End of Year Goals

Tomorrow is September 1st and that means there are 4 months left in 2013. 

I am one of those weird people who like to start things on the first of the month, or the first of the week.  I also like to reward myself with gold stars on the calender!  Yes, just like in elementary school!  Such immediate visual graitification.....it works for me.


Ok, so I have determined 5 things that need to be accomplished everyday for the rest of the year.  I am not going to list them, as they seem so personal and silly.  I am going to give myself a daily star for each!  I am willing to chart my progress here.  I have great hope for this personal challenge.

In my heart I know that my life will be so much better. I will be so much better and I truly hope to do this for a wonderful end to 2013. I have this gift of time right now and I want to treasure it and respect it.......

Personal goals seem to only be set in the new year, but what if we gave ourselves a jumpstart?  What if we were stronger, more centered, more in tune with what the new year might hold if we had the time to do so?  Would it change the goals we create when the New Year rolls around?  I don't have a clue but I am gonna give it a whirl!  I will post the stars each day if I accomplish them!

I was up early having coffee with the dogs outside this morning.  It was still dark, and it was so delightfully cool.  I love that feeling.  The woods look all dark and scary and then the light starts to open it all up and it is just beautiful.  I guess I am a morning person now!  Holy Moly!

The process of making this property a homestead has taken on a new meaning for me.  I realize that without unlimited funds, which we do not have, it will be a slow meandering process.  Coming to terms with that is very freeing.

Our neighbor, "Farmer R" lives across the street.  He has been there for about 10 years.  When you enter his long winding driveway, you pass pastures with horses and it takes your breath away.  He said you just work on it a little every year. That is the goal.  Little by little we will clear some land and little  by little it will become our dream!

Some land cleared by hand

 

Looking back at the clearing where we put my mom's house

 

The Butternut Squash is Curing!

Soup is in our future........

 

Daisy says, "Is it belly rub time?"

The life of this princess puppy girl!

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

 

Anais Nin

Pieces of the Puzzle

Sometimes it seems like life is just a big puzzle. On a good day all the pieces are right there at your fingertips!  Other days, you can't make one of those little buggers fit for the life of you.....

My choice is to work on it a little each day.  When it works, great, when it does not, there is always ice cream!

In the rush to try to get things accomplished, I find I am missing the current moment.  I do not want to waste this incredible life with worry, regret, sadness or anger.  I know that these things are part of life and they make the good times so much better, BUT I want to put them in the BOX of things to worry about another day.  They are not life threatening, they do not represent where I am going, they are just a nagging, negative thought process that needs to be quiet....

We have the power to choose what we think about each moment.  Some days are so busy with busyness that the negative stuff does not have a chance to surface.  Other days, things keep piling up with bumps in the road, and before long you can't see the end of the street!  "Topes", are what speedbumps are called in spanish.  They are gnarly, tall, concrete creations that will ruin the bottom of your car, if you don't slow down and give them the respect they require. I am not sure if that is spelled correctly, but you pronounce it "Toepay."

The weight of the world may weigh me down, but it will not win!

Today I will slow down and pass each tope, so it does not damage the underside of my psyche, and then I will yell, "Yahoo, one down, ready for the next!"  I choose peace, happiness, and goodness today.......

Quote for the day:

"The chains which cramp us most are those which weigh on us least."

 

Anne Sophie Swetchine

End of Summer

Life in South Carolina is hot and humid in August.  We were tricked into thinking it was getting cooler because of the rain and a cold snap, but not a chance!

Of course, this is when the air conditioning goes out!  Just to make sure you really appreciate all the hard work it has been doing. Yikes!!!!

In the back 40 - Design by Nature

 

 

Pulling out the Spring Garden

Getting ready to plant a Winter Crop

 

Room for Broccoli & Cauliflower

 

 

Progress in Organizing the Sewing Room

 

 

Two content Paws!!

 

 

A Book and A Fan is all You Need!

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, and many books,

both true."

 

Abraham Cowley

 

Fabulous Fungi

I love mushrooms!  No, not the magic ones! Mushrooms to eat!

