Roo's Treehouse

MADNESS.

The Mad Hatted Gypsy is at it again. 

 

Will you be there? ☺

Birthday Presence

Hello peeps, how ya doin'?

Years ago today, my Mommy Goddess had a hankering for ribs. And barbeque. And new shoes. And watermelon.  And then I popped out. :-) Well ok it didnt go exactly like that but I'm sure it was like giving birth to a side of beef.  Thanks Mom! 

This year, the tiara stays in the closet. I am not throwing my Annual Everybody In The House Wake Up Because It Is Roo's Birthday And Someone Should Be On High Alert To Fetch Her Things And Generally Do Her Bidding Ritual.

Today is spent in quiet contemplation with me getting my own coffee. Writing. De-cluttering both home and brain, because it's been a bit jumbled and jivey around here for awhile now.

We all have had those moments. You know the ones I mean. The are bad days that span for weeks at a time, and no matter what you do you can't seem to get that satisfied peaceful glow back...

Things go down, one piece of craziness leads to another; the world is completely out of balance. 

You cant see the forest for the trees....

But the trees *are* the forest. And the forest *is* there. And it takes all the little moments to make up the big Life. I am currently courting this quote in my head:

Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.
--J. Donald Walters

So today I remind myself of the importance of being present~and grateful for all of it. 

Each of life's moments are like a struck match-you can only watch it burn beautifully and bright once.

~~~~~~PEACE~~&~~~Love~~~~Roo

PS However...if like me you must have a slice of merriment and cake-go quickly to Vanessa's Very Merry Unbirthday  Party on today of all days! ;)

Imagine All the People, Living Life in Peace.

Peace:  healthy relationships, safety, equality and fairness, and absence of violence. In political relationships and world matters, too.

Peace, like charity, begins at home.
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

To be "at peace" with one's own mind, own heart, own soul. The sense of tranquility, serenity. Calm. 

If we have no peace, 
it is because we have 
forgotten that we belong
to each other.
— Mother Teresa

Inner peace: a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace. Bliss. Happiness.

If in our daily life we can smile,
if we can be peaceful and happy,
not only we, but everyone
will profit from it. This 
is the most basic kind
of peace work.
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Peace of mind: free from the effects of stress. A state of consciousness. Knowing one's self.

Peace is the healing and elevating influence of the world.
- Woodrow Wilson

We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Perfect bliss grows only in the heart made tranquil.
- Hindu Proverb

Serenity is not freedom from the storm but peace amid the storm.
- Alcoholics Anonymous

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, 
the world will know peace. 
— Jimi Hendrix (the Lost Boys asked me to include this ☺)



You may say, I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one...
I hope today you'll join us
and the world will live as one....


(John Lennon. Big time Peace builder. XOXO, Mr. Lennon)

~~~♥♥♥~~~

Today is the International Day of Peace, or in the Bloggyverse, Peace Party Day!
Today, all over the world, people will be a little more conscious of what peace means to them, what it could mean to future generations, to think and grow more peaceful, as a human race.

But like everything, peace begins with understanding what it means to each one of us, individually. Thank you for taking the time to reflect, and to share, your thoughts on peace!

Today, as I go through my day, my goal is to smile at everyone in the hall, really look each and every person in the eyes, acknowledge their existence, instead of just their presence, as a unique and beautiful gift, and love them with all my heart.

Happy Peace Day, You Beautiful, Precious, Lovely, Wonderful, Incredible Twinklestars. Thank you for joining me!
I didn't want to go overboard, knowing you have other places to visit.
Please do, visit your fabulous fellow PEACE (People Everywhere Are Celebrating Everyone!) peepsters,  tell them you love them, light a candle, encourage your friends to post their own peace party!

(and don't forget to leave your link in your comment!)

CELEBRATE PEACE!!

PS. Please give Ms. Carolee some extra love, over at King of Mice Studios (musings from behind the easel), to pass on to her hubs. Thank you! 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Incredibly perfect visions of peace in the form of photos by the talented Anna Cervova. Thank you, Anna! 

