Little Women & Mermaidlings Bespoke Original Paintings

On a brisk September day in 2014, I had the beautiful idea to begin painting again after meditation. To be an artist and author has long been my dream since childhood. However, as you understand, my time occupancy had to be diverted to other critical responsibilities, such as raising my dear little children. I now know that all those small crafts and artistic endeavours in designs I would perform were the artist in me attempting to demonstrate my heart's desire. I am happy and most appreciative of those experiences. As a stay-at-home mother who lived as close to a life of little house on the prairie days as possible, I was kept quite busy with tending and mending to little hearts.

As many of you know, on the other side of that life, my family and I had moved briefly to California, and the trajectory of my life as I knew it would escalate to newer and greater heights, along with many viscitudes.

I was also becoming a new person, profoundly desiring to begin creating a life of "Taking Joy." So, in this notion, to fulfil a lifelong dream, I went to a local craft store and bought some plain index cards and some watercolour paints and brushes. I knew I wasn't that talented in painting, {yet} as it had been 37 years since I had picked up a paintbrush. Indeed, I could have been better, but I knew I could become good with practice with a bit of assistance from spirit (The Great Creator). I certainly didn't lack love nor enthusiasm, so I believed then {and now} that a positive mindset would deliver inspired art. It is from the heart; how can it not. I also find it an honour to paint for you. When you request a painting, I deeply ponder delivering an inspired piece of myself along with your vision.

 
Below is a brief description of how I create your paintings from start to finish.
An original custom bespoke painting is 4.5" x 6", and I use 300 pounds of cold-pressed Arches block paper hand torn. Each painting is an original watercolour (not a print), $45 sand dollars with $1.oo for each added item, such as a pet, flower border, etc. After collecting your ideas for what you'd like, I prepared the paper with dyes and tinctures. I then infuse the paper with seaweed, flower tinctures, and floral notes I create from my garden here at the cottage. Below are a few original pieces of my art that I have painted for customers. This gives you an idea of what I can paint for you.

 
I'd like a detailed description of how you'd like your bespoke painting. Feel free to follow my Instagram link to place an order. I would be delighted to paint something for you. 

  
The saltwater is collected from my local rivers and seaside and is charged with rose quartz and moonstone crystals. I know that sending my paintings into the world with a wee bit of magic creates a touch of whimsical charm and love for all those who collect my art.

 
I include a hand-chosen beach combed shell with each painting that I have collected throughout the years as a bygone mermaid.

To help me navigate through your little bespoke painting, please tell me what you desire, and I will do my best to create a lovely piece of art for you to enjoy for years to come.

~ Hair colour and length/ updo or down
~ Skin & or scale tone
~ If you would like to add particular elements such as a pet, flowers, your mermaid or a little woman in an active pursuit such as reading, writing, gardening, borders, etc., please specify that as well. Each addition is $1.
I can paint your loveliest desire, so please feel free to explore your whimsical imagination.

Your Mermaidling/ Little Women parcel ships worldwide through the U.S. postal service in a medium-size photo envelope. 
Please assure me before purchasing if you would like to upgrade your parcel to priority shipping for trailing purposes. 
This upgrade will be $8 within the U.S. and $16 internationally.
Most affably yours til my next swim,
Lady Raquel
Below are just a few of my little originals to give you an idea of my art. 

Here are a few ideas of paintings I have done through the years. 

"Gunner the Miracle Baby" is a piece I painted for Spencer Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag for their first-born son, Gunner, with little hummingbirds.

 

5 Tips To Manifesting Your Treasure Chest Of Money

 

My dear friends and mermaid junkies, 

A Victorian lady would dare never think of not being an exceptional housekeeper. If you were to fiddle with such information, you’d come to understand ‘keeping house’ is pertinent no matter the status of her affairs.

