Lucky Stones

I found this description of lucky stones at Thee Nook.

So what’s a Lucky Stone ? Well, it’s a stone with a hole right through it and there are more found along the Sussex coast than anywhere else in the world. Collected and treasured as talismans from as far back as the Neolithic ages, these holy flints where considered to have magical powers and believed to be able to ward off illness and misfortune. Fishermen would not sail without them, keeping them on board to increase their catches and farmers would nail them to their barns to protect their livestock. In the Victorian days it was considered especially lucky to spit on the stone, and toss it over your left shoulder chanting:

Lucky stone lucky stone bring me some luck
Today or tomorrow at Twelve O’Clock.

Enjoy the photos of the stones I found today. It appears to have been quite a lucky day for me!!




One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. ~Jack Penn

The Joy of Friendship

Ah...friendship...one of the most important sources of joy in the world! Add that to an old fashioned Merry Go Round, and who could ask for more! My friend Margaret and I went out the other night to the local theme park (aka, my summer employer). It was a fun night out, and much deserved by both of us! We were blessed by the most perfect weather possible! We went on some of the more mild rides, shared a Mai Tai at the water park, and ended the evening watching a parade (while sharing a chocolate sundae funnel cake, of course...yum!). Thank you, Margaret, for enjoying those spinning rides as much as I do! Can't wait to do it again! :)



Most of us don't need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with. -Robert Brault

Are you ready?

Thanks for visiting the most recent version of "A Joyful Spirit." It's time for this blog to go in a different direction! For the last year and a half or so, this blog has been focusing on art and creativity. But starting today, I'll be using this blog to show where I find joy each and every day! If any of my readers out there want to share what brings you joy...send me a photo or a link and I'll include it here! And since that's different for everybody, hopefully this blog will end up being a wonderful collection of joy in the world!

I'll start today by sharing one of the things that brings me joy...
walking on a rocky beach!


I had the day off work today, and I woke up to a beautiful 75 degree morning. It was the perfect morning to take a walk on the shores of Lake Michigan! I am so very fortunate to live just 30 minutes away from the lake. I think I'll make this a daily habit for the summer months.

As I was walking along the beach, I was thinking about what brings me joy in life. Many things crossed my mind....favorite people, favorite places, favorite foods to name a few. But I realized one thing....I have to be OPEN to receiving that joy! I'm going through some major transitions in my life right now, and I'm not always feeling so joyful. So I decided to make a decision to be ready for that joy wherever it comes from, and whenever it comes! I AM READY!


If you're ready to welcome joy into your life, let me know, and you can join me on this journey! See you next time...it's time for me to fly!!



Within all of us is a varying amount of space lint and star dust, the residue from our creation. Most are too busy to notice it, and it is stronger in some than others. It is strongest in those of us who fly and is responsible for an unconscious, subtle desire to slip into some wings and try for the elusive boundaries of our origin.
-K.O. Eckland, "Footprints On Clouds"