Nature’s Master Class – An Hour Long Walk

February 16 2023

Just back from an hour long walk.

I had a meeting this morning. I wanted to shine my best during this meeting. It meant so much to me.

I feel like I completely flopped. My speaking didn’t flow, it was broken, at times breathless and rushed. I feel I didn’t represent myself and my abilities. I was anxious, and all this wrapped together deflated my self esteem.

I have felt lousy ever since. This gorgeous walk helped. The trees, water, sky, clouds are masters at holding space for whatever one feels.

Life has no rewind feature. However, nature sure knows how to shine when life feels paused. 💙💙💙

Vegan Eats: Noodle Soup and Stuffed Peppers

February 4 2023

This was so good. Thomas asked me to hurry up and put it away because he couldn’t stop eating it. 😋😋😋

Veggie Potato Noodle soup made for dinner last night. My take on chicken noodle soup.

I agree. I was having the same problem. Delicious!

It’s a mixture of two recipes, plus what I had in the fridge.

Here are the two I mixed together. I added potatoes, eggplant, yellow squash, corn, carrots, peppers, noodles, and chard.

https://lovingitvegan.com/wprm_print/40061/ and https://lovingitvegan.com/wprm_print/4852

February 8 2023

Who likes stuffed peppers? It’s pretty much unlimited with different variations. 😋😋😋

Throwback Post: The Evolution of a Coincidence

**THROWBACK POST**

January 24 2018:

Coincidences? Do you see them as signs or messages? Or just something random that happened?


(Camilla and Lillian at Washoe Lake – 2014)

On the Lillian and Camilla date day yesterday, I was only going to buy one order of parmesan, sea salt fries and share them with Lillian.

Not because I wasn’t hungry. It’s just what finances dictate at the moment. When we picked up our fries, we were told they made double the order of fries and so sorry, but the box would not close. No worries! We’ll fix that!

We ended our date with a stop at Kohl’s to get Lillian some new undies. That girl is growing! She grows slow, but it happens!

She has sensory difficulties and when one finds clothing that does not irritate, one must stick with that brand and style! Well, they aren’t cheap either! $25 for 3 pairs. She needed two packages of 3 pairs.

I had a coupon for 15% off that had just expired by about two days. The cashier let me use it anyway and I had a $5 off coupon on my phone, but my phone decided to go dead while in the store.

The lady behind us said she had the same coupon on her phone and we could use it as she wasn’t going to need it. We had returned Christmas gifts that didn’t work out and had money from that. So, for $12 we got $50 worth of undies! Wahoooo!!!

I choose to believe that coincidences are not random happenings. With choosing to believe this, I notice them happening more often, and they inspire and encourage me, and add fuel to the core of my being. I make something my intent .. And the coincidences line up so that what I intend comes to fruition. And, so it is. Bring me more please … xoxo

**December 2022 Update** – About 7 years of economic anxiety. That’s how long this lasted. It ended in the beginning of 2020, but it definitely took a toll on my mental health. I completed crashed in 2020, finally not having to worry and struggle nearly every single day. 

Honestly, we still live below poverty level. But when you go from no income to some income, it’s like you’ve won the lottery! I’m grateful I had taken the time to put myself in a place of being able to gracefully move through all of those years. 

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

 

Throwback Post: Letting Go of the Thoughts and Stories

**THROWBACK POST**

January 19 2016:

Yesterday I let go of “The Desk” (the new term we’ve coined for my desk that’s been in storage limbo since June 2015). The Desk was handmade for me some time around 1999. I spent countless hours at that desk. The Desk witnessed many moves, life happenings, and events.

One day last week I had a strong knowing that I was to let it go. Not only that, but I knew the exact person who was to receive The Desk. I related this to a quote that had crossed my path last week.

“Make like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” – Rumi 

 

The Desk had become a “dead leaf” for me. I chose to let it go so as to create new fertile ground for creativity and imagination. What had become a dead leaf for me has now created new grounds for the creativity and imagination of a friend; for she had to let go of her own “dead leaves” to make way for the new.

Before I had the strong knowing that I was to let go of The Desk, I was struggling with doing just that. One moment I had confusion, the next moment I knew that since there was such confusion about it, I must let it go.

Thomas and I delivered it to her on Monday and it was let go with no regrets. We had fun doing it too! Laughing and giggling while getting the desk on a handtruck, pushing it to the car, and getting it into our little Rosey.

Sharing this with love and encouragement that you let go of thoughts, stories, or material items so as to make way for the new.

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 21 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 17 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

Throwback Post: Spend More Time With Them

**THROWBACK POST**

This would have been some time in 2015 or 2016. Not sure of the exact date.


(Photo from Pexels)

Since July I have been making it a point to set “coffee dates” with people I already know and have a friendship with and people I know only from facebook who share a similar path.

This is what I have to say about that and how meaningful I think it is for everyone.

Those times when you’re spending time with those who you feel completely and utterly yourself with, talking about things that are meaningful to all of you, with those who get you.

