JillsBirds'nWords

2010-10-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Find me and JillsBirds'nWords

on Facebook page,

Jill Butler art&design

or at

www.JillButler.com

JillsBirds'nWords #35

2010-06-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

and when you find it

hang on loosely

but don't let go

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #34

2010-06-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

what's
new
in your
world?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #33

2010-05-27T14:22:00.001-07:00

let it rip

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #32

2010-05-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

deciding
what we want
may be the most difficult

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #31

2010-05-07T07:11:00.001-07:00

trying
too hard
only
gets us
in trouble

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #30

2010-04-30T14:10:00.001-07:00

i'm only human

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords # 29

2010-04-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

toute est possible!

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #28

2010-04-16T06:55:00.001-07:00

.....and
buying stock
in ME, Inc.

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #27

2010-04-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

where else
would you
want to be?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

Jill'sBirds'nWords #26

2010-03-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

what plan?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #25

2010-03-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

why
would
we want to

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

Jill'sBirds'nWords #24

2010-03-12T12:54:00.001-08:00

i want to know

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #23

2010-03-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

so i can
hear the voice ~
within

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

jillsBirds'nWords #22

2010-02-26T13:40:00.001-08:00

walking gently
speaking kindly
gentle soul

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #22

2010-02-19T08:57:00.001-08:00

just try
to put me
in a box

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #21

2010-02-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

take a deep breath
now ~
plunge in

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
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www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #20

2010-02-05T11:59:00.001-08:00

taking the time
to discover the
idea that matters most

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #19

2010-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

if I can see it
I can create it
even the "impossible"

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #18

2010-01-15T11:12:00.001-08:00

turning No into a Yes ~
an art to learn

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsWords'nBirds #17

2009-12-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

a sure

recipe for

inventiveness

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords

human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords # 16

2009-12-11T08:55:00.001-08:00

creating
our lives
is
way more
fun

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsWords'nBirds #15

2009-11-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

a bit of structure
goes a long way

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #14

2009-11-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

make friends
with a
dumpster &
clear the way

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #13

2009-11-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

so
let's
color

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords#12

2009-11-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

their is no season
for thanks giving

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords # 11

2009-10-29T14:28:00.001-07:00

it's really
none of your business

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords # 10

2009-10-23T07:04:00.001-07:00

our efforts grow ex potentially
when we collaborate
with an open heart

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #9

2009-09-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

the mold
has been broken
WHEW!

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #8

2009-09-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

where we've been matters
where we're going matters most

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #7

2009-09-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

so what's
the attraction
to complicating things?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #6

2009-08-28T06:08:00.001-07:00

so what am
I thinking?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

Jill'sBirds'nWords #5

2009-08-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

perfection
is
over rated ~
just ask me

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsWords'nBirds #4

2009-08-13T12:27:00.001-07:00

crossing things off
my "to-do" list
does not make me
a superior person

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #3

2009-08-07T07:44:00.001-07:00

do you hear me?
do i?

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #2

2009-07-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

my clothes are boring

my hair needs a new color

my guy hasn't shown up yet

i'm ready ~ all ready

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

JillsBirds'nWords #1

2009-07-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

a "healthy" dose

of attitude

goes a long way

Author-Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.necn.com/New-England-Dream-House
www.jillbutler.com
Creator: JillsBirds'nWords
human nature in all its splendor

going back to go forward

2008-12-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

change
shifts
new
beginnings

cross
rainbow bridge
dare
believe
choose
make
difference

keep good
discard not so

decide
live
authentically
honestly
knowingly

choose
magnificence
courage
inspiration

move
forward
laugh
sing
dance

look back but
don't stare

Jill Butler
Author Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com

Rough Sailing..a metaphor

2008-10-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was invited to join a group to go sailing. I do not know sailing. I do love the water. I love to be in, and on it. I was spoiled to have been treated to do nothing....not my usual thing, to do nothing. I sheltered myself under the canopy to watch the crew do their thing. They needed to do it well. It was quite a ride. The wind was more than generous, the waves had their way. Getting out of the harbor proved to be challenging. We rocked and rolled to get the sails up and then out into the Sound, Long Island Sound that is. We ate ginger to settle any signs of sea sickness. That was new. We broke an essential screw on the ........I'll have to ask exactly what it was, which caused a serious harnessing of our captain before going forward with a possible fix. No luck. Deal with what is was the message. The weather front passed overhead, the wind changed direction, we "came about" for our return. We did so in a makeshift way that worked just fine. A Kosher "come about", apparently not.. but.... and so what? We also missed the head of the channel, we (they) improvised our way around the many rocks, lost overboard a cushion recovered it and keep moving. Did we have a choice?

