Since I don’t really participate in Halloween any more, I thought I’d post a little collection of Halloween treasures my girlfriends and I have made over the years.
The pumpkin is real with succulents hot glued to the top. As long as you spray the succulents with water every couple of days, they last quite a long time.
I’ll bet you can’t imagine how much fun I had creating skulls! Each different, with their own personality.
The little skulls are even fun to decorate…
This skull is my favorite. By the time I painted, and decorated it, it started to speak to me. Something only artists may understand .
I hope you enjoyed seeing all my skulls, now I just have to pull them out this year.
I’ve been reading a new book titled, The Man Made of Words, by N. Scott Momaday.
It brought to mind that the words we use, the words we say, and how we say them can be of great impact to others. Just think about the ways we can or do get a point across. Sometimes we will repeat a story 900 times, other times we forget and leave things out, but other times we can be impatient, and be cutting, or even cruel. We all have said something that we didn’t quite mean the way it came out, but did any of us ever think of how those words made the other person feel. My son tells me I beat a dead horse, and he is not happy about it!
I’m an impatient person by nature, so I’m usually trying to pull back and be more patient. This takes an incredible amount of self control at times. Most of the time I can do it, but sometimes I can be nippy, & regretfully bitchy! At that moment, I never stopped to think about how my sharp words have made someone else feel. (Patience is my New Years Resolution! Always) This book has brought so many things to mind, and the way words can cut deep into the people listening, or to whom the words are directed. I don’t want to do that to anyone, and that certainly would never be my intention.
I watched this man of the Nations, N. Scott Momaday on a talk show a couple years ago, and decided to purchase this book for my husband for Christmas. When it arrived I stuck it away to be wrapped later, and put it in a place that even I couldn’t find it. So the next week it occurred to me that I hadn’t wrapped it for my husband, and since I was sick all of that December, I hadn’t bought anything but a flashlight for him. I felt terrible, but my kids didn’t even get much. Lo and behold, I had purchased two books for him without realizing it, and neither of them were found in time. It was to be the Christmas that goes on giving!
Next time I feel myself loosing patience, I need to slow down and think about how those words are going to sound, or have an impact on the other person. Everyone has their own problems, and sometimes they don’t show them, so a little bit of kindness, patience, and the more careful selection of my words might put everyone in a better place.
Thank you for slowing down to read Karen’s Stone Soup, see you next time.
This is a post I had long forgotten, but I decided to publish it as a reminder to myself to be a little kinder, and more compassionate.
I also want to let everyone know that going forward my focus will be on aging gracefully, and loving who we are in the so called “Golden Years!”
The photos of me at the end of 6th grade wouldn’t load, so art is what you get!
When I was at the end of sixth grade, I thought I was pretty darn grown up. Then I started what was then called “Junior High,” and things really changed. I no longer thought I was the cats pajamas because I now was a small fish in a big pond.
Fast forward to high school…..
Again I thought I was going to be the cool one in school because I was entering a new phase in my life, High School! I went to Van Nuys High in the San Fernando Valley. In those days VNH was the place all the kids from families that were in the film industry went to school, and I was going to school with them. Natalie Wood, Stacy Keach both went there, but I didn’t know either of them. High School wasn’t quite as glamorous as I thought it would be, but there I was trying to be a cool kid, and still keeping up with my grades. That wasn’t easy since I was basically majoring in “Boys!” To be honest, the boys situation was a bit discouraging as well. There wasn’t the selection I had anticipated, but what was available had to do!
Faster forward…..
Once out of high school, again I thought my knowledge was primmer and with nothing more to learn, I tried my hand at a local community college. The thought of studying literally made me sick to my stomach, so I decided to once again major in “boys!” There I had a much better selection, however still not quite up to my expectations.
My next door neighbor was just entering a university, and invited me to go to one of the groups of interest she signed up for. This one was a skiing club, and reluctantly I went to her first meeting with her. Wow, now this was what I was talking about!!!
BOYS…
They were everywhere, tall ones, short ones, skinny ones, stocky ones. There was a boy for every occasion. They looked at both of us like they had never seen girls before, and we were in seventh heaven! Conversations were easy, not like those lowly high school boys. They hadn’t learned how to talk to girls yet. Before we knew it, we were both invited by the boys to go skiing with them, and hang out. My friend wasn’t intimidated, but I was passing myself off as a college student, and I wasn’t. So after the meeting I quickly disappeared into the sunset, not to be heard of since. I lived out my days in high school quietly, and as quickly as I could.
After graduating I thought my life was my own. I’m free as a bird, with nothing to stop me! Sure that’s what I thought, then reality set in. My parents were very strict, and I still couldn’t go anywhere without their approval….I was humiliated! I was an all knowing, graduate, and adult now, how could they treat me that way? I know they were just trying to do the best they could, but at the time I couldn’t understand why their job wasn’t finished.
Me at “21”
The following year, I met the love of my life, we married soon after, and started our family. First a son, then three years later another son. By five years later, I had divorced, remarried, and had a daughter. I was a young, all knowing mother of three with one divorce under my belt. Boy was I cool!
Fast forward a few years!
Almost seventeen years later, my kids are getting big with two boys in high school, and a daughter in elementary school. My hands were full, and I was running a business., and holding down a full time job. As I look back, I wonder how I found the energy, or the time to do all of this. But I did, and it worked. I had a lot of energy, and of course I was all knowing. That helped! I knew exactly what I was doing, and where I was going. How cool was I?
Then the stuff hit the fan…..