Our Emotional Scales Are Unfailingly Our Vibrational Touchstones

My dear friends, 

I thought to share a little story with you. I just made the long jaunt to the nearest UPS store to mail several of my Mermaidlings/Little Women paintings, and as you know, I am using Poppins, my bicycle. 

I awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, placed my hair in a side updo, and pinned it with many kirby grips, to keep those little stray hairs from falling into my eyes while riding. I had readily prepared by searching the internet to see what time the store opened. I was all set, and away I went. Upon arriving at the store, I noticed a little note taped upon the front of the glass door, which read "No internet." I parked Poppins {my bicycle} to the side, placed her kickstand down and walked inside. I noticed the lights were on, so I was hopeful in the shipping of said packages. 

Upon entering the store, a charming curly, sandy blond-haired girl was leaning in a chair, playing on her cellular phone with her legs kicked up on a small table. A brusque man was sitting behind the counter with his legs also kicked up on a table. I asked if I might mail some packages with which he replied, "No, our internet is down." I said, okay. He responded, it'll be back on this afternoon, or you can go down the road to the next UPS store and use theirs. I replied, "I am on a bicycle". Oh, he said. I walked out and was standing at the window while I contemplated my subsequent step. I asked myself, "Should I just go home or try and bicycle two and a half more miles to the nearest USPS?"

I then walked back in and asked if I might buy a booklet of stamps. I was holding my reticule, and I knew I had sufficient cash for a brochure of stamps if I were buying from the USPS, and I also had my debit cards. The man behind the counter said no, I can't sell them to you. I walked out, and immediately the spritely young gal came out and said, " We actually can sell you a book of stamps". I said, oh, good thank you. She held out the stamps and then said, "That will be 9.24". I had the funds for a booklet that generally costs me 8 at the USPS. I didn't realise how much more their prices were, so I offered my debit card. The man didn't look up, and the young girl said, "Can we take her debit card when he replied no, "OUR INTERNET IS DOWN."

I looked squarely at him and said, "I think you should close your store." He pointed to the sign on the door and said I have a note, so why would I do that? I said, "Because you aren't capable of serving your patrons." He said, "Well, have a good day." I said, "Thank you." At that moment, I nearly broke down in tears, but I mustered inner strength, gathered myself together and peddled back home. Even though it was a bit longer, I took the scenic route. I knew that if I were able to enjoy the scenery, I would talk myself right back into a fabulous mood, which I did. I was out of breath, and to clarify my state of affairs, I live in Florida, where the temperature felt like one hundred and seven degrees, and I was wearing a dress with a corset, so my defences were down. I made it back home, rifled through my billfold and retrieved what leftover holiday stamps I had. I stuck a ridiculous amount on each envelope and crammed them in the mailbox. I came back in, and as best I could slump down on the sofa {with a corset on} sighed {ahhhh}.

I share this story with you for several reasons, and I will demonstrate with a few more accounts, to bring the conclusion of a tale about momentum, and energetic vibrations. 

If I chose to, I could have just shared that story with you and chalked it up to bad timing, the man behind the counter was daft, devoutly state I was mistreated and that all shoddy things happen to me. However, I am one to take ownership of myself, comprising of my energy. I'm abiding when I try fervently to live my truth, action accountable with vibrations and life as a whole. 

Now, hours later, having sat down and looked over the situation, I was able to recognise what happened. Nothing went wrong, even though it seems like it did, I know better. All the experiences in our lives are teaching us how to better clarify what we desire in life, and Source/God/Universe is weaving us in and out to do so. 

The bicycle trip was another example of me resting on oriented moves of physical action, as opposed to placing myself into alignment before the ride initially. I had a preceding negative approach. In preparation this morning, I had mentally thought to myself, I despise this situation. I was upset, for something other than the lack of a vehicle. I will share that particular with you in a moment. 

