Welcome back to Going Gentle and my new Surprise! Series, where I have fun sharing something that inspires, comforts or makes me laugh! I'm loving sharing memories associated with some of my Surprises and this surprise will be no different. This one is a fun Surprise that you could associate with friendliness. 

Allow me to introduce the Surprise for this week. Ready? 
OK, you know how they always say that a dog is man's best friend? Well, I don't know if I would say that I'm necessarily a "dog person," but I did grow up with a dog named Taffy who we had for many years, who was a cocker spaniel/poodle mix--a cocka-poo. Then there was the dog my husband Bill and I had; I named her Shannon and she was a pure bred Golden Retriever. Sweet and loving. 

BUT there was a type of dog that I absolutely ADORED starting in my childhood, and that was the Miniature Schnauzer. Every time I would encountered one of these adorable dogs in my path, I just wanted to scoop it up and take it home with me. SUPER FRIENDLY. ALWAYS EXCITED TO MEET ME. 

Well, since MOM knew how much I adored these dogs, she decided to make me one! As a Surprise of course! It was a Christmas gift when I was in my teen years (mid-1980's to date myself.) 

Mom used to go a ceramics class in someone's home basement and pick out different things to make for gifts. And this Schnauzer dog has stood the test of time! Decades of time! I call him my little mascot in my office. 

I keep my friendly ceramic pup in my office where I manage Bill's Quality Electric, LLC doings. He sits between my filing cabinet and my desk for safe keeping. I put him on my desk for the image on the right so you could have a good look from the other side. Yes, Mom put a actual dog collar on him, which just adds to the cuteness! 

So this representation of a mini Schnauzer is actual size, at least that's what Mom told me when she gave it to me. I thought that was just delightful, to have my own ceramic pup in my space. He makes me smile. I love his stance with him looking off to the right as if something has his attention. Mom did such a great job with the painting of the details. 

I appreciated her creative bend and her desire to give me something that really meant a lot: honoring my love of mini Schnauzer dogs. I especially love their adorable faces, especially when they have a really nice hair cut! Isn't he cute? 

Do you have a ceramic based animal that you were given as a gift? Is it based on something you really love? You're welcome to share below! I'd love to hear about it! 

I do hope you enjoyed my Surprise this week and I wish you a delightful day full of fun surprises! 
Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle and my Surprise Series that I am having so much fun sharing with you! I feature something that either comforts, inspires or makes me laugh, bringing some lighthearted energy into our day! I just love that! You do too? Great! Let's get started on this week's Surprise! Ready? 

So, this week's surprise has a very JOYFUL and inspiring connotation for me and I'll explain why. 
First, it is a gift I received from my dearest friend, Carrie Aulenbacher. She SURPRISED me with it for Christmas this past year (2023)! I had No Idea it was coming. And when I saw it, I was Deeply Touched. It is a necklace that features two girls on a swing under a tree. Oh my goodness, I just LOVED it. For so many reasons. 

The second reason it is JOYFUL for me is it reminds me of my friendship with Carrie, who is kind and caring, insightful and humorous, and she supports me in all facets of my life! Thank you, Caring Carrie! 

The third reason it is JOYFUL for me is because it brings back delightful memories of my swinging on swings as a child, both in my own back yard and in one of my favorite places I enjoyed in the summer called Terrace Lake. The freedom and joy experienced on the swing as a child is so sweet and fun to recall, so this necklace inspires me to recollect those time with JOY. 

The fourth reason it is JOYFUL for me is because it reminds me of a local outdoor billboard that has an image of a little girl on a swing and it says, Live Life JOYfully! Every time I see the billboard, it reminds me of this necklace and dearest Carrie who gave it to me, and the joyful feeling of being on a swing. 

So, this beautiful necklace that brings me such joy has a very special place where I keep it, so it is visible every time I put on my jewelry. (of course I wear it as well!) It is on a mini dress form that I keep on my dresser, right next to my jewelry box where my some of my jewelry collection is located. I love the context of the collage style design on the dress form juxtaposed with the JOYful necklace that sits atop it. 

So that is my SURPRISE for you today! Do you happen to have a piece of jewelry that was gifted to you by a dear friend that brings you joy? You're welcome to share it below. I'd love to celebrate with you! 

