more conference sessions for me, then it was time to hang out with John and KD for awhile.  We went to the mall and then went to play laser tag.  Then it was Starbucks and the fabulous All State concert.   KD and I had seats right by the orchestra.  They played "The Pines of Rome" by Respighi, which is one of my all time favorite pieces of music.  I enjoyed it immensely and picture flying whales in my head (reference to Fantasia 2000).  Of course, the chorus was wonderful and it was great to see Angelle get to step to the microphone for the special ensemble part.  The band was truly amazing as well.  We left with our hearts full of great music and pride for all of the All State participants.  We got home around midnight and we all slept very well!

On Sunday I got to pick up our dogs, whom we had really missed and judging by their reactions, they really missed us, too.  Then we were off again and Angelle played piano for the Festival of Trees and the girls and I went to the Nutcracker Ballet.  We had several friends who were in that production. After that it was time to tear down our table setting from the festival and get ready for the new week.
So, you see, it was a very busy and full few days, but also truly wonderful and full of so much beauty.

On Saturday, John, KD and I were looking for a place to have supper.  I remembered seeing a "Mongolian Grill" restaurant close to the "India Palace".  So, we decided to check it out.  I have to be honest.  Once we looked inside, we saw a place with no decor, threadbare and worn out booth seats, and I wondered if we had made the best decision.  KD was ready to go someplace else, and actually, so was I.  But John was ready to give it a go so we stayed.  We ordered at the counter and I wanted tea.  The server said he could give me a tea bag and hot water.  He gave me a typical plastic cafe tumbler to use for my tea.  I went with it and the tea tasted just as good in that plastic tumbler as it would have in a regular tea cup.  It was self serve rice and soup.  The food was fabulous!  Really, really great Chinese food!  We all really enjoyed it and while at first look, the restaurant didn't look very nice, we had a great experience there.  Never judge a book by it's cover, I guess.  It is always great to experience new things and different cultures.  Variety is the spice of life, and we definitely experienced variety in Ames, Iowa.

So, if you're ever in Ames, we recommend the "India Palace" and the "Mongolian Grill".  They are by the college area of town and a little off the beaten path.  We are so proud of our girls for their accomplishments with Opus and All State and we are hoping to be able to have the same experience again next year.  Check back tomorrow for Tarot Tuesday and have a magical Monday!

Witchy Wednesday

Happy Witchy Wednesday!

Last night the girls and I went to the dessert event for volunteers for the Sartori Festival of Trees.  While our table place setting didn't win any ribbons, we are still very proud of how it turned out and had a blast at the event.  So, before I get on with Witchy Wednesday, I'll share a photo (or two or three) of our table setting so you can see how it turned out.




I still really love the golden reindeer.  If you like it, too, they are available at Target.  They are also available in silver and copper colors.  And in different sizes.  I imagine once the festival of trees is over, we will incorporate him into our holiday decorating somehow.

When we showed up to set up, I had to move the car right away, so the girls started the set up.  When I got back, they were completely done.  They got it done so quickly!  I love what they did with the snow so the deer looks like he's standing in a huge drift.  The fake snowflakes were a nice touch, too, and we ended up putting some "snow" into the goblets as well.







One thing I might have done differently is put some twinkling white battery operated lights among the snow drift, and used battery operated taper candles in the yule log centerpiece.  Otherwise we were so happy with how it turned out.  There were 16 tables in all, so we don't feel bad that we didn't win a ribbon.  If you get a chance to go to the Sartori Festival of Trees at the Gallagher Bluedorn, we highly recommend it.  There's a memory tree at the end of the hall past our table (ours is the last one, all the way down the hall).  You can write the name of a loved one on a piece of paper and hang it on the tree.  We each did one.  That's the kind of thing we really appreciate.  Very "silent supper"-ish.









Okay, thank you for indulging me while I blogged about our place setting.   Now on to "Witchy Wednesday".  Today when I googled "skull attire", I found a great site called sammydress.com.  Sammy Dress.  Click on the link to go there.  They are having a crazy November sale, and stuff is super duper cheap!  I found some great skull items and might have to order some for myself.

 I'm not sure why this image is so blurry, but this is a parka.  At just under $13.00, I think it's a steal and I'm probably going to order it.  So cool.

 I have a gray shirt similar to this one.  I like it in black and it's just around $6.00.  In fact all of these items I'm showing you are under $15.00.

 This is a hairpin.  Gorgeous.

 This sugar skull is a clock.  I love it!

I'm not sure if I could play piano wearing this, but this hand bracelet is really neat.  I'm sure it would be a head turner.  

Finally today, here is a really nice ribcage sweater.  Great for the cold winter months coming up.

Again, all these items can be found at super low clearance prices at Sammy Dress.  Search for "skull attire" once you get to the site.  There were several items including some nice "Jack Skellington" things.  Check it out and enjoy your "Witchy Wednesday"!

Tarot Tuesday 11-17-15

Today's card drawn is the Ace of Cups.  I have to say, the illustration on this card is one of my favorites.

