It is the small things in life that gift me the most pleasure…

I woke to the most glorious soft, warm, rose-pink sky this morning. A gift of a new day…inviting me to dance barefoot on the frosted ground. Oh how bitterly cold it was but deliciously invigorating. That deep connection with Mother Earth makes me feel so ALIVE and fuels my creativity. I am in awe of her beauty and her love fills my heart with such joy. My heart is full and overflowing with love.  This love inside runs deep, passionately. It flows through me like a whimsical river on an never-ending  journey, evolving into the very ink in which I write and draw.

Gifting me the creativity to finally finish the front cover of my latest children’s book “Orange Moon and the Grandmother Tree”.

Book One – Orange Moon and the Grandmother Tree (Launches 16th Dec)

I am so grateful for all the LOVE in my life. Love is everywhere. I feel truly blessed to have such a beautiful family and the best friends-kindred spirits I could ever imagine. Their very smile lights up my day and makes my heart sing.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you for your unconditional love and belief in me.

What a beautiful way to start the day and a new month too…HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE!! May your weeks ahead be filled with deliciously-happy, magical, loving, joyous, enchanting, mystical, peaceful and creative moments…they are waiting for you! JUST STEP OUTSIDE!

The best & the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller

Visiting the Enchanted Garden

We have been fortunate to visit our beautiful friend’s enchanted gardens several times these past few months. Our friend has let his garden run a little wild in some places.

Pathways woven with wildflowers become a sea of swaying rainbows…the enchanted garden was wild and wonderful, MORE magical than ever. I loved it’s WILDNESS!!!!

Love is present around every corner in the enchanted garden. Our beautiful friend has shared his love with all that lives in the garden and everything loves you back. This circle of love is the most beautiful feeling in the world.
That pure, innocent love flows through his garden, like a whimsical river….the love wraps her beauty and energy around you like nothing I have ever experienced. The birds and the butterflies, the flowers and the trees are full of love.

Walking past the pretty wildflowers you come upon my favourite part of the gardens. A magical place where you can feel the spirits dancing. A haven for wildlife – where the joyful hummingbirds live, where the butterflies kiss your face with their delicate wings and take rest at the tranquil water feature.

Wind chimes compliment the tranquility of the trickling water and the sweet, soft bird song that can be heard in the distance.

A perfect spot to photograph the children’s Walnut shell- sailing boats.

A perfect spot for a hammock too!

I love how the wildflowers at the water feature lure you into the woods behind…

Wild and enchanting. I take a few moments by myself and lie down on the soft, lush grass. The gardens’ hypnotic beauty and tranquility, allow me to melt into a dreamy state of bliss that I never want to leave.

I am woken by a call, asking me to come and taste the freshly picked vegetables and herbs.

Radishes and potatoes are ready to harvest…

… and devoured that evening…delicious!

An encounter with a baby Robin captivates Samuel for the rest of the afternoon. The adorable baby bird follows Samuel around the entire garden. Samuel was deeply moved by this experience and was reluctant to say goodbye his new feathered friend. He wanted to take him home. This magical moment will stay with Samuel forever.

After our last visit I decided to rename the garden – “The Enchanted Garden of Love”

It’s a place you never want to leave.

I am so grateful for the time we have been gifted in it’s beauty and love. I always leave feeling at peace and full of inspiration and creativity.

The dreamy wildflowers dance in my head as I imagine how magical they must look in the late evening light – a dreamy flow of beauty, swaying in the warm summer breeze. These heavenly, magical moments of pure joy, love and tranquility melt into liquid and become the ink in which I write and draw with.

Thank you my beautiful friend for sharing your enchanted garden with us. You have created a heavenly place, gifting joy, love and happiness for all who visit.

Wishing you all – deliciously, magical, enchanting moments in nature, love and peace, Marghanita x

Do you have a magical place where your creativity flourishes?

I love waking up with Mother Nature.
As I walk barefoot in the little Forest where I run my nature classes, I feel an incredible connection with my surroundings.  My senses come alive. The scattered pine needles on the dry earth tickle my feet. My step is slow, covering the ground gently, wanting to feel every texture and life force. Ants and spiders scurry across my path. The earth is dusty and warm and I feel the gentle pulse of mother earth beneath me. I feel so alive.