I wish you a fun surprising day full of things that are meaningful to you. 
Remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Welcome back to Going Gentle and my new Surprise Series, where I share something in my surrounds that comforts, inspires or makes me laugh and that I desire to share with you! Perhaps a Surprise will inspire you to appreciate afresh what you love in your surrounds! 

Today' Surprise features a musical clown figure that sits on my dresser in my bedroom. 
I originally found this delightful clown at an estate sale several years back. I recall how, when I saw her, my inner child heart made me feel like Awwwww! So let me tell you why I responded that way and why I chose to take her home with me! 

When I was a child, I was especially drawn to the faces of porcelain dolls that had somewhat of a sad facial expression. There was something in that expression that drew me, where I felt it deep down in the recesses of my soul. I was touched when I viewed them, and wanted to take them home with me. Perhaps as a child, I thought I could cheer them up! 

When I would go to the mall with my mother, we would always visit this one store that carried these porcelain doll figures. Oh, there were so many! I would gaze at each one with somewhat of a melancholy appreciation for the beauty of their expressions. I could just stand there for hours to view them, but alas, it was always time to leave at one point. But I always left with a feeling of anticipation for the next time, almost like they were my porcelain friends I wanted to visit. 

What child doesn't experience their dolls with such devotion, right? <3

So, on the day I saw this beautiful clown doll who sits on a beautifully decorated music box, I was taken back to those times in the mall when I would view them in the store with Mom. It touched my inner child heart and I knew I just had to have her!

She is featured with clown face markings, a clown style head covering, beautiful lacing on the upper portion of her garment, plus a beautiful shimmery clown dress. What's not to love??  She sits prominently on my dresser, where I can see her and appreciate her beauty. 

And of course, recall the sweet memories of looking at those doll figures as a child. It almost gives me a wistful feeling looking back on those times. 

My mother has since passed this year of 2024; so I am grateful to have this sweet repeating memory of her taking me to that store just so I could gaze upon my favorite figures. Thank you, Mom, for honoring my joy in such a way. I will always remember. 

So what do you have in your surrounds that brings back sentimental memories that remain in your heart and what do they mean to you? You're welcome to share below. I would love to celebrate those memories with you! 

​You have yourself a delightful day and remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello friends! Welcome back to my new Surprise Series here at tbe Going Gentle blog, where I feature what brings me comfort, inspiration or laughter, mostly in my personal space. This week I'm excited to share a MAGICAL Surprise! 

Do you believe in Magic? I feel magic in the sense of the divine but it doesn't hurt to have a fun inspiring visual to remind me of the Magic that is deep inside my soul in the form of the Spark of Divinity and how it plays into the life I create for myself. 

So, may I introduce you to my little Magician! 

I found this magical treasure of a figure at a yard sale. I remember distinctly going into the back yard and seeing this magician sitting on one of the tables just waiting to meet me and as soon as I saw him, I couldn't believe he hadn't been grabbed already! So I made him mine. He's been in a variety of places and spaces of the past 7 or 8 ish years (I seriously lose track of when I find such treasures...that's why I keep a journal! Ha! My age is showing...) but right now, I recently gave him a prominent place on my journaling/study desk in my bedroom. 

I missed him before I placed him there so I knew it was time for him to be where he is now: front and center! 
He reminds me of Dumbledore of Harry Potter, especially when he was in the war with Lord Voldemort. I remember the water and the fire. It was an incredible scene. Incredible magic taking place. 

It reminds me of the power of the Divine that is within each human being, giving us the power to create, to live, to love, to have an impact on others around us, whether family, friends or neighbors (or the wide world with the internet at our fingertips!)

It's also an incredible reminder of the importance of our intention when we use that power within us. It is meant to be used for the benefit and not the detriment of ourselves and others. So be careful how you use it! 

Do you believe in Magic? Do you have a reminder in your space of the magic that lies within you and the power you hold to create every day? You're welcome to share below what your magical muse is! I'd love to hear about it! 

And remember that Gentle is Magic! 

Hello friends and welcome back to my new Going Gentle Series, the Surprise Series! where I share something that comforts, inspires or makes me laugh, whether it's in my personal space or something I ran into that I just HAVE to share with you! 

