My Inspired Heart

Habit - November 4

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:48:00 +0000

It seems like I just can't keep up with it all today.

********************************************************************

However, I'm so thankful for all those little hands and feet making messes in the kitchen and on the floor, all the scattered, cluttered surfaces, all the love that is given and the life that is lived within these well-worn walls we call home.

Habit - November 3

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Today was a quiet day:

catching up on some school work
watching the girls play with a friend
long afternoon talks over coffee
lots of laundry done
good choices were made in regards to food
Hallmark channel is showing Christmas movies this weekend and I intend on
watching as many as I can. Gosh, I love those movies this time of year.
The dog has been super-sweet all day, following me from room to room and
snuggling up to me every chance he gets.
I didn't pick up my big camera today as I intended, but this one shot of my
evening really sums things up.

Today, I'm thankful for all these little, overlooked things - these moments of downtime that are so needed. Slow and easy....a perfect November Saturday.

***Grateful to be included on the Habit blog with this post.

Habit - November 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 23:08:00 +0000

They made our dinner as the sun was setting. Needless to say, the evening was perfect.

Grateful to be featured on the Habit blog with this post.

************************************************************************

Once again, this year, I'm going to try to do a month of thankfulness related posts and incorporate them into the Habit pool at Flickr. I really enjoyed participating last year and some of my favorite shots of 2011 were from the month of November. I want to focus on the little things, the every day, the moments for which I'm most thankful.

School Days

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Our school days have returned, and along with them the more normal and predictable routine that I love.

Late last spring I was having a hard time with this whole homeschooling choice. I was plagued with doubts, I was irritated by the dailiness of it all, I was overwhelmed by the non-stop mental aspect and the equally incessant mom-on-duty 24/7 aspect. I wasn't intending on taking a summer break, but somewhere around late June I decided that it was in our best interest, most especially my own, to take a break and relax. I'm so glad I did. I tried to just let it all go. No thinking about it, no browsing homeschool websites or curriculum sites. No planning or thinking of schedules. No worrying about how far behind we may be or anything else. I just released it all.

Then out of the blue, the desire returned with the changing seasons. There's something about the shift of light in the fall and crisp mornings that make you crave oatmeal and school supplies you know. :)

When that day of desire came I pulled the books back out, sent off this year's registration to the same cover school that I intended on changing but had lost all desire to even think it through, and we started. Slowly but surely, finishing what we left dangling in my overwhelmed fog. We're finally feeling the rhythm and sense of ease return to our days. It feels good. But most importantly, it feels right. We are exactly where we belong and I am so happy for it.

For so many things...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:32:00 +0000

...simple is best.

A New Twist on Blueberry Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:02:00 +0000

I made my last batch of blueberry muffins a little differently since, after I began putting together my muffin mix, I realized that I was out of my frozen berries. I remembered, however, that I had a whole jar of Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Preserves and decided to give them a whirl. This particular brand of jam is so delicious. It's really the best I've ever had.

My trusty homemade muffin recipe:

1 egg
1/2 c. sour cream or milk
1/4 c. oil or butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. or so of jam of choice
1 c. fruit (optional in this recipe since we're filling the muffins with jam)

Preheat to 350F. Stir together eggs, sour cream or milk, and oil together well. Add sugar and stir. Add in flour, salt, and baking powder, combining gently until just combined. Add fruit if you wish OR fill with jam.

If you decide to fill with jam, fill muffin cups with half the normal amount of muffin mix, then add one teaspoon of the jam of your choice to the very center of the muffin mix. Finish by topping with the other half of muffin mix and continue with each muffin cup.

I made a quick crumble topping to top these with although it's completely not necessary since they're really good even without it. The topping just gives them a little crunch and extra flavor. I don't have a "recipe" for the topping but I can tell you that I used about 3/4 cup of oat bran mixed with about 1/4 cup of whole wheat pastry flour (although any flour would do) and just a few tablespoons of sugar to sweeten it. I brought it all together with just enough melted butter to make it crumbly, giving it a nice crumble sort of topping.

Bake for about 17-20 minutes. This recipe will make 12 muffins.

Enjoy!

Inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 15:25:00 +0000

I just spent some time browsing through the pages of this blog that I've had shut down for way too long now. {Yes, I did just re-open it and will work on some of my old posts and possibly add some new ones.} Even though I have enjoyed blogging at my newer blog here, I admit, I miss what my old blog was. I miss how so much was recorded and how I didn't feel so overly-guarded in regards to sharing myself, my family, my life.