Me and Oliver TwistyTopsy

This gave me a reason to reflect this morning upon returning home from the UPS store. Yesterday, Jeffrey and I had received news that for the second time the contract on our sale purchase was cancelled. As I was trying to console myself from this blow, I recalled an Abraham Hicks workshop. I had remembered hearing of a man that was in the hot seat and was telling Abraham how he had his home on the market for over two years and for some reason he could not get the house sold, and he was so frustrated about it. Abraham then asks him how he feels vibrationally about the home at the moment. He began rattling off how much it needs work, his family has grown out of it, there are no kids for his kids to play with anymore, etc. Then Abraham asked about his emotions when first buying the home. He got a smile on his face and spoke of all the family gatherings they shared, how much they loved going to get new plants/ trees, and how exciting it was for them as a family. Abraham then said to him, right now, you are vibrationally sending out to others, "Come buy this piece of crap I no longer want!" Comparatively to how he used to feel about the home, it is his job to then change his vibration, and the house would sell. Well, the conclusion to that story is that one week after this workshop, the man sent word through an email that he had worked on his vibrational energy, and his house sold. So I began thinking about my vibrational energy towards my own home, and what I am sending out on an emotional scale. Isn't that the truth of it? We frequently go about life without realising our energy is off. We think just because we get up and put our hair in a cute side updo, and look presentable that all is well, however, looks are deceiving. We might as well come around to understanding we can "fool" many folks with an act of seemingly doing well, but we will never fool the Universe/God/Source. Everything is vibrational, and there are no two ways around it. After resting with myself for a time and working a focus wheel, I now realise I have had mixed emotional vibrations with regards to my dear little home. Soon it will be a matter of sufficient timing to get back onto my delightful seafaring voyage of happiness.

I share these experiences with you to remind myself visually of how I am doing on my transformational journey, as well as to hopefully inspire others to observe their own lives.

This morning I told my dear gardener of my synopsis and how even though I live the law of attraction and teach the law of attraction, it will forever be ongoing in our earth life learning. As much as the quote is cliche, it is about the voyage, not the destination. I am so appreciative of the ability to see these experiences as a way to autocorrect.

Aren't these girls just as cute as can be? Their mother sent me these photos of their painting reveals and I just HAD to show you their darling little faces.  

I wanted to show you two separate photos and get your opinions. I know the coloured one is delightful, but I also think the sepia one is delightful too. I am attempting to determine if sepia and black and white images would be more suitable to my blog. If we look back at the Victorian days, they didn't have coloured pictures and If I'm attempting to create an actual Victorian blog, wouldn't the photos be better suited in what would have appeared then? You tell me. I would love your opinion. 

This is the new sign for The English Settlement. Isn't it a delight!

I also wanted to share a few books that I am currently loving.

~Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales: Marta McDowell

~The 1885 Edition of Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms: The How-To-Do Everything Book of Victorian America: Thomas E. Hill

~Red: A History of the Redhead: Jacky Colliss Harvey

~ Tasha Tudors Heirloom Crafts: Tovah Martin

~The LittleHouse Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories: Barbara M. Walker

~The Beatrix Potter Country Cooking Book: Sara Paston-Williams

~The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady: A facsimile reproduction of a 1906 naturalist's diary: Edith Holden

~The Trade of Authorship: Wolstan Dixey {Victorian}

Most Affably Yours Til My Next Swim, Raquelxxx

How I Found My {Old-Fashioned, 18th Century, Victorian} Trademark Style

My dear friends,

I am happy to report: that I am learning so much about website building, and here's a little snapshot from my iPhone camera so that you can see how far I've gotten. It may not seem to be much of a change; however, I am going to have a new hosting company, which will make a big difference; especially, with having a drop-down menu. I think I'm most excited, out of everything, about the drop-down menus.

The Art Of Thievery

My dear friends, 

I have been a bit under the weather, but I must write. Oliver and I wanted to say Rabbit Rabbit even though we are a day late!

