lifestyle – Page 3 – Through My Eyes

The Sketch

I typically am an early morning riser. My day starts anywhere from 4:30 to 7:30 depending on how much I have slept. While my husband and dog sleep I am either sketching, reading, or stitching. Today, I’m sketching.

I am trying to increase my skill in portraits. While I typically sketch in pencil my art teacher tells me that is a no-no. Be bold enough to do it in ink she says. So here I am in bed sketching in ink trying to make a character appear on this page.

While he might not be perfect and is lacking color he does at least in some form seem to have some resemblance to my source. As I make each line I try to give him character something that will make you question “who is this guy”?

I think now I may use him in my next short story. Sketches as imperfect as they are give you a quick insight as to what the finished piece will be. Sometimes I add color but most of the time I don’t. As I add each stroke I am building not just his structural features but also his character. I ask myself “Who is this guy” because forming an identity in my head makes him more real on paper.

My teacher says I am more critical of myself than anyone else. Drawing is not just fun but at