New Chapters, New Vistas, New Name

Adjusting to new chapters in our lives is never easy whether it be aging, moving, death, divorce, and any number of significant changes that occur at the drop of a hat. So I sit tonight ready to begin this new journey with a blog from snorts & giggles. This blog arrives from the pen of Annie Allen: Emerging Formations. As you can see there is no Roasted included... It seems, appears foreign to even me. The name Roasted was developed from the creative brain juices of my second child Laura. She is a locomotion in movement when it comes to creative juices for business opportunities. I have been blessed to be able to call upon her services and to call her my daughter. I'm also fortunate enough to have another very creative child whose name is Jason. I call upon him for sound advice, helpful instructions on business manners and hugs. He is one of the most caring individuals I know with a knack for fixing, arranging and helping others.
Now back to the name Roasted. Roasted has been put upon an honorary shelf where all of my gratitude's, blessings and good fortune reside. Four glorious years appeared in my life due to this name and the energy that surrounded it. I will never again scuff at the idea of energy for everything we think, touch, feel and put forth creates waves of energy (both positive and negative). I have learned to give thanks and always set intentions in the morning starting with gratitude for all in life. I am now starting a new chapter with the name Annie Allen (Daniel) followed by the tag line Emerging Formations. Why emerging formations... because my whole life has been about emerging formations. The creative formations that are formed in my heart and imprinted on my brain come from interactions with the land, with the people who live upon the land and all living entities that surround the land. To set foot upon this beautiful planet with a smile upon your face and a song in your heart allows energy to flow through me and land upon a canvas (or other such surfaces). Visions come forth and are released with great wonder and enjoyment. So  my journey begins anew with different views and new souls to meet. The beauty of this is that the old views and the wonderful souls that have been with me will remain with me to visit, to call, to e-mail or to just hold deep in my heart... loved and cherished. Thank you to all and I look forward to this new chapter. Please stop in any old time and share a cup of coffee or tea.

Pathways of Growth

I fully believe that when the time has come, the pathway will shine... just as when we are ready for growth, improvement, changes; illumination will plug us between the eyes. But, the big but, we have to be open to receive this information. Not only do the stars have to line up but we have got to get our spirits wrapped around the idea that the world has different plans for us. We might have even been born for a reason (or several reasons), perhaps we will move on to great plateaus where people actually feel like we do, carry opinions that resemble ours, and that compassion and generosity of spirit are freely administered

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 to all (I repeat ALL of those in need) though the majority of people surrounding you might think you're quite daffy. 
Tubac has left a lasting impression of my spirit and my future. 
Names, words, symbols, letters and other unusual suspects play with my brain when they enter the hemisphere's. For example I learned quite awhile ago that many people whose name begins (first and/or last) with M are quite powerful in my life.. not quite sure why but I am always alert and ready to listen when M appears. Also Ann, Anne, Annie, etc... this name has great meaning to me, powerful reflections are made through the arts when it comes to Ann names not to mention the biblical sense of Ann's that enter. There are many more but for now this will suffice. 
I now will sprinkle some tidbits that have placed themselves upon my table during our time in Tubac. 
Our hosts: Gisela & Heinz.... simply put generous, educated, souls of reflection, great literature, art and humanitarians, not to mention outstanding cooks... they will always be in our hearts and friends for life. Gisela reminds me of my aunt Arlene, my grandmother Myrtle, my mom and many other angels who have lifted me ... who truly see me and get me. The gift that Gisela brings to the table... she not only sees but she shares and announces what she sees.. because she cares. 
Lou:  outstanding artist, spiritual guide, visionary, gifted, compassionate, educator and motivator.. "Why are you  not reaching the full potential that God (insert what you will) has in store for you??? Why?" Thank you Lou... I will now use spirit in everything I do and produce for it would be stupid not too. 
Margaret Rose: Sweet, caring, motivated to make a difference, entrepreneur and now friend... Sincere and true to herself and others. I am blessed to meet you. 
Shura: Humanitarian all the way... you twinkle, you rock, you will make a difference Berkley Lady. While educating the masses you will make a change by respecting those around you and gently standing up no matter what comes before you. I will forever be changed by your program and compassion for the immigrants who struggle with survival every single day. You will be my motivation and charity this year. 
Roberta: sweetness, sister spirit... "When are you moving home? I smile... that day will come for I would like to paint with you, sit under the desert trees and listen to birds with you. 
There are so very many more that have just plain reached out and said join us, come talk to us, let us know your spirit and your viewpoints. 
It has been a long time coming 
I have found many friends .... friends of like spirits 
like my man Trace... 
friends who ask, "Who are you.. and truly want to know... then I ask "Who are you?" and I truly want to know. 

Creations of DNA

There are stairways in our lives, paths that are illuminated as bright as the northern star. These stairways brought you both into my life. You were both a shining star, sunshine upon my brow as a mere teenager and how lucky this shining star was. I will never forget nor put aside the memory of having, raising, and being involved with two souls that the good lord placed upon me. 

I have been so fortunate in my short life span upon this earth. To meet remarkable people, to start a business that evoked the Gods and Goddesses to bless my work, and to be close to the genetic pool that I helped procreate.