Arriving nearly at our berth I turned back to see the most magnificent fall rusted-green grasses, tree foliage just beginning, and a complimentary sky ever so subtle in pale periwinkle blue and antique rose. Still water, the first we'd seen all day, winked at us and announced a new moon sliver. Soon the big dipper sat righted and held the night sky.

I awakened this morning with a moment of thanks for this sail.... and a wake up call. I realized this rough weather sail was the perfect metaphor for this past weeks upheaval and turbulence; stock market loses, economy slides, and greed demonstrating its impact on our lives. These "disturbances" and the inherent rhetoric dances an emotional dance. I had been pulled into its vortex and the undertow was at work on my emotional buoyancy.

I reflected on our safe return last evening. Where is our emotional safe harbor? The ones I know are the ones inside; our inner spaces and personal sanctuaries. They serve as safe places to berth and take shelter. This storm front shall also pass and in the meantime, we have a choice not to be pulled into the vortex of fear and the unknown. Our better investment is in taking shelter in the one place we have control over. And while we're there, we can Ask for ways to improvise our way through the wind changes as the world continues to rock and roll.

Jill Butler
Author, Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
www.jilllbutler.com

The consuming- consumer.....and the Citizen

2008-10-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

What's a citizen? In speaking about the USA population, "We The People", we used to be referred to as citizens. Now we're rather grossly referred to as consumers. Every index, every valuation and evaluation depends on our being consumers or we simply don't count in the pie chart or in the headline news.

At heart, I believe we all like the idea of being a good citiizen, and at heart, we want to give back. Making a difference, to change something for the better feels good. It creates a different kind of relationship with ourselves and those around us. There’s every kind of cause, and need. We're not asked to hitch our wagon to just anything. What is ours to share, to participate in and to experience in a way that feels not just good but Spiritually correct?

The model of "We The People", the consuming-consumer, doesn’t work anymore. The idea of citizenship is far more fulfiling than anything we might choose to buy to fill up the holes inside.

Jill Butler
Author, Illustrator
Crease the Space You Deserve
www.jilllbutler.com

I am not my “to do” list ~or am I?

2008-09-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

I fear for my life when the to do lists take over. Notice plural. I can’t live without them and I can barely live with them. Of course, there’s more than one. They grow, they multiply, they spawn themsleves into more, more, and more. I write my lists to capture the stuff of life. I write them with ideas not to forget; a fleeting idea of which there are many. I write them for the cottage maintenance projects or new ideas for the corner garden I recently ripped out. It’s the chaos corner of the property planted with impossible roses.

Then there’s the food shopping, drugstore, drycleaner and hardware store lists. I wonder why I bother with the grocery store list. Right now I know I'm out of the basics, the emergnecy foods of eggs, cheese, a package of linguine and a can of clams. Often I forget to eat what I've bought. Or I've bought what I'm no longer in the mood for. When I'm feeling like nesting, I overbuy and then that idea goes away. In a moments notice, I don’t want to be home for dinner. I want to be out in the world. So why to have bothered with that list?

Jill Butler
Author, Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
An Artistic Journey to Expressing
Yourself Through Your Home
www.jillbutler.com

Just for the Record

2008-09-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

The running conversations running in my head. They're the unsolved ones that won’t go away because it’s easier to hold on to the comfort of 'my point of view', and 'to be right' as I’m "feeling wronged", misunderstood, and certainly unappreciated.

How to get to the high road...not to keep massaging the same old, same old, same old?
It's the sad, blaming, what about me record that migrants into every corner and crevice.

So I've decided to cut a new record and by doing so to set the record straight. My new tune is to say what I mean and to mean what I say. I'm practicing standing up for myself in all of my relationships. And I'm noticing what's happening. I'm being clearer in all the areas of my life. I'm even asking the difficult questions I have feared to ask. The great thing is everything starts to feel cleaner, direct, and transparent without hestation or couching. There are no broken records. New songs are being sung and recalibrated relationshps are being created daily and they feel just right.

Jill Butler
www.jillbutler.com
author/ Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
plus three illustrated France travel guides

Putttering around........

2008-09-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Puttering...puttering around, a round of golf? I can do that. I've got the natural swing, the big boomer, the slice and dice, and the hook. Golf is God's invention, I've thought so for a very long time. It's his idea of humbling us, putting us to task around patience, acceptance of our less than perfect performance, and our acceptance of others, even of those with bad manners on the links.