I miss my love of photography, my love of experimenting with different editing techniques, my love of the art of it.

I miss my weekly self portrait challenges, recording the fact that the woman behind the lens was here, too.

I miss my kids being this age. I miss them smiling freely for the camera and I miss snapping hundreds of pictures every week and I miss the early morning hours, cleverly carved out of my already busy days, for editing.

I even miss the crafty side of myself that hasn't been seen since the blog was shut down two years ago. I miss the time spent stitching and knitting and sewing and creating with my hands. I miss the inspiration and the drive.

These last couple of years have been full of changing. Some changes for the better, some not. Along with the changing has also come a great, long period of what I now know has been depression. A period of time where inspiration is hard to find, even in the best circumstances. A time when things feel hopeless for no reason. A time of personal darkness, although the abundance of life's blessings should indicate a beautiful lightness. A time of so much numbness on the inside, spent searching inside oneself for purpose, for reason, for light.

I feel so ready to let go of this period of my life. I want to release it, to learn from it, to take lessons learned and hold them close, to never return to this place again. I want to move forward, sharing more, giving more, accepting more, doing more. I want to take better care of myself, of the life God has given me. I want to be more myself. I want to accept the me I see and share her with everyone else. I want to set a better example for my kids, as I have in the past. I want to wake up from this long mental sleep, like Sleeping Beauty, and embrace life again. Accepting the beauty of everyday life, the goodness and light that truly is everywhere.

::disposables::

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:17:00 +0000

Want to know more about why I'm holding a disposable camera?

I'll meet you at my photography blog to explain.

Come on over...

It'll be fun!

mmmm!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:19:00 +0000

::homemade spaghetti last night::

::homemade chocolate granola today::

mmmmm!

I could eat the granola three times a day...I'm just sayin'.

Go now and get the ingredients for the recipe! You won't regret it!

hello!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:38:00 +0000

It has been a while since these little faces have been seen around here,
so hello again!

These are just a couple of shots from yesterday afternoon. The weather
was beautiful, the sunlight was heavenly, the kitties were getting some
serious loving from these two and the littlest one couldn't help
but be her sweet, silly self.

Here's hoping your days have been filled with beauty and fun and sweetness and love.

♥

“It is easier to believe than to doubt.” ~E.D. Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:44:00 +0000

I'm hoping that your Easter was full of all things wonderful!

..........♥♥♥.........

for the love of spring....

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:10:00 +0000

your first whispers are long-awaited

your sweet scents are divine

you warm my heart and mind and body

you're a brand new chapter, full of possibility

you are simple but grand, your beauty unequaled

the love letters you write sustain me throughout the year

your visit is fleeting

you, my dearest spring, bring me back to life

*****************************************

just dropping in to say hello. i've been enjoying my down time so much.
i've just been taking it easy, getting back to lessons with the kids, reading lots of great books, writing a little, taking just a few photographs, impatiently awaiting spring's arrival, enjoying blogging with Kylie, posting just a bit over at my photography blog, thinking about and meditating on many things that have weighed heavily on my mind recently, trying hard to live in the moment and pay attention to all the little details of life all around me.

right now i'm just so happy to see some spring color scattered about....new camellia blossoms, tiny green leaves beginning to sprout on the trees, red bud trees preparing to show their gorgeous color, pear trees wearing veils of white, busy birds flying here and there, chirping and singing their happy spring tunes, and i'm especially loving the feeling that spring brings. The unmistakable knowing that everything is new again, that new beginnings are at hand, that the possibilities are virtually endless.

switching gears

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:19:00 +0000

You can find me at A Mindful Home with Kylie and at my new place here. It's a quiet place for me to put my images and a few words, but mostly a place for focusing and listening as I strive for mindfulness in my life. I'm so excited about my journey this year and look forward to what may come. I may continue to post here occasionally, but for the present time, I feel the need for change. I hope you'll visit me there.

Lots of Love....S.

extraordinary

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:55:00 +0000

"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short."
-storypeople-

I've been thinking a lot about the
little ordinary details
that I often overlook. They're everywhere,
all around me. And, they are many times
extraordinary when I take a moment to truly see them.

********

I took some time this week to do just that. A few days away with the family
at the hunting camp in the woods - quiet, peaceful, unplugged togetherness.
It does a heart good.

a new year...a new space

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:19:00 +0000

In keeping with my word of the year, Mindful, I've been thinking a lot about all the things I have in my home that really shouldn't be here. Things like old clothing that should have been donated years ago, old books that I have no intention of re-reading, old knick-knacks that I acquired in my younger years when consumption should have been my word of the year {wink}, and all the things that we don't have a need for that are just taking up space in my home and in my mind.

