Anyone else been down with the latest bug making the rounds? I was flat out all of last week and am still Phlinging The Pleghm ('specially at night - what's that about, anyway???)

Anyway, I'm finally on the mend (knock wood) and expressed same to my friend Brooke, saying that I almost have enough energy to be ME again. Her response was priceless and she said I could share her observation:

"That's the really sucky thing about the flu, it makes you think life has never meant shit and that you'll never have your mojo working again....then BHAM, you're on! yeehaa!"

Amen to that! My mojo is beginning to work again!

YEEHA!!!

This was in a post on one of my lists. I searched but couldn't find the originator. Must have been eaten by a dragon, eh?

Do not mess in the affairs of dragons, for ye are crunchy and good with ketchup.
-Unknown (at least to me...)

Seems God is into white space, too, as evidenced by the blanket of white that fell over my little town yesterday. We were blessed with the lovely kind of snow that sticks to the bare tree branches, turning them into a vision of delicate tracery.

A shawl of elegantly worked lace envelopes us.

So beautiful and peaceful.

So quiet.

So much for pure white space, huh?

But I am in the process of making cream slipcovers for the red sofas and have plans to paint the walls the same yellow-y cream...and the hall in a lighter orange-y shade..and the dining room: WHITE! And then the kitchen a color called Whipped Apricot...

So I'm moving away from the intense colors on the walls I've had for years and moving to softer shades with bright accents in the rugs and some furnishings. Now that everyone else out there is finally getting the never to paint their walls something other than white.

Don't know if I'm way ahead of everyone or way behind...

But I do know this: Change is good for the eyes, the mind, the heart, and the soul.

So be it.

Amen.

p.s. and it gives the body a workout, too!

As I clean and clear clutter I'm lusting after pure white space.

A dream studio: http://www.edmunddewaal.com/studio/index.html

Have fantasies of eventually turning our third floor into such a space; turning a wall that currently divides the space into two rooms into a half wall with a column support, adding a couple of skylights - those tubular ones; refinishing the floors which are painted now, but are beautiful pine - incredibly wide, (over a foot!) thick old pine. I'd paint the walls, ceiling and trim white white white! Keep my old oak work table on wheels as is, but add the bookshelves for a whole wall of books...

My current studio, which is heavenly for sure (with wonderful light, exposed beams and brick wall, and a lovely view of the garden) could become my meditation and Reiki treatment room. It would be perfect because the energy is lovely and soothing in that space.

Aaah...

Would be lovely to win the lottery tonight!

I'm back at work - to REST! Holy cow. Got the attic, basement, the third floor walk-in closet and garage done! It feels wonderful! I found plenty of unfinished projects in the process - and new ones to boot - but just made a mental note and continued with what was at hand. I did clean out the china cupboards before sticking things back in, though, but I didn't take time to clean all the wax and muck out of the box of votives I've collected. I just stuck the box in the cupboard and made a mental note to clean them when I had nothing else to do (yeah, right!) and to NOT buy anymore votives in my lifetime.

Found there are several categories that don't need replenishing - EVER. Tights for one...just how many pairs of bright pink and neon green tights does a 57 year old woman really need??? Apparently the exact same number as pairs of summer pants she found she had (even though I never wear the two together. But that is certainly an interesting idea to consider for my dotage...)

I'm always amazed at how compulsive I can be when I get started on something like this. I mean the boxes have to line up j..u..s..t....s..o. And everything has to Make Sense. I have the grand idea to put everything on a searchable database and then label things like in Home Depot according to shelf and placement - like K29, ya' know? Then when I need the damned extension cords (something else I need not buy ever again) I'll look it up on the list and - BINGO - know just where to find them! And maybe I'll make a special website where I'll post the info so I'll know where the extension cords are when I'm in a cafe in, say, Corfu, Greece. (Just in case I was wondering or someone asks me...) And then maybe I'll start a worldwide effort to have all extension cords stored in the exact same place EVERYWHERE so it will enter our DNA and we'll mutate so we'll Always Know...and do that with all the bothersome items in the house.

But first I have to clean my office at work.

And so it continues...

Cleaning, purging, cleaning, purging, cleaning and purging some more!

The basement is done.

The attic is done.

The third floor walk in clothes closet is done.

Start in the garage today.

So far: 4 very full carloads to the donation centers! Too much garbage to estimate.

There is a very different feeling going to bed knowing that there is no clutter above me (attic) or below me (basement). My spirit is enjoying the lightness.

I bless each thing as I send it out into the world, "Go in peace and be a blessing to whoever needs you."

This work is pray-full!

Back to my work at Dickinson next week. Lots of clearing to do there as well!

Karen Anne