Art of Gracious Living

Gratitude

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:01:25 PDT

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."
G.B. Stern

I believe gratitude is one of the pathways to happiness. When we are in a state of gratefulness, there's no room for sadness.

Pretties from Another Time

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:45:30 PDT

I recently bought this swan dish at our local Goodwill store. For $1.49 it found its way home with me. I'm very fond of the pink and gold combo that was so popular in the 1905s.

Although you can't see it in the photo, the neck has met with an unfortunate incident at some point and been glued back together. But I don't care. I love it just the way it is.

When I had my Creative Sisterhood group over I decided to use it as a candle holder. It served admirably well and was a bright spot, along with this pink doily I had picked up somewhere along the way.

I don't think anyone even noticed the swan, sitting behind the cake, gracing yet another tableau.

Finding new uses for things is always a treat.

Beauty

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:33:31 PDT

Spring has arrived on the prairie, and brought the daffodils, hyacinths and the promise of more to come. Of course, after spring arrived, we had a blizzard, too. Life can be uncertain - whether you're a human or a hyacinth I guess.

Hyacinths always remind me of my mother. Every spring she would pick some and put them in a fruit jar in the middle of the table, where their scent would permeate every corner of the room. Only now, as an adult, do I see this act for what it was - staking a claim on beauty.

I'm blessed that that very table now sits in my dining room, a few states away. And, I, too, can use it as a tableau for beauty. Like my mother, I find few things more beautiful than what nature can provide.

We all need beauty in our lives. Bits of beauty find their way into our lives unbidden at times if we can recognize them.

I bought this little vase at a sale for a dollar. The neck of the lute she's holding is broken, but it is perfect as far as I'm concerned. It can hold just one stem or a small bundle and enhances whatever it touches.

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Art of Gracious Living #68 - Homeward Bound

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:56:18 PST

"It doesn't matter where you live today - trailer, apartment, or a house. You may be rooming in a motel or seeking santuary in a safe house halfway between your past and your future. You may even be without a roof to call your own, camping out on a friend's couch or community cot; held hostage in a palace or pitching a tent on the dark side of the moon. It doesn't matter. If you're reading this, you're homeward bound."
Sarah Ban Breathnach in "Something More"

I love this quote. It speaks so much about our need for home - for a place to belong. Her point is that we are always thinking about home, and going there, wherever that may be.

I love my house, but this is not my dream house. I will one day live in a different kind of house - something in the Queen Anne style, which is my favorite. Those "painted lady" houses in San Francisco are Queen Anne style houses. I love the asymmetrical nature of these large houses, with their gingerbread, bay windows and stained glass. I know they're not "practical," but I love them. So, for me, that is where I'm headed ... my homeward bound destination.

Isn't it lovely that we have the ability to imagine ourselves in another place, another home, another life?

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Art of Gracious Living #67

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:51:58 PST

Finding time for all the things we want to do in life is always a struggle. It all boils down to determining our priorities and then living so that those are where we're putting our energies.

In this Art of Gracious Living I offer some suggestions on how to achieve this.

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Art of Gracious Living #66 - Back from Hiatus

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:11:10 PDT

The Art of Gracious Living has returned from hiatus. The topic this week is why taking time away is sometimes necessary.

It's good to examine each obligation you have and determine if it's something you really want to do or not, and if it's something you absolutely have to do. It's healthy to take a break now and then.

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Hiatus

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:26:29 PDT

Art of Gracious Living is on hiatus temporarily. Please join me on my blog at www.patsyterrell.com. Thanks!

Creating a Tea Party - Art of Gracious Living #65

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:12:46 PDT

Inviting some friends over for a tea party creates an atmosphere where conversation can flourish. It gives us a way to connect with others, which is an essential for our good health.

Of course you can serve something other than tea, but I suggest tea because it seems to encourage lingering over a cup.

But, what's really important is that you have the conversation. If you do want to serve tea, some recipe suggestions are offered below.

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Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches are a tea essential. There are a zillion different recipes. I was chatting with a lady on a bus in London some years ago and she told me how she prepared hers. That is basically this recipe with a few modifications. She chopped cucumber into tiny bits and added it into the cream cheese mixture.