Time does not exist in nature. I am free to sit and listen to the glorious birdsong. Looking up, I am in awe of the morning glow from the Honeysuckle .

Like a mothers gentle arms, the warm, pine-scented summer breeze wraps her love around me and whispers sweet poetry. Sunbeams kiss my face and my heart fills up with love on this beautiful morning.

I can’t help but smile at the thought of the children finding the drift wood and felted caterpillar later this morning. There is something so magical about watching children in nature. Their wonder and awe gift joy to all.

Thankful for the gift of another day – thankful for my purpose in life, my spirit dances in the glory of Mother Nature’s enchanting beauty.

Life is truly beautiful. When I begin each day spiritually connected to all life, I feel enriched and full of love, a love I want to share with everyone.

Both the joy and the woe that I feel, melt into liquid and become the ink in which I draw and write with – my latest illustration ” Share the Love”.

What is loved will survive. Wishing you a beautiful, joyous week in nature.

Sending love and peace to you all, Marghanita x

Yesterday we went for a walk after dinner.

The wildflowers were a feast for the eyes.

The kids didn’t seem that excited about the wildflowers, they were too busy having fun.

How do you spend your time after dinner?

Please take a moment to view Natural Moments wonderful wildflower post : Late May, early June Wildflowers

There is something very magical about waking up with Mother Nature.

I woke at 5am this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up and went outside barefoot. I sat underneath my “Love Tree” a magnificent Ponderosa Pine. It is where I love to read and meditate. It is home to so many wonderful creatures, insects and birds.  I lay against it’s rustic rich reddy-brown bark and started to read.

The sun finally appeared through the thick grey clouds and the sunbeams kissed my face.

Looking up from the book I noticed the dandelions had opened their beautiful golden heads to the sun and how magical the seeded dandelions looked. I stood up and walked passed the Honeysuckle, its sweet scent was fading as the sun warmed the air. I bent down to blow a seeded head.  I watched in awe as the seeded fairies floated in slow motion, drifting across the lawn, over the wall, and disappearing out of sight, hoping some child might catch one and make a wish.

Magic had captured me and I fell to the ground. I lay amongst the dandelions. Mezmorized  by all the beauty around me, I smiled and letting go of all my thoughts, my body began to melt into the ground. I was in bliss and my spirit danced with the dandelions. I shared my love with the dandelions and they loved me back. We were one.  My heart was full.

After a while, I slowly sat up. The garden was fully awake now. Many birds had arrived and were singing in sweet harmony together. Nuthatchers pecked at the Ponderosa bark with such determination. Bees and wasps buzzed around the Honeysuckle and a male robin chased the female, eager to have his way with her. I could hear doves coo in the distance. Man too, had woken up and the noise of the power tools was my cue to head indoors to wake up my family. My heart was so full of love, I couldn’t wait to throw my arms around them and let them know how much they are loved.

Having that time alone, to be with myself, to love myself, allows me to appreciate and love everyone and everything around me. In today’s fast driven society, people, especially parents find it difficult to allow themselves time to be quiet, to be still, to be with themselves and we are made to feel guilty for taking this time. Please don’t feel guilty, it is about honoring yourself and connecting with yourself. Taking care of yourself is one of the first steps on the journey of discovering your truth and accessing your creativity. When you honour and nurture yourself you can hear your inner voice much more clearly.

Go on, make the time  to walk barefoot amongst the dandelions. Wishing you all a beautiful week, love Marghanita

More dandelion love: Play Amongst The Dandelions

For you mum and dad…………..with all my love, your loving daughter, Marghanita x

Edinburgh, Cockburn Street

Today I woke up to rain. A grey mist hung over the distant hills creating an atmospheric scene not unlike my homeland. I ran outside and let the raindrops kiss my face. I was instantly transported back to Scotland. Tears merged with the rain on my face. A sadness came over me. Oh how I miss my homeland and my family. As I stood in the rain, watching it dampen the grass and darken the Ponderosa pine bark, I thought of all the magical moments I had shared with my mother and father in nature. The long hikes up the Pentand Hills and later the challenges of the Monroes. Waking up in a soggy wet tent and playing caterpillar fights in our sleeping bags with my three boisterous brothers. I miss my mother’s warm coothieness nestling me in her arms for no reason, just love. My father sharing his fascination of rocks and minerals and butterfly chrysalises. These are the things I remember. These are the moments that make my eyes well up and fill me with joy and love. Love that I so want to share with my own children. Love that I want to share with everyone, with every living thing.

