your virginiacreates September calendar, enjoy!

Happy September!
Hope that what ever transition or adventure you may have this month goes smoothly and safely!!

peace



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Your May calendar (before the month ends ...)

Where has the time gone?? But here is my #virginiacreates May calendar for you.

and once again I was inspired by Max Ehrmann, Desiderata.

(click here is read the poem in its entirety.)

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remember what peace there may be in silence ... this month

For whatever reason - this poem keeps resonating with me these past months and so I will keep sharing it with you! Enjoy & Peace ~

Desiderata

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann © 1927

(Original text)

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This month let us remember to be gentle with ourselves ...

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

\

Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

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Go placidly into 2020 ...

 a wonderful poem for a new year ....

wishing all a joyful and peaceful 2020.

Desiderata - Words for Life

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, 

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

— Max Ehrmann, 1927

Feel free to download and print this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

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thank you & peace ...

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Remember This December ...

Remember This December, 
That love weighs more than gold! 

Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

this is a favorite quote of mine for this time of year, as there are so many outer forces telling us that we need to buy, when truly this time of year is a time to focus on friends and family and the power of love.

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month. to print: open up the calendar image by clicking on the calendar, then with two fingers click on calendar and your should get a menu and select download file. 

Once it is downloaded you can print as usual.

This calendar should  fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however I always click the printing option "scale to fit".
enjoy!! 

subscribe to receive my monthly calendar in your inbox! 
and only my monthly calendar, scout's honor!

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format:  html text

thank you & peace ...

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my computer ate my homework ....

"Never trust anything that can think for itself 

if you can't see where it keeps its brain."

J.K. Rowling

Running a bit behind this month thanks 

to a computer that now refuses to be WiFi friendly ...

Happy October! 

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Can it be September already?!?!?

Yes, it can!!
and with September comes new beginnings andnew opportunities, especially new opportunities for learning!!

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Happy August!!

“One day you discover you are alive.
Explosion! Concussion! Illumination! Delight!
You laugh, you dance around, you shout.
But, not long after, the sun goes out. 

Snow falls, but no one sees it, on an August noon.” 
 Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine

Hope your summer is going well!
We, here is the Boston area, have been having numerous heat waves, keeping me hunkered down in front of my air conditioner,  in a fort made of curtains  and draped fabric, to contain the cool. 

peace,
Virginia

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Bring on everything good and everything magical ...

"Everything good, everything magical happens 

between the months of June and August."

Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty

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Happy Summer ... your June calendar

What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

Gertrude Jekyll

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Celebrate Spring ... your May calendar

“In a world where thrushes sing and 

willow trees are golden in the spring, 

boredom should have been included 

among the seven deadly sins.” 

Elizabeth Goudge, The Rosemary Tree

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April, National Poetry Month ...

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do 

with your one wild and precious life?” 

Mary Oliver

some fun facts and history about:

National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April, was introduced in 1996 and is organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. The Academy of American Poets' website Poets.org serves as a hub for information about local poetry events during the month. The organization also provides free educational resources to teachers for classroom celebrations and activities, and commissions an annual festival poster.[1] Since 1998, National Poetry Month has also been celebrated each April in Canada.[2]

National Poetry Month was inspired by the success of Black History Month, held each February, and Women's History Month, held in March. In 1995, the Academy of American Poets convened a group of publishers, booksellers, librarians, literary organizations, poets, and teachers to discuss the need and usefulness of a similar monthlong holiday to celebrate poetry.[3] The first National Poetry Month was held in 1996.

In 1998, the Academy of American Poets joined the American Poetry & Literacy Project to distribute 100,000 free books of poetry from New York to California during National Poetry Month. On April 22, President Clinton and the First Lady hosted a gala at the White House that featured Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass, and Rita Dove.[4]

For National Poetry Month in 2001, the Academy of American Poets invited people to "vote" for poets they most wanted to have a postage stamp. More than 10,000 people cast ballots, with Langston Hughes receiving the most votes. The vote tally was sent to the United States Postal Service, which issued a Langston Hughes stamp in January 2002.[4]

On April 5, 2005 the Empire State Building was illuminated with blue lights to mark the 10th anniversary of National Poetry Month.[4]

In 2006, the Academy of American Poets launched Poem-a-Day, publishing one new poem on its website Poets.org each day during the month-long celebration. Poem-a-Day is now a daily, year-long series, which has been syndicated by King Features.[5]

In 2012, the Academy of American Poets launched the Dear Poet project, which invites students to read and write poems during National Poetry Month, some of which are published on Poets.org. The project is accompanied by a lesson plan offered to K-12 teachers for free.[6]

Each year, a special poster is commissioned by the Academy of American Poets for National Poetry Month, with almost 150,000 copies distributed to schools, libraries, and community centers for free. In the past, posters have been designed by noted graphic designers such as Chip Kidd and Milton Glaser. The 2015 National Poetry Month poster has been designed by New Yorkerillustrator Roz Chast.[7]

In a proclamation issued on April 1, 1996, President Bill Clinton declared: "National Poetry Month offers us a welcome opportunity to celebrate not only the unsurpassed body of literature produced by our poets in the past, but also the vitality and diversity of voices reflected in the works of today's American poetry….Their creativity and wealth of language enrich our culture and inspire a new generation of Americans to learn the power of reading and writing at its best."[8] In addition, similar official National Poetry Month proclamation have been issued by mayors from towns and cities across the country, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tucson, and Washington, D.C.[9]

thank you wikipedia 

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Our March dailydress calendar starts a celebration for Women's History Month ... watch this space

Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use this month.

a bit of history behind Women's History Month:

Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

CLicK here to read to learn more:

https://womenshistorymonth.gov

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“Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”

Happy Valentine's Day!! 

for me a day day to celebrate LOVE! 