So, I've spent the better part of the last two days cleaning up and cleaning out. You know how the new year can be so inspiring, giving you a new outlook, and making you want to start off on the right foot. I've gone through clothing and shoes and books and clutter and packed them all up in boxes for donation. Oh...and that was just my bedroom.

My bedroom, in particular, is really a huge room and that means it's way too easy to put things in there to "come back to later" and well, "later" never comes. The next thing you know, I have boxes stacked in every corner and I honestly couldn't tell you what was in any of them. Thankfully "later" arrived this week. And, in the process of removing everything that wasn't useful or important, I was able to clear a space just for me. One whole wall of my bedroom, nestled in between two windows, I was able to fit this old writing desk and chair and a few books and pens to have ready for when I want to sit and write or journal. I do love it and now I don't ever want to leave. It's really making me want to trade my old desktop computer for a nice little laptop, too, but that's getting too far ahead of myself. I foresee quite a few mornings, afternoons, and evenings spent here if for nothing more than the peace and quiet it brings.

I'm hoping my new year induced cleaning spree doesn't end too soon. If I cleaned out all the rooms of my house like I did my bedroom, things would be wonderful around here. Simple and no clutter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

************

You can find more thoughts on this subject here at my new
blog collaboration with Kylie, A Mindful Home (I'm really loving it there!)
and also as this week's entry in Lens.Us.Together.
Come on over and visit me there, too!

Tonight...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:30:00 +0000

a cold night
just me and my girls
while the guys are away
hot dogs roasted on the fire
chips and coke
flaming marshmallows
hershey's chocolate
graham crackers
=
two very happy little girls

mmm....they were good, too!

A Mindful Home

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:27:00 +0000

I'd like to invite you to join my friend Kylie and I as we embark on a new project for this year, A Mindful Home. This is a new blog... a new journey together in photography, friendship, and noticing the beautiful details of our two lives from completely opposite parts of the globe.

Our photos will be based on our One Word(s) for 2010, Home {Kylie} and Mindful {Me}. We want to focus on those words as we journey through this year and we are excited to see what 2010 has in store for us. If you'd like to read more about us and our idea for this project you can see our About page here.

We sincerely hope you will join us there.

Happy 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:51:00 +0000

I hope your new year has found itself off to a great start! I took the usual break for Christmas Eve and Christmas day and just couldn't find it in myself to step back into this space until now. The break away was just so good. You know, the everyday living...without any expectation, just taking it all in day by day. Sometimes a little break is just what the doctor ordered, right?

I think I could get used to the simple days of doing nothing but snapping a photo here and there. Doing just enough to keep us afloat - no more laundry than necessary, leftovers for dinner, playing, watching movies, listening to music, taking time for some art, eating desserts every day. Yep, that's what it's been like for two weeks here. We had a wonderful Christmas and the new year has been great so far - it's just c.o.l.d! I'm not complaining about that though - I do like cold weather. Anyway, today is the day to get back to reality. Let the normal routine resume.

Last year as the new year began, I picked a word for the year - Commitment. I really enjoyed choosing a word to focus on rather than a set of dreaded resolutions. I tried to remind myself of my chosen word at many times throughout my days and weeks of the year. I thought a lot about commitment through the year and I think that I will continue to keep it a part of my everyday thought process. So for this new year, I've chosen another word to keep with me on a daily basis. The word for this year is - Mindful.

Mindfulness is something that has been on my heart for quite some time now. I want to be in a present state of mind at all times, taking in the good and the bad, the big moments and the small moments. I want to be here... now. I don't want my thoughts to wander around in my head all day, thinking about all the things that I may wish I had, all the things I may wish I was doing, all the things that I let slip past my grateful heart day by day, month by month, and year by year. My life is not going in reverse, it seems to be going in fast-forward motion, as a matter of fact, and I don't want to forget all the little details that make it worth living. My children are growing so fast, my thirties are going so fast, months feel like days rather than a series of weeks, and the things I'm passionate about never seem to make it to the forefront of my life. I want to notice the details of my children - the little hands, the smiles, the kisses, the love. I want to notice the dailiness of my life - the cooking, the cleaning, the lessons, the errands, the messes. I want to pay much more attention to my health and making wiser choices. I want to "be kind to myself." I want to notice when things are seemingly perfect, when things are not. I want to be more mindful of the things that I feel passionate about....photography, writing, reading, art. I want to come to a place where I feel more comfortable with sharing those things rather than keeping so much of it secretly hidden away because I'm not feeling very confident about them (take that piece of artwork at the top of this post for example). I suppose I want to find me this year....wife, mother, and woman.

