The Comforting Delights of Home

Home is such a wonderful place to be. Even though traveling is exciting and thrilling, it's so good to be home... like the peace that follows exhaling a deep, fulfilling breath.

I love being in my home where all my special treasures are in perfect spots, my favorite books are proudly displayed on bookshelves, my pictures bring back special memories. I love being home.

The other day I was sitting comfortably in the sunlight, folding warm laundry and listening to delightful acoustic music when I noticed patches of brilliant, colorful light falling on the floor. I looked up at the source: my collection of hand-blown glass balls - each one an honored gift or a purchase from a delightful vacation.

I decided to experiment with my new camera and took some photos of these prismatic orbs shining so brilliantly in the sunlight. It's like looking at another little world, an iridescent planet swaying in the bright space of my window.

Each one is special and beautiful but there is one more visually interesting than the others: a purple witch ball with strands of glass running through the center. Back in the early 1800's witch balls were used to ward off evil spirits. The strands were rumored to catch the spirits and prevent them from coming into the house.

If there are evil spirits out there floating around, they've not chosen to enter our home. Perhaps the witch ball has helped. I'd like to think that it has more to do with the love that hold our family and pets together, the happiness that permeates the bricks that surround us, the memories reflected in all of our special things.

A house is made of walls and beams,
a home is built with love and dreams.

(More of my photo experiment on Sunniviews.)

Hurray for Hallmark!

After we moved into our new house about 5 years ago, I became obsessed with interior decorating and garden design. I subscribed to several magazines: Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, Better Homes & Gardens, and Cottage Living to name a few. I was addicted to the Home and Garden Network, Trading Spaces, Designed to Sell, and Divine Design.

But now that my home is pretty much completed on the interior and the garden well on it's way, my interest in that particular area of my life has subsided. I'm now much more interested in living, life stories, and spiritual awakening.

So, I was at the bookstore several months ago and picked up a Hallmark magazine. I had never seen this publication before and wasn't quite sure about it. When I was in high-school, I loved the Hallmark store, but after awhile I felt it was a little too much. Kind of the way I feel about Oprah, a little over the top, but fascinating and intriguing to watch at the same time.

Well, I fell in love with the first issue I read (January-February 2007) and have fallen in love with every issue that followed. One article talked about a woman who adopted 5 children ranging in age from 5 to 15, all of whom suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. It brought tears to my eyes. Another article talks about getting back in touch with yourself and has bits from professional writers as well as average women who have re-discovered their own spirits.

There are recommendations and reviews on the latest greatest novels, natural recipes for silky hair, baking advice, interior decorating ideas (I still need a little of that...), and inspiring quotes like "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." (Hans Christian Anderson)

The magazine is organized into these great sections: Inspire. Renew. Nest. Connect. Nourish. Now if that's not inspiring enough, I don't know what is. It makes me want to absorb every word!

The tag line for the publication is "The magazine that celebrates your life." Truly. I think it celebrates the lives of us all!