After a Season of Settling in I am Home...

This place. My new home. It's perfect! I am so thankful every single day! Filled with glee! Excited and alive again. I am certain that I have the ability to make anything happen. I would not be where I am right now, at this moment, if I didn't believe in that ability. All I have to do is imagine... Even when I couldn't visualize exactly what I was looking forward, I focussed on the feeling I was hoping for. I pretended I was already sitting somewhere new thanking the universe for guiding me there!

Welcome to my apartment! It's so nice to show you around.

Here's what you see upon opening the front door...

...And, with the door closed.

Here's a close up of the dining room window...

And, a shot of the dining room as seen from my most favourite perspective. The couch! lol...

Take about ten strides forward and turn around. You'll see the living room from the dining area. It's a quaint little place I live in. I am overjoyed with the knowledge that I've made it to where I belong. I wanted to be here. I was most attracted to this location and the amenities of this building. I could not have asked for anything more! I received what I truly deserve. A clean, quiet & secure home. And, the people who live in Tecumseh are so friendly!

I tried to picture every angle of the apartment... Here's a shot from the balcony. The living area is actually really spacious! And there is a ton of closet/storage space. My apartment is just right for me. I am very lucky to have received such a blessing. I keep finding more things to be thankful for too! How awesome is that!?

Now, out on my balcony I have an oasis in the sky. A bird's eye view of the neighbourhood. The cats like to sit out there with with me. It's nice to have a little outdoor space. And it's especially great that my balcony is kind of private. I worked on a few projects to make use of this airy space. I put up chicken wire so the cats are safe. I'm growing a container garden of herbs and vegetables. As well as strawberries. I put up a beach umbrella for shade in the afternoon. And, I added a few splashes of colour with flower pots!

So, life is great on the home front. Work is good, but so busy and often overwhelming these days. I am especially thankful for my balcony oasis on those days. It's like a sunroom. My happy place.

~ Namaste ~

Angélique

What I Really, Really, Really Want To Do...

It all started with Lucky and Boo...

I had two bamboo plants that I combined because at the time it made sense. (lol) At my old apartment Lucky-Boo shared a window with another plant I've had for over ten years now. In that window my bamboo flourished. It's leaves were emerald green. And it just kept growing. One day I decided to trim it down a bit. I'd heard that plants actually require some pruning which encourages new growth. I kept the trimmings in a vase with water because they were really pretty. You know those babies sprouted roots! So, I planted the trimmings in dirt topped with stones.

Unfortunately, my first attempt at unwittingly propagating a plant was unsuccessful and the trimmings died. But, Lucky-Boo still continued to grow long thick deep green leaves. And new shoots sprouted out.

A while later (in fact last winter) I trimmed some cuttings again. But this time I paid better attention to nurturing them. I kept them in a large mayo jar. I left the water level at only a few inches and I changed it every week or so. I also took the time to rinse the individual bamboo cuttings at each water change. I think that step helped prevent moulds from taking over. I also learned by this point that bamboo doesn't really like dirt. It is happiest in gravel sized stones. And the water level should never be higher than the stones...

Another interesting factor I did differently this time is that I kept the cuttings all together in the large mayo jar for over four months. When I finally potted those babies the roots were about three inches in length! I think time made all the difference!

I placed two cuttings in each vase and gave two of those away. I'm keeping the third one and I named her Tes... (Yes, I name all my plants, lol)

The feeling I had after giving away my babies was really humbling. It made me realize my purpose in life, a little more. And in one single epiphany EVERYTHING came together.

I want to grow plants for a living. I'd like to bring more awareness to Aquaponics and other self sustaining techniques. Since I'd rather spend my days in the garden than working at an office I think it would be a blessing to grow organic produce to sell locally. And, manage a nursery of seedlings, flowers and bamboo! My goal is to make it a year round production because I plan to grow indoors in large greenhouses. I might even have a worm farm!

So this is my new dream! I'm warmed by the memories of when I used to follow my grandma around her massive garden. My sister and I would pick strawberries, peas and cucumbers and eat them right there. I know I inherited my green thumb from my grandma. So, when I visit her in the nursing home I am eager to tell her about my houseplants and the vegetable I'm trying to grow. :)

What are your big dreams? Do you believe they really come true? Tell me what you think in the comments below. Sometimes, just knowing what you want is enough to make it happen...

Be Free To Choose,

OXO

Angélique

The Air Upon My Face...

I just want to be outside.

Touching the grass.

Feeling the air upon my face.

I want to break out of this corner!

Find a new purpose

And leave this place.

I just want to go outside.

Hear the breeze in the trees.

See the birds give chase.

If I could go outside...

I just want to be outside.

Sitting quietly.

Feeling the air upon my face.

I want to get out of this corner!

