Balboa Park and the Butter Cup

It is no surprise Balboa Park in San Diago, California, is a National Historic Landmark and named after the Spanish explorer Casso Nunez de Valvoa Balboa. The 1,200-acre land makes room for 16 museums — the San Diago Zoo, The Park Carousel, and a host of attractions and venues.  

The Japanese Friendship Garden, one of 17 gardens located on the land, began with a new idea. In Balboa Park, you will find a Japanese garden outside of Japan.  San Diego and its sister city Yokohama have a unique friendship. Together they provide a beautiful experience. It is here you find a quiet space and elegant beauty. The natural climate of California offers conditions for a coy pond. The flowers, walking paths, and waterfalls add to the daily delight. 

Buttercups bloom among these gardens. It's bright yellow petals, are a sharp contrast to the green grass and leaves growing on the brown dirt below. It causes us to catch our breath. We are captivated by its beauty, reminding us of our friendships and the joy of new friends. We remain grateful!

10 ways to know - She is a Stargazer Lily

• She is optimistic - her positive energy fills the room, and she brings a smile to the face of the people she loves. 

• She is hopeful, and her power of persuasion can spark the creative spirit in any organization. She strives for success; she reaches for the stars, and her future gaze is motivating to others. 

• She is pure at heart, with a dash of sass, and really knows how to strut her stuff!

• Her laughter is contagious!

• She is strong-willed and cheerful.

• She is open to all possibilities.

• She likes pink.

• She can keep things fresh for a long time.

• She is dramatic and bold!

Who is the Stargazer lily in your life? 

The waterfall giggles and gurgles and guffaws

The waterfall giggles and gurgles and guffaws 

It splatters.

It speaks. 

It sparks the imagination, and the relentless reminder of his power is refreshing. 

We are inspired.

We are renewed.

We are uplifted.

The waterfall never keeps quiet, and it's beauty never fades. 

I tend to like a well-coordinated look. I love my shoes and purse to match.

I tend to like a well-coordinated look.  I love my shoes and purse to match. I want to coordinate, match napkins, placemats, and candles with the dinnerware.  I prefer that my house has a cohesive look.  But I do not live alone.  There are four other members of my family, and I have five cats and a new kitten.

My husband and children have distinct personalities. One French teacher put it, after teaching all three of my kids, "It's hard to believe that they are from the same family."  I am proud of this distinction, and it gives my home a vibrant personality.  Sometimes a compromise is hard to achieve. Arguments ensue, making amends can take time, but, there is a lot of love and friendship.

The mixture of personalities, tastes, desires, and goals can be exhausting. Especially if I am in the mood to coordinate a picture-perfect moment. If I do not have every member of my family on board with my purpose.  To avoid these issues, I try to simplify.

This 4th of July we plan to grill hot-dogs and hamburgers, we will have potato chips and paper plates.  I will not stress about the dining room table today. I will not concern myself about place settings or insist that the desert has a red, white, and blue, theme.  I will not try to get the DJ of the family to find patriotic songs to play. while showing a patriotic movie, with the sound off on the Television.  Nor will I try to put a red, white and blue bow on the cats!  This year I will focus only on the fun and joy of living.  I will celebrate and enjoy what each member of the family brings to the table.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Taking time away from the same old 6's and 7's

Taking time away from the same old 6's and 7's has become something I look forward to each summer.  I never take these times for granted as there have been times in my life when I wondered if we would be able to pay the rent and utilities.   In those days, I worked during the week at one job and spent the weekend working retail while my husband built his business, we focused on raising our family and kept the faith.  During our time off we washed clothes and cleaned houses worked in the yard and built a garden.

"Time off" often looks different from one family to another and may change as we grow.  In our young life as husband and wife, when money was scarce, our "Date Night" might be a movie on television.  I can remember how much I looked forward to watching the mini-series about John Adams.  My husband and I cuddled on the couch with popcorn and a coke each week.  Sometimes we would go for a walk or picnic in the park and watch the birds.  We would ride bikes as a family and used the library to find books and videos of interest for free!

Our economic situation improved; we are now able to go away for "working" vacations, we attend conventions and at the same time have enjoyed seeing so much of the United States.    We, now, can stay at hotels, popcorn and coke replaced with dinners out, but taking time off has the same therapeutic effects.

Find a way to rest, restore the soul, and try something new.  My journal, filled with these memories is a treasure chest of joy.  Take a few minutes to be thankful  and write about your "Time Off."

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens.

"What did you do today? " The question is asked and answered, "Not much, same old sixes and sevens." my Grandmother would say.  On her scale, one would be rotten and ten extraordinary so,
a six or seven would be nothing worth mentioning.  There can be comfort in the mid-range. There is less stress as we move through our day with or our routines.  The radio alarm clock goes off without exception. Coffee made to your specification and the morning news offers the normal state of affairs.

You probably have a routine, perhaps you are aware, and maybe you are on autopilot and do not consider these daily activities as life fulfilling.  Good habits can ease stress by removing a lot of decisions.  You don't have to think about brushing your teeth and general hygiene.  Perhaps you go to the grocery store the same day every week and make a menu.  Do you exercise, do you meditate or write in a journal every day?  I suspect you take the same route to work and see the same faces as you start your day; perhaps you can rely on a smile and "good morning."

So what if today was just another day.  Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing particularly good or bad. 

Can we be grateful for these days too?  I think so!  We allowed ourselves to have room for creative thinking.  We brought order and predictability to our life, and as a result, we promoted a healthy lifestyle.

I will consider "getting out of my comfort zone" at another time, but today, I am grateful for the same old sixes and sevens.

Often, I make plans, consider options, and let the creative juices to flow.

Forsythia by Rose Elaine
Gratitude Journal

I prop myself up in the morning, listen to my radio program, and drink a cup of coffee before I even get out of bed.  It is my time to think, meditate, and allow myself some time before I ramp up for the rest of the day.  Often, I make plans, consider options, and let the creative juices to flow.

If you do not currently find an hour a day to reflect, I highly recommend this practice.  I have found this time will lower my stress, and it gives me the right mindset for tackling the issues that need to be addressed.

Research shows that employees that reflected on their studies 15 minutes a day about their lessons performed 23% better than those who did not reflect.

Jennifer Porter reported in Harvard Business Review March 21, 2017, that we should make time for self-reflection (even if you hate doing it).  Here are some of her recommendations:

• Select a reflection process that matches your preference. Some people journal, like me, others like to walk, bike, or sit and think.

• Schedule a time, as I mentioned, I like early mornings before the rush of the day. 

• Start small; maybe an hour is too long for you, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes would be a great way to begin. 

Purchase your Gratitude Journal: Forsythia (Journal / Notebook / Diary)

Rose Elaine Artist Website

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