Mandala Monday ~ When the Garden Gives You Yellow

I’m SO feeling a hint of autumn in the air right now!  And I’m sensing it in the garden too as things are starting to wind down.  Don’t get me wrong, there’s still lots going on out there, but I harvested the last of my beans in the veggie garden the other day, and my yellow beans were the inspiration for this week’s mandala.  The beans and all the other yellows that are happening in the garden…

Gosh, I love yellow, it’s such a bright and cheerful color!

💛

 

It’s a rainy start to the week here on this Monday, but our weather forecast for the week looks amazing! And by amazing, I mean… cooler temps. Yes! Oh, how I love the changing of the seasons!

I hope the weather is nice wherever you are, and that you can find joy and beauty in whatever season you’re in. Wishing you bright and cheerful things in the coming week!

 

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Silent Sunday

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Finding My Center

Outer world in chaos 

emotions turbulent 

like windswept leaves scattered on the ground

 

Breathing

in

and out

 

I find my center

creating order

in my inner world

 

 

© Julie Rehnelt 2019

 

I’ve been displaced for the past few days, feeling much like those scattered leaves I mentioned above.  I’m so grateful for the simplicity of breath – and for my big sister (and brother-in-law) for giving me a place to rest my weary head.

And for nature for providing beauty to draw from for inspiration.  This was the view out my sister’s front window…

You can’t tell from the photo, but it was much too cold and rainy to spend any significant amount of time outdoors, so I ran out there and collected a bunch of those wet leaves that had fallen and brought them inside.  I spread them out onto parchment paper on her dining table to dry a bit, and then using their varying colors, tried to create a sense of order…

Almost immediately I saw the mandala I wanted to create in my mind’s eye and then got busy arranging it.  Usually I don’t get a picture in my mind ahead of time – I’m guessing it was due to the natural gradient of their colors?  Anyways, it was a very therapeutic, meditative activity.  It didn’t solve all of the world’s problems, but it did help and I enjoyed it.

Hope you find things you enjoy today too.  Remember to breathe deeply…

 

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

 

Silent Sunday

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Mandala Monday ~ Hidden Falls

Originally I didn’t have a mandala to share for today’s Mandala Monday, but then I made this yesterday while out on a hike with my sister and thought I’d share…

If it looks crooked, that’s because it is.  🙃  The only reason I made a mandala on this stump was because it had a hole in it and for some reason I got the urge to arrange leaves around the hole…

But then I felt like it needed a leaf in its center and found a lovely red oak to place there.  It’s nothing fancy, but it was fun making it.

We had a great time on our little hike. We went to Nerstrand State Park, about an hour away from the city, and hiked the short trail to Hidden Falls…

It’s not a very tall waterfall, but it was flowing real nicely and looked lovely with all the autumn beauty around it.  The tree stump where I made the mandala was right next to the falls up at the top just to the left of the photo.  I made it as we were leaving the falls area.

It was snowing off and on during our hike and got quite chilly at times. I think the temp was around 38 – 40.  We both wore 2 jackets, but only I was wise enough to had remembered gloves. 😉 My sister resembled a creature walking with her hiking poles which were stuffed up into the sleeves of her jacket to help keep her hands covered. I snapped this picture of her as she went to investigate whether or not there was a way through a certain area to pick up another trail…

“Ancient astronaut theorists say ‘no’” was her answer hahahaha!  😂 I love my sister!

Here are a few other photos I snapped along the way…

Some areas of the park were a bit past peak for fall color, while others were still going strong or just starting.  Either way, it was lovely  – despite the cool temps and the periodic snow.

The sun is shining brightly this morning and for that I’m grateful.  Hope you find things to be grateful for today too!  Happy Mandala Monday, wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Seasons Merge

Cold winds swirl

autumn leaves twirl

two seasons merge into one

when snow joins in

adding a frosty dusting

of winter magic

 

© Julie Rehnelt 2019

 

But only for the weekend.  Thankfully!  😉

We had a bit of snow here in Minnesota.  Everyone is groaning “noooooo!”  Except me.  Don’t get me wrong… I was too at first, when I heard the forecast – if you’ve been with me very long, you know that autumn is my most bestest favoritest time of year, the last thing I want is for it to end prematurely.  Heck, it feels like it’s barely even gotten started and there’s so much more enjoying I want to have.  But, rather than dread or resist or groan about the cold and the snow – which we have zero control over, wouldn’t it serve us better to try to find the beauty in it instead?  It’s there, it just might require a little shift in perspective to see it…

 

Wishing you warmth and beauty today and a perspective that brings you joy!

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Wordless Wednesday

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Mandala Monday ~ Autumn Equinox

A mandala I created last week to celebrate the Autumn Equinox…

Ahhh Autumn…

🍁🍂🍃

 

Happy Monday, wishing you a beautiful week ahead!

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Silent Sunday

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