Raindrops

It's raining today. It seems unseasonably warm for where I live and I welcome it. I love the rain, it is cleansing and soothing ... and inspires my son to take longer naps! It washes away remnants of the snow, and surprisingly lifts my spirits.

I have been determined to stay on a path to finding peace and relaxation as I have been drinking water like crazy. At first all I noticed was that I had to make several runs to the ladies' room (if you know what I mean), but now I find that it fills me up so I don't snack so much. I've also been paying close attention to my breathing; here's a great technique by Dr. Andrew Weil that works great and calms me down:

(roll your tongue against the roof of your mouth and keep it there for the duration of the exercise)
breathe in through your nose for four counts
hold the breath for seven counts
and release the breath out your mouth for eight counts

Ooh, I must go refill my wine glass with some lemon/berry water now ...

An Earl Grey Kind of a Day

It has been raining so much the last few days, which is a bit surprising since I live in "Oregon's City of Sunshine". They have been the kind of days when you just want to curl up with a cup of Earl Grey tea and a blanket.

It is so easy to find reason to complain about the rain; but it is also easy to see the good that comes of it. It encourages cozy days spent inside. It is cleansing. It helps things to grow and it enhances the beauty around us. And, oh how I appreciate a good nap on a drizzly afternoon.

These gorgeous blooms were taken on a particularly dark and wet day. Isn't it amazing how water brings out the vibrant colors of nature? I love how the grayness of the backdrop allows the bright hues of God's creations to really pop!

Rainy Day

It was raining a lot today. There will be no playing outside, but there will be warm chocolate chip banana bread!