Those times when two and a half hours feels like 30 minutes. Those times when you are saying goodbye all the way out the door and to their cars as they leave …

I got to have one of those afternoons and it blessed my heart and soul. Thank you Melinda Bourke Blackwell and Barbara Richmond Chastain. Our time together today was inspiring and we overflow with gratitude for your support of Thomas and his upcoming book. xoxo

**November 2021 Update** I miss those times. The pandemic put a hold on coffee and lunch chats. I will cherish it when we resume these wonderful blessings!

What about you? Do you know that feeling I’m talking about?

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 20 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 15 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

Throwback Post: Interconnectedness of Kindness and Intuition

**THROWBACK POST**

March 11 2016

Yesterday afternoon Thomas and I were looking at an ad that came in the mail from Bed, Bath and Beyond. On the front cover is a Himalayan salt lamp. I told Thomas I’ve been wanting a votive candle holder or a lamp for years and one day I’m gonna have one.

This afternoon I received a message from a friend that a little something had just been left on the porch. WOW! I sent a message thanking her and shared the story above.

Her reply, “I got that flyer in the mail too. It made me think of you.” I don’t think I had voiced to anyone except Thomas that I wanted one of these. It’s just beautiful and magical when synchronicity shows up like this … When we listen to our intuition.

I have had this happen as the giver as well. For me it has been an inner nudge to share a quote, a passage from a book, or simply to reach out. It’s always a blessing for both the giver and receiver … as when we give, we receive.

Even in instances where we never hear back from the recipient. That doesn’t matter. There was a reason for the inner nudge. We don’t always need to know the reason. Years ago I shared with Thomas that if we are moved to reach out, to share kindness, we should never let fear of the receiver not responding or openly appreciating the act, stop us. Someone will benefit. The giver, the receiver, someone who witnessed … someone. xoxoxoxo

**October 2021 Update – I still have this lovely gift, gracing our dining table.

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 20 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 15 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

Throwback Post: Life is Like a Maze – Lillian Darnell

**THROWBACK POST**

I have no idea when Lillian shared this with me. It was either in 2017 or 2018.


(Photo from an October 2020 Date Day with Thomas)

Hey there! Imagine a maze with dead ends and straight lines. Every bad thing that happens takes you to a dead end even if it seems to be leading in a straight path. Every good thing that happens takes you to the correct path. The entrance is you come in the maze as a newborn and the exit is your soul exiting and reentering as someone or something.

I told the shortened version to Camilla this morning and it had just came to me. Think of your life like this and your life should be easier to live. – Lillian Darnell

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 19 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 15 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

Reblog: Beautiful and Wild With Mother Nature

December 31 2020

Beautiful last sunset of 2020!

January 7 2021

Wild n crazy clouds yesterday.

  

January 7 2021

Thomas and I went for a much needed walk this afternoon. Mother Nature is simply the best.

   

Follow the link to see more photos …

Beautiful and Wild With Mother Nature

Throwback Post: This is the Space

**THROWBACK POST**

March 21 2019


(Photo from August 2021 Walk)

This is the space I was in Tuesday night … I sat to write as I felt overwhelmed with the enormity of circumstances and unclear how to proceed.

When it’s my own internal struggles and turbulence I have learned to lean into it, be with it, and try to remember to keep love at the forefront of whatever it is.

What I have not learned is how to do this when someone I love dearly is struggling and I don’t have clarity about how to help them and feel deeply inadequate for the task. Especially when there are two someones struggling. And, sometimes, struggling at the same time.

This is what lies at the forefront of the current journey. It’s definitely not a pleasant place to be. Yet, offers much opportunity to continue to move through one’s own journey while at the same time holding space for those closest to you as they travel their own journey.

I went to bed shortly after writing this. I woke up feeling lighter and more at peace than I had in nearly a week. I also knew which first steps to take in helping my loved one and I took it. PSR Through Writing …. That’s what I call it. Peace Solutions Relief …. Through Writing ..

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 19 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 15 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

Latest News: Taking Time to Relax

August 4 2021

I decided it was about damn time and okay if I just relax, and do nothing. Very hard for me. I’m used to always feeling I’m being useful, researching, advocating for Thomas or Lillian, creating some form of art – whether it’s writing or creating art in some form, or being out exploring Mother Nature. This is okay, Camilla.

I know I’m not alone in the stories, the narratives that we tell ourselves when it comes to doing absolutely nothing. I know that these times are necessary and needed in order for me to refuel, refilling my cup. I am a master at serving from a depleted cup. This is not something that one would want to master.

Knowing this does not stop the narrative, the anxious feeling that I should be doing something other than taking time to just gaze at the sky, listening to the sounds of life. What is valuable to master is having these nagging thoughts and feelings, letting them be, while still allowing time to do absolutely nothing. I will work at mastering that as long as it takes.

I’m taking a lesson from 14 year old Camilla, on the beach in Florida. I know she wasn’t worried about doing something other than sitting in the sand, gazing at the place where the ocean and sky meet one another …


(Camilla – 1984 Summer Vacation – Florida)

How about you? What narrative creeps into your thoughts when seeing to yourself?

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 19 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here

Wonderfully exciting news! My 15 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.