Category Creative Energy

Soup in Summertime

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Soup in Summertime

Summertime soup.JPG

I don’t make soup very often in the summer. I don’t know why.

Yes, it is hot outside, but thanks to the miracle of air conditioning, it is plenty cool inside.

Summer is when the perfect ingredients are fresh from the garden and it is so easy to have a bowl of soup with a salad and be on our way.

We eat meals every day at home. I believe firmly in cooking and eating together, so soup is perfect. My kiddos can help prepare and add the ingredients and then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor together. Plus left overs can be a life saver on a busy day, and soup is often better the second time around.

The message of today’s post is this: Take time to consider options that are available to you which you wouldn’t normally take advantage. If there is a free service or program, check it out. Enjoy the things your community has to offer like park programs, nature talks, free concerts, art shows, car shows, or patronize a farmers’ market.

If fresh fruits and veggies make themselves available to you, be grateful for the source and share in the wealth. My father-in-law brought us a bucket of zucchini and potatoes from his garden. I prepped and froze some zucchini for us, grilled some, and shared the rest with our neighbors. Continue reading “Soup in Summertime” →

I Made It Myself!

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I Made It Myself!

I made it myself watercolor

Recently my amazing friend Sonya hosted a painting party for a group of our friends from school. She created a simple, landscape watercolor scene and then guided us through the steps of painting our own landscape.

Because the painting was a watercolor the lines were not finite and bled into one another. For some of us the lack of clear delineation between background and foreground and water and land was disturbing. Sonya assured us that the watercolor was really a “loose landscape,” to which we came up with some interesting interpretations.

It was a very cool experience.

We ate and drank and talked and painted. We took photos and shared our thoughts on the process. We celebrated the differences in each artist’s work and surprisingly the emotions we each felt were as diverse as the results of our work.

Some found the experience to be fun and relaxing, while others found it nerve-racking and stressful, they were just there for conversation and painted to be a part of the experience. I am pretty sure a few came just to see if they could test Sonya’s patience. ( Seriously, who puts orange in a cool toned sky line?) 😉 In the end we were all excited to be finished with our paintings because it meant, while we worked together, Continue reading “I Made It Myself!” →

PJ’s in the creek = Mom of the Year for me

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PJ’s in the creek = Mom of the Year for me

pj's in the creek.jpg

Yes, that is my son in his Paw Patrol jammies playing in the creek. Doesn’t he look so happy?

On an impromptu visit the creek, my kids found their way into the water. Slowly they “accidentally” got their toes wet. As Daddy and I were discussing the fence line, oops, their ankles got wet. Before you knew it, my oldest was up to her waist because a frog “scared” her into the water. 🙂

As the kids started splashing and finding tadpoles, crawdads, and seas shells, my husband and I enjoyed their laughter and listening to the remarks made about their nature discoveries.

It was as much fun for us to watch as it was for them to play.

Now to address my son’s pj’s.

It was a stay-at-home day and it had started out cloudy and rainy. Continue reading “PJ’s in the creek = Mom of the Year for me” →

Summer’s Downhill Slide

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Summer’s Downhill Slide

Downhill summer.jpg

Summer fun going fast.

My daughter recently discovered how much fun it is to ride her bike down the hill of our drive way. She hasn’t mastered riding her bike up it, but, boy, can she ride down it!

As I watched her ride down for the second time the other day, I realized I was witnessing moments of fleeting fun. How long will she shout out, “Watch me, mama!”? How long will it be before she isn’t excited about that hill or her bike anymore? How long before the muggy, summer days start to shorten and the chill of fall sends us in early?

I know. I know. Summer is just getting started.

I thought this would be a great time to remind everyone to slow down and enjoy it because, like those rapid rides down the driveway, another summer will be in the history books too soon and we will be asking, “Where did the time go?”

Have some cold lemonade or popsicles on the porch. Catch some fireflies. Eat some watermelon and have a seed-spitting contest. Run through the sprinkler. Enjoy the smell of fresh cut grass or marvel at the rows of newly bundled hay bales. Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk. Feast on fresh garden vegetables. Take twilight walks and be serenaded by the crickets. Count the stars of the nighttime sky. Ride a bike down that big ol’ hill.

Make summertime last in your heart and memories.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Love your decisions – Wise Words Wednesday

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Love your decisions – Wise Words Wednesday

Love your decisions.png

I can be the world’s worst when it comes to being happy with my own decisions. I second guess myself sometimes. I guess that is human nature.

It is my intention for this post to encourage others to resist feelings of self-doubt.

If the adventure you are on is fueled by a dream or a belief that you are passionate about, don’t let it go (especially not because of what others think). Love what you are doing because you love yourself.