I want this year to be about taking things day by day. No rushing or expectations, no putting off, no pushing aside, no procrastination. I'd love to learn to absorb every minute of the life I've been given and to find myself completely fulfilled with everything it has to offer. I think I'm finally starting to realize that we're here only once. I've got one body, one life. That's all. What will this year bring? Better health, more gratitude, stronger commitment, closer relationships, more giving, lots of positive changes? I'm excited to find out!

What is your one word for the year....what are your resolutions?

I'm wishing you all a year to surpass your wildest expectations!

Today :: Gingerbread Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:42:00 +0000

On this cloudy and cool December day we decided that gingerbread cookies were in order since we're only two days away from the "big night" and our visitor just might like a little snack. We started with simple gingerbread dough and made a quick batch of royal icing for decorating.

I had tons of help...my main job was to stand around with the camera and try to capture what I could with what little light was available. (I'd love a house with great big windows and flooding natural light....sigh) The kids took turns rolling and cutting and pressing in the chocolate chip buttons. They also took turns spreading as much flour, dough, and icing around my kitchen as possible....oh my.

They helped me remove them from the oven and put them on cooling racks....

And, of course, the decorating...LOTS of icing and chocolate chips
and even more finger-licking, face-dirtying goodness!

I let them decorate all by themselves....they did a really good job.
Most of the little gingerbread men were happy as can be...

...while a couple of others weren't quite so happy and one was slightly over-dressed. :)

They looked really pretty all lined up on the wax paper
in front of my kitchen Christmas tree.
So pretty in fact, that I had to have just one with my afternoon coffee. YUM!

After having my coffee with my back to the scene below.....
I knew we {I} had a big job in front of us!

Gladly, after lots of help with sweeping, wiping and putting away,
the kitchen looked great again.

Small Town Christmas Parade....In Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:37:00 +0000

It was a good mail day.

Gingerbread House!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:18:00 +0000

The kids worked so hard on this gingerbread house the other night.
They really have fun putting these together.
I think they just love licking the icing off their fingers, though.

After a few rounds of holding onto the sliding roof and
praying that the sides hold up
(and about a 30 minute stay in the freezer to hopefully set the icing)
it finally seems to be holding together. I have to say
that next time we'll wait much, much longer than the recommended
time for letting the house set up. I think it needs a few hours to set rather
than the 15 minutes recommended in the directions.

So it's finished and it turned out really cute!

Thanks for the house, Maw Maw!
We had fun!

Simply Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:20:00 +0000

the fourth straight day of no sunshine, rain (ankle-deep flowing through the yard), fog, the worst humidity ever, warm temps, and total yucky-ness.
so nasty in fact, that my air conditioner has been on all day just to keep the humidity out
right now, as I type this post, the air is drying and the rain has stopped....I surely hope tomorrow is beautiful with lots of sunshine - it's time to start looking and feeling like Christmas already!

today was very low-key around here...laundry was first on the list
next was packing up a few things to mail out early in the morning
reading just a little, writing just a little
having coffee with my mom
finishing a couple of sewing projects and wrapping them up for giving

I made myself a recipe that I found here the other day. This is the fourth time I've made it since she posted it and I have to say that it may be my new favorite thing. I've been making mine with a handful of fresh kale or turnips since I didn't plant Swiss Chard this time around in the garden. The first time I made it my kids were curious about it and it turns out that they really like it, too. I made it for dinner that same night with chicken along side and everybody was happy. It's simple, quick, fresh, and tasty...you should try it!

tonight was spent having a quick dinner of leftovers with the girls since the guys are out hunting
after dinner we popped a bowl of popcorn and piled up together on the couch to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas...I do love Charlie Brown ;)
Finally, we made our way to the computer to try a little something that they've been wanting to do - I have to admit it is pretty cute! ;)

a little decorating....

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Our tree is decorated...

the kids spent some time decorating these little ornaments...

the nativity is up...

our snowgirl is granting wishes...

and I'm trying really hard to "jar up" the beautiful feeling of Christmas.

Happy Monday to you all!

Togetherness

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Lundy) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:51:00 +0000

My littlest girl and her kitty, Ruffles.....they are always together,
she holds her, pets her, runs with her, pushes her in the doll stroller,
rocks her in the doll bed, and naps with her.

Ruffles doesn't mind one little bit.

******

from the Lens.Us.Together theme Togetherness