Love, Joy and Peas

Monday, February 11, 2013

Native Trails Performance Photos By Barry Walker

I'm thrilled to share Barry Walker's fabulous photos of the Native Trails performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Someday, I'd love to see this in person. In the meantime, I thought you all would appreciate this vivid glimpse into Native American performing arts to brighten your day and bless your soul. You can see more of Barry's fantastic photos and get details on these photos at his travel blog.

Barry explains, "Every spring, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts presents a lunchtime concert called Native Trails It features Hopi, Navaho, Apache and Pima dancers and musicians." The warrior dance is pictured above.

Amazing eagle dance is captured above.

Native American Flute performance. You should be able to hear Barry's video of the beautiful flute music by clicking this link (it said it was set to public).

Skillful hoop dancing by "Derrick Suwainha Davis, a five-time World Champion."

Mr. Davis in spectacular full ceremonial dress.

Hearty thanks to my friend Barry for sharing his photos and to Native Trails performers for sharing their culture with us. May God bless them and may He bless you too!

What trip have you always wanted to make? What travel experience sticks in your mind as the best?

Full links and sources:
http://www.rbarrywalker.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151492308206823&set=vb.566736822&type=2&theater
http://www.rbarrywalker.blogspot.com/2013/02/native-trails-concert.html

Disclaimer:
I have no material connection with Barry Walker or the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and wasn't asked to write this post. All opinions are my own. Quotes are taken from Barry's Facebook page and blog.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Never a "One" & Free Inspirational Art

Today on my prayer walk the phrase of the Beatles' song "One is the Loneliest Number" played through my head. This surprised me because, even though I was walking by myself, I wasn't lonely. I wasn't even alone. God is always with me. I am never a "one!" And then I realized that God was giving me a post for today.

Dear friend, YOU are NEVER ALONE! At least you don't have to be. If you are a born again Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, He is always with you! How amazing is that? No matter where you are, what you're doing, or who else you are or aren't with, God is with you. He loves you beyond anything you could ever imagine! This is an amazing and comforting thought for me and I hope for you too.

So, as a little reminder that we're never alone I created a little piece of inspirational Art using part of Matthew 28:20 (the Paint photo (.jpg) above) as a free gift to you. You can download it and use it however you like. If you post it on the web a link to my blog would be great but isn't required (sample: photo courtesy of Phyllis Wheeler at http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/).

May you feel God's loving presence in your life today and always!

PS The three hearts in the photo symbolize God the Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

Full links:
http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/

Monday, February 4, 2013

Orchid Delights at Longwood Gardens

This weekend my husband and I took a trip up to Longwood Gardens, PA for their Orchid Extravaganza. It was a visual delight! Above is my favorite orchid photo from the trip.

This amazing orchid arch looks even more impressive in person. I suspect it is over twenty feet high. Behind it you can see another huge orchid display (hanging from the ceiling) and further in the background there is a circle of roses surrounding a lotus fountain.

Here's a close up of one of the featured orchids.

Here's one of their huge orchid balls. I think it was about 10 feet in diameter. They had some behind the scenes employees showing how they put the giant orchid balls together and, while I don't expect to ever make one myself, I enjoyed seeing how it was done.

This is the orchid display that greets you when you enter the Longwood Gardens conservatory from their "new" side entrance. You can see the back side of this display in the first photo of this post.

Hope you enjoyed my photographic mementos of our trip. I love to visit conservatories in winter. What are some of your favorite winter activities?

May God bless you!

PS To the couple who asked me to take their photo and let me take one of them with my camera - mine didn't turn out that well so I didn't post it on the blog but if you want a copy just email me at lovejoypeas@gmail.com and I'll send it. And if you want to be featured just send me the one I took with your camera phone (assuming it came out). It was great meeting you!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens!

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on their well earned Superbowl win!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Baby Cheetah Sneeze & Pam with Cheetahs

This week my friend Pam and I had a fun trip the the National Zoo in Washington DC. The baby cheetahs have grown so much they're almost as big as the adults, but they are still much fuzzier and more playful. We enjoyed watching them snuggle and play in their outdoor den and I was excited to catch the baby cheetah sneeze on video.

Here's beautiful Pam in front of the cheetah den. You can barely see the cheetahs in the shade of the den but they're there. May God bless Pam and may He bless you too!