The delicious ones you eat!  Give me a shitake, chantrelle, oyster, button, morel.  Oh, heck, I just love mushrooms!

Mushrooms collected at Mushroom Mountain

 

A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to take a Mushroom Cultivation Workshop at Mushroom Mountain!  It was an amazing day.  I learned so much.  Growing mushrooms is still on my list of things to do.  It is a long, long list!

 

Tradd and Olga Cotter are a wonderful couple who offer all sorts of different workshops.

You should check them out at www.mushroommountain.com

 

Chantrelle infused vodka

Need I say more?

 

Pink Oyster Mushroom

 

Growing Mushrooms in Straw Bags

 

Log & Stump Cultivation

 

Beautiful Purple Gilled Beauty

 

I love stuffed mushrooms, sauteed mushrooms, raw mushrooms, fried mushrooms, mushroom soup, yes, i love mushrooms.

 

Don't you ever wonder about people who are bored with life?

I can't imagine having enough time to check out everything this world has to offer!

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"There is no love sincerer than the love of food."

 

George Bernard Shaw

 

 

 

Love

Love seems like such a simple concept.  Love is so complicated.  I believe Love is God.  Whatever God you believe in, whatever that means to you.  It is all about goodness, kindness, compassion, yep, that is what it means to me.

There are so many kinds of love.  The love for your husband or wife or partner.  The love for your parents.  Love for your brothers or sisters.  Love for your kids.  Love for your friends.  Love for your animals.  Love for your work.  Love for the planet.  Love of food.  Love of flowers.....Love for quiet!  Oh, I love the quiet.

How we demonstrate love is different to each of us.  It truly depends on the environment we grew up in, the life lessons we have encountered, the way we choose to live our lives.  There can't be a wrong or right way, just the way it is for us. Are we demonstrative?  Do we hold back?  What taught us these behavorial patterns? Are you a hugger?  Do hugs make you cringe?

I love laughter.  Oh, when you laugh so hard your belly hurts!  That is my favorite laugh.  I love nature and all that is fascinating and beautiful to me. 

I love to feel safe.  That is one of the best feelings in the world. No fear, wow, life would be incredible if we were able to never encounter fear.

Max has no fear, only the need for a good back roll!

 

Today I have only love in my heart and hope pushing me forward!

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things."

 

Vincent van Gogh

 

A Sewing Studio

Everyone has a different idea about what a creative space needs to be.  It truly depends on your medium, do you paint? Are you a potter? Do you collage? Do you build bird houses? The amount of "stuff" needed to be creative and how you function best is huge.  Do you need shelving, boxes, labels, tools, electric outlets everywhere?  Do you need everything in its place?  Do you create in clutter? Lighting is always a huge concern. Temperature can make or break my mood!  Too hot, phooey!!  Too cold, I need hot chocolate!  Oh, I forgot to mention the ole budget!  Are you making do with what you have?  Are you at a place where money is not a problem?  Either way, there is so much to consider when designing your space.

Right now I have our spare room as my sewing studio. I feel so lucky to have a space that I can create in and leave as I want, when I want. I can close the door and the dogs & Max cannot make a mess of my mess!
                                                                                             My Mess!

I am not being as productive as I need because of the clutter!

 

The tubs of fabric need to go someplace else, and the cutting board needs to be out!

This space and my mind are Screaming......Organization is Needed!!

 

What!?!  The Sewing Machine is not center stage?

 

This is the goal of this week.

Organization!

Only in this space!

 

 

Saturday when I went to the Soapmaking class, I managed to swing by Tony's Fabrics in Greer. I had only been to the location right on the frontage road facing I-85.  This new location is farther away, but what a pretty space.  They have an amazing selection of fabric, pillow inserts, trims and offer all sorts of services.  It is well worth the drive.  Although, they are retail, they are reasonable and have quality fabric.

 

I love fabric on rolls!

 

 

Huge selection of remnants!

 

pillows, pillows & pillows!

Polyester and feather pillows

 

 

I love trim!

 

 

So pretty in an orange themed colorway.

