A Lion's Share Knitting Circle!

Yarn, What's Not to Love?

On October 23rd I held my first Lion's Share gathering...and we started with knitting!

My Mother taught me how to knit when I was 12, or so, and I didn't stick with it very long.  I have always been an art and crafty gal, but knitting required a level of calmness and patience I just didn't have then.  Although, I have always had more patience while creating art of any sort.  It was always a source of amazement to my parents given my short fuse :) And to me, actually! I still have the first project I ever started (an unfinished gray scarf). Maybe one day...

A few years ago I decided to pick up the needles again, and asked my Mom to re-teach me how to knit.  I never looked back.

Knitting has been the source of so much more than sweaters and scarves to keep me warm.  I've gained friends (we had a knitting group at work for a while and it really bonded us), serenity, a sense of accomplishment, a creative outlet and confidence. I recently realized that it started to give me a "yes I can do that" sort of outlook.  I used to read a pattern and say, "I can't do that..." and then I would tackle it and learn and come out with a beautiful piece of clothing.  So pretty soon I started hearing "I can't" in my head and quickly replied, "What makes you think that? Of course you can...you've proven that over and over again...so get on with it!"

And I've gone on to apply that mentality to other things in my life. They just get bigger and bigger (but not always as warm i. e. "Taking the Plunge" in Scotland).  It's very liberating.  So start small but aim big, right?  :)


Now, back to the party...

On the eve of the circle...my good friend, Sara, came over to help prepare...We tried out a burger place called "Flipside." They stuff the burgers with cheese!!!

Hard at work...

And she brought along a guest...Johnnie Walker Black...who we then introduced to another friend, Glenfiddich...

More work...

And I finally introduced her to my boyfriend, (David Tennant's) Dr. Who...

A very welcome dinner guest ;)

Then I got to work in the kitchen making the dough for parmesan shortbread. (I got the recipe from "Sue  Lawrence's SCOTTISH Kitchen.")

Parmesan Shortbread

All the while I left Sara in front of the television with Dr. Who cutting up vegetables and seeding pomegranates.

 Out! Damn Spot!!!

 Pomegranate Seeds!

Barley with butternut squash, pesto, walnuts, onions and mushrooms

Carrots and yams with caramelized onions, herbs de provence and balsamic vinegar

Mixed greens with apples, walnuts and cheddar cheese

A delicious Fall lunch!

Sassafras Leaves

I also served a wonderful Sassafras and Mullein tea infusion, pumpkin dip with organic graham crackers and ginger snaps along with hot, spiced apple cider...which we married with a little bit of whisky ;)

And yes, there was actual knitting...here are some projects I've (finally) finished!

 A stripey (Summer) Hat

 Felted Slippers

 The beginnings of a cabled cardi

It was a wonderful afternoon full of yarn, food, laughter and food!  If anyone is interested in participating or hosting a circle, please get in touch!

Maybe I'll see you next time!

XO

P.S. Thank you to all who attended and a HUGE thank you to Sara for all that chopping!

The Beauty of Doing Nothing...

Post-Party

I used to think it was terrible to have "nothing" to do. That it meant a lack of a life or laziness.

Now, I not only think it's awesome...I know it's necessary to have "me" time as often as possible to keep a balance in my life.

I can't stress the importance of re-charging the batteries and, on occasion, spending some quality time on your own.  However you enjoy doing that.

I've had some of my best ideas and moments during downtime.  I've had life changing epiphanies during solitary walks in the woods.

And it's especially important following a big upheaval, event or accomplishment.

When I visited Iona for the first time, I took the week after to hang around Edinburgh...walking and thinking and absorbing all the good stuff I'd learned.

Today, I've been relaxing and letting the dishes slide after hosting my first Lion's Share Circle yesterday!  I sat around in my pjs and knit...I even took a nap.

It was a wonderful day and I will blog about it soon :)  But not right now. Now...I'm going to sit and enjoy the aftermath.

XO

P.S. As if reading my mind...my amazing Creative Coach, Andrea, wrote a blog about this very subject a few days ago...right when I was preparing this post! I'd love to share her perspective with you all!

Creative Rest by Andrea Schroeder (ABCcreativity)

Yay! Two Years of The Lion's Share!!!

 Edinburgh!

I started to write a creative dreaming blog for Yah Dreams! when I realized that The Lion's Share's second anniversary was right around the corner.

So much has happened during my two years writing this blog.

I started with, "Today is Where I Am"

And where am I today?

I am in total joy and gratitude for so many things.

• I am about to start having Lion's Share gatherings...which was one of my first ideas back in 2008 in my room at Newbold House, in Scotland.
  
  
• I've been back to Scotland and am returning this April for another J. Philip Newell workshop on Iona and some amazing time in Edinburgh.
  
