Dreamin Bohemian

I have been thinking about the gypsies of Bohemia in olden times, who traveled by caravan late at night from one town to the next town, to set up camp and eek out a living, I am having a hard time in actually getting a clear definition of just what Bohemian Style is. I feel like a townsperson, I think I see the picture, but then poof...I see the back of the wagon just breaking the horizon in the distance.

http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/gypsy-wagon-workshop/

bohemian - 5 dictionary results

(1.)
Bo⋅he⋅mi⋅an  /boʊˈhimiən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [boh-hee-mee-uhn]
–noun 1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
2. (usually lowercase) a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.
3. the Czech language, esp. as spoken in Bohemia.
4. a Gypsy.
–adjective 5. of or pertaining to Bohemia, its people, or their language.
6. (usually lowercase) pertaining to or characteristic of the unconventional life of a bohemian.
7. living a wandering or vagabond life, as a Gypsy.
Origin:
1570–80; Bohemi(a) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.


(2.)
bo·he·mi·an (bō-hē'mē-ən)
n. A person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior.
[French bohémien, from Bohême, Bohemia (from the unconventional lifestyle of Gypsies, erroneously supposed to have come from there).]
bo·he'mi·an adj., bo·he'mi·an·ism n.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.




(3.)
A Gypsy.
An itinerant person; a vagabond.
[Sense 3, translation of French bohémien; see bohemian.]
bo·he·mi·an (bō-hē'mē-ən)
n. A person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior.
~[French bohémien, from Bohême, Bohemia (from the unconventional lifestyle of Gypsies, erroneously supposed to have come from there).]
bo·he'mi·an adj., bo·he'mi·an·ism n.

Bo·he·mi·an (bō-hē'mē-ən)
n. A native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
The Czech dialects of Bohemia.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

(4.)
bohemian
A descriptive term for a stereotypical way of life for artists and intellectuals. According to the stereotype, bohemians live in material poverty because they prefer their art or their learning to lesser goods; they are also unconventional in habits and dress, and sometimes in morals.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

(5.)
bohemian
"a gypsy of society," 1848, from Fr. bohemién (1559), from the country name, from M.Fr. Boheme "Bohemia," from L. Boiohaemum (Tacitus), from Boii, the Celtic people who settled in what is now Bohemia (and were driven from it by the Gmc. Marcomans early 1c.). The modern sense is perhaps from the use of this country name since 15c. in Fr. for "gypsy" (they were believed falsely to have come from there, though their first appearance in W.Europe may have been from there), or from association with Bohemian heretics. It was popularized by Henri Murger's 1845 story collection "Scenes de la Vie de Boheme," the basis of Puccini's "La Bohème." Used in Eng. 1848 in Thackary's "Vanity Fair."

"The term 'Bohemian' has come to be very commonly accepted in our day as the description of a certain kind of literary gipsey, no matter in what language he speaks, or what city he inhabits .... A Bohemian is simply an artist or littérateur who, consciously or unconsciously, secedes from conventionality in life and in art." ["Westminster Review," 1862]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bohemian


That was a lot of information, all well and good! But I am talking Bohemian Style. Boho.
I have a certain preconceived idea in my mind, but then I try to research it a little I get a different picture depending on which source I am using. I really do love how people put it together in their homes as a decorating style, and that is what I am searching for.

I myself am looking for a fresh update. It seems to be a lovely melange of color. The above pictures are a very modest and moderate interpretation of color when it comes to decorating with a boho style, the norm is to apply the glorious color to the walls, and incorporate massive dark wood furniture and accessories are eclectic and personal but not shy either. Bold. I am still in my research stage, but I love what I see so far.

It has a very 60's 70's feel, I think this will be a fun exploration. More to follow.

Death the common element

A common thread of course that runs between the news of Michael Jackson and the Iranian Conflict is death. So as much as we think 'oh those poor people' or 'that guy had-a-great-career/was-terrible' the real difference between yesterday's culture focus and today's is Death came calling. I know I am going to tire of TV, before the news shows wring every last drop of post mortem publicity out of Anna Nicole, ooops intentional error, Michael Jackson.

But it really does make me wonder, and start me thinking. Have you ever seen a dead body? It's just astounding, because there is no life in the body. Life animates 150 pounds of otherwise inanimate lifelessness. I cannot lift 150 lbs. But 'something' does. And it resides in me. And animates me. For those people that I've lost through death, as I looked at the remaining body, I mourned. Because they were gone. They were not in the body.

The body was of no comfort and more accurately, no use. Life after death? I believe so.
http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-babies-and-muslims.html

I have always been connected to things unseen, even before I put a Name and a Belief to things of the spirit. An hour after I got the news of my father's unexpected death, and I was making plans to travel to my mother, I felt my father's spirit as I was standing by the kitchen table that my husband made. And my dad said, 'nice table Cookie'. So yes, you feel things of the spirit, and hear things of the spirit, but not with your body, with your spirit.

Thankfully, I don't hear of feel things like that too often. That would be unnerving.

But I do watch carefully the things that I am spiritual about. The spirit governs the body like a bridle leads a horse and makes it obey. There are a lot of spiritual bridles, horoscopes, tarot cards lots of other stuff that I don't even know about, angels and demons and a world in between. Try as he might, as much as he wishes, the horse cannot remove that bridle. He relies on his master to free him.

I have a few things that bridle me. One problem that reoccurs frequently; I get angry. It is not the outward expression of a slammed door, although I've slammed my fair share. But it is the inward festering when I am slighted, disrespected, tread upon. Especially if I have trusted someone and been betrayed. My anger will not go away. The Bible calls it a strong hold.

