Homegrown Hospitality

It is...

raining,

then sprinkling,

then pouring,

and snowing in low elevations,

our soccer games are rained out again,

it is Saturday

and i am super sick,

sniff-ly,

sinus-y, 

i have on my sweatshirt,

slippers and jammie pants,

i am on my seven hundredth cup of coffee,

i just finished my saturday at 7am phone call with my momma,

i am creating,

and i am happy, a little icky achy-y,

but happy to show you this:

 
if you click "Art For Sale" over in the left sidebar, you will see it!

pssst.....you will find these:

 
when they are finished, later today..or at least by the end of the weekend, there as well...

oh, and..I forgot to tell you...I changed my class for the Art-Full Horizons Event in May (in Palm Springs, where it will be wonderfully sunny and warm, unlike today!)

Here is a peekity-peek peek peek at what I will be kitting up and ready to teach you:

 yippeee.....cute, fun Mod Podge collage tags with "Happy Thoughts" on them...

okay, off to blow my nose...

This Morning I Pushed a Button

Do you ever wonder why we set ourselves up for failure, or why we set out our own detour cones right in the middle of our own road, why we grab for the cookie sheet without a potholder when we know that it just came out of the oven, why we walk across the hot sand without shoes when we know that it will burn our feet...or stick a spoon in hot soup to just "take a little taste" and burn the heck out of our mouth...

"I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it.  Instead, I do the very thing I hate." Rom. 7:15

I do all of the above...and even more dumb things (except for the fact that I slow at a yellow light instead of punch it, which makes the people in my car fussy!) anyways...I know that I am not the only one who does all of the above, but I will be the crash test dummy for this post so that you don't have to....

I know that we all also want to live a BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL LIFE

 
but because of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, fear (enter your own reasons here) sometimes, it is easier to just settle than to take the next step in the right direction.  It is because we are human and because our wonderful world has its own suggestions, thoughts, and opinions of what is right, and because Adam ate that damn apple (even though Eve picked it!)

BUT...

if we would just STOP and redirect our attention elsewhere...(insert picture of me pointing up) refocus, re-evaluate, plan carefully and for Pete sakes, don't give that dang devil the foothold on us, CHANGE is totally possible.

it is

it is

it is..

Ask yourself (I mean, I am asking myself), Today..

STOP listening to emotions (you "won't" if you think you "can't")

STOP living in fear (am I trusting GOD or listening to my fears?)

STEP out in Faith....(unquestioned obedience to GOD, not me, for Pete's sake!)

okay, now I can not talk, type and tell you all of this without doing it myself....so this morning, even though I have been on the couch, fighting the sniffles,sneezing, coughing, stuffy head, fever and aches...I got up, and pushed a button to take my next step on my creative journey.

Details soon, but for today, whatever you have been putting off because of anything I have mentioned above, regardless of

how crappy you may feel,

how afraid you are,

how others may react,

do it..because you really do want to live a beautiful wonderful life

 
 okay, you know me too well..a little hint:

 

Work in Progress..All Done!

11" x 14" and full of color...

 
a work in progress and almost done...

 
and it makes me pretty happy!

and it is done....

 
and for sale...but there is only one...$50.00 plus shipping(SOLD!) thank you Cori! 

Save The Date

I am headed back to my Home away from Home...for a big ol' messy, creative, paint filled, collage creating, mallomar eatin (not me, them!) paper tearing, giggle infested class..workshop..party in Pennsylvania....yipppeeeee!!!!

Save the date to join me at Grove's on April 29th & 30th, 2011

 
All of the details are being finalized, flight plans are being secured, instructions are being typed and some of the pages are being sewn...what? (that is a hint...)

Class is "Life is Good" and it really is...even when you think it isn't!

 
Details will be added to the sidebar in the next day ot two..meanwhile, save the date and make sure that you are subscribing to my newsletter for the details of this and other classes..coming soon!

