Tag Archives: inspiration

Jan11

Whiskers or Wandering Hairs?

Posted on by
Image

Hair… As long as it’s on the top of my head, I’m ok with hair!

It seems that we ladies are blessed with hair in places we never would have guessed. I once had a very “sturdy” single hair above my right eyebrow on my forehead. I was in my forties at the time, and quite appalled. Rightly so, who in their forties gets a whisker on her forehead? One day I pulled it out, and it never returned.

That’s not all. I routinely check for wandering hairs on my chin, cheeks, and in my nose. Oh yeah, they are there also! Interestingly, while we continue to grow unwanted hairs all over our bodies, the hair on the top of our heads either gets wiry, or thin and falls out. Hair stylists call the thin hair “Frog Fuzz.” And now we either have to deal with pubic hair on the top of our heads, or no hair at all.

This feels like a great time to start considering wearing hats!!

But that’s not all, After checking myself all over this morning, and deciding I was ok to leave the house. But, on my way to do grocery shopping I felt something on my right arm. Maybe it was a bug or fly that had come in through the window.

Glancing down at my arm to see what had landed onto my skin, only to realize (GASP), it was my very own hair flapping around. Some of the hairs had grown to a very healthy two inches. Yikes, not this too! Who is it that is playing these cruel and nasty jokes? In the over all scheme of things, this isn’t a big deal. But in my world, it’s just one more thing I need to shave, or pluck and I’m not liking that much.

By the way, if you are a friend of mine, and I see a hair protruding from somewhere it never would have grown from, I’m obligated by the laws of girlfriend hood to point it out! Don’t be embarrassed, I can’t help myself. And what’s good for the goose….tell me if you see something sticking out that shouldn’t be, please tell me. I’d rather a friend tell me than find out later that I did lunch with my financial advisor, and had a whisker growing out of the top of my nose! Thank you in advance!

How about you? Do you have the same annoyances, or are you going to deny any rogue hairs grow in places you never imagined? I don’t blame you, I don’t want to admit the appearance of yet another happy accident on my nose, or arm.

All in all, these aren’t the worst things that could happen to us. They are annoying, but not life threatening. So after we take care of those annoyances, just take a deep breath, and know you are beautiful, and doing the best you can.

I hope I’ve set up my blog so you can comment, and let me know how you feel. If not, I’m working on it.

Until next time, Together we Stand! Karen

The picture above, and all the videos are from You Tube

Sep26

A Little Halloween Fun

Posted on by
Image
A Little Halloween Fun

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.

Happy Halloween

Together we stand, Karen

Aug24

What Do Our Words Really Say

Posted on by
Image

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!”

Sep29

Advise from Maria Sabina

Posted on by
Image


 Advice from Maria Sabina, Mexican curandera (medicine woman) and poet:“Cure yourself with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon. With the sound of the river and the waterfall. With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds. Heal yourself with mint, with neem and eucalyptus. Sweeten yourself with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile.Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and a touch of cinnamon. Put love in tea instead of sugar, and take it looking at the stars.Heal yourself with the kisses that the wind gives you and the hugs of the rain.Get strong with bare feet on the ground and with everything that is born from it. Get smarter every day by listening to your intuition, looking at the world with the eye of your forehead.Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier.Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember…you are the medicine.” — with Vickie Mitchell.

I thought this so beautiful, I couldn’t resist posting it for everyone to read. I hope you liked it as much as I did.

Thank you for stopping to read Karen’s Stone Soup. See you next time, Karen

Sep22

Recharging our Batteries

Posted on by
Image

Do you treat yourself with love? Do you enjoy your everyday life? Do you have a place that you can go to be alone?

Yikes, I sound just like a commercial for a pill or something! I promise you it is not.

Treating oneself with love and kindness is essential to survival, especially in this climate of uneasiness and the unknown.

I have learned over the years that I function much better if I take time out for myself to rest and recharge. After all, we are all giving so much each day to simply survive. My quiet place would normally be out in nature, around trees or a stream, but in this heat my quiet place is in my husbands office where I can close the door, but not before announcing, “I’m going in, keep everything quiet please, and don’t bother me unless the house is burning down!”

Of course that isn’t always easy to do nor is it available to everyone, but each of us has to find their own place of solitude. There have been times when a long walk is just the thing to bring me peace. Sometimes it’s as easy as going for a drive, or sitting in the car. But not before putting a note on the car window saying… ” I need some alone time, Don’t talk to me, don’t tap on the window, don’t text me!”

Each of us has to find a place to contemplate, unwind, relax, and connect with your inner self.

Our survival depends on it!

Thank you for stopping to read Karen’s Stone Soup, see you next week, Karen

Sep15

Each Day A New Opportunity

Posted on by
Image

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!

I

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