Why helloooo!
Hi there, my dear WordPress friends! 💕
It’s been such a long time! I hope this finds you all doing and being well! I’ve had many of you on my mind off and on throughout this time I’ve been away, and have thought of posting something on numerous occasions, but frankly, I just didn’t have it in me. There’s many reasons for my absence, none of which I’ll go into right now, but today I thought what better time to pop in to say hello than on a Mandala Monday?!
I must confess, I haven’t created a whole lot of mandalas since we last spoke. I haven’t had the time nor the inspiration for as much creativity, but there’s been moments. Blessed moments, where I haven’t been on survival mode and have been able to settle into the stillness and create…
From my birthday last summer…
On top of a tambourine! A gift I received on said birthday…
Playing with sidewalk chalk.
Some keychains I painted for gifts recently. I can’t remember the last time I painted!
More sidewalk chalk shenanigans…
A work in progress from this past summer solstice. I was trying something different. Don’t look too closely at it, it’s sorta crooked oops! 🙃 I plan to paint the bottom half in greens to represent grass. We’ll see how it turns out. 🤷♀️
And these aren’t mandalas. But they are circular. Little dandeLIONS I made with my sweet grandchildren…
They’ve grown so much! My granddaughter is 6 and my grandson is 3. They are such a joy and blessing, I can barely contain the immense love I have for them! 💕
And this isn’t a mandala either, but I have to throw this into this post as well. I’ve recently taken on a few Swallowtail caterpillars to foster and I’m very much looking forward to it! I’ve fostered Monarchs several times in years past, but never Swallowtails. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to share some of the process with you.
Well, I better go get ready for work. I hope to drop by some of your blogs soon!
Sending you all good vibes!
✿~Peace & Love~✿
Ramblings From Jewels 
Julie–it is so good to see you here, again! I have thought of you often and hoped everything was ok. People drop in and drop out and I always hope they are fine and maybe just taking a little break. The mandala are beautiful and the kids…they have grown!
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Hi Lois! It’s good to see you too! I hope you are well! 💕 I never intended to be away for so long, but life got a bit much and I found I just didn’t have it in me to share anything. I’ve really missed blogging and my community here, so I hope to start posting a little more regularly again – or at least pop into all of your spaces on a more regular basis. I know, my grandchildren have really grown. It’s bittersweet – love watching them grow and develop, but also want them to slow down. 🙃
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Hi Julie! It’s great to see you and get a little update. I love your mandalas and creations. Kudos on spending quality time with your grandkids. I can relate to not feeling inspired, and hope you’re doing ok. Hugs and stuff. 💕
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Hi Brad! I took your little nudge to come back here to heart. I really hope to make it a little more of my regular routine, but I’ll have to see how it goes – life is so different for me now. Such is life, I suppose. But thankfully, my grandchildren are still a regular part of my life! Although I wish they didn’t live an hour away. I’m heading over to see them today in fact! 🥰 I hope you find much to be inspired about today, my friend! Hugs and stuff right back atcha! 💚
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Wonderful Julie! I’m delighted that my nudge helped. Enjoy your family time. 🙂
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Greetings! Thank you for sharing your lovely art. ❤
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Hi dear Annette! Thanks for popping in to say hello, it’s nice to see you! 💕
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How lovely to have you back dear Jewels, I have often wondered how you are doing. I do delight in your beautiful mandalas, you are so creative. I also delight in your love of all things beautiful and appreciation of the beauty in all things. You highlight the beauty which we often may gloss over and miss. It is a wonderful blessing to enjoy grandchildren, something I do not get to do much due to the affects of Covid, distance and busy children. Thank you for sharing with us again my friend.
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Hi Ashley! Wonderful to see you! And thanks so much for your kind and encouraging comment, I so appreciate hearing that! It’s a rather long story, but I’ve been hearing that still small Voice whispering that I should start reaching out again and sharing what I have in my heart to offer. So hopefully I can listen to that voice and begin sharing again.
I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been able to spend much time with your grandchildren. That’s a very difficult thing. I’m so grateful for my once a week times with mine. I hope for you to be able to see yours more regularly soon – and for the Lord’s comfort to sustain you in the meantime. 🤍
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Hey, Julie, great to see your post with your beautiful grandchildren and mandalas! I noticed 3 swallowtail larva on my dill plants just this morning and was quite pleased. Hope they make it to the butterfly stage, fingers crossed. 🙂
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Hi Eliza! So good to see you!! I hope you are well! I’m very excited to foster these little lovelies. I hope yours make it to the butterfly stage too! Precious little creatures and all the dangers they face. I don’t see many butterflies of any sort here in the city, so hoping my hand helps these few! 🐛🦋
Hope you have wonderful day, filled with beauty and love! 💕
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❤
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Welcome back, Julie. They certainly have grown up
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Thanks so much, Derrick! I hope you and yours are well! 😊
Yes, they have grown so much! The angle of the pictures don’t show how ‘huge’ they really are! 🙃
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We are, thank you. I remember when your two were born 🙂
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Lovely to see you back with a colourful splash of mandalas. The dandelion face looks like fun was had by all.
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Hi Susan! Thanks so much! Yes, that was such a fun activity, and wonderful memories were made! 🙂
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I love your shenanigans and grandchildren explorations! So glad you are here now… whenever you land it is such a treat. Wishing you a heartfelt summer of connection and
love 💖💐😎💞
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Hi Val! Thanks so much! I treasure every moment with those little darlings! 💕 My summer so far is exactly that! Wishing you the same! Hope you and yours are doing well. I loved your last post, it looks like your gardens are shining bright! ✨️ 🌼
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💐🙏💕
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Such beautiful creations, Julie! And so nice to see you. I get it…life can get in the way of creating sometimes. I know that for MANY YEARS I did not listen to that creative spark inside me. I had so much pain, both physical and emotional, that it didn’t seem possible that I could create. But that’s the funny thing about creating…WE NEED TO CREATE!! Especially when things in life present a challenge. I know at times it doesn’t seem that we are capable, but I think if we force ourselves to just take 5 minutes, that before we know it we will be fully involved, and all the good energy will come up and we get lost in the beautiful energy of creation.
I can’t imagine the struggles you have had, but I send so much love and light and creative energy to you and hope that you will feel much, much better!
In light…<3
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So happy to see you back!
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To revisit this post again as we start a new year is perfect… the sweetness of your grandchildren is such a blessed moment for you and for us to feel the world is in great hands with the youth. I hope you are well and find some time to create and express more of your creativity with us in ’24. Take care, Julie, and bless you and your family.
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