Mum visits Canada

A smile burst over my face as I remembered all the joy and wonder and I danced in the rain with my heart full of love.

I feel incredibly grateful for my magical childhood. It was filled with unconditional love, fun adventures, discovery, laughter, make belief, outdoor magical worlds and parents whose love for the natural world inspires me to this day. I feel it has come full circle, being a nature loving parent who is inspired to share walks down forest paths, huffing and puffing to the top of a hill, building fairy houses, searching for rocks and chrysalises, enjoying storytelling on a warm summer evening with my own children and all children.

My Little Highlanders!  Loch Morlich

I am so thankful that my parents took the time to share the natural world with me, took the time to be in the moment with me and my brothers. And allowed me to be me, not forcing their desires, their wishes for my future.

Thank you mum and dad for loving me so passionately, for allowing me to run free and wild, to follow my heart, my passions, my dreams.

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As parents, if we show an appreciation for Mother Nature, the children in our lives will follow us. Lead by example, take a walk in the park, help your child grow vegetables, love unconditionally, go on a bug hunt, let them climb a tree, scream and run wild, collect fallen blossom, make smelly potions and mud pies and dance in the rain together! ]]> http://www.marghanita.com/parents-are-the-greatest-role-models/feed/ 6 http://www.marghanita.com/are-you-the-revolution/ http://www.marghanita.com/are-you-the-revolution/#comments Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:09:38 +0000 Marghanita http://www.marghanita.com/?p=5236

THE LET’S GO OUTSIDE REVOLUTION BEACH PARTY APRIL 15th 2011

The “Let’s Go Outside” Revolution is about changing the way children spend their time.

Happy, Healthy Children Play Outdoors!

Happy, Healthy Toddlers Play Outdoors!

I AM THE REVOLUTION!

Happy, Healthy Adults Play Outdoors!  WE ARE THE REVOLUTION!

Happy, Healthy Teenagers Play Outdoors! WE ARE THE REVOLUTION!

THE FUTURE LOOKS GOOD!

JOIN THE FUN!  JOIN THE REVOLUTION! BE PART OF A BETTER FUTURE!

JOIN THE REVOLUTION on FACEBOOK!

I will be sharing the Revolution Beach Party video and report later this month.

It’s the second week of our Spring Break. Even though the kids are on holiday, like so many mums, I still have to juggle work – illustrations to be completed, orders to be dispatched, a laundry pile to be tackled, emails to be sent and phone calls to be made.

As I sat in front of my computer replying to emails, Sam appeared, his face beaming with excitement. “Check out this squirrel mum, it came right up to me while I was on the deck”.

The joy in his face propelled me off my seat and we ran outdoors. Sure enough the cutest little squirrel sat up without a care in the world.

Being in the moment

We sat in our garden mesmerized by this incredible creature showing off his amazing acrobatic skills jumping  from tree to tree with such ease. We watched and listened as the bushy tailed squirrel devoured a large spiky pine cone.

Not before stopping to give us a smile! What an absolute JOY!

I don’t think there is anything more magical for a parent than sharing your child’s awe and wonder at the world. This magical moment of connection fueled our imaginations, sparked our creativity, filled my heart and made my spirit dance.

What is more Important?

Had I stayed at my computer and sent the emails and tackled the chores, I would have missed this magical moment with my son. You can never get these moments back-but you can always tackle the chores later! I have missed many moments because I have not been fully present in the moment. I’ve been too busy, too pre-occupied, but Sam, my youngest,  is now 13 and I know these moments will become less frequent. That’s why I’m grabbing everyone I can.

A Reminder………

The paragraph below (from “The Treehouse” by Naomi Wolf) is my reminder:

There is a hierarchy of what’s important in things to notice. “Sometimes you tune out on lesser details – like where is my wallet or where are the car keys for the more important details that relate to your creative work – for the flamingos in the backyard. I think the discovery of a flamingo in the backyard is of higher order of excitement than “Where’s my car keys?”