With energy and passion guiding you on your journey there is no real room for self-doubt. Fill your actions with positive purpose and dedicated intent and there is no stopping you or the love you are generating.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Box Turtle

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Box Turtle

Box Turtles.jpg

Our racing turtles Elsa (bottom corner) and Fasty Big Guy (top) in their box with lots of strawberry stems, grass, tomato, and tree bark (for decoration).

Each spring our daycare celebrates the letter T by holding turtle races. My children are obsessed with these races. They nearly run me off the road every time a turtle is spied along the roadside with their desperate cries of, “Stop, Mommy, we need that turtle. He looks fast.”

We capture multiple turtles each spring. (We “lose” at least 1 each year because someone forgets to put it back in the box or the decorations added to the turtle’s environment provide a perfect escape route.) Our turtles are always returned to the wild after the races are complete, and I like to think they don’t bear too many emotional scars from the affections of my children.

Capturing and caring for the turtles for a day or so before the race offers plenty of lessons in kindness, compassion, and responsibility for my kiddos. They also have a chance to learn about nature and how our choices impact the environments of animals like the turtles. They are very aware and show tremendous consideration for how the turtles feel and towards their return to their natural environment.

Often I feel like one of those box turtles. My surroundings are commandeered  by something bigger than myself and I have little or no control of what is going on in my world. Sometimes the box seems way too small for me and other times I am not sure which way is up.

I really, really wish I could have a shell to hide in sometimes too.

Here is the happy part of my box turtle metaphor. I am controlled by someone bigger than myself. Someone who has an infinite understanding of what I am going through and a clear vision of what I am meant to do with my life. He knows what is best for me and will guide me to the ultimate finish line. If I continue to plod along, doing the best I can, I will get where I need to be and accomplish what I am meant to do. My world has been designed with a greater good in mind and provides me with limitless possibilities to live up to my potential.

So my message for all my fellow turtles out there is keep going. Don’t let the smallness of a situation hold you back. Look for those decorative escape routes (like the tree bark in the photo above 🙂 ) or remain steadfast for opportunities that are coming your way. Don’t spend too much time in your shell, you might miss all the world has to offer.

It’s a big box out there, little turtle!

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

A Daily Sign

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A Daily Sign

Daily Sign.jpg

A few years ago my very good friend Erica gave me a sign that would provide what I needed to get going each day. I LOVE this sign!

Most of the time the sign simply stands on my dresser as decoration but there are days when I stop and rearrange the tags based on the challenges that my day holds. Sometimes I select the tags based on what I believe will help my husband through his day. Other times my children enjoy adding the tags they think we need.

There is something novel about the idea of giving yourself what you need for the day. As the sign reads, “Take what you need today,” I think it would be helpful if we each started our daily journey with the emotional tags we might need.

I know not everyone can have a cool tag sign like mine, but everyone can start each morning or job by taking a moment and in your heart and mind prepare yourself with courage, care, creativity, strength, patience, peace, or whatever virtue you need.  Continue reading “A Daily Sign” →

Red Pen Trophy Wall

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Red Pen Trophy Wall

Red Pen cemetary.jpg

In 2015 I began my red pen trophy wall. This display was inspired by the trophies my husband accumulated over the years from hunting trips. My students always seemed to have more interest in what he was killing than what I was teaching so as each new pen bit the dust, I began my trophy wall.

The wall developed greater meaning when I applied the infamous words of Kathy Rolwes (fellow teacher and lover of the written word), “Ink is love.”

Kathy always tells her students, “Ink is love,” when returning graded work. Her critiques and feedback are loaded with insight, beneficial advice, and love (of course). Her affections are well demonstrated by the inky sacrifices made by her pens.

This school year I added an additional tradition to the retirement of tragic grading pens. I invited each student, who wrote a deadly paper, to give a eulogy for the pen who gave its life to evaluate them. Once this tradition began, Continue reading “Red Pen Trophy Wall” →

Blogger Recognition Award

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Blogger Recognition Award

Blogger Regcognition Award.png

Thank you to Chloe, the Quirky Victorian at (Over) Analysing Literature for nominating me. Your writing is amazing and I am honored that you considered me worthy of this recognition!