Stop holding my breath

And leave this place.

I just want to lay outside.

Bathe in the sun's rays.

Drop out of the race.

Lets go outside...

~ADB~

It's spring and I'm wishing for some fresh air. And when it finally gets here I won't have much time to enjoy it because I work nights. I could enjoy the day, if I woke up earlier. But I don't really like the daytime. It's too bright! On the weekends I get up earlier (or stay up altogether) to enjoy the day and get errands done. I basically work afternoons and sleep a midnight schedule. My bedtime is between 6am to 8am. And I usually wake up by 4pm. So I'm cooped up (at work) during my peak hours... The early evening is my favourite time of day. I love a good sunset!

Ah, if I could be outside more often life would be a little more breezy. Hmm, I think I'm gonna get back in the habit of going for a walk on my break. Yea! That should help me feel less stress. And give me the pick up that I need to get through the busy work day!

The poem is just a rant by the way. I feel better, thanks! ;)

OXO

Angélique

Out With The Old...

I did not expect this long journey of change would consume so much of my time that I'd refrain from blogging for such a long period... Nearly two months have gone by since I last posted anything new. I do apologize for that. I can guarantee it won't happen again. At least, not in the near future. :)

I may have been quiet on the blog but I have been quite busy in the real world. I moved in the middle of march and since then I've been working overtime just about every day! I love that I have the opportunity to work so much and make the extra money. But it's really taking a toll on me spiritually and creatively. In fact I know I could have written these last weeks but I just didn't have the energy. Or, the inspiration. Even though I am ridiculously happy. I'm just not "On" these days...

I didn't have pictures on my computer to show the before and after of this grand adventure. So my plan to write an epic series of blog posts about my move just didn't seem to fall in to place. But, here are a few pics of the old place upon packing it all up.

This last picture belonged to my parents when I lived in the first house I grew up in. It has a partner with a longer phrase but this one is my favourite. I truly believe that smiles and a joyful spirit are contagious. Everyone genuinely means well. We just get wrapped up in our own bullshit that we forget to smile sometimes.

I had this picture and a bunch of other items from my parents up until this last move. They were pieces of my childhood. I donated the things I needed to let go of. I'm not gonna lie. It was hard to say goodbye to many items. But it was time.

It's interesting to note how dark the colours were in my last place. I didn't realize how dim it was at the time...

I'll write another post about my new apartment shortly. I just needed a jump-start to get back in the groove of writing & posting again. So there we have it. The end of an era! Shake it off!

I am excited for this wonderful new beginning. And blessed to be guided by angels.

Thanks for listening,

OXO

Angélique

These Three Things Make A Humble Heart...

FAITH

HAPPINESS

GRATITUDE

I have spent many nights laying in bed trying to sleep but my mind and heart race to make sense of the day and life in general. I need closure with everything. I analyze things over and over until I'm ready to let go... It's no surprise I'm a writer.

In my young adult years I wrote in a journal almost every night. I'd start off with a piece of random verse. It was a code of thoughts pertaining to events and circumstance around me with an eloquent twist that proved to be a magical instant journey for the soul. I'd follow those paragraphs with a journal entry written in plain english. Venting my heart to the ruled lines of spiral notebooks, while tears rolled down my cheeks staining the pages. I have about six notebooks filled. I compiled the paragraph sized poetic pros in a manuscript that is over one hundred pages in length. For a girl who never finishes anything, I sure have a lot to work with...

One day I saw a female doctor on Oprah who discussed a lot of cool things regarding women's health; specifically, women in menopausal years -which I am not. But her advice on feeling one's best was a hundred percent true! I wish I could remember her name, but I am at a loss. I apologize for that. Because her best advice changed my bedtime journal ritual.

She explained that each night we have the opportunity to harness the energy of the day for the best. To obtain freedom and negate worry. It's also the perfect time to practice gratitude. Send it all out to the universe. Let it go. And be grateful...

Now I write just three things:

1. What I really, really, really want...
2. What the happiest part of my day was...
3. What I am most thankful for...

Daily Blessings/Prayer Journal

I've been writing bedtime prayers and considering the things in life that are positive more often for over five years now. Some nights I am too tired to physically write them down because I've forgotten and am already curled up in bed. So, those nights I go over the day and ask for blessings in the manner of these three statements in my head.

It helps me sleep better. I believe in myself and my dreams more. And it makes me view the day through a positive lens instead of whining with teenaged angst. Overall, it's changed my life because it helps open my heart.

If you're trying to create a bigger sense of joy throughout the day, then you should give this a try. Write down these three things at night before you go to sleep. If you already have some sort of bedtime ritual that helps settle your mind while giving thanks to the universe, than leave a comment below. I'd love to hear from you!

Blessings,

OXO

Angélique