The Cornish Mermaids And A Visit To Clovelly, North Devon England

My dear friends,

Pour some tea and let us take a little visit to Clovelly. If you are such as I and adore England, I'm most assured you'll love this post.

Pleasantries At Staffordshire Cottage

My dear friends,

Pour some tea and let's have a go. I discovered some new teas at Publix {my local grocery store} and it is one of the best teas for taste. They are bags and I was a tiny hesitant, but I was not disappointed, in fact, I am delighted. I even gave my mother the tip. 

I wanted to share a little occurrence that transpired this weekend. I truly want my blog to be a place you might swim to, be a bit entertaining, and educational as well. Nevertheless, That is my hope. {smile}

I took more photos of the chickens to use for my storybook "The Tale Of Henny~Penny Goody Two~Shoes"

My blog is an online diary, as you know so I thought it a lovely sentiment to share what I spent my time doing over the weekend.

I am only going to share a bit about an unpleasantry, but enough to hopefully inspire if you were to experience it for yourself at some later time.

Someone stole my identity, by taking my chequebook out of my garbage bin. It had my old account and previous married name on it.

How To Make Martha Stewart's Circa: 1996 Pecan Cranberry Biscotti Receipt

My dear friends,

Might you pour some tea? This morning I thought I'd share with you a receipt I have been making since 1996.  {the word receipt was first used in the medieval 14th century in replace of recipe.}

I'm not sure if you are a fan of Martha Stewart, but I am most assuredly and have been since my late teens.

When I was first a homemaker at the age of 19 I had a subscription to Martha's magazine. I would also invest in Martha's line of goods and lifestyle home management with vigour. The little money that I would acquire from clients, whether sewing, decorating projects, organising, or my craft booth, I would set aside to purchase a Martha Stewart item. It's unfortunate that I no longer possess those things after my divorce, but I know I will have a whole collection again. There is no fretting here. {smile}

The Art Of Creating A Delightful Cottage Bathroom

My dear friends,

Might you pour some tea and let us visit. It's been dribbling rain for hours on the beautiful coast of Florida, and the chicken ladies are bathing in the puddles. I think they love the opportunity to root as the rain has a way of creating an upwelling of worms. I do love it so, as it gives me a lovely excuse to write and just relax with my Beloved gardener.

 I have been longing for a few years to actually write up this tiny post, but for some reason, I've not done it until now. Perhaps it's because I had wanted to wait until I did both bathrooms and make it a much longer post, but I digress.

I love doing little things to the cottage, and I have been thinking that if I started posting my projects, it might inspire me to create more and motivate me to get going. I spent the first year of living here at the cottage and did several things and then I just tapered off.

 I began by plastering the walls with sheetrock all-purpose joint compound. The walls had a 70's wallpaper, but instead of removing the wallpaper, I just plastered over it. I used a 4.5 gallon for the whole bathroom.

The light is original. I removed it, spray painted it, then replaced it with Edison bulbs that i picked up from Walmart. 

After I covered the walls with compound, I then painted over the whole room with some flat white paint from Sherwin Williams. I then washed over the entire room with a watered-down umber craft paint.

The mirror was found in the storage room when I moved into the cottage, so I just added some boat rope and hung it. The linen fabric is some stash leftover from a sewing project. I already had the mermaid hook, so i hung it for a towel hook.

The bath is super tiny, and there is no room for a cabinet for towels, wash clothes or the like, so I found this old crate at an antique store for 5 dollars and thought it'd work for a towel holder. I can fit 6 towels. On the back of the toilet, I placed a basket with rolled wash clothes and hand towels. I have a rule about towels. I only use white. They'll always match no matter the decor colours and style, and they can be bleached, which makes them smell wonderful.

Some pretty flowers to liven your day wherever you may be.
All in all, I spent about 12 dollars on the whole bath update. The $12.00 was for the Edison bulbs. I had 3 already and just had to buy one.