Christmas in July!

Heidy Ho! Ho! Ho, Twinklestars! Put down that rake and join me in a little holiday cheer, smack dab in the middle of summertime, won't ya? Thanks to the gift of the Maggi, over at Just Add Glitter and Stir, we've been invited to make merriment with a list of heavenly hosts and hostesses that will delight, inspire and share holiday memories..so get out those mittens and sunscreen and let's go...a caroling!

I have one to start us off..it kinda goes to the tune of jingle bells...ready?

Dashing through July
In a pony tail flip flop way
Sweltering in the sun
Standing in car wash spray ~

Florida humidity
Doth make this girl perspire
Sometimes snow and Christmas trees
Are my heart's true desire!

Oh, Christmas in July!
Is that Rudolph I spy?
Is that a snowman made of sand?
Pass the cookies
And decorate
And spread joy throughout the land- hey!

Christmas in July
How time would fly
If Christmas were twice a year~
The best gift is to live 
Healthy & Happy and to give
Everyone some Christmas cheer!

                                 PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO ALL 

That was fun, thanks for playing ☺ I'll see ya at Maggi's!

OH! PS. I will be holding a random giveaway of the holiday variety- a mystery gift! (I promise, no fruitcake!) So leave a comment for your chance to win! ♥

When the Party's over...