One day my husband came home and told me he was dating a blond waitress, and because I was so cool, he knew I’d understand & be OK with it. I certainly was OK with it! I guess I figured it was time… and so I decided since I knew everything there was to know, it was time for my children and I to go. And we went…
It was a struggle, but somehow we did it. The kids and I had a Charlie Brown Christmas , and ate hotdogs & baked beans for some time, but we did it, and we were better for it. My dad use to say, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger!” “Thank you Dad, I hate to admit it, but you were right!” How true that was… We have all grown, and become stronger, and better people because of this little bump in the road. Looking back, that’s all it was, just a bump in the road.
Many years later in the middle of working my second job, I met a local man, we dated for a while, and decided to marry. They say the third time is the charm. Apparently they were right, because we are now going on thirty years of marriage. Everyone is doing well, and we are all happy.
The point of this entire story is this, I have learned by trial and error that the Older I get, the less I know!Yup I was cool then, and slightly cooler now.
As most of us do get older, and each day I learn something I didn’t know, and each day I reflect on how much is in our world to yet learn, I’m curious, I want to know things, and I learn every day. But every day I’m on this amazing earth, I realize how much there is to learn, how much it has to offer, and we only have so much time. It’s undetermined, Don’t waste it!
With much love, I thank you for stopping to read Stone Soup.
I’m laying in bed looking out the window, with clean, crispy fresh air pushing it’s way into the room giving me newfound energy to start my day. What will this day bring me? Will it stay cool, or get hot & muggy? Whatever it brings, I am ready and willing to jump out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face, and start my beautiful day with a cup of coffee, and a little meditation. I know, It’s not for everyone…some people would rather have a cup of tea!
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I have always loved the coolness in the morning, especially when it’s a bit overcast, and quiet. When my children were small I would get up early so I could sit quietly with a cup of coffee, and just start my day slowly while the kids were asleep. That was the plan, but many times my plan was foiled by an aggressive little munchkin getting up too early, and reuining my plan.
Today after feeding my kitty Kramer, and letting Daisy dog out, I’m drinking coffee with my husband, but the kids are grown, and gone. The things that inspire me aren’t the things that inspired me many years ago when my kids were small. Now I get inspired by birds chirping, or a gentle breeze in the air. Some days I’m inspired to read, or paint, sketching out on our patio, or take a walk through the neighborhood. Things I couldn’t do when I had a young family.
On this morning with sweetness in the air, I’m inspired to listen to the crows. They are very verbal this morning, and I feel like they are letting me know to “keep looking.” Sitting on my patio, I’m trying to keep looking, but I’m also trying to figure out what else the crows are telling me. In my Animal Speak Book by Ted Andrews, it tells me that crows bring you magic and creativity. OK! Now we’re talking. I’m all about magic, and creativity….bring it on.
Even though I am not interested in venturing too far from home, I still very much invested in nature. For now nature means to me, that I walk through my back yard where peace, & serenity hang in the air. I love my trees, & it won’t surprise some of you to know I even talk to the trees, & the birds. Ok, so they don’t talk back in the way we do, but they do respond if you pay attention. I try to pay attention knowing if I’m really quiet & concentrate, I will hear their answers!
Thank you for stopping to read Stone Soup, I’m really happy to share with you my thoughts, & ideas about my life. See you next time. Karen
I know this is really simple, but sometimes simple is better. I’ve been busy painting during the day, and watching TV and making dinner for my husband in the evening. All in all, I forget to sit down and post until I’m in bet late at night. I awake with great intentions, but my day gets away from me.
Excuses, excuses!
Even though I am giving excuses, we are all busy and I’m sure at times all our days get busy. So enough. I found this extremely simple video, and thought if I can paint a wine glass like this, I can paint an abstract glass with wine. My theory being if it doesn’t work, and painting this seems impossible, drink your model!!! Try it, it may work for a relaxing afternoon or evening!
Thank you for checking up on Stone Soup, I’ll post paintings as soon as I’m sure they are finished. See you soon….
For months now I’ve been searching Ebay trying to find a “Top Hat .” No, I’m not going to wear it, although I would do something like that…I love hats. This hat will hang next to the Bowler hat I made into a hanging light over an antique chest. This little chest I received from my sister when she passed at the end of 2016, and I’ve always loved it. My mother was an avid antique lover and collector, and this chest was one of my favorites. My sister had saved many of our mothers favorite antiques, so I pounced at an unfortunate/unforeseen opportunity to keep them in the family.
My style has changed over the years, and I have few antiques now. But some things speak to me, and I am unable to turn away. Especially since we redecorated in a semi-steampunk style early last year. So the eclectic mix of old, new and repurposed fit right in.
All I can think of is all the stories each of those items has to tell.
The hats…can you even imagine the stories, and adventures they might have to share?
Or a small ladies dresser, where has it lived and what kind of home has it lived in?
A ladies round top trunk. Where did it travel to, and with whom did it serve?
My mind is reeling with the possibilities and adventures each has had. My stories are rough, not nearly as eloquently written as some of my friends. There aren’t enough hours in the day, or days in the week to pursue all the wonderful things I’d love to be doing. Writing, traveling, or a handful other interests.
Bowler hat hanging light
For now, winter knitting, and of course giving an old hat a forever home will have to do! I’m very big on Upcycling, and when I take an item in, I’m taking them in as if they were a family member. An adoption into our family. But wait…if he’s a family member does he not deserve a name? Both hats must have identification, next step, their names!
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to check on Stone Soup. See you soon….
Old as Dirt and Proud of it! 
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