The dictionary defines stronghold: a strongly fortified defensive structure. A fortress; A place of refuge, survival or domination by a particular group or idea.

A Biblical stronghold is a major spiritual flaw, if left to fester, it will poison the body. My first hand experience is, I need help losing that festering lingering kind of anger. My anger is tied to a lot of things and if I may be honest, it takes up so much time to go through the whys. I am created a complex individual and I can outsmart my own self. Finally, after I have jumped through those hoops I get mad that I've wasted so much time being angry. Actually, desperate is a better word, I get desperate. Because, you guessed it, I am still mad. (shakes head, sad smile)

At that point I give it up to the Lord. I am so stubborn, I hang on to it for the longest.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." [1 Peter 5:8-9]

I don't make God happy when I am mad, but I do make the Devils from Hell dance with glee. When I fester in my own self righteousness pity or blame, the Devil is chewing on me like a bone. It takes me a while, days sometimes. Prayer after prayer, days sometimes. Like I say, sometimes I just see red. In the middle of nothing, 'pop' the thought strikes.

And that's a stronghold. When it just won't go away. Those feelings, those thoughts. And through prayer my Master removes that bridle.

Here's a great website from someone who deals with this stuff. Strongholds

Very informative.

My attention is still with the Iranian revolt. I am still seeking news of Iran and their desperate search for freedom. We've all seen it, the conditions in a land where they have no freedom and the people want to be free, its heartwrenching. I don't get the politics of it all but it sure makes me more and more thankful for my own freedom.

This song is perfect, and Cheryl Crow had her beginnings with of all people, Michael Jackson. Peculiarly, I come full circle. See what I mean, God is woven through everything.


“Redemption Day,” by Sheryl Crow

I’ve wept for those who suffer long
But how I weep for those who’ve gone
Into rooms of grief and questioned wrong
But keep on killing
It’s in the soul to feel such things
But weak to watch without speaking
Oh what mercy sadness brings
If God be willing

There is a train that’s heading straight
To heaven’s gate, to heaven’s gate
And on the way, child and man,
And woman wait, watch and wait
For redemption day

Fire rages in the streets
And swallows everything it meets
It’s just an image often seen
On television
Come leaders, come you men of great
Let us hear you pontificate
Your many virtues laid to waste
And we aren’t listening

What do you have for us today
Throw us a bone but save the plate
On why we waited til so late
Was there no oil to excavate
No riches in trade for the fate
Of every person who died in hate
Throw us a bone, you men of great

There is a train that’s heading straight
To heaven’s gate, to heaven’s gate
And on the way, child and man,
And woman wait, watch and wait
For redemption day

It’s buried in the countryside
It’s exploding in the shells at night
It’s everywhere a baby cries
Freedom

Therapy

Well here's a word I toss around a lot.

Therapy.

For example... chocolate is therapy, a good book is therapy, that intimate moment with the Lord, when His word comes alive, yes, truly (...verily) therapy. As in balm to the soul.

Let's see...my towering roses against the gray sky, yup, therapy. The voice of my grandson chattering to his Elmo and Big Bird friends? Sooo therapeutic.

And one more,a weird one, my humble backyard chicken clan, making their sweet musical chicken-cluck conversation as they intently scratch for bugs. PURE therapy.

But as I said, I toss that word around a lot.

ther a py [ther-uh-pee] –noun, plural -pies.

1. the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process: speech therapy.
2. a curative power or quality.
3. psychotherapy.
4. any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension.

Ha. I am right on by definition #4. And man oh man, do I need the relief.

So much goes on and not much gets by me! I do twitter after all.

I'm currently reading E-How...How to Exfoliate. "When you exfoliate, you gently abrade the skin and remove the top layer of dead cells. Exfoliating helps to hide fine wrinkles and gives your skin a rosy glow."

Now that sounds therapeutic. They give instructions,

1. Wet your body in the tub or shower.
OK. Good start.

2. Use a synthetic scrubbing sponge, exfoliating gloves or a body loofah.
While wearing your scuba mask and flippers...

3. Apply an exfoliating cleanser to your skin or sprinkle it onto your sponge. Some exfoliating cleansers contain as much as 25-percent ground volcanic rock; these are good for oily skin. However, cleansers that dry out oily skin too much can have a rebound effect, causing glands to overproduce oil.
Ground volcanic rock? WILMA! (in my best Fred voice)
Here's the rebound effect: glands screaming 'red alert'.

4. Scrub the exfoliating cleanser over your skin using your sponge or loofah; make circular motions.
They must have it on good authority that oval motions are counter productive.

5. Be gentle over sensitive parts of the body, like delicate neck and thigh tissue.
I am screaming in my brain now...'you think?'

6. Rinse skin thoroughly.
Again, muttering, 'drr'.

7. Be sure to follow up with a good moisturizer. Exfoliating dries out your skin.
Hmm, me thinks it's the volcanic rock that dries out most peoples skin.

8. Choose a lotion that is light in petroleum, lanolin and mineral oils. Non-comedogenic lotions - those designed specifically to prevent the formation of pimples - are best.
Please. We are not using petroleum unless we are behind the wheel of our cars.

-On second thought that doesn't sound therapeutic at all, that sounds somewhat tortuous.

I will stick to my body polish bar, the perfect exfoliator. No rubber mask or flippers, made with pure sea salt and minerals -not the volcano itself. Enriched with shea butter -moisturizer optional.

Wilma...you may keep your volcanic rock.

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