Rules:

  • Write a post to show your award
  • Give a brief story of how your blog started
  • Give two advice to new bloggers
  • Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog
  • Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to
  1. Why I started Intentergy
    I had toyed with the idea of blogging for quite some time.
    I am always writing down ideas and am frequently asked by my colleagues and students to write down the things that come out of my mouth. I had gone so far as to play with blog templates and kept a journal of ideas for “someday,” when my cousin said to me one day, “You know what you should do? Write a blog. A blog about inspiration. I could just get up and get on my smartphone every morning and there would be a positive quote or story from you. That should be your job.” So I played with the idea a little bit more and in my musings I accidentally hit “Publish” instead of “Preview” and the rest as they say is history. I am not one to back down from a challenge, so I took to sharing on the blogosphere daily.
  2. First Advice for New Bloggers
    Do your homework. I read a number of books including, Born to Blog by Mark W. Schaefer and Stanford A. Smith and The Weblog Handbook by Rebecca Blood. These books provided tremendous insight into the world of blogging and introduced me to things I never would have thought of because I had never blogged before. Books were a great tool but reading and commenting on other blogs has been the best help. The more blogs you see and the more advice you get from experienced bloggers the better off you will be.
  3. Second Advice for New Bloggers
    Don’t be afraid to talk about your blog. Tell everyone you can about your writing and your site. This kind of publicity shows enthusiasm for your work and will spark interest from those who care about you or share the same interests as you. Interact with other bloggers. Invite them to see your blog and give feedback in their discussions. This will generate more traffic for your blog and help you find followers and others who are vocal about what you are sharing.
  4. Thank you so much QuirkyVictorian! I always enjoy your blog and am excited that you like mine as well! Check out her blog, people!!!
  5. 15 Bloggers that should also be recognized
    1. https://beingmommie.com/
    2. https://thepossibilityblogdotcom.wordpress.com/
    3. https://aneneslife.wordpress.com/
    4. https://purelysimplewords.com/
    5. https://weirdweekendsblog.wordpress.com/
    6. https://energytrails.wordpress.com/
    7. https://fictionisfood.wordpress.com/
    8. https://samngigeblog.wordpress.com/
    9. https://theworldisnotagainstme.wordpress.com/
    10. https://creativityamongdigitalchaos.wordpress.com/
    11. http://www.marilynwrites.org/
    12. https://philosophicalepiphany.wordpress.com/
    13. https://thelearnify.wordpress.com/
    14. http://www.asoneoncesaid.com/
    15. http://theroadwereon.com/

By: Melanie A. Peters

Coloring Connections

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Coloring Connections

coloring with my kids.jpg

Tonight I sat and colored with my three year-old son for an hour. That’s right an hour. My other kiddos were playing secret spies and watching Nick Jr. in the other room.

As we colored my little guy talked and talked and talked.

His conversation was very revealing. He does not like purple dogs. He does like orange, blue, red, and yellow dogs. He does not like the blue that I colored the sky, but likes his Paw Patrol blue color for coloring the sky. All of the dogs he colored are named Charlie the Ranch Dog (based on the character in Ree Drummond’s books).

It was fun to just listen to him. If I stopped coloring, he would ask, “Mommy, are you taking a break? Are you done taking a break?” He wanted so badly for me to like and do the same things he was doing that it really bothered him to see me stop.

So I kept coloring.

I colored seven (7) whole pages and watched and listened while he colored on eight or nine different sheets. It was relaxing, but most of all it gave me time to create and connect with my little boy. Rarely have I taken the time to just color with him since Christmas and most of our conversations lately have been about what episode of Paw Patrol he wants to watch.

As I colored with him, I thought back to coloring with my sisters when we were young. I remember coloring in coloring books on the floor of the first house we lived in and comparing my work with my sister’s. We believed that when you stopped coloring people’s hair blue and purple and were able to color inside the lines, you were a big kid. We colored pages and pages of images. I can’t even begin to try to remember all the art we created.

As a parent, coloring dates with your children offer time to connect and talk. The conversation while coloring flows out of the crayons and into the words being shared. It is almost like the opening of the coloring book is the portal to a dimension where your kids and you can be honest and candid about what is being seen, felt, or thought. It is a quiet activity that allows for freedom of expression and for bonds to form.

Last October I had the opportunity to visit Walsworth Publishing in Marceline, Missouri. They were printing millions of copies of adult coloring books. Since my visit I can’t help but notice all of the adult coloring publications lining store shelves and endcaps. It makes me smile to think of grown men and women coloring on their lunch break or while watching the evening news. After coloring with my son tonight, I think there just might be something to this Crayola-driven craze.

As an adult, it is so important to create connections through experiences like those found in coloring. Taking time to fill in the lines with the hues of your choosing and shading in the undefined areas with colors that come straight from you gives you a greater sense of control and creativity. Making something that you are proud of is so healthy for our emotional psyche and embracing a childlike pastime brings peace to our hectic world.

Maybe you won’t run out and buy a box of colored pencils and the latest edition of stained glass coloring creations tonight, but maybe take a few moments to doodle or sketch or even just make cool shapes with the paper clips on your desk. If you have children or younger siblings create some original art of your own together.

Take some time for innocent imagination and your energy will find an intent that is pure and positive and guaranteed to add a brighter spectrum to your day.

By: Melanie A. Peters