Hi Twinklestars!  You are just in time! I am *finally* through cleaning up from last Saturday, and was about to make a toast to the insanely talented and oh so fabulous (even under dizzying circumstances)  Vanessa Valencia at A Fanciful Twist, for throwing the maddest party of the year! Raise your glass and 1...2...3:

~~~~~*****~~~~~YAY VANESSA!!!!~~~~~*****~~~~~

Remember last Saturday kids? There we were, all holding on to our Top Hats and whirling like dervishes across the bloggyverse, trying to party hop at warp speed, loving every millisecond of it....

and oh my stars! How absolutely incredible were these crazy creative parties, I ask you? I have never had so much fun hosting or being hosted! My striped socks were knocked off more than once! The treats, the cakes, the stories, the tea sets, the bling, the costumes, the scenery-all wonderland wonderlicious!

Oh, the bling! Let's talk about the bling a minute, because I scored me some!

  

Lu Lu Kellogg at Coastal Sisters had this sweet sweet charm, and I just could not resist!  My picture doesn't do it justice, but I think I saw you admiring it during her party ☺

And look! She sent extra treats!

...of the sweet and non-caloric variety! My fave! Thank you, LuLu! You rock!

I am also uber excited to report that-I WON! I won one of the two giveaways from TWo PiXie DoLLs !! (Vanessa won the other-how kizmet is that?) I will share my eagerly anticipated treasures from Krista next time, for they are winging their way through US post office land even as we chat!

And now, I must bid you adieu, as .....it's time to party like it's 1776!!

(Sweet Fred the Red Tailed Bird created by Jamie Woo at  A Forest Frolic -more on her next time!)

Seems when one party ends, another begins! Ah, summertime! Hope everyone has a fabulous and safe 4th of July, filled with sweet cold watermelon and snazzy sky-bling!

xoxoxRoo

PS. OH! I totally took advantage of Vanessa's Etsy buy 1 get 1 print free sale (over now, sorry kids!)-and when my prints arrive, and I gets-ta-framing, that will be a post unto itself!! Thank you Mr. Lovee, for buying her that roll of canvas! My top hat's off to you!  (And, you make a fabulous Hatter, too, tee hee)

wOnDeRLaNd, sOuTh

Alice woke with a start from a rather odd dream

and found herself in a new place, it would seem

and pleasant enough though this place may be

she was supposed to be meeting her friends for tea!

She stretched and stood and looked around-

not a single living soul abound!

except..in the distance, where she did gaze

(while shading her eyes from the hot sun ablaze)

There! Is that something, far far off-

are those tiny people? are they playing golf?

toward the wall of gardenias with blooms of bright white

she walked closer to spy a most unusual sight!

"I'm Alice," she said. "And not sure where I am!

I woke up from a nap in this strange land!

I'm supposed to go to the Mad Hatters for tea~

now I am late! Oh please, won't you help me?"

The wee one in pink raised an eyebrow

"Why, you're in Wonderland South, just right now

Poor child, don't labor under duress

I'm Queen of the Roses, and she's the Duchess

we're going to the tea party, more or less-

just now we've been gathering wild things that grow

eggs that hatch hedgehogs and pink flamingos!

But its so hot and we feel a thirst

so we can go get tea too-ah, but first 

in order to travel to the secret place

of the brown shroom

you must take a taste!"

"Hmm, I see," said Alice (though she wasn't convinced)

"a shroom will take me to my tea party friends..

Very well, I spy one under that tree

and late to the Hatters I don't want to be!"

So she took a bite- and what do you know?

she started to tingle and could feel her blood flow

her mind got all jiggly,

she saw nothing but sky~

she was floating in air! she could fly! she could fly!

She flew over trees and found herself descending

in a garden house-her magic flight ending

in a place of colors and noise galore~~~

"Oomph!" she said when her feet hit the floor!

"Hey there! Girl!" said someone,

"who are you looking for?

From where have you come?"

"Er um, hello there..I was invited to tea-

my name is Alice-and who might you be?"

"Well I'm the Mad Hatter, and this one closest to me

is Dormouse, but he's always sleepy~

and that is March Hare-and this, my garden shack 

Do you drop by for a nutritious snack?

There's nice healthy treats and good peeps galore~

Little girl, what the heck are you staring for?"

"Er um, the teacups, she said, "are moving themselves!"

"Those aren't teacups!" said Hatter, "they are magic tea elves!
Just tell them what will quench your thirst~
Pink lemonade? Sweet tea? Somethin' to eat first?"

"Um, just hot tea for me," said Alice, "and a chair..
oh, but where should I sit?
Could I sit with March Hare? "

"No room!" they all said, in unison
Then they moved round the table
again and again
and ended up in the exact same place~
but somehow a new chair
had entered the space!

"Umm,thanks!" said Alice, and took a seat.

"This is quite a curious treat,
and everything is lovely, it's all very grand,
but I think I am in the wrong Wonderland!"

Ah, not Wonderland South? I get the gist
I think she's looking for A Fanciful Twist!

She must be going to Bizarre for tea~
for the Tea {of the costume variety}!

"Ah, yes," said the Duchess
"For V you must show up!
just drink that tea there-
just half a cup!"

"and to the meringue, give a wee little nibble..."