I shall write again soon. May you have a lovely holiday season.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx

The Art Of A Homemaker

courtesy of Pinterest

My Dear Friends,

I wrote this on my facebook page at one time and thought it was a delightful entry. I wanted to share it with you since leaving social media. 

"It's amazing how lovely common things become if one only knows how to look at them."~Louisa May Alcott

I slowly slip out of my cosy sheets, walk through the softly lit cottage and put the kettle on. I quietly set about my morning routine but firstly, putting on my baby pink robe. I say a silent prayer of appreciation thanking the sweet god's there was a time it was all just a dream; a thought in my mind.

I pull the lace curtains and make my way through the cow path to tend the chickens and then sweet Oliver the rabbit. The ladies are now laying small eggs. Though they are small, they are full of taste. May, {our sweet Plymouth Rock} bows down for a back scratch and then they follow suit going about their day. 

I am not in a rush, I plan my household management for the day. I then feel how the inspiration flows to me guiding me gently to paint pretty pictures.

A bit of reading, some spiritual encouragement and now the steaming cup of tea is in my hand. It keeps me warm and cosy with its thick honey. I breathe deeply and bask in the early hour. Soon the cottage will become alive. I am ready for it. I will carefully fix the bed, prepare breakfast, which is my favourite meal of all, fluff the cushions and start the wash. 

My mornings are never stressed, the home is peaceful and beautifully blessed. 

I am living the art of slow. I am a homemaker. 

The Vibrational Power And Art Of A Name Through The Law Of Attraction

My dear frinds,

Might you pour some tea and let us have an insightful discussion on the idea of a name. I am constantly prevailed upon to question particulars in my life, like most of us, we are constantly expanding and wanting to understand what and how things work.

In the last few years, I have become absolutely intrigued with the power of a name. It all began in 2015 when I filed for divorce from my then husband. I set a foot trying to decide what I would do from then on out with regards to my name. Should I change it back to Carter, my maiden name? If I were to get remarried would I legally change it again to my new husband's name? What should I call as myself author/ illustrator? Should I buy the domain name of my new spouse or keep my maiden name no matter what occurred in my life. These were all the things I began to ask myself until the day came that my ex-husband decided to play a bit odious and allow my website to falter. I didn't control the main hub of getting emails directly as he had previously owned my domain emails and website. I then lost 11 years of my previous blog. I was very upset and completely disillusioned as I had spent years creating content. And as you know writing has always been the love of my life.

I pushed forward and then decided to buy my own name, Raquel Carter, feeling as though I wouldn't ever go wrong in owning my own name. I decided straight away that Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor both had been married but kept their maiden/surnames through their lives and I would do the same. I also learned as I was purchasing my domain name, just for curiosity i inquired about my newly married name. I discovered a certain someone had purchased it and was domain squatting Raquel Stafford {that's what you call it when people are trying to be vindictive in the cyber world}. I now know this is against the law. I won't go into details, but just know that some people will make faulty decisions as their lives have become impaired due to pain and anger.

I have wanted to share my little story with you, my dear friends {especially women} as a way of curating an inspirational story of happiness and optimism. I will always strive to see the optimistic approach with regards to my life, knowing full well I create my reality and attract all that is present within myself at any given time.

As time has wained I know all that occurred with my name was definitely another learning experience for me. I am so pleased to have experienced the name debacle because it certainly helped me to refine my sense of self-worth and independence. Let me explain a bit further.

Because I wasn't able to buy my married website domain name, It inspired me to reach for more as an altogether stronger woman. For reasons I haven't exactly put my finger on, it created a sense of independence and entrepreneurship within me. As a young child, and obviously being called Raquel Margaret, i had this sense of proudness and confidence that was always with me.