How wonderful the opportunity to bring up two souls such as yourselves. Stunning, remarkable, smart, and most important intuitive. You both know that the world is bigger than what is humanly imaginable. By setting intention, by knowing one's self we create the world that we want, that we need for our very sustenance. 

I knew when the lord brought you to my gateway that I had been blessed upon blessed. Now there are doors open for the first time in my life, that are guiding me back to my spiritual path, a path of enlightenment. A path where I can be myself and create from my heart. I know that the future holds gifts and surprises for both of you and for my grandchildren. I look forward to being there, lifting you upon the stairway of life and supporting as needed. 

You are loved and cherished

expressions of both fill my heart. 

Mom

Annie

The quiet purple sky before me

Tonight, as the sun set, purple hues filled the sky from one end to the other. The negative space between the trees revealed not only purple but glorious alizaron, golden hues, and deep cobalt blue. Reflections hit me between the eyes as a deep sigh escaped my lips. This glorious man beside me smiled secretively as though he knew the secrets of the skies before us.
How fortunate to live upon this earth ... this day of spring equinox... a day of honoring this sweet earth. How fortunate am I to have children, to have grandchildren, to have loved ones who hold me dear... who I hold dear...
This day, this beautiful day.. the one day that exists before me, holds dreams and secrets. My sixth sense says "Be alert, know that your path was destined to behold this sky, to pray for all that exists upon this planet. I am so very fortunate to breathe this very air..."
Blessed are we to live upon this earth....
Pictures exists to remind us

Emotions running like the wind

The sun is shining ... I think I will create
Sleet has hit... tears are brimming
Wind is gale force... emotions surge
Silence... quiet my thoughts and start again
The sun is back... creating once again
Sleet begins... today is father's birthday
Wind is gale force....am I forgetting him
Silence... what time of day was I born

The sun is shining...trying to create
Sleet has hit once more...dad is dead
Wind blows again gale force...frustrations of wanting more
Silence... it will be better tomorrow

Sun, Sleet, Wind... Silence
It mystifies me to why I cannot quiet my  mind as needed. 
I want to totally allow creation to happen
sensations to happen

Damn

There is always tomorrow and sleet + wind cleans the earth much as tears + emotions do me.

When the world is too much

Life spins erratically around us and the world feels as though it is too much to handle. The world of technology spits information out so rapidly that we barely have time to think before opinions and a stream of thoughts enters our energy field. The sad reality is that technology is not a substitute for a hug, for a warm smile, for a verbal exchange where we can encounter the actual spirit of the individual.
The reality is that we gain so much more from life by using our bodies to connect with others. How do we use our bodies, you might ask? Our eyes are windows that display emotions, that allow light and love in, that pull down shades when we feel anger and sorrow, that reflect the soul of the person we are viewing. Our ears pick up tones and cues from humans, animals, and the earth that we walk upon. We, just like our animal friends, can sense and feel energies that surround us when we are one with our surroundings (not when we are plugged into technology and TVs). Our mouths can form letters, syllables, sounds, and words that can heal the deepest cuts, music can fill the air from wind blown through our mouths, we are miracles upon this earth. Our hands (as I type) are miracles upon themselves. All the muscles, bones, and fluid that exist in these hands of ours. Our hands can touch, caress, paint, draw, write, express every emotion imaginable and help human kind dramatically. 
Our legs can soar us into the air, leap us across great boundaries, take us on wonderful journeys, and walk our troubles away, not to mention  take our friends for a walk to allow the earth to absorb our troubles. 
Simply put there is no replacement for human contact, for human artistic endeavors, for human bonding other than to use our resources we were born with.
When the world is too much, climb inward and heal. Write, create, dance, sing, cry, run, be silent. Then reach out and share the wealth. 
Blessings 
from snorts and giggles
Annie

Faces of our Childhoods

As we sit viewing the setting sun, nostalgic stories begin to trickle through our  minds. Memories of childhood, thoughts of loved ones back home, inklings of new borns arriving soon, flashes of those we love (both dead and alive).
The beach exposes us to raw emotions and thoughts of our life upon this planet we call home. Young children romped in the afternoon sun. One little girl in particular ran with total bliss, ponytail bobbing, her two year old legs scampering towards the birds, the ocean foam, and the thought of dipping her toes in the waves. Her father, a giant of a man, lumbered behind her slowly knowing he would catch her if she fell. I thought of my own gleeful childhood, playing in the sun till night set in and/or mom hollered for us to come eat. The air, the blue skies, the animals that surrounded us as we grew. As we look back now, listening to our siblings share stories about their lives (that we shared with them) we realize our stories are often times vastly different but as interesting as one another... we share a story, a legacy, a raising from our parents. We were (and are) quite fond of one another and yet so vastly different even today.
Is this not what we all reach for, eclipse to be, different but yet accepting of our differences? What a wonder to hear my brothers versions of childhood, to think about the love for a mother and father through different lenses.
As we ate a marvelous meal of fresh fish, calamari, amazing wine, followed by key lime pie...ahhh, we listened to Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra sing the same songs but in total different versions. Both were amazing singers who touched our lives.
What a joy to know we are all singing our own songs to our own tunes. To think our next generation will be singing our stories and reveling in those stories from several different versions..
It is good to be alive
To our loved ones who are getting through illnesses or tough times, we (I) love you, in many different ways.
Annie