I found a heart

So I was taking my walk and looking for pennies when a pile of string on a bench caught my eye. I turned around and walked back to it and found it was a crochet heart, with a note inviting me to photograph it and tag it #PeytonHeartProject.

Just finding it put me in a spiritual mind, so I took a photo of the heart in the building I found it, which had a chapel with the bible open to the parable of the silver pieces. Message enough for me.

I read up that the Peyton Heart Project raises awareness of suicide and bullying. It’s named after a 13-year-old boy who died by suicide in 2014 after years of bullying. Read more at:

http://www.thepeytonheartproject.org/

 I was touched by this method of spreading the word. After a while I’m going to release this heart back into the world. Maybe you’ll find it.

No more snooze button: The 5 a.m. Miracle

 Waking up early to run is what Jeff Sanders calls a double kick in the pants. Yet it’s kind of the whole concept he’s trying to pitch in his book “The 5 AM Miracle: Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast.”

This is bout being a rock star in your work and home life by maximizing your productivity and perfecting your schedule.

The results sound good, but do we want to wake up early for it? Sanders gets a “no way” response much of the time, but just read through. He can guide you through some tips and he promises that you don’t exactly have to begin at 5 a.m. – that’s a guide to committing to make the good stuff happen. It’s all up to you. He’s got plenty of motivation, and here’s just a bit of it:

1.  Bounce out of bed bright and early.

2.   Hydrate like you life in the desert: He says your body is thirsty after sleep and he drinks a liter before his morning espresso.

3.   Quiet time is essential: develop a calm, inspirational habit.

4.   Fruit for breakfast: his green smoothie fits right in.

5.  Consume inspirational and informative content: Successful people do this.

6.  Pump your blood: Even 10 minutes of exercise can help. He’s a runner.

7.  Plan your day like you mean it: It puts you in the driver’s seat.

darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Love drops for better water, loving your dog and becoming a tiger lady

Have you ever heard someone say they were addicted to bags? That sounded nuts, until I realized I had bags to hold my bags.

But here’s one suitable to recycle your others for: Love Drop Jumbo Canvas Shopper Tote ($17) Loving your planet looks good with this canvas tote that can stand up like a paper sack and slings over your shoulder. Keep it in the car for shopping, so you don’t have to waste another plastic bag from the rocer. The 100 percent natural cotton canvas features an original design by Scott Erickson. Mine has skyscrapers, an old-fashioned school house, a bike with a basket, produce, a yellow rose and other natural images designed into a water droplet, to remind us of how to use our resources responsibly. Living Water International makes sure prodeeds from sales give back to other projects. It can be purchased online. Now, read up on their good works.

TigerLady

This simple device looped to your wrist  is a retractable claw that means business. When you’re headed to your car, keep it ready in your palm to squeeze out claws that can capture valuable DNA when used.

It’ s a little rectangle of plastic that works like this: Simply put the strap around your wrist, place in the palm of your hand and squeeze the device to extend 3 claws.

The company sent me one so I could share the information with you. Here’s  how to get more in formation: http://www.tigerlady.com

Link up your dog

Chipped nail or lost pet?

While I don’t wear nail polish or own a pet, I hate the tedious task of changing out keys on a ring. I just heard someone talking about the urgent need/difficuluty of getting a new ID tag for a dog. The very next week I was invited to discuss LINKS-IT.

These colorful bits were designed by a pet owner and team of veterinarians to make attaching tags simple and painless. Just pull back the locking crossbar, snap apart the LINKS-IT, slide tags onto the bottom half and the collar ring onto the top half and then lock the LINKS-IT in place.

I asked my  contact if her dog would look best in purple or red and forwarded a LINKS-IT to try. Word is, it does what it says:

• Easy to open and close without breaking your nails or needing tools
• Strong and sturdy for active dogs: Tested to hold 58 lbs and open and close over 50,000 times
• Match color to fit your pet's personality and style.  Select from Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow colors.
• Quiet and lightweight (lighter than a dime)
• Made in the USA
• Weatherproof and will not rust
• http://links-it.com/products/links-it-pet-tag-connector

darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Pennies from Heaven and Mardi Gras

Pennies from heaven

For years now, I’ve found a penny or more daily on my walks. It keeps me walking, and praying.

This year I found more than $50 on the ground, apparently just waiting on me. And this was pretty much a penny, dime and quarter at a time.

Those who have caught me at it over the years see me out, the often ask if I’ve found one yet.

You wouldn’t believe some of the other things I’ve found.  I usually like the money the best.

Mardi Gras is Sweet Soiree

Are you a Mardi Gras lover? Your time is coming early this year. Those of us who have already posted photos of our homes and offices all decked out in purple, gold and green have been making contact.

We’re all ready for Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, headed to downtown Port Arthur from Feb. 4-7.

Have you heard, Wayne Toups is back. He told me himself that he’s expecting a new release, music wise, and another one, baby wise. A new Toups is in development.

If you make a good gumbo, please, please enter the Mardi Gras gumbo cookoff, so I can taste it. If you know someone who makes good gumbo and needs a little push, get someone to call the festival office, at

(409) 721-8717.

darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Rookery down the road for exploring

Port Arthur and Beaumont are known for birding sights that connect viewers with nature.

Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Woods, Cattail Marsh and the Big Thicket are some popular Southeast Texas draws.

Here’s another spot I found, and I’ve driven right past it for years. Trinity River Waterbird Rookery is just nearly under the Interstate 10 bridge near the Wallisville Lake Project on the way to Houston.

Follow the sign to parking and walk over a little bridge to an observation dock. Train those binoculars to what’s out there.

I caught soaring egrets and flocks of smaller birds circling trees on the far side of the water. It was quiet and peaceful, considering the heavy traffic a short distance away. The short time I was there, a couple of other families made an appearance.

If this spot had been secreted from you, enjoy it and spread the word.

NAG promises something new

Dot Chauvin is teaching Nederland Art Guild classes in January, each Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. “Be prepared to have a new experience of doing a different painting in this class,” reads the press release.

Are you ready for that? Hey, who knows what adventures 2016 will bring? Classes are at the Texas Artists Museum, 3501 Cultural Center Drive, and these classes are just one of many reasons you should visit the museum. Call 409-983-4881 to learn what all is going on at TAM.

darraghcastillo@icloud.com