Perhaps, that's what it was about all along. Me gaining back my life through independence and confidence. As a child, I had always felt invincible and I do believe that created an upwelling within me again when I legally had my name changed back to, Raquel Margaret Carter. I am a Stafford also, so I am legal with both names. For me, it has worked out beautifully. I do love being a Stafford as a married woman, but also keeping my independence with my maiden name. Furthermore, I absolutely love my name,  Raquel Margaret. I think it's beautiful and I am named after great women. Raquel Welch, and my aunt Margaret. Both women are divine in my eyes.

After I became a married woman the first time and took my then husbands name I was always called 'So and so's wife which caused me to feel that my identity was tied up in that name. I felt a sense of insecurity as if I wasn't my own person anymore. I felt unsuccessful and separate. So after I left my marriage I noticed when I would think of that name, the attachment to it created a vibrational uneasiness for me. That doesn't mean I feel that way now, and perhaps it's because I have made up my mind, and you should too that a name doesn't define us. It only defines us as much as we allow it to. We create our lives and the conditions surrounding us in accordance to how we would like them to be. Sure we have the power to go through our lives being a victim, by arguing for our limitations.

We have the fullest capacity to use the excuse that we are the way we are because this and that happened to us, or that we have this name as a label. We are altogether different than animals. We have something that animals don't possess, its called a stimulus-response. So we can't scientifically use the excuse that we are born this way or that way. It's simply not true. People like to define their lives in a certain way as it will always feel better to blame our circumstances on something outside of ourselves. It totally makes sense but that doesn't actually make us feel better long term. Just remember it's okay to do things in order for you to feel better short term, but then decide you'll reach for more to better understand your reasoning and logic. It will create such happiness within you when you discover what you're truly all about and name identification is apart of that process. It can be fun if we will just allow it to be. Oftentimes we just need to change our approach to a subject and that's all. Consider it a SELF-LOVE strategy! smile...

I choose to be a strong independent woman and make my life just as I see fit. If there is anything to learn from coming to my blog, it's that we as women get to make up our own rules. Noone can define us or tell us what and how we should be, and for that matter, no one can make us feel bad about our choices. This is a blog of no judgement and full of happiness. I want you to feel happy, creative, inspired, supported, dreamy and most of all loved when you swim here.  We get to make our own rules and no one has to agree with us. That's the beauty of giving oneself love and total acceptance. You want to change your name to mermaid melissa, or little bear or rising sun? I say go for it, do it! You know ultimately what's best for you, and forget the rest. Do not give a rip what another thinks of you. Be strong and confident in yourself. You are absolutely the most beautiful person ever born. The problem is most women forget this over time. I am here to remind you of it, my dear sweet friend, just in case you've forgotten for a moment.

There have been studies done with children and adults alike with regards to names and how they play a vibrational role in their lives. I know names and what someone is called does have an impact. I know of a woman, named Mermaid Melissa. She literally had her name changed legally to Mermaid Melissa. I also know of a family that had a boy that had one name for the first seven years of his life and then one Sunday at church he informed me he had a new name. He told his parents since he was able to talk that his legal name didn't appeal to him. The parents said okay and legally had it changed. The little boy's new name was not a family name nor did it have any genealogical connections. This child literally picked a name he liked and was therefore called the new name from that day forward. I remember hearing of this at church and I thought it was pretty brave of the parents. There were many members that called this family odd and weird because of it. I thought, what judgement. Who cares if someone wants to change their name.

I see the advantage of assigning oneself a new label, or new name. I believe what psychologically happens is that when you have a new name it no longer carries with it the vibrations, failings, or old scripts from your life as the old name does. It's metaphorically like laying all new pipes in a fish pond that's become cloudy from gunk in the old ones. It's modern and therefore you can begin anew in your mind. It creates a new beginning, a fresh start.

I'm curious, have you ever thought about the power of a name?

I shall write again soon.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx

The Art Of Allowing, Downton Abbey And Delightful News

Hello dear friends,

Put the kettle on and let's have some tea. My choice this morning is English black tea.