God plays nearly perfect golf. How dare He? He plays at will. He plays in paradise where there's sun everyday, the greens are in perfect condition and watered nightly when he remembers to turn on the big spigot in the sky. His golf clubs are clean and at the ready. Partners show up one at a time or in threesomes to complete the foursome. There's no reserving when you're playing with God. Tee time is in his time. Our job is to show up; play like we mean it, work at it daily, breathe deeply, ask for forgiveness when we curse ourselves for a lousy shot, keep our eye on the ball at all times, and remember to replace our divots.

Jill Butler
www.jillbutler.com
author/ Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
plus three illustrated France travel guides

there's still time to garden

2008-09-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

My yard, I call it my garden like the french, le jardin, which is all of it, not just the flower or vegetable beds. Today, this gorgeous late afternoon fall day I gardened. I start where I'm lead. It's not conscious, more intuitive.

I'm in awe of the enormity of a single unit of crab grass. It's impressive. Sadly, I must ask them to leave areas that are not appropriate for them to be spreading their wings. As I pull them out, I marvel. What creatures they are.

I've taken time to pull out a rose bed that's not working. I'm considering what wants to live here next. Perhaps this will be my last project for this season before putting the garden to bed for the winter. I am satistfied just to pull weeds and to say hello. We have reconnected and I feel good for having done so.

Jill Butler
www.jillbutler.com
author/ Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
plus three illustrated France travel guides

When the guy goes away

2008-09-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

There's a void...the void...a black hole. This time the blackhole is not the closet filled with the unknown. This time it's the black hole of emptiness, and missing. Someone, something is missing. It didn't take long for the patterns, habits, the early beginnings of a relationship to develop. One was the early ‘good morning’ call followed by the late in the afternoon call that was a real conversation. That's what I miss. These calls bookmarked the day. Now they're not there, the guy or the ‘good morning’. Do I miss him? Of course. Will I survive? That's not the question.

What's to replace the ‘good morning’ call? Replacing isn't the question either. The issue is to understand what happened; how did we get here? My idea is not to fill-up with just "whatever". First I dislike the "whatever". It's lazy and unconsidered. I swim, I write, I meditate, I enjoy my home. I reconnect with my world. I get back to drawing. Drawing is a more difficult exercise to get back to. It requires time and intention to do so. It is a place to put the unknown. The future what? It's another place to go to explore with intention, without blame, or disappointment.

Life goes on even when it hurts and there's a gaping hole. I have room to do the things that got set aside I rearrange the molecules. And I still wake up in the morning and know that the phone isn't ringing....until it is again!

Jill Butler
author, illustrator
Create The Space You Deserve
www.jillbutler.com

decorative towels ~

2008-08-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

So what makes a towel decorative? We're in his kitchen, and my guy says with a growl,
"don't use that towel." I look at it and ask? "Why not?" His response, "It's decorative."

"O.K." It's navy blue with a scroll design edge. It's a weighty cotton, ribbed and looks, at least to me, to be perfectly suitable for hand wiping. I wasn't considering it for cleaning up the floor or even the counter. The snap in his voice made it clear; stand back, how dare you dare to use that towel? It's hanging on what I thought was the ready position on the drawer pull (not knob).
Being the textile designer I am, I might have known it was decorative. The fact that he knew was what amused and pleased me.

So when I next aquaint myself with this decorative towel, I will have a deeper respect for it. Might even suggest it take a trip through the washing machine inorder to brighten up the color and accent its' truly decorative nature. Perhaps I should give a gift of some kitchen towels I've designed. This way I'll be on safer ground with towels that have no restrictions as to useage and are in fact signed by me. This way I'm less likely to fall into this faxu pas once again. Of course, there will be other mistaken moves to be experienced, aren't there always? So stay tuned.

Jill Butler
The JB Collection: www.jillbutler.com
author, illustrator, designer
Create the Space You Deserve

when the goddess speaks we need to listen...

2008-07-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

when the goddesses speak in great numbers we have no choice but to listen.

Last evening I was included to be among a group of goddesses gathered to send off a beloved friend to her home that is about to be too far away for an easy coffee together. We were asked to dress in fluid feminine-wear, to write a poem or create an offering of entertainment. We did as requested. Why wouldn't we want to participate in this celebration? We laughed, we tried not to cry, we chanted, sang, drummed and ate delicious food.