Are you working for emotional and spiritual fulfillment?  This card shows that it is currently being offered to you.  It is up to you whether you accept this cup or not.

This card can represent a few different things.  one of them can be the beginning of love and happiness, even compassion.  It could indicate the start of a new relationship which could be either a friendship or a romance.  The connection with this person will be very strong.  Again, it does not have to mean a romantic interest, but could just be a very strong friendship.  It depends on where you currently are in your life.  The card suggests that very positive emotional and creative energy will be created between two people.  The result will be a very good feeling about yourself and life in general.

While this card often refers to love, it may or may not be romantic love.  Perhaps you have someone you need to forgive, or something you need to ask forgiveness for.  It is time to set aside your anger and find peace.  It's okay to let down your barriers and let your feelings show.  This is an excellent time in your life to make peace with your friends, family and also with yourself.

The Ace of Cups can also be about creative expression (yes, I love this meaning).  If there is an opportunity to allow your emotions to be expressed creatively, take it.  You might find yourself being very open to your inner feelings at this point and you might want to share them with others.  You might be inspired to start a new creative project.  It's a good time to start any new creative endeavor. Take an art class or learn to dance.  It's all about expression and creation.

This card also indicates generosity.  Of course, we are coming into the season of giving.  Try not to get so caught up in the material aspect of the season (I'm one to talk), but rather, focus on giving and not taking.  You have the power to bring great happiness to others.  Share your positive energy with the world.  The more you give, the more you will receive, on many different levels.

Now, the last meaning will only apply to a few readers in the literal sense.  The card often points to fertility.  Literally, it can refer to a pregnancy or birth (this most definitely does NOT apply to me).  Metaphorically speaking, there may be the "birth" of a new idea or you may be newly inspired.  Perhaps a new project is beginning in which you will invest much loving and creative energy.

As I've been indicating in my blog, this past year has been a time of new projects and ideas for me.  I have felt like creative energy has been just flowing in my life like crazy.  So the last meaning does apply to me in the metaphorical sense.  I have several friends going through the same creative explosion period and I'm sure it applies to them as well. New connections are being made every day and the possibilities are endless.  What better way to express who you are than through your creations?  Enjoy the possibilities that the Ace of Cups offers you.  Go ahead and take the cup. You're ready.

Monday Musings

Happy Rainy Monday!  It's my kind of weather. This week has arrived with me anxiously excited about a few things.

First, tonight we get to set up our holiday table setting for the Sartori Festival of Trees.  On Saturday I got the last couple of items I needed, napkins and a tablecloth.  I ended up finding both at "Main Street Exchange", a second hand store on Main Street in Cedar Falls.  I love it when I can find what I need in a thrift store.  Then when we got our items home, I did a "practice" set up of our table setting to see how it looked.  We are quite pleased with the results, and of course, it will look a bit different on our assigned table, depending on how much room there will be on the table.  I will share a sneak peak.

Our theme is "Yuletide Blessings" because I wanted to include a yule log centerpiece.  here is what it looks like from above.  The green leaf plates I was lucky enough to find at Goodwill for $1 each.  The chargers at Michael's for $2 each and the small gold plates at Target.  The flatware is wrapped up in the gold napkin with sparkly pinecones with the Yuletide Blessings gift tag wrapping the napkin around them.












Here you can see our fabulous golden reindeer centerpiece.  I am so glad we got him as he is perfect for the table setting. When we do the actual setting tonight, I might try to do more with the "snow blanket" (underneath the reindeer and yule log) so it looks more like a snowy scene. The red taper candles are in the yule log candle holder.  The book to the left of the reindeer is an antique book called "When the Yule Log Burns" which I found on Etsy.   I'll take more pictures of the actual set up tonight.









Also, this week brings Opus Honor Choir (for KD) and All-State Choir (for Angelle).  Angelle has been recalled for a solo part at All State which is a HUGE honor.  She's a bit nervous and so am I, but I know she will rock her audition.

Both girls had their Suzuki recital yesterday.  My in-laws came up for that and it was nice for the girls to have their grandparents there.  They have both improved so much on their instruments and both did a great job with their performances.  They make me proud in so many ways.

At the recital a guest of our silent supper came up to me and told me how much she enjoyed the silent supper and how she was hoping we would do it again next year.  I have received so many comments like that so we are definitely planning on doing it again!  She said that now that people know what it is, they would spread the word and recommend it to other people and that it would probably grow. This makes my heart so happy!

I'm excited to get to be creative tonight with our table setting and excited to hear my girls sing in some amazing choirs later this week.  How about you?  What are you excited about?

Freaky Friday

TGIF!!  Woo hoooo!  Hallelujah!!

It's Friday.  What's freaky?

This:  Yesterday I taught school all day, stopped by the UNICC office to find a copy of music for the accompanist around 4:00, picked up KD from school at 4:30, picked up Angelle, took both girls, their instruments and all our music to the Suzuki recital performance class from 5:00 - 6:00, dropping off talent sale items and music for the UNICC accompanist while there, then went to UNICC rehearsal from 6:30 until 8:15.  That's a freakishly long day.