More cute cheetah posts:

Baby cheetahs photos from first week in public view: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/cheetah-cub-update-wild-wednesday.html

Baby cheetahs in July: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/cute-cheetah-cubs-and-wild-wednesdays.html

Baby cheetahs later in July: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/more-cute-cheetah-cub-photos.html

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Ten Terrific Goal-Boosting Books for 2013

Happy New Year everyone! I suppose this is about the last socially acceptable time to wish it for 2013. I promised myself I'd post my book goals for 2013 in January and since it's the last day I can't procrastinate any longer.

Every year I set a goal of reading 50 books and last year was the first year where I named specific books as part of my 50. It worked out so well I've decided to do it again, but this year with ten books. So, I'm publicly committing to read a total of 50 books, ten of which will be the books below. I've selected these particular books to help me in either my main goals for 2013 or my main lifetime goals. Still, I think there's something there for most people. If you're looking to get healthy, organized, happy, decluttered, godly or slim, there's something for you. The books have a decidedly Christian slant (not surprising, given that I love Jesus and am a born again Christian) but there are some secular books and I think two were written by Buddhists. I'm not listing the books in any particular order. If you have read or plan to read any of them, I'd love your opinion.

A Praying Life by Paul Miller. This book was recommended to me by my pastor brother and Christian musician, Joshua Otte, as the best book on prayer "ever." So of course I had to add it. It should help me with my goal of growing closer to God and, by being able to discuss it with my brother it should be a relationship builder (godliness and harmonious relationships are among my lifetime goals).
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin. I love her columns in Good Housekeeping magazine so I thought I'd read her first book. I figure this will also contribute to harmonious relationships as my husband seems happier when I am happy.
SoulSpace: Creating a Home that is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty and Inspired by You by Xorin Balbes. I read a book review (maybe in Real Simple magazine?) that made me want to read this book and as getting clutter free is one of my main goals for 2013 I had to add it to my list.
ReFocus: Living a Life That Reflects God's Heart by Jim Daly. The desire of my heart is to be a woman after God's heart and I expect that this book will help me grow in that direction.
8 Minute Organizer by Regina Leeds. I started reading this one last year but it was due back before I could finish it but I was intrigued and inspired by the little bit I'd started to read. I suspect the tasks will take me more than 8 minutes each but I like that they're broken down into manageable chunks.
Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget by Fernando Pages Ruiz. Years ago I flipped through this book and decided that if I were ever to do a remodel I would want to read this first. Hopefully there is either a move or a remodel in my not so far future so I want to be sure to read this book this year, just in case.
Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst. I had planned to take this Bible Study last year but God had other plans and I ended up facilitating another one so this year I plan to read this book. It should help me with two goals (eating mindfully and loving God more).
The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. I love Dr. Fuhrman and am easing my way into following his eating plan so of course I want to read his latest book on healthy eating. Additionally, I have family members and friends with diabetes so being able to help them is a great bonus.
The Heart of A Woman Who Prays: Drawing Near to the God Who Loves You by Elizabeth George. I love Elizabeth George and many of her books have greatly blessed me so when I found one I hadn't read yet I had to add it to my list.
A Season for Tending: Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 1 by Cindy Woodsmall. My mother sent me this book after she read it and she raved about how great it was so, for the first time, a fiction book has made my list. Not only do I expect to be encouraged in my Christian walk, but the shared reading experience should be a relationship builder with my mom.

So there's my list for 2013. What are you planning to read this year? May God bless you and keep you!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Jug Bay Wetland Photos

My husband and I recently visited Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Lothian, Maryland for the first time and enjoyed a quiet winter walk there. I suspect that it will be even nicer in spring and summer and we plan to go back to see their butterfly garden and hopefully spot some young eagles next time.

Above is a different view of the Jug Bay Wetlands. It sounded like there were some little birds nesting in the marsh grass.

The Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary's office had several bird feeders outside and I snapped this upside down feeding bird at the front feeder. If you look closely you can see the seed the bird just grabbed sticking out of its beak.

On the day we visited Jug Bay the moon was out in mid day. That was yet another reminder of God's amazing creative power. I hope you enjoyed my photos and pray that God will bless you and keep you!