 

 

Shades of red & dark pink

Tomorrow is the day to start organizing.  Wish me luck!  I really need it!  LOL!!


Quote for the day:

"I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."
                                                                    Augusten Burroughs

Soapmaking 101

Yesterday, I was thrilled to take a Soapmaking Class at The Grain Loft.  I have wanted to learn for years.  My mom use to sell the most beautiful handmade soap at the street fair in California.  It was a glycerin base, and had ribbons of different colors running through it.  They were beautiful, so good for your skin, and the scent was delightful.

I am much better at learning something, when I see it, in person, demonstrated.  That is why I love classes or workshops because it sinks into my ole noggin!!  A women that I worked for years ago, told me that I was a visual learner as opposed to an audio learner.  You have no idea what a gift that was!  It helped me understand when something was not making sense, I realized I just had to do it, not hear about it. So off to Soapmaking Class I go........

Handmade Soap by Tygerheart Fine Soaps

 

Carol Isler  is the wonderful woman, who owns Tygerheart and teaches classes, as well.

She goes over soap terminology, ingredients, what works for her, and what has not worked.

 

Soap Calculations by Hand!

 

We worked with Lard, Coconut Oil and Olive Oil.  Lye and water are added, as well.

You can choose to add pigment for color, lavender flowers, calendula flowers, or oatmeal for exfoliation, and a scent if you would like.

 

A treasure trove of scents to choose from!

 

I chose a little bit of purple color and orange blossom scent!  It smells so good!

After you mix it until it is similar to a firm puddin", then you pour it into your mold

 and let set for 24-48 hours.

It should pop out of mold easily.  You then cut it and let it cure.  The longer is cures, the harder the soap becomes, as the water is drying out or evaporating.

 

Digital scale, Lard, Olive Oil, Lye and Newspaper Covered Work Surface

 

Carol provided a wonderful handout, full of the suppliers for soapmaking.  It has a step by step process explained easily.  There are charts, terminology, products descriptions, and more.

 

 

A gift of the beautiful Soaps by Tygerheart.

They have a Facebook page, you should check them out!

 

It was a wonderful class.  I found Carole easy to understand, very thorough, and so kind.  I would recommend her classes!

 

I ended the day with my own batch of homemade soap!

I feel  a new product for Kiara Kisses!  I will keep you posted...........

 

My first batch of soap!

 

It smells so good!  I am so excited!!

 

 

The Grain Loft is a wonderful business, which offers so many wonderful things.  You should check them out; www.thegrainloft.com

 

The space where they offer so many classes is awesome!

In September, they offer:

Get Ready to Learn; Maximizing Essential Oils for School

Bread 101

Dairy and Non-Dairy Kefir and Yogurt

Water Kefir and Kombucha

 

 

so many classes, so little time......

 

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"i thank you God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes"

 

e.e. cummings

 

 

 

A Long Wonderful Day

Sweet Hubby and I left early this morning to attempt to accomplish a few things toward Kiara Kisses, business wise -  that would help so much!

\

The List Included:

A retail license
 we now can have access to wholesale vendors.

A styrofoam head
 to display Gailsey's crochet hats!!

Mary Jo's
 Wow, an amazing space full of beautiful fabric!

Target
YES! - we broke down and bought a cheap printer!!  Yahoo!!

Dairy Queen
 Yes, we had Chocolate Extreme Blizzards!!  Delicious!!

Home - Couch!

A glimpse into the day...........

Ginny"s Wig Shop!!

 

Pillow Inserts!! 

 

 

Rolls & Rolls of Fabric!!

 

Red Chenille Crochet Hat by Gailsey!!  Aka:  My mom!

Finally, Etsy here we come............

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."

 

Gordon B. Hinckley

 

 

Circle of Life

Last night, as I was feverishly online looking for wholesale sources for pillow inserts, it dawned on me.......I am back to square one, 20 years old again, learning and loving design.

It is strange how life takes us down these long, winding paths, only to end up right where we started.