Also, if you're not going to make these right before eating, butter the bread so the bread doesn't get soggy. It has to be butter - not margarine - and that whole side of the bread covered. Just like oil and water - butter and sandwich filling don't mix - and that's a good thing in this case.

white bread cut into rounds (use a glass if you don't have a round cutter)

cucumber - I peel mine about halfway, leaving some green on them - sliced into thin rounds

butter

Filling:
cream cheese
onion
garlic
chives
dill

I mix these ingredients until I like the taste. Other people use different combinations but this is my favorite mix.

I use a bread round, buttered, then a bit of the cream cheese mixture, then top with a cucumber slice and garnish with a little fresh dill.

There's no wrong way to do them. As of yet, I've never seen anyone eat as many cucumber sandwiches as they'd like. They go quickly!

Lemon Bread

I found this recipe in a church cookbook. I made a few modifications, and I really like this bread. If you want a really tangy taste, add more peel and/or lemon extract to the mix.

1/3 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 T. lemon peel
3 T lemon juice

Blend butter and sugar and beat in eggs. Combine dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix in lemon peel and juice. Bake in 350 degree oven for about one hour, until loaf is done. It will slice better after sitting for a day. You can use cookie cutters to make it into a pretty shape. Add some whipped cream and fruit on the side to dress it up if you like. Tea is all about the details.

Ginger Cookies

Ginger cookies are the perfect accompaniment for tea. I love this recipe with the crystalized ginger - it gives them a little extra punch. But you can leave it out if you don't have any.

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 ounces crystallized ginger, minced

Mix and form into 1 inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Don't overcook them - take them out when they're still a little soft.

Our Stories Help Us Connect - Art of Gracious Living #64

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:08:17 PDT

Our stories are how we connect with others. The Kalahari Bushmen believe a man's story is his most precious possession because it's the basis of culture and civilization. The same is true in modern society, but we're more likely to tell someone what we do for a living than what we care about, than who we are.

When I thought about applying this to myself I was reminded of a piece I wrote a few years ago that I gave to some friends with driftwood I had collected at the confluence of the rivers near where I grew up. That is a place I return to repeatedly.

In 2001, I gave pieces of driftwood I gathered at the river to some friends with the following piece I wrote.

I am a person of rivers.

For those of us born to rivers, they are life itself. We speak of them reverently. We fear them. We cherish them. We are drawn to them by a force we cannot comprehend but have no choice but to obey. They flow through our souls. They define us.

We go to the river for strength, for guidance, for solace. We cannot possibly find our way in the world without returning to the river periodically. It beckons to us. We cannot deny its call. We learn at a young age that there's no point in even trying. Not that we want to anyway. The river knows when we are away from it too long. It summons us home.

We gather at the riverside for family celebrations, baptisms, and catharsis. We have rituals, public and private, that are carried out only on those banks.

The confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is a place I return to when I've lost my way in the world. I have said prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of entreatment from the same spot. I have sought direction and consolation. I will do both again as long as I walk upon this Earth.

I gathered this driftwood on an April Day of 2001 with the idea of sharing it with a few special friends at Christmastime. I had no idea then how profoundly changed I would be by the end of this year. My life will never be the same as it was that day.

I can't give you the river. I can't even explain its attraction for those of us born to it. But I want to share with you a small token of it. May this driftwood encourage you to visit what restores you.

I hope the holidays are a time of joy for you and yours this Christmas.

Patsy
Christmas 2001

Art of Gracious Living #63 - One on One Conversation

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:08:37 PDT

Finding opportunities to have one on one conversation with others is something worth the effort.

I recently had a five hour conversation with my nephew's wife, Cathy, and it was wonderful to connect with her in that way. As I thought about it later I realized that, because I live away from my family, I rarely have a chance to talk with any of them one on one - it tends to be in a group. Conversation is always different in groups than it is one on one. Both have their advantages.

Regardless of the number of people involved, we must all look for the opportunities to have meaningful conversation.

Art of Gracious Living #62

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:30:23 PST

The book and DVD, "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne has garnered a lot of attention lately. The book is all about the law of attraction, and that what we devote our energy and attention to is what we attract into our lives.

The first time I read about the concept was in Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich." He summed it up by saying that whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.

This is not a new concept. It has been around for centuries. One of the central beliefs is that we must be grateful for what we already have, which is something we've talked about many time on Art of Gracious Living.