I refer to you as my dear friends, do you know why? I do it for two reasons. The first is that those of you that swim to my blog, are true indeed like my dear friends in reality. I know we are spread out among this great expansive world, but we can each come together through writing. Isn't that the truest nature of friendship? I like that in the old-fashioned days, women would wait each day for a post from their friends. The butler would serve the letters on a silver tray, such as in Downton Abbey. I believe writing brings women together. Another reason for calling you dear friends is because I try to emulate Beatrix Potter.  I absolutely adore that she called persons dear to her "dear friends." I feel a kindred connection to her in many ways.



  I am going to give a break down of the movie when it hits theatres in 2019, so that shall be delightful indeed.

Courtesy of UK archives. Jemima Puddleduck outside of Hilltop.

Courtesy of UK archives. Hilltop in England where Beatrix Potter lived.

Do you have someone that you feel a kindred nature towards? I'd love to hear who yours is.

I wanted to tell you the great news! I heard from the City of Carmel yesterday and they are reviewing my proposal for the Flander's Mansion curatorship. I was so tickled, that I could not keep it from you. It will be months from now until I hear anything else about it. No matter the outcome, I am so happy regardless. I have learned that in the manifesting of anything in life, it's the joy along the journey that helps us in facilitating our dreams and desires. I believe too often we as humans have become so comfortable with believing that in life in order to be happy we must first have the "thing" and then we will be happy. It's the believing and then seeing, instead of the other way around.

Flanders Mansion in Spring.

Flanders Mansion in the evening.

I know my dream of living in Carmel will come true at the perfect appointed time. And whether that is living at Flanders Mansion or another little cottage in the city, I feel confident. I believe so strongly in the Law of Attraction. I think it's oftentimes unfortunate when people go for years and not allow a dream to come true in their life, that they mistakenly believe that they aren't worthy of their desire. This isn't true at all. The only reason someone doesn't manifest their desire is that after they first launch an idea/desire they go to work contradicting it. I know before I began practising the Law of Attraction, I was notorious at doing this. It's because I didn't understand how universal laws worked. I would become tied up in believing that I wasn't worthy of the things I desired. I think that is common among many people especially if having grown up in a religious home, such as I. It can become quite confusing after being raised with contradicting beliefs. I grew up Pentecostal Church of God until I was 17 and then I converted to a Mormon. When I left my marriage in 2015 i stopped practising religionall together.

To be a tad confident about feeling special in life is a very good thing indeed. I do hope you feel as prized a person too, meaning you too shall have all of your dreams come true if you so believe. To believe before we have tangibly seen the proof is a true testament to faith as Christian/religious folks call it.

I spent yesterday rearranging furniture and packing up some things that I feel I've outgrown, such as some pictures on the walls, some old craft items and modern clothing. Remember I spoke to you about clearing out and disembowelling things such as clothes that you don't like wearing or haven't worn in sometime? I was holding onto some shoes that I thought I may wear again, but I averaged the time out and I haven't worn them for over four years. I am therefore donating them to charity. Do you begin feeling that way towards the end of each year as well? I think I am constantly releasing things. I learned to easily release things as I would move so much in my past that to keep every little item would have been quite burdensome.

I found these Victorian granny boots at an antique shop. Even though they were a bit tough getting on, they fit perfectly which is quite rare.

I began working on our little guest bathroom over the weekend. Jeffrey is disembowelling the sink this weekend. I'm going to then add a pedestal sink my dear friend gave to me when I moved in with my parents. The only thing I'll need to purchase is a faucet. I found one on Amazon for $60.00. It has a Victorian flair to it.

My mother and I went looking at old Victorian homes in my neighbourhood. I asked her to snap a photo. 

I decorated my treasure room to coordinate with The Tale of MerryMaid Scarlette Rose. Did you notice the rose colours and the cork garland?

I wanted to leave you to begin your day off on the correct foot with another quote. I do love quotes. They have always inspired me along my life's journey and I hope they too inspire you, sweet friends.

I shall write again soon.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx