How do you Play? aka: remember the slinky

How do you play?

This has become very important to me.

And it should be important to you as well.

Because a life in balance - well, enough said, right there.

Just that, as Julian would say.

I just finished reading an article in American Lifestyle magazine,

"The Way We Were; The Way We Played"

About the slinky.  Mr. Potato Head, and the Slip 'n Slide.

Remember those?

Well.

Every day has it's toy.  It's play.  And it seems way too complicated in today's world.

Insert cable, plug this into that, power up.

It doesn't have to be much - - really - - lessons from the dog - - even a ball found washed up on the beach - - 

The hose.  

(okay, okay, I know - - water conservation and all that - - so, if you water the lawn, do it in your shorts and squirt your neighbor, or your son or daughter, or something to make it play-ful)

The point is to PLAY.

Don't exercise, go run around in the park; PLAY.

Don't cook, have Girls' Night.

Don't go to a business seminar, have a Slumber Party.

Play.

Give yourself permission to Play.

Check out Rose Hughes' blog.  They have a day every week in which they try new things.

Play.

Take life down a notch.

Smile.  Laugh.  Sing.  Whistle.

I heard someone - an expert - on the morning business news.

He was profound.

Wanna know what he said?

He said that the one thing that was a proven fact, was that EVERY recession we have ever had.....

has ended.

Well, there you have it!!!!

Smile. Laugh. Sing. Whistle.

Take life down a notch.

Relax and Play.

And if you have read the blogs in the past, you know I am the one to encourage you to use a different color.

Make something with a different technique.

Make a nice tidy block and take your rotary cutter to it and make it something new.

Go to a local quilt show - flower show - kite festival - car show.

They're all gonna be cheaper than a movie, drink, popcorn, candy and dinner.

And probably more healthy - walk the quilt show, kite festival, car show.

But most of all, make sure you take the time to get out.

Get out.  Get going.  Get.

Play.

(moondoggie at his finest...frisbee!!!!!)

Thanks for thinking of 

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

sparkle and shine

2009

Natalie.

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

I have been sending to a select group of you, your own personal emails.

I saw you at a show, or you wrote to me, and you asked me.

Please email me.

Reminders.

And for the rest of you, here it is.

The Seven Sisters Quilt Show is this weekend.

At the Madonna Inn Expo Center.

In San Luis Obispo California.

9-5 and 9-4

Saturday and Sunday

Now, if I seem a little tired as you come by to see me, please be kind to me.

And compliment me on the booth.

And the quilts.

And the hula girl fabric quilt (we have kits).

And the Paper Dolls quilt (we have kits).

And maybe my hair or something like that.

Fake it about the hair.

Please.

Anything.

It takes a lot to get ready to 'get on the road'...

It is girls weekend for me, too.  With Katey and Lisa (oh, okay, we're gonna have Paul and Chip the dog with us too).

We're gonna be at some great place to eat and drink and carry on after the show setup on Friday.

We'll see you there!!

And the next morning, since Katey is in charge, we'll go for a run.

We'll see you there, too - Katey in front, me bringing up the rear.  Like I tell people about running, I do it, I just don't do it well.

THEN we'll do the quilt show.

So, if I seem a little tired when you see me...

Thanks for thinking of

b e y o n d   t h e   r e e f

sparkle and shine

2009

(sorry I have not written more - more in the days to come)