"and take off your gloves in case you do dribble!"

Alice did as she was told 

though it was all so confusing

and watched her toes wiggling

(which they all found amusing)

 but then she was floating 

up up and away!

"Bye Alice!" They cried~

"Ya'll have a nice day!"

She waved goodbye to her southern friends

(and this is almost where the story ends )

she touched down once more

beneath the Tree King

and spied a tiger upon the swing

"Hey there girl! Where the heck have you been?
Your friends have called for you again and again!
Follow the first bread and butterfly you see
down the magic hole
to the Great Tea Party!"

"Thanks for the info!" cried Alice, "I appreciate that!

But, aren't you supposed to be a Cheshire cat?"

"Huh" said the tiger."Arent you sposed to be 7 and blonde?"

"Touche" said Alice.

"Now shoo," said the tiger. "You Begone!"

So Alice found the butterfly.....

and slid down the hole......

To get to this Tea Party is her goal!

and now ♥Dear Reader♥,

this chapter has ended

I'm so glad that you I have befriended!

Let's fly like the wind

as fast as we can

before all treats are gone

at Vanessa's Wonderland !!!!

xoxoxoxo

Ode to the Cupcake

But soft!
What light through yon oven window bakes?
Tis the fairycake, and by the morrow shall be gone!
~~Shakespeare's first draft, a long time ago

 
Okay okay, I may be taking a few liberties there, but I am almost 97% sure that A Midsummer's Night Dream, at least, was based on the Bard's dream one night of this crazy fantastic cupcake. Or as some cupcake historians (cupcaketologists, I believe they are called) claim, 'twas known as the "fairy cake" in England. Or, the "pattycake" in Australia. Either way, these bits of deliciousness have been around since at least the late 1800's.

The "cupcake" as we Coon bottom peeps refer to it, (when we're not referring to it as "carb-induced euphoria") may have derived its name from the wee ramekins used for baking (a/k/a "cups"), back before we got smart and created the infamous baker's dozen (the twelve one, not the thirteen one) line of bakeware.

Other cupcaketologists believe the name refers to the measurements for all of the ingredients being so similar (a cuppa this, a cuppa that, a little heat, and badda bing, you got a cupcake). 

Whatever, I call them heaven. Cupcakes are my absolute favorite dessert in the history of Rootopia. Little bits of portion-controlled confectionery bliss, often with crazy flavor surprises inside and decorated fantasy-to-the-hilt outside! What could be better?

Well, what could be better is a whole batch of virtual cupcakes supplied over on Saucy's Blogspot , you must go! And if you do, do yourself a flavor and click on her "Just Cupcakes" posts on the left sidebar (keep scrolling, it's there!). She's done things with cupcakes that will melt your Wiltons!

Saucy excels at many things, but she is undisputed Queen of Cupcakes, in my silicon bakeware book.

This here particular batch posted for your viewing pleasure was named "When Smurfette Bakes" by the hungry boys in my household (who could barely contain themselves while I attempted this pitiful couple of shots).

Viva La Cupcake!

A Mad, Mad Monday

Aaaaahhh, Monday morning. Is there anything better than a Monday morning when you don't have to go to work? Something about knowing that everyone else is there, scurrying about, while you're doing things on your own time, that makes it all the more precious.

So let's go outside to greet the sun.....

and do a little happy jig under the trees.....

and, since we have no obligations, and feel so free, let's go crazy a little bit....

..and have breakfast on the porch.....yum...although, I don't know where it came from. It was in the freezer, marked "4 Roo", so I guess it's okay...

although I'm feeling a little curious...

But, coffee is good-time to sit back, relax, and listen to the....

We'll just listen to the....

Do you hear snoring?

Coming from the swing.....

Is that....it's a dormouse! Wow, he is sleeping like a log....Wonder how he got here?

We'll have to be very quiet as we....

wait, he's whispering in his sleep!

I think it is..he's saying..follow the rabbit!

What? Weird. Huh. Well, maybe we'll just let him sleep, and take a nice long walk through the woods, while its nice and cool and there are no-

hey! do you see that? Waaay in the distance? It's a rabbit!

I don't know, maybe its all the sugar for breakfast but...I thought..did you hear him whistle? Like he wants us to follow? 

I'm game if you are....

Whoa! Slow down Mr. Rabbit! I have to catch my breath! I-where'd he go?

He was right here--

and er, um...exactly where is here? Everything looks so big......

This reminds me of something.....something I feel like I should....

OH!

I get it! Today is the day I put together my wacky tea party for the blog event of the year!!

No wonder there's a dormouse on my porch swing! He must have gotten here very late, from Wonderland...

Well, then, I guess I had better get going.....

 

It seems like the entire bloggyverse is planning on participating in Vanessa's Big Day ! 

I have been reading up on  the Story of Alice and all things Wonderland...but I can't wait to see all the wonderful personal interpretations on Saturday, June 27th!

I'm going to find that rabbit, and play in the sun, with my cast of characters and my camera...Happy Mad Monday (and a very merry unbirthday!)

xoxoxo Roo