In Los Angeles, I had a lifetime of knowing where to buy upholstery supplies at my fingertips.  If my dad did not already have a source, it was relatively easy to find one.  Downtown LA has a fabric district and a garment district, oh, and a diamond district!!  Ooh, la, la!!

So here I am in the Southeast, and I have no source for a quality, inexpensive pillow insert.  How can this be?  Highpoint, NC is the biggest furniture show in this country. A majority of furniture manufacturers are based in North Carolina.  I have never had the pleasure of going, but my dad says it is amazing.  Maybe that is in my future!  Oh, what fun it would be.

The sweet hubby and I are going up to North Carolina tomorrow.  There is an amazing fabric store, called Mary Jo's.  I am so excited.  We will get some supplies, hopefully cheaper than JoAnne's Fabrics, and we will plan out a product line, based on our dreams and budget!

Now, this is the kicker!!  We are going to a wig supply place!  What for you ask??.....Yes, to get a STYROFOAM HEAD!!   I have a zillion crochet hats my mom has made.  I have had no luck photographing them for the Etsy store.....enter foam heads!!!  Watch out folks, this weekend, we might be debuting, "Gailsey's Crochet Hats"!!  I feel a little hypocritical, because I will not drink or eat from Styrofoam, because it is so bad for our environment.  BUT I guess I will buy a foam head!!

I have been going through tubs of fabric that have traveled from California to Mexico, back to California and then to South Carolina......only a FABRIC FREAK would understand.  You always have to buy the piece that speaks to your soul.  You might not be able to use it right away, BUT one day, you will be inspired, and there it is waiting for you.

 

 

 

Cowgirls!

 

 

                                                                                                    Polka dots?

 

 

Autumn Floral

 

 

Beautiful floral

 

So much fabric, so little time!

 

Quote for the day:

 

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do."

 

unknown

Adjustment Periods

How long does it take you to settle into a new environment?  It could be a new location, a new state, a new country, heck for that matter, just a new house, apartment, or studio!

I took Miss Kiara to the vet this morning.  As I was driving through the countryside, I kept thinking to myself, "how lucky are we to be here? what an awesome place!"!!

It is green and lush right now.  Dense woods, rivers and streams, wildlife galore, and farms!  So many farms, one after another. 

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

Now it did not start out that way.  My husband came and checked out several possiblities that were in our price range.  We had explored this incredible country, state by state, on the internet!  Yes, realtor.com was constantly online for months!!  When I tell people that, I can see a look of disbelief, "like you two really are crazy!" Well, I believe we are, but that is another post!  Ha, ha, LIFE!

We chose a little house built in 1949, on 5 densly wooded acres.

 I had no idea, that we were so far from a bigger town.  After 4 years of being so isolated in Mexico, from common conveniences, I was so angry, that we were this far out.  Now I cannot imagine living in a city again. 

The first winter, it snowed like crazy!!  I was delighted.  Being from Southern California, I was thrilled to wake up and see snow covered trees everywhere!  It turns out that is the exception, and not the rule for the area we live in, but WOWZER!

 

The Spring is fantastic.  Just watching the trees start to turn green is such a treat.
I never really understood, why there is such anticipation of Sping.  After months of cold and brown everywhere you look, it is refreshing to have that hope again of flowers and green trees.  Will you grow the best tomatoe this year?  Will the pumpkins be really BIG?!  How many flowers can you grow for bouquets?

The Spring Surge is intense.  Digging, Dreaming, Digging, Planting, Digging, More Dreaming, Oh, did I mention Digging?!!!  Yes, you get stronger than you knew was possible and even though it hurts, it feels so good!

My husband, Digging & Digging!

 

 

 

The summer is hot & humid here in the Southeast.  If we had not lived in Mexico, where the summer was exactly the same heat & humidity, I might have jump on a railroad boxcar, like a hobo and disappeared anywhere cool! 

I was so happy to be back in the United States, with all the opportunities that are waiting for us to explore them. I jumped into programs, like the Master Gardener offered through Clemson Extension.
It was such a wonderful way to get my feet wet with learning about this region.  Not to mention, the lovely people that run that program.  It is a way to gain knoweledge and to give back to your community. 