Our goddess hostess created a simple and simply elegant environment. There were just the right amount of chairs consciously placed for conversations of two. Larger groups gathered around a decorated picnic table. The drinks were under a winged tent out in the garden. The margaritas weren't too sweet, and the champagne was chilled. The flower beds were in bloom and pungent. The mosquitos partied elsewhere. And the moon came in full.

This gathering in this ambiance was just right for the goddesses to stand side by side. We passed a lite candle from one to the next, lighting the way around the circle. We gave our friend and the world at large a showering of love.
We dedicated ourselves to standing as pillars of peace and positve emanations and focus. And no matter where we are, we will remain connected as goddeses of the world determinded to speak our truth and to be heard..... until we meet again.

Jill Butler
www.jillbutler.com
author/ Illustrator
Create the Space You Deserve
plus three illustrated France travel guides

row, row, row your boat.....look back to go forward....

2008-07-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Michigan we had the land of lakes all around us and in our backyard lake a wooden tank of a row boat. It was huge, dark grey- green and deep enough to hold my brother and me, our equipment for fishing, swimming, and the dog that travelled the lake with us. Though I was the younger, I did most of the rowing, slave sister that I was. I got lots of practice rowing backwards to go forward. The rewards were landing on the island in the middle of our kingdom, unwrapping our now soaked peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, taking yet another swim and exploring our island.

Going backwards to go forward.....a curious notion and a concept worth considering. Renovating a house requires a looking back inorder to go forward. What came before gets considered inorder to appreciate and understand the materials and its’ structure. I know little of this simple cottage and it's history. What we did learn in ripping out the kitchen was about insulation. We found an impressive amount of 1923-1924 newspapers stuffed into the walls.. No wonder the kitchen was cold. I saved some of these crumbling and now sepia colored newspapers as recorded history and noted the August 28, 1923 New Haven Evening Register ad run by The Lomas & Nettleton Co. of New Haven offering first time morgage loans at rates of 6% - 6.5% in amounts from $500 -$25,000. What could you buy today for $25,000, let alone $500?

www.jillbutler.com
Author/Illustrator Create the Space You Deserve
JillsBirds'nWords, a registered trademark

Yoga Gardening

2008-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

stretching ~ warming up, getting in tune, that's what needs to happen.......

s t r e t c h i n g..........pull out the tightness, the cramps, the burning

back and get back to the garden for more.

This time breathe. Take time not to attack the garden but rather to move with it.

Jumping from one task to another is not flow. It is raggged lurching.

Do I really think the weeds will go away if I attack? If only.

Perhaps I can make friends with the garden (and the weeds) with intentional effort, with an attitude of enjoyment, not accomplishment. Gardening calls for tuning my mind to conscious breathing, in and out, in and out. One stretch, one decided movement at a time takes me around the garden with peaceful pleasure. I experience the garden. I notice nature creating its' magnificient display right here in my backyard, one stretch at a time.

www.jillbutler.com

author, illustrator of

Create the Space you Deserve

pub. date: July 2008

Back to Nature

2008-04-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

Color returns following our

dreary winter tones of grey.

Are we ready for a new

color palette? Bring it on.

www.JillsBirdsandWords.com

author, illustrator of

Create the Space you Deserve

pub date July 2008

France and I, we have a relationship!

2008-04-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Dreams Come True

At age 8, I had a dream

I was living on the Left Bank

looking across La Seine

at the back side of Notre-Dame.

Nobody in my family

had yet traveled to Paris ~

but I did ~ in my night travels.

Years later,

I lived next to Notre-Dame

and was awakened daily by her bells.

My favorite

swimming pool

was on the Left Bank.

Crossing the bridge,

I observed

numerous

artists

and wished

I could be doing

what they were doing...

that would come later.

The daily routine included

breakfast at Laduree

and a leisurely read of the

International Herald Tribune

My best site-seeing took place from this cafe.

Let us never forget,

"Le Chef"

is the high priest

of the

Religion of Food

he is benevolent and well-loved.

On the other hand,

"Le Monsieur" (waiter)

will always 'think'

he is in charge -

no matter his profession.

Since New Year's Eve 2000, the Eiffel Tower

twinkles at two minute intervals on the hour

from dusk to midnight. In this City of Light,

it creates one more reason to pause and appreciate

this landmark - relationship that will last forever. jb

Jill Butler

Author Rendez-Vous with France, Wandering Paris

Designer, Souvenirs de Paris, tabletop collection

www.JillButler.com

The Bird in the Cottage Nest

2008-02-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

We gals love creating our nest, unless we don't. It's style, size, location, matters. What matters most is its coziness, warmth, and nurturing nature. My nest is a cottage. Post divorce and a return to the US, having lived in Paris for 16 years, caused me to do reconsider, all of it! What was to be important for this next phase of my life?

