To Calm the Inner Beast

Maggie is growing like a weed! Today she was wallowing in a pile of pine straw, happy as a clam.

Awwww! Not too bad for a mutt who only cost us $25.

Puppies can be quite good for the human spirit. They make us smile and laugh. We all need to relax our spirits. Another way to do this is coloring -- did you know that? Adult coloring books are the latest thing! If you wander into Michael's or other craft stores, you'll see them. I bought a coloring book recently at Ollie's, a discount store. It cost $5.79.

It's a lovely book with pretty pictures of some mandalas in the front -- circular designs with intricate patterns. Other coloring books have intricate drawings of animals, paisley designs, flowers, and other patterns.

Here's the mandala I just started today:

So many pretty ones! This will keep me busy in my few quiet, leisure moments. Coloring is viewed now as a stress-reliever. If you think of the hours you spent coloring as a child, you might remember its effect. The focus and concentration, and attention to simple things, the self-control of motor skills -- these things contribute to an inner feeling of calm.

Plus, it's pretty! I used my 50% off coupon at Michael's to get some decent colored pencils.

Although our temperatures the past couple of days have been (sadly) quite warm (80 degrees), autumn still advances around us.

These pics are from New Bern Thursday. When I shopped at Michael's, I had two receipts and for each one I received a 50% off coupon to use NEXT time! So excited. I already know items I want to buy for Julia for Christmas, or for my soap business. Anyway, on the way out to the car, somehow I dropped/lost one of those coupons. Boohoo :( I was SO sad. A coupon like that, to me, is worth anything from $6 to $20. Lots of items at Michael's I simply won't buy if I don't have a 50% off coupon. Julia and I drove away, but that lost coupon bothered me. I felt as if I'd left a $20 bill in the parking lot. After a few other errands, I told Julia I had to go back through that part of the parking lot and look. And guess what? I found it! Hooray! I use those coupons (plus sales on yarn) to keep my business costs down all winter, and to buy Christmas presents.

How's your autumn coming along? Are you happy and calm, or frantic and worried? Do some coloring, pet a puppy, and view some leaves before they all fall to the ground. It's beautiful out there!