The Lambstead

It's been 3 years since we moved to our beloved new home - The Lambstead - and so many improvements and additions have been made as you can see from these various stages.  Lots of learning curves!  

Dogs, then chickens, then goats and a turkey!  Raised garden beds, attempts at growing vegetables, and all sorts of other adventures.  Philip learning to use a tractor and keeping the landscape beautiful, not to mention the Lambstead trails must be trimmed occasionally - it's such a beautiful place to walk in there with the sunlight falling through the tall, tall trees onto the paths of leaves and pine needles and roots and mushrooms and all sorts of beauty; butterflies and rabbits.  On the trail cams we have seen fox and racoons and possum and deer, wild turkeys, and even a large wild cat of some kind.  We have had lots of eggs from the hens, lots of love from the goats, and especially the dogs. We got Woodrow less than a month after moving in and now also have Gunny and Scout.  Three lovable, entertaining fur babies that love us back.  

So, since we've been kind of busy, I have not posted in 3 years on this blog but ran across it today and thought I would make an update for this Lambstead anniversary weekend - we moved into the house on August 28-30 and closed on August 31, 2015.  Hard to believe its been this long and yet it goes by so fast.  So, happy Lambstead anniversary to us!  Anticipating the ongoing adventure for a long time to come.

Slogans

Well, there you have it.  It's my negative self talk that says I can't do it, I'm afraid to do it alone, I need someone else to make me ok.  Why don't I tell myself I'm safe, confident, capable?  Why so often the opposite perception - that I'm not good enough, or able enough, experienced enough?  Even where I lack experience, I'm not without mental capacity, not without situational awareness so as to make decisions based on what's before me.  I get angry with myself for this negativity towards my own capacity to do, to be, to perform what is required of me or even what I just want to do.  Frankly, I'm just tired sometimes.  I don't want to have to do it on my own.  I want to just be taken care of, to be provided for, to be loved and accepted just for who and what I am and not based on meeting some expectation.  Just to be.  It's sometimes frustrating to feel that a whole life, my whole life, must be given to some purpose, some cause, something required, expected, necessary and not just experienced without conditions.  So, now, in order to change that perception, what is required?  Even that, see, is another something I must do, that only I can do.  I must choose to turn my thoughts from negative to positive.  I must choose to let go, to trust, to do the next indicated thing, to keep it simple.  I must think, and decide how important something is.  It might be quite important.  Or not.  Put into the proper perspective, it will lose it's power to dominate my thoughts and my life.  Ok, alright, so I will take that action, for today, for now, this moment.  I will seek.  I will accept God's will, no matter what it is.  Well, there you have it.  Morning perceptions. 

Retreat?

I attended a retreat this weekend - a roundup we call it - an orderly withdrawal from the routine of every day life.  Problem is, I don't do much retreating - other than being away from home, the big city, and such.  We, my husband and I, keep too busy - there are a few places we like to take first timers who attend - and we always do.  We want to show them the lovely area, the amazing All Saints Chapel at University of the South,

the Lodge Cast Iron store at the foot of the mountain, the Smoke House restaurant with it's fabulous fudge and other delights, the cross at the top of the mountain,

the Monteagle Assembly homes.  It's all fun and I enjoy seeing others taking pleasure in some of the places and doing a little shopping and exploring.  However, I realized I'm not retreating much.  I'm not withdrawing much.  I'm busy from early morning to late at night while there.  I did very much enjoy the time spent out at the bonfire on Saturday night. 

It was perfect outside, stars and planets shining, full moon, and cool but not cold and the crackling fire and roasted marshmallows were delightful. I even made a s'more!!  

So, how do I make the choice to not participate in those outings?  Will I be bored if I just stay in, take a nap, or read or work in my art journal?

Will my friends feel neglected or ignored?  I'm not sure what it means to take care of myself in this situation because I do enjoy the fellowshhip going around together. What's my perception of what the weekend is supposed to be? What do I want from it?. Must ponder this more. 

Perceptions Revealed

   

This is one of my favorite things.  This is where Perceptions flow from the mind and heart to the fingertips, to the pages of art journals and other works and reveal my world as I see it. You can find me at the following links to see my art journals and handmade paper crafts, mixedmedia canvas art and other such works. https://www.facebook.com/TheresaLambArtJournalist
https://instagram.com/theresastellalamb/
www.theresastellalamb.tumblr.com 

Here on Perceptions it is my intention to take a look at life in the world today and how to navigate it while attempting to practice these principles in all of my affairs:  honesty, hope, faith, courage, integrity, willingness, humility, love, justice, perseverance, spirituality and service. Can I balance this busy life with the necessaries as well as the indulgences, and determine which are really which?  Questions and perceptions.  As time goes by, perpective changes.  What is really so important?  What is really meaningful to me?  What brings me joy? Satisfaction?  It's ok to live and be happy and not feel guilty about it.  Imagine.

So, just for today, I'm going to make an effort to examine what's good and right, and take actions that result in needs and obligations met, as well as satisfying the deep needs of the heart and soul.  These are some of my favorite places.  Places where I explore these things.  More perceptions will be revealed.