Through the Extension office, I found all sorts of Workshops that are offered in the area.  Clemson has an incredible student organic farm at the school.  They do a wonderful job of helping people learn anything about plants & animals. The Local Food Movement has so many things that are happening.  In every state, people are looking into the food they buy, the food being put on their tables and given to their families.  It is awesome and inspiring.

In Mexico, it took me 3 years, to feel like it had become our home.  We have just passed our 3 year mark here in the South and this is my home!  It feels like it, I am grateful for it and I am so excited about the life we will create here.

So, my friends, 3 years, that is my adjustment period to a new locale.  Who knew?

Quote for the day:

"If you want to know what it is like to be rich, count your blessings."

Unknown

The Power of Bees!

Bees to most people are those scary little buzzing creatures, that only mean one thing, RUN!
They represent stinging mean spirited insects.......BUT .........

BEES ARE AMAZING!
                                                                                The Queen Bee

Photo courtesy of my friend, "Beelady"

These fascinating creatures are the pollinators, we need so badly.  Without bees, our crops would wither and be non-exisent.

I am the Beeless Beekeeper, so you might ask, "What the heck does she know?"

I certainly am not a seasoned beekeeper, but I have taken a couple of beekeeping classes and this is what I have learned so far.

Honeybees supply us with an incredible amount of our daily sustenance, because our crops are pollinated in part or in whole, by these buzzing beauties.

Beekeeping changes the way you look at your life.  We have become so accustomed to not understanding our food sources. When you understand the work a bee goes to, when creating a
half spoonful of honey, as corny as it sounds you are changed somehow.

Our society is such that we treasure convenience and speed, at a cost that is detrimental to our souls.

Think about it, when was the last time you were in a checkout line, and the machine was taking what seemed like ages?!  Truly, it is only minutes, but in this world of instant gratification, we become insensed at the injustice of our precious time being wasted. We no longer understand what it takes to truly grow and create our own existence from scratch.  The Local Food movement is happening in the world, and there is so much to embrace!  That for sure is another post......

A bee works all spring and summer, hoping to make and store enough honey to get through the winter.

Each type of bee has its purpose.

The Queen is to be protected and pampered.  She lays the eggs.  She only goes on one or two
mating flights, and then she becomes a hermit.  Busy with making babies.

The Drone has what seems to be a life of luxury.  He does not collect pollen, he does not clean house, or nurse other baby bees.  No he is there for the sole purpose of mating with the Queen.  Poor thing, come winter, when they need to cut down on hungry mouths to feed, he is kicked out to die.

Now the Worker Bees!!  Wow, talk about multi-tasking!  They do everything.  They are women power at a whole new level.  They bring in the pollen, propolis, water and nectar.  They nurse the sick, they clean the hive, they air-condition the Queen, by flapping their wings to keep her cool.

There is much more to each type of bee and its life.  But it is early in the morning, and I have only had one cup of coffee!  Much more to come on the blog.....

So remember, next time you see one of these buzzing beauties, they are working hard, to make sure we are ok on this crazy planet!!

                                                     
                                                                                                                  Bees 

& 
Butterflies 
  does it get better than this?!

    Quote for the day:

 

"Be in love with your life....
Every detail of it."

Jack Kerouac

Morning People

Are you are morning person?  I think I have become one and it is quite disturbing!  For the majority of my life, I worked evenings, and usually went out with the gang after work!  There was dancing to be done, for goodness sake!  Sleeping late was needed to get some rest!

Enter my hubby.....a morning person, his whole life.  He wakes up without an alarm, and is ready to start whatever project he has in mind for that day! 

NOW our dogs like to rest anytime and anywhere!!

Daisy can sleep, sleep, sleep!  She is so sweet, and a big dreamer!

Kiara, CEO of Kiara Kisses

She really wants a belly rub!

 

Charlie - Warrior Goddess

She is in heaven, but she really loved a good lounge on the ole recliner!

 

 

Quote for the day:

 

"You were born an original.  Don't die a copy."

 

John Mason