So, this week's Surprise is all about Sparkle! And about purposefully enjoying something outside the original context it is specifically meant for. Why not, right? 

So, I love holiday decor; I don't have much of it in my house, but what I do have, I love to keep around for the long haul. 

When I came across this sparkly gold/silver star, I just had to have it for my Christmas decor! But guess where I put it? Not on a Christmas tree. Nope. Although it would look awfully perty there, wouldn't it? 

I decided to hang it in a space where I would see it all the time. It hangs on one of my vision boards above the illustration area in my art studio space! Yes! I wanted it to be front and center along with several other items of joy. 

This sparkly star just gives this space some holiday punch, so basically it's a visual holiday year 'round! Yay! 

So, do you have an ornament or some other item of decor variety that you have/keep in a special spot so you can see it all the time? One that you never put away? You're welcome to comment below and share! 

Remember that making a simple choice to make yourself happy is all about Going Gentle...because Gentle is Magic! 

Ode to the Star: 
I love how you
sparkle
No matter
if someone is
looking
or not. 

You just hang in your
space happy to 
grace 
my visual desire
for joy. 

Happy star, silver 
and gold, 
a place to hold
that sparkle that
                                                                                                           never dies. 

Hello and Welcome Back to my new Surprise Series! Are you ready to be inspired? I'm excited to be sharing a moment of colorful appreciation with you for this second surprise! (You can check out the first one here!)

Everyone loves a fun surprise, and I wanted to share my color joy with you. 
Here's the back story: 
I love color in my spaces for sure. Years ago, I went to my local Target and found this set of office supplies in orange and yellows, those vibrant hues being at the top of my color list at the time. 
I've used them on repeat and still keep them in my art studio space because just having that vibrant visual makes my eyes happy! 

I recently added some olive green accessories from a recent estate sale find for 50 cents! 
There's nothing like color joy to liven things up; and when I feel that sensation of appreciation for those colors and when they can be put to practical use to hold my stacks of collage papers, mag clippings and photos together, that just spices up my space! 

So, do you have a favorite color that you feature in your environment? Perhaps on a desk, in your kitchen or some other nook where you spend time? Why not include what makes your sense of sight light up! How fun is that? 

Why not make life a little more colorful? Let's celebrate color together! Leave a comment and share what your favorite color is and how you have incorporated it in your surroundings! I'd love to hear about it. 

Here's to more Sensational Surprises! 

Hello and Welcome Back to Going Gentle, where we talk about strategies to decrease our stress and increase our peace! 
Well, who doesn't love a plushy?? How many times have we been comforted giving our plushies a hug as children, right? 
My grandson, Jake, is an avid plushy collector! Well, Grandma likes her plushies too! 

So, This post is the start of a new series I'm calling my Surprise Series, where I'll be sharing images of something that inspires or comforts me or makes me laugh, that I thought I would share with you...as a surprise! I wanted to do something fun we can look forward to together. 

So, my first Surprise is images of two of my curated plushy collection. 
The first one is my most recent that I acquired from a local estate sale. When I walked into the room where it was located, I felt like the lion was eyeing me, like, are you going to take me home? I immediately said yes. He sits on the floor next to my journaling/study desk in my bedroom. 

You see, I have an affinity for lions. Oh, they are the King of the Woods and awesome creatures. But the biggest reason is, the lion reminds me of ASLAN from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia Series. 

When my kids were young, we watched the series (the original as well as some of Disney's versions) on repeat for years. It was a highlight of our times together as a family. And Aslan, Oh dear Aslan. I loved the way Lucy would talk to him and how he spoke to her. She was the first who found Narnia and who saw Aslan herself. 

So, Lions have deep meaning for me. In many ways. The history of our children's childhood. The spiritual meaning of Aslan. And the many things he would say throughout the series that resonate deep in my soul. 

I decided to share my Lions with you to show a very personal element that has deep meaning, that brings me comfort when needed, and just makes me happy when I see them. 

And that really matters to me! 
So, what sort of collection do you keep that makes you happy when you look at it? What deep meaning does it have for you? 

You're welcome to share in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it. You can also use those questions as journaling prompts if you thus desire to reflect. I know I've enjoyed sharing my heart about lions with you. 

Make space for the things that brings you comfort and joy...because Gentle is Magic!