~ Hello April ~

1. Untitled, 2. in the window..., 3. magic, 4. pola04

Spring is my favourite time of year, with its blue skies, blossom and sprouting leaves. After the hard slog of the winter I'm always elated to wake up to a sunny day and streets strewn with blossom confetti. I feel hopeful and ready to burst forth with new ideas and plans; of course, with that renewed energy comes the threat of stressing myself out with too many plans. The last few days I've been sleeping poorly, blighted by stress dreams and nightmares, unable to switch my brain off properly, to take time out to unwind. There's just too much to do. And it's then that i hear my grandmother's voice.

After my grandfather died I would phone her every Sunday from London to check in and make sure she was okay. As the months passed our calls became less tearful from her end as she adjusted to her loss as best she could. It was never easy for her after he'd gone, and she declined quite quickly in the last few years of her life. At the end of every call I'd tell her i loved her and she would say, 'well you know I love you,' and i would say i did. Then she would tell me to go gently, knowing how i'd rush around or get carried away with whatever was consuming me at the time, and I'd tell her I would.

These words always pop into my head when i'm tired or overwhelmed, or pushing myself to do everything all at once. It's the word medicine I need today and every day this month, so i've incorporated them into my new desktop wallpaper*. I thought you might need a little reminder to go gently today too.

* The images are for your personal use only and I retain the copyright, etc etc :)

Small: 1024x768

Medium: 1280x1024

Large: 1600x1200

Extra wide: 1920x1200

In other news, I'm doing a giveaway with the lovely Amy over at Purple Pink & Orange - for your chance to win an 8x8 print of your choice from my Etsy store head over here.

Comments

mmMmmm i'm loving photo number 2! what a beatiful shade of blue!!

Have you seen the new catalog for Accsessorize and moonsoon - mm such beautiful bohemian inspiration!!

I love collecting clothes catalogs now, espeshially after you told us about TOAST!! :)
Do you know about noanoa.com?...That's a good catalog too, it has the peeling wallpaper in the background x

Posted by: Holly - UK | Apr 01, 2009 at 04:08 PM

i believe in spirits and ghosts....and I see my grandmother all the time and remember her words, too

Posted by: beth | Apr 01, 2009 at 07:03 PM

Go gently - so wise. x

Posted by: Marianne | Apr 01, 2009 at 07:58 PM

I am a Girl Guide leader, don't know if I've mentioned that before. At the end of our campfires there are some beautiful songs, one starts with "Go well and go safely". I try to sing it with meaning. It's a quiet moment of prayer among women I know are crazy busy, really crazy busy, but so dedicated to giving girls and young women something positive to grow with.

Posted by: katiecrackernuts | Apr 01, 2009 at 10:58 PM