  
• I've been to Dublin for a long weekend to see The Waterboys, celebrate and drink Guinness at the source :)
  
  
• I've had a photo in a group show down on the lower east side with my women artists' salon (I also run the blog!!!)
  
  
• I've been exploring my creative dreams with ABCcreativity...including some amazing coaching!
  
  
• I wrote a little item about my love for Dr. Who for TV Guide Magazine and it was printed!
  
  
• I'm almost finished with the second year of my herbal apprenticeship (also an idea I had in my room at Newbold...)
  
  
• After a long hibernation period, I'm really connecting to and taking care of myself.
  
  
• I was asked to write an article about my love for Edinburgh for Edinburgh Spotlight!
  
  
• "Sowing the Seeds of Abundance" has been going really well. I continue to see my debt reduced and my savings increase.

 My heather plant is coming along nicely!

A lot of stuff going on here...it's so exciting!

Stay tuned for some info on purchasing some LionArt Creations.  I want to clear out my inventory and I think I'm going to offer some artistic treats in exchange for donations (see the "donate" button under the "about" section on the upper right of this page).

Thank You All for reading and sharing this amazing journey with me!

XO

Sqeezing the Joy Out of My Dreams...

Beginnings of a New Vision...

I have the elements of a new vision board lying on my floor...and I realized that my dreams are bigger than the board I've set aside for visioning!  That's definitely a metaphor for my life right now.

I have such big dreams, and yet I tend  to think smaller as a sort of safety net. When in reality, thinking smaller than my dreams will most likely make me come up short.

Well...that's enough of that!!!

This week's Creative Dreaming assignment was to "Squeeze the Joy Out of Our Dreams..."

So that is what I did.

In the recent tidal wave of dreams re-visited and re-establishing a healthy life style...I really did it up this past week.

~I put a deposit down on my next workshop in Scotland (woohoo!) and I assure you I meditated quite a lot on being back in Edinburgh and Iona.  Every time a photo popped up on my work computer I had a very different feeling.  No more longing for when I'll return, but excitement and a sense of homecoming for when I'll be back!  That's a great shift. And I haven't (really) worried about the money at all. That's a great sign to me that I'm on the right track.

~I made plans for my first Lion's Share gathering and sent out the invitations!

~I spent some quality time at home in the mornings...writing and simply relaxing. Oh, and I turned in my papers to renew my passport, aka my ticket to joy ;)

~I really immersed myself back into all the things that had led me to joy and myself years ago.  Like doing the Inner Mean Girl Cleanse and reading inspirational books...a little self-help tune up, if you will. It's all reminded me of the person I have set out to be...and continue to evolve into.

I finished the week off with my September Apprenticeship day. That always gives me what I need in that moment (this time we learned how to make cream and gave ourselves herbal facials after spending some magical time up on the mountain in the woods). I returned to find a receipt from the St. Columba Hotel on Iona...for the workshop!  It was addressed completely wrong (my name was correct!) and yet it still made it to me.

Then, Sunday, my first restorative yoga class.  Amazing.

I've also been given the gift of childhood joys like sleeping on the floor and watching TV on my bed...and being outside stirring up magical potions of water and dirt (an apprenticeship practice).

I can think of no better way to connect with joy, than to be child-like for a weekend.

Now...all I need is a bigger board!

XO

One Year of The Lion's Share

Journalling at Newbold

One year ago I started this blog.

I had been home from my 30th birthday trip to Scotland for almost a month and the blog was part of an idea I'd had while staying at Newbold House in Forres.

I was very inspired by the way of life at Newbold and the people there. The tone in the house, the food prepared from the gardens etc.

While in my room writing, I had the idea of putting together some form of a workshop that would deal with healthy eating and good energy...and to write a blog to go along with them. I envisioned this blog sharingt recipes, my thoughts etc. I also thought that I wanted to do an herbal apprenticeship (after spending time with people that had just worked in the garden) and last but not least, I wanted to buy a laptop to become more mobile. Oh yeah, and I wanted to return to Scotland in the following year (and as much as possible).

Even the title came from my trip. While in Edinburgh, I was staying with a friend and she made the simple comment, "You can have the Lion's Share..." and it stuck with me.

It's been quite a year!

In November I will complete the first year of my apprenticeship:) In August I bought my first laptop, and next month at this time I will be leaving for another trip to Scotland!

The workshops have yet to materialize...I don't feel like I have come up with a formula or solid idea for them yet...and I also feel that currently my energy is needed to tend to myself and my dreams. Hopefully, some day it will all come together though...I'm building the tracks ;)

I'm delighted that The Lion's Share has taken shape and represents a lot of the ideas I had while on my trip...sort of mini virtual workshops. I'm also able to indulge all my interests, passions and talents such as photography and music, which is fabulous!

I think I'm doing pretty darn well :)

XO

*And the winner of the anniversary give away is...

Marlene N!!!