“But Dad,” I pointed out, “what if you aren’t doing creative work? And what if there aren’t any flamingos in your backyard?”

“Oh Naomi,” he said, and sighed. “If you are living your creative life as you should be, you are always doing creative work. And, ” he said, “there are always flamingos.”

Wishing you many magical moments with your children……..love Marghanita x

I was woken up by the most beautiful bird song this morning. A smile beamed across my face and my heart was filled with joy as I watched the birds chase each other excitedly from tree to tree. I was thankful to have been gifted another beautiful day.
Then I remembered Japan and it’s unimaginable catastrophe.
Japan seemed so far away but after seeing the destruction and the suffering, Japan felt closer than ever. That feeling of connection bore into me and I wept for their suffering.

We are all connected.

I drew this illustration this morning in hope….

……In hope that in the midst of all their suffering they can find moments when they can hear the bird song too and be filled with joy. That they can feel nature’s love, nature’s promise of new beginnings and happier times.

My thoughts and prayers are with Japan.

This book I hold close to my heart. It would still be sitting in a corner of my studio collecting dust had it not been for one very special being.

2010 started off difficult. The recession had almost crippled my business and things looked bleak. I had taken out a second mortgage to secure a loan on The Little Humbugs business.
This put me under an enormous amount of stress. I felt guilty, responsible for this financial nightmare. I had failed my family who were paying the price for me following my passion, my dream. It had not been my dream to make the Little Humbugs into a business when I wrote the first little book and website almost 5 years ago. That was the furthest thing from my mind but a series of events led me down this path.

I am a “creative” not a business person and should have realized this would never work for me. I craved my creativity and wasn’t getting to release what was inside of me. Something inside of me died.

Then in early summer, something magical happened. A remarkable person walked into my life. His passion and enthusiasm for life and every living thing was inspirational. Over the following months he patiently shared his knowledge and wisdom which had a profound impact on my life. He made my spirit dance again, leading me on a new spiritual path.I still have so much to learn, and I am eager to learn. Yes, there will be many more hardships to follow but I feel better equipped to deal with them when they arrive. You cannot have joy without experiencing suffering and pain.

In the months that followed I immersed myself in my love affair with nature. My passion, returned and I was eager to complete the writing and illustrations for this book. My creativity flowed out of me from my heart and soul- joyfully, lovingly, pure.

I may not be rich in wealth but I am rich in love, family and beautiful friendships which fill me with such joy. It is impossible to describe -something money could never buy.

So what of the future- it is uncertain but what I do know, is that I cannot give up my passion, my purpose in life. I will continue to use my gift, my creativity to help others in reconnecting with what is essential for a harmonious life – a connection with nature- Mother Earth. We are all connected and we all play a vital role in this beautiful journey we call the circle of life.

I hope you enjoy my new book as much as I have had creating it.

Thank you to my patient husband and understanding children for allowing me to pursue my true purpose in life. I am in awe of my children s inner beauty that has shined through these hardships.

Thank you Don for coming into my life and making my spirit dance once more.

Thank you to all my family back in Scotland and new and old friends for all the support and belief in me over the years. I am truly grateful.

Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful journey in life, love Marghanita.

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NIKA AND THE PAINTED TURTLE by Marghanita Hughes $2.99 e-book (31  pages)

Nika, one of the Butterfly Girls,  goes to the river where she discovers Pebbles, the cutest painted turtle. They become great friends and spend magical times together down at the enchanting waterfall and river. But Nika becomes sick and Jasmine, the leader is away on a special mission. Lucy has to seek help from their Human friends. What is making the Little Humbugs sick? Will Lucy manage to get help?

This story is beautifully descriptive and delightfully told. Children will love it and they will learn from it too. A real joy and an appreciation of nature shine through this book.

HELP SAVE TREES: When printing this book please consider using 100% recycled paper. (31 pages)

I designed the book so that children could personalize it and make it their very own. Once printed, punch holes down the left hand side and tie with ribbon. The child can then add their own drawings to the book as they learn more about turtles, nature, the Little Humbugs and the environment. They could even add a secret envelope at the back of the book for little treasures they collect from nature…………………I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did writing and illustrating it, love Marghanita x

To purchase the ebook version of : Nika and the Painted Turtle-click here ($2.99) (31 pages)