A Light That Will Make You Smile

We have all "been there, done that" at one time or another with being "stuck in a rut", "done" "finished" "over it"..whatever, and when you get to that point you need to, "ut um".....STOP.  (insert screeching breaks sound effects)

clear your plate, clear your head....just stop.

 
The frustration, anxiety, stress,drama, (add your own words here) in your life are the neon signs that it is time for an adjustment, a change, a re-direction....BUT in order to adjust anything, change something or go another way.....you need to stop or else things just get worse, duh.

I have been working like a whirling dervish on "Doodle, Too" and in the class there are tons of inspirational quotes, scripture and bible verses (and patterns!)that go along with the page samples I have been creating...

 
 
 
many, no, most of which apply to everyday life and each one of us. IMPORTANT - Just like I have said a thousand times, don't let the words "bible verse" turn you away. I am NOT going to preach to you ever, I just want to remind you that the verses I use and talk about are good for everyone, regardless of your religion, your faith...or..your lack of.  I just want to be a reminder...so as they say, "don't kill the messenger" (p.s. you probably have a had a verse or two in a fortune cookie with a different reference and did not say, that's it, I am not eating here anymore..at least I hope not!)

anyways, a great quote for today is

 "Let each day be your masterpiece"

and start with Today....regardless of whatever is going on in your life right now...no matter how sad, bad, different, icky, sucky, troubled...dig deep..reach high..think hard...look back..change your focus and find a light that will make you smile. 

Create about it...write about...tell someone about it...share it...and enjoy it.

  
Here is a little something that might make you smile...I am NOT a pet lover..at all. I like them, just prefer to look, not touch...unless they are like my dog coco, who always seems to want to be right in the middle of what I am doing...last night, as I was painting....I looked down and here is what I saw just to the left of my feet:

 
"a light that made me smile..."

Have a GREAT "masterpiece" day!

p.s.s..if you want to get the information on "Doodle, Too" please make sure that you subscribe to my newsletter....if you are planning on taking "Doodle, Too", I highly recommend that you take Doodle 101.  Get that info by clicking on the "Learn To Doodle" link over in the left hand sidebar!

 

 

I am a John Denver Song

oh, I forgot to mention yesterday, that being"Gluten Free" does not mean that you get to shed pounds, which I thought would happen because I was not eating bread, chips, etc.

nope.

not the case...

do not want to talk about that part yet because I am cultivating my physical "shape" and being a tad over 40 makes it even more.."challenging". nice.

anyways..I thought I'd give you a little "Trailer Park Martha" Cookin' lesson.  Usually on Sunday's I hit "Henry's" for all of my fresh stuff.  We do have a local farmers market on Friday but I only get a few things there...

Here is a look at the counter yesterday after shopping:

 
These ingredients are not really abnormal for me because I am a big "ten buck salad" maker but I am buying a families worth now..instead of just for me.(TPM definition of a Ten Buck Salad= a salad that you would pay at least 10 bucks for in a restaurant)

Anyways, on Sundays while the dryer is drying, the washer is washing, and now that Nascar is on....I take a little extra time to wash everything, chop this, that and the other and usually, at the same time, boil a whole chicken (that I did not raise for the love of pete!) to make chicken broth. (the prepackaged chicken broth does not play well with me, told you I was fun!)

anyways...I chop all the celery stalks up, keep the good, and throw the rest in the stock pot along with carrots, onions, salt (i, know!) and pepper...

 
bring to a boil, then throw a lid on it, turn down the fire and let it simmer for about two hours.

IT MAKES THE HOUSE SMELL SOOOOOOO GOOD..LIKE CHRISTMAS! 

meanwhile, the rest gets placed into the containers that I CAN find dang lids for

 
and the bag of "stuff" over on the left goes to the compost bin for the next garden...yea! Man I am really turning into a "John Denver" song...it is okay, I love it!