This:  It's November 13th and the weather is still pretty mild.  Except for the other night, that is.  Two nights ago we were in a tornado warning for awhile.  In other parts of Iowa they had a tornado warning, hail, then snow, all in one night.  That's Iowa's freaky weather for you.

This:  The Krampus movie comes out December 4th, three weeks from today.  Krampus puts the Halloween in Christmas.  I've been a little bit fascinated with the story of Krampus since there was a Grimm episode that featured him.  For those of us who love Halloween, horror movies and all things creepy, this movie is pretty great news.  Krampus comes from Germanic lore and was the counterpart to St. Nicholas.  In fact, they traveled together and while St. Nick rewarded all the good children, Krampus dragged the naughty ones to his lair.  You know, there are some children who respond better to scare tactics than to rewards.  Is that where the idea of Krampus came from? However Krampus got started, he's pretty freaky!







This:  Today is Friday the 13th.  Freaky.  While this may be considered to be an unlucky day by some, I always reverse those superstitions and consider this to be a very lucky day!  I love Friday the 13th. Interested in the history of Friday the 13th?  Here is a link.  Friday the 13th History  Honestly, you control your own fate, so turn those unlucky things into lucky things.  You really do have that power.  I'm thinking it could be fun to start organizing Friday the 13th tea parties.  The theme could be all symbols of luck and unlucky symbols as well.  Hmmm.  Something to think about.

This:  Okay, okay, I'm not going to go on about the red Starbucks cup.  Enough already!  However, I'm going to focus on the mermaid.  She's pretty freaky.  I mean, really, a mermaid with two tails?  In researching her origins, I found a great story about a cathedral built in about 1088 which features an image of this two tailed mermaid.  The thing I really find freaky about this article is that the mosaic floor of this cathedral features not only Biblical characters, but many, many different fantastical images and creatures from all different types of lore.  I'll post a link to the article.  It's very interesting and shows just how connected ancient religions really are to each other.  Two Tailed Mermaid Article

That's it for Freaky Friday today from me.  Do you have anything freaky to share?  Have a fabulously freaky Friday and a wonderful weekend.  See you Monday for Monday Musings.

Witchy Wednesday

Woo hoo we made it to Wednesday!  Happy Veteran's Day!  Veteran's Day always makes me think of my dad, who was in both the Merchant Marines and then the Navy during WWII.  He wrote a lot about it in some of his short stories which can be found in his book, "Lowell's Limericks", compiled and published by my sister.

I'm starting to feel the changing of the seasons and everywhere I go, there are signs of Christmas.  I love it!  There is always a certain moment each year when the Christmas spirit just sort of hits me.  I love Halloween, you know that, but I also love Christmas.  For me, it's a time of giving, celebrating, and enjoying my friends and family.  Giving is the best gift we can give to ourselves.  I tend to go a little crazy sometimes buying for my family, but it makes me so happy.

Anyway, this is Witchy Wednesday, and I'm not supposed to be going on and on about my thoughts, but sharing some cool stuff with you.  So, I thought I'd share some cool Christmas decorating ideas. Since we've been preparing our Christmas table place setting for the Festival of Trees, it's fresh on my mind and certain things have been catching my eye.  One thing I noticed is that reindeer seem to be very "in" this year.  I think that's funny because right away when I was thinking of our place setting, I knew I wanted to do a yule log and reindeer just sort of naturally went along with that, so I wanted to include reindeer as well.  Then all of a sudden I'm seeing reindeer everywhere!  So today I'm going to share a few cool seasonal decorating ideas.

I have a silver reindeer which I have always put on our kitchen table during Christmas season.  I got it at Kohls  Originally I was going to use that for our place setting, then at Target, I found these great sparkly reindeer statuettes.  I ended up picturing gold and green for our table setting, so got a new reindeer, a gold one, for our table.  I would like to include some reindeer antlers and have been wondering where I would get some.  The Target flyer for Christmas came in the mail yesterday and low and behold, Target has decorative antlers this season.  Click on the link to see.

Target Reindeer Decorative Antler

While not exactly what our table setting will look like, I was inspired by these photos of an "Enchanted Forest" table setting.  I believe this one was done for a winter wedding.  I love the idea of using a tree slice as a "charger".  I really like the use of pinecones and greenery and how well they go with the gold color scheme.

Here is another table setting using tree slices as placemats.

I love this golden reindeer centerpiece.  I'm finding myself really drawn to decor that reminds me of a snowy forest scene this year.

Lastly, lest I forget that it is "Witchy Wednesday" and what my general blog theme seems to be, here is a very clever use of "Krampus" decorations.  These look very simple and appear to be made from pipe cleaners.  The decorator said she makes these and after her celebration, gives them away as party favors. Very, very clever and adorable.  Speaking of "Krampus", I can hardly wait for the movie to come out.  Krampus is a great way to sneak a little Halloween into your Christmas.

Do you have any great decorating ideas for this Christmas season?  Feel free to share!  Have a wondrous Witchy Wednesday!