Right-sizing into a home that would nurture and express the evolving new me screamed out. Questioning, asking, sharing with kindred spirits who had traveled or were traveling this road, let me know, I was not alone. It's good to know we're not alone. They were generous in their sharing.

The biggest question to consider was:
why bother? why bother to change anything?
why not just feel sorry for myself?

It was a seesaw ~
move on...don't move on
change...don't change
take responsibility...i'd rather not
it's all too hard...what if?
I waffled, whined and waivered.

Gradually with time and a lot of help, I decided! And what I decided was: I was worth, as we all are, the effort and the best I could create for myself. No matter how difficult things get, by holding the vision for ourselves, life begins to take on new meaning.

With time and courage, we see where we've arrived. As we change, all that is around us changes. Most visually profound are our spaces, our nests, our homes. Winston Churchill's quote resonates. "We create our dwellings and afterwards our dwellings create us." or is it the other way around? jb

Jill Butler
Author of Create the Space you Deserve
Creator JillsBirds'nWords TM
www.jillbutler.com

A Slow-Down Day

2008-02-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

What does it take to slow me down? As I never know what’s coming weather wise, it’s fun to wake up to whatever has arrived. Nature surprises. Weather, we have no conrtol over it. Isn’t that a relief. One less thing to “try” to be in control of.

Control is over-rated. Of course, it’s an illusion. We control nothing. Life has its way and it brings what it brings, especially in the area of weather. These slow-down moments when we’re out of our routine, our efforting and struggle, are the times to be grateful. Sitting by the fire here in New England, Nature decides: breakfast on a tray, a couple of social calls, and someone else working the snow shovel. As I refuse to have either a TV or internet at home, Nature has directed me to write this morning, read, or do something outrageous like take a nap,

go back to bed. How delicious.

Carrot, the cat, is outside. I’ll let him be the snowball sliding down the hill on all four.

So the question remains. How to look at this need to control, manage, know it all, all the time? Less media: the world won’t fall apart if we don’t know it all in the instant. Recognize that those around are anxious to tell you what’s going on including tomorrow’s weather forecast. Pay attention to the cell call that nearly drives you off the road. What we‘ve come to think of as urgent might just be impatience or importance.

The real deal is, I believe, that we are addicted to knowing, talking, sharing, filling the airwaves just not to be alone or left out. OUCH!

Let’s get a grip. Perhaps the most urgent is to know what really is urgent. We could learn to take a deep breathe, perhaps two, before acting. I think we think these urgencies are what makes life fun, fast, exciting. It makes us important, like fast cars racing around a track ....in circles. Now there’s an analogy. We like the racing, the self-importance of who we think we are when we’re in demand, on deadline, racing in circles.

Granted we all have things to do, to move, to respond to. It’s how we 'walk the walk' (or 'run the run') that’s interesting. What are we telling ourselves about our self-importance. Truth be known. Perhaps there's an emotional hole that's looking to be filled instead of being overly busy while trying to keep it all in control.

The snow has now blanketed this corner of the world, and in this moment,

I’m happy to snuggle in for that nap. jb

Jill Butler

Author of Create the Space you Deserve.

Creator of JillSBirds’nWords TM

www.jillbutler.com

Getting Started is Always the Most Difficult

2008-02-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

If life just took care of itself I wouldn't have to get up in the morning and putting the coffee on, would take care of itself. It's the getting started that's always the most difficult.

Living and life, don't get started until I do. I have to trick myself to get going in ways that feel fun. Take this blog. I've put off starting since last December. So what's the carrot that got me here?

I thought about how much I love to write. So the trick was just write about how hard it is to start something especially when it's new.

I'm often 'accused' of having a lot to say. For starters, I write what Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist's Way, calls "morning pages". MP's get me out of bed. Writing "morning pages" are like having a friend to complain to, a place to work out a knotty relationship, complain about the weather or the nuts and bolds of a project that's stalled. You get the idea.

MP's are good because they don't wear out your friends who 'have' to listen, clients who don't really want to hear it, and lovers who'd rather be doing other things.

So, getting started gets primed by my getting out on paper what's bugging me...about me. Now I can get on with the living and this blogging thing is fun. jb

Jill Butler

Author of Create the Space You Deserve

Creator of JillsBirds'nWords TM