Now, during the same chopping session, I also chopped up Sunday nights dinner.  Stir Fry.

I chopped up cabbage, broccoli, yellow sweet onion and red onion, water chess, carrots, mushrooms and celery and placed it in another bowl (that I could not find a dang lid for) and tossed it with a non-gluten stir fry/marinade, covered it and put it in the ol' fridge until dinner time...

 
by the way, once the chicken broth is done, remove the chicken from pot and into a smaller bowl (except that it will most likely, no it will, fall apart)  Place a strainer into a big bowl and pour the pot of broth and veggies into to strainer...BE CAREFUL OF THE STEAM!!!.  Lift the strainer out of the big bowl and set broth aside to cool.  Remove any chicken from the strainer and toss the rest.

This is GROSS, but I let the broth sit on the counter for an hour or so and the fat (blahhhkk!) starts to gel a little on the top...(double blaahhhkkkk!) so I skim it off every so often.  

back to the stir fry...

 
I add about 1 cup of the fresh chicken broth along with MOST of the chicken that I just made in the stock pot to the stir fry veggies.  Add a little more of the stir fry/marinade and cook it up....serve with quinoa or rice and whalllaaaahh...dinner is served

 
p.s. note to self....have "beano" on hand for those who may need it.

Next for the broth..."Faith the Chicken, Soup" 

Have a GREAT Monday!

Cultivating My Shape

Remember that my "word of the year" for 2011 is CULTIVATE (read more about my cultivation in the January posts)...and man am I putting the word through the ringer!!!  I have NEVER been so disciplined in so many areas of my life..especially all at once..BUT, I am taking time for each area separately.  I can not cultivate them all at once or I would definitely become a bigger "Whirling Dervish" than I already "was".  Key word..WAS.

so with that said, I am working on my "SHAPE"...both physically and spiritually and they are both tough areas to conquer.  Basically, they will never be conquered..a definite work in progress...but key word is PROGRESS...and that I am making, whew!

As of yesterday, I have been COMPLETELY gluten free for FIVE WEEKS! whoot whoot..I am pretty much eatin' like Jesus did. (except for the AWESOME Gluten Free Tortilla Chips that I am sure HE did not have) Now, let me admit, changing my diet was not a big change for me because I do not eat any dairy or red meat..but let's just say there was ALOT of BREAD & BUTTER, chips and crackers in my pantry..and on my hips!  okay, enough about that, if you have any questions, just email me.

Back to SHAPE...on the spiritual side of things..and PLEASE do not let this part frustrate you or make you want to click over to another blog..because like I have always said..IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION, duh...you can apply what I am saying to everyday life....

Shape stands for Spiritual gifts....Heart.....Abilities...Personality...Experience

and it is what you do with your shape that not only matters...but makes a huge difference in your life and the life of others!

Heart = interests, passions & desires

"As a face is reflected in water, so the HEART reflects the person" Prov. 27:19

 

Believe

"Surround yourself in people that believe in you" Brian Koslow

When Life Gives You...

Scraps...

use them for good...embrace the pile and accept the challenge to enjoy what you have right in front of you...regardless of good or bad.

"It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always be wanting something else.." Ecc. 6:9

 Scraps in life have a purpose, even if you can not see it

 
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.." Heb 11:1

so get up RIGHT NOW....put on your boots (or flip flops) and do something with what you have right in front of you.  You will find that accepting, embracing and creating will be good for your heart & soul and and will be good for the others around you as well! Yea!!

 
"Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out" Heb 10:24

 

Why did the Chicken....EDIT

cross the road?

because she ("Faith, the chicken) is ONE BRAVE CHICK... 
and she just finished the Brave Girls Soul Restoration and she, ("faith the Chicken") is BRAVE...well, or getting there!!!

Come back tomorrow  it's here now...to see the finished piece but in the meantime, go check out Brave Girls Soul Restoration..Click here for all of the details!