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Art of Gracious Living #61 - Wholeheartedness

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:12:26 PST

Poet David Whyte related a story of a friend saying that the cause of people being tired was a lack of wholeheartedness. It's another way of saying that people should follow their passion.

The trick, of course, is to find that passion, and then figure out how to devote onesself to it.

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Art of Gracious Living #60 - People Love Us As They're Able

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:11:48 PST

Each of us has life lessons to learn. One of mine has been that people can only love you as they are capable of loving you, which may not be how you want to be loved.

In this episode I share some personal experiences of how this lesson has been taught to me repeatedly.

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Forgiveness - Art of Gracious Living #59

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:11:04 PST

Art of Gracious Living #59 - Forgiveness
Part 4 of our 4 part series on How to be Happier

Forgiveness is an essential to happiness. In this week's episode I share some of my personal stories of forgiveness, and how to let go of trangressions.

As long as we walk around carrying grudes, we are still giving power to those who have hurt us. When we forgive, we do it for ourselves, and we take back our power.

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How to Meditate - Art of Gracious Living #58

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:50:45 PST

Art of Gracious Living #58
Happiness Series - Part 3 of 4 - Meditation

Science has proven that meditation will increase your happiness level. Today's podcast is about various meditation techniques and ways you can incorporate it into your daily life.

This is the third of a four part series.

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Journaling - Art of Gracious Living #57

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:34:17 PST

Art of Gracious Living #57
Happiness Series - Part 2 of 4 - Journaling

Journaling is one way to make yourself happier, particularly gratitude journaling. In this podcast I talk about various ways you can make journaling part of your everyday life.

It's not necessary to do it every day to get the benefits.

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Happiness Series - Art of Gracious Living #56

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:16:23 PST

Art of Gracious Living #56
Happiness Series - part 1 of 4

Science is giving us insight into how to be happier. Today is the first of a four part series devoted to techniques you can use to increase your happiness level.

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Looking Ahead - Art of Gracious Living #55

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:03:05 PST

Art of Gracious Living #55

Looking back at the previous year and considering if your life is going the direction you want it to go is a healthy thing to do as we enter the new year. It's a good way to approach making some real change in your life.

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Christmas is More than Religion - Art of Gracious Living #54

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:30:51 PST

Christmas is a religious holiday for some, and a secular one for others. Regardless of how you celebrate, take time to connect with others and be grateful in this season.

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Telling Our Stories - Art of Gracious Living #53

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:12:57 PST

With the holidays at hand, this is a great time to encourage other family members to tell their stories and to share yours.

Our stories help define who we are - what we choose to share with people and how we tell it. Don't miss this opportunity to share on such a meaningful level.

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Entertaining - Art of Gracious Living #52

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:23:39 PST

When you have dozens of people coming to your home is not the best time to try out new recipes. Stick to things you know how to do, and keep it simple.

Leave yourself some time to relax before your guests arrive so you can enjoy your own party.

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Art of Gracious Living #51

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:26:31 PST

Holidays tend to be a stressful time and often lead to tension with family members. The Art of Gracious Living this week is about how to find family peace for the holidays.

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Art of Gracious Living #50

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:30:25 PST

Many times over the past year I've had occasion to be reminded how important it is to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

A National Geographic photographer summed up what he does by saying he finds the commonplace in uncommon places. That theme was echoed multiple times through the year and is worth remembering for our daily lives.

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Buddhist Teaching - Art of Gracious Living #49

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:36:53 PST

Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and that being born as a human is a rare and precious thing to be appreciated. Regardless of the religious aspect of this teaching, it's important to appreciate what we can do as humans and to not take our lives for granted.

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Holiday Preparations - Art of Gracious Living #48

patsyterrell@gmail.com (Patsy Terrell) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:01:40 PST

I love the holidays and have learned over the years that early preparation is key to enjoying the time fully.

Christmas is much closer than we realize. Cards can be addressed now, party plans made, and decorating started. By the time December rolls around you'll be able to just enjoy the season, with far less stress.

I'm working on my tree, finishing my cards and wrapping gifts. I invite you to consider starting now so you'll be able to just enjoy the moments of the season a month from now.

Hear more about it by listening to the Art of Gracious Living Podcast.

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