All kinds of love!! and a perfect day for 

Lin-Manuel Miranda's inspiring quote:

And for those who might have missed it, here is my February 2019 calendar which features this quote. Feel free to download and print out this calendar for your personal use, and I have included a version that can be downlown and used as your wallpaper for your cellphone.  

enjoy and peace, 

virginia

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Let us all remember balance in this month of transitions ...

I felt like balance was a good theme for September's calendar ...

Rumi was a 13th-century (born in Afghanistan) Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar and theologian. His quotes will transform your life for the better, they are based upon love, hope, inspiration, and awakening. May these quotes open up your heart and mind to the beauty that lies within you. (from awakenthegreatnesswithin.com)

here is a calendar if you need one for your desk, refrigerator, car  . . . 

feel free to download and print out this calendar for

your personal use.

 if you are having problems downloading or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment or email and I will send you a PDF. 

 I have uploaded a high resolution file, 

so you should be able to click on the calendar and print.  

It should fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however, I always click 

the printing option "scale to fit". see picture below.

love, mom

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Happy August!! Be like a wildflower!!!

May your life be like a wildflower, 

growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.

Native American Proverb

love, mom

here is a calendar if you need one for your desk, refrigerator, car  . . . 

feel free to download and print out this calendar for

your personal use.

 if you are having problems downloading or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment or email and I will send you a PDF. 

 I have uploaded a high resolution file, 

so you should be able to click on the calendar and print.  

It should fit on an 81/2 x 11 piece of paper, however, I always click 

the printing option "scale to fit". see picture below.

if you have received this post as an email

click below to visit the entire blog, blog link

or click below to join the book of motherlove group on FB https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookofmotherlove/

Happy November (a bit late...)

When you arise in the morning,

think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive -

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. 

Marcus Aurelius

Feel free to download and print out this calendar 

for your personal use this month.

p.s. if you are having problems downloading 

or printing the calendar, 

just leave a comment & email and I will send you a PDF.

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#4UFriday: A is for authentic

here is this week's freebie printable. This is the first page in my "ABC of Being" (working title) coloring book. Each Friday I plan to share another coloring page with a letter and a mindful quality.

To print the coloring page, double click on the image and then when it is featured on the screen left click and either download image or save image. If you have a problem either email me or leave a comment and we will figure out how to get it to you!! peace


Happy coloring!!

p.s. my apologies to those lovely folks that follow both of my blogs as both blogs will have similiar info. on Fridays. XXXX

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for U friday: a "just-for-instance present"

happy coloring

One of my favorite parts of being a mom ( and there are SO many) was reading to my daughters, especially at night when we were all cuddling and cozy and winding down from a full day.  

One of our favorite series was by Carolyn Haywood's Betsy series, which starts with "B" is for Betsy'. A truly charming collections of stories that kept me and the girls laughing and in a lovely state of mind.  

It was through these stories that I was introduced to the phrase/concept of a "just-for-instance present"; present given with no rhyme or reason, just because. I LOVE this!! I had given gifts for no given occasion but I LOVE the phrase ... "just-for-instance present".

So with that in mind I am hoping to make Friday's even a little more fun by giving all my followers a "just-for-instance present" ... printable for your enjoyment!

today's freebie is a coloring page I created for an awesome project created by CurlyPop Designs, 

THE BREATHING TO A NEW BEAT TECHNICOLOUR DREAM BOOK:

The Breathing to a New Beat Technicolour Dream Book is a collaborative fundraising colouring book to support the Heart and Lung Transplant Trust Vic (HLTTV)

A group of artists / designers / creatives have all volunteered their talents to contribute to the project. The book is A4 in size, and spiral bound to sit flat - perfect for colouring in with a friend!

The HLTTV is a 100% volunteer based charity. 100% of the profits from this project will be directly donated to the second chance accommodation project, which helps to fund the costs of accommodation for Interstate and Country Victorian Heart and Lung Transplant patients during their compulsory three month post transplant rehabilitation program at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

My hope is that you can click on the image and then either download it or just print it out ... 

And coloring is the new 'meditation'?!?! 

There are so so many articles and studies about how coloring helps relief stress!!! 

Nothing new to me :)

Psychologists Say Coloring Is The Best Alternative To Meditation

Happy Friday and enjoy!!! peace,

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