2/27

isn't this moon beautiful? just so full of possibilities. this was taken last summer during one of our Hillbilly Redneck Driveway Parties. my neighbors are great! a small cul-de-sac. and in the summer, we all drag folding chairs down to someone's driveway and hang out...maybe a bonfire in our backyard from time to time...smores and margaritas and chocolate martinis. it's easy to love your neighbor in this 'hood!

wed 2/25

today i am grateful for my friends....not just because I see my reflection in their eyes, but because I hope they see their own reflections back at them from mine...i'm grateful for this wednesday off and the Good Day in the Studio so far...and for the cat finally curled up and sleeping next to the right side of me, and the dog finally sleeping to the left. i may just nap now! i'm grateful to know fearless women, and fearful women who aren't afraid to be afraid, knowing it will give them coyote hearts. i'm grateful to know women who can make an entire buffet appear out of words, and women who can make an entire lifetime disappear without a single word. i'm grateful to be me, now, here. i'm grateful you are reading this, and hope you share your gratitude also. L.

oh and PS....opening day was delayed, but for very good reason and you will forgive me when you see why! it's coming soon! oy i work so hard. *sigh* (and smile.)

2/23

so i started this post on 2/23 at military time 21:22 ...pretty cool, huh? when my computer came back from the shop it only shows military time. oy. so it's a cooold blustery day...perfect for Ginger Pear tea and finishing my book, Still Alice, by Lisa Genova. very good book. very good tea. lovin it all! so - favorite tea? favorite recent book? movie? talk to me....

oy vey has it really been that long since i posted?? well...not for lack of gratitude...just busy with all the fabulous things that are spilling out! today i am grateful for the incredibly wonderful weekend spent with my dog, my art, yoga, skiing, and.....my husband.

2/16

today i am grateful for a boss who "gets" me and for my job. as i pass the empty parking lot of the Chrysler factory every morning, my heart feels for those who used to fill the parking lot and eat at the nearby deli and buy their gas down the street...i feel for those small businesses that are affected by this next massive ghost-towning. and i am grateful for my company that has continued to expand. and asked us if we would forego raises to stave off a single layoff. and we all, unquestioningly, unanamously said "of course."

sunday already?

today i am grateful for beginning the day at the flea market and finding incredible rusty things! and for warm bagels. and a fabu pot roast with rosemary. yesterday..more food thoughts...dinner at a fantastic restaurant that's actually a 100+ year old Inn...if i died following the Oysters Rockefeller, i would have died happily. i wish i could point to one single thing that was average, but i can't. and that makes me worry that perhaps i had, indeed, died and went to Heaven, had a meal, then came back. so there must be a Grand Purpose to my life. or perhaps, my table manners weren't up to Heavenly Standards. either way, i would gladly do any manner of ungodliness for a taste of those oysters again. onward now before God's patience is tried and He wipes oysters off the globe. and you know what...the intent of this blog was to post one thing daily that i was grateful for. and i missed a few days. and i don't feel terrible or guilty about not posting, which i'm grateful for, as i am prone to feel guilty about things. it has made me even more watchful for Moments of Gratitude, which can only be good. so i'm lonesome here...POST! L.

a 2-fer

wednesday, i was grateful for yoga! the feeling of centeredness and stretchiness is so wonderful it's almost combustible! also..i got word that 2 people have requested me as a roommate at Squam! i feel like a prom queen! wow. now THAT carried me through the day!
Today, thursday, i am grateful that it's my Friday! no work tomorrow! i can stay up late & eat ice cream for breakfast. i won't. but i could. such a luxurious feeling!

2/10

today i am grateful for being able to leave work an hour early! when it was still daylight! i shrugged out of Big Girl job clothes, and into some sweats and took Diva for a brief but enjoyable walk to the pond. the ice had a sheen on it from the recent warmer weather,and it reminded me of getting up at 5am to make it to the ice rink in time for practice before school started...the Zamboni machine would just be finishing and there was a wet layer still on top that made you want to be extra careful to land your jump....an hour of practice with your underpants wet and freezing is guaranteed to ruin your day! L.

2/9

today i'm grateful for my Big Girl job that i work part-time...on my way in, i have to pass an automobile plant that just closed - more jobs gone. i'm also grateful for my incredible little puppy who has the best snuggler in the business! i'm grateful for the elderly woman who called today just to say how much she appreciated our services. that call came in between 2 peole screaming obscenities. really now...do people think they're talking to a machine or video game when they call a customer service line? remember - you may be talking to ME when you call about a bill, or to complain about something. then you'll end up in my blog! L.

2/8

today i am grateful for the warm breeze outside. and for being able to sleep in!

here's an inspiring story of gratitude...a friend of mine, Chris, has an unstoppable drive and determination to live her dreams. not only has she faced down some incredible physical issues (and won!), imagine this: you go on vacation to visit your only child who'd living overseas. and, no, not in London. just after you arrive - a tsunami hits. a bona fide tsunami...not just a bunch of odd & irregular happenings. real water - real deep. read her story here , and see where she's at now. another example of when life comes at you fast and deep....

Welcome!

The first post! Exciting! Come along with me as I begin a new phase of my journey...and we're all in this together, aren't we now? It's funny, looking back at events and happenings and incidents in my life...to see how things are, indeed, all connected...a golden thread running through it all. So, now to business, I suppose! Why BLACKFISH and CROW? 2 reasons...first, it's the name of my Etsy shop, and second...the myth and belief surrounding black fish and crows: in ancient Chinese teachings, you must put a black fish in the pond with 9 gold ones for good blessings. The black fish will take away any negative Aspects that come to the area and disperse them. And crow is a Messenger Spirit, according to some Native American teachings...using your dreams and intuition to bring messages from the Wisdomkeepers, and taking messages from you to deliver to those who have gone. So a perfect combination! Now, although I'll moderate from time to time, this is actually a blog for you. A place to post your gratitudes...try, everyday, to find something to be grateful for, and share it here with the rest of us. Please don't use it as an advertising forum. Think - what things in your life Right Now are you grateful for? What makes you smile? What makes you so filled with joy it makes that lump in your throat ? What inspires you? Now that's what Life is about! Me, hmmm, okay...right now at this moment, I am grateful for the puppy curled up on my left foot. She's snoring loudly, and I watch as her little belly rises and falls. She will always have some part of her touching me when she sleeps, so she'll know if i try to leave. i'm grateful for the chance to have a forum to share things with you. So come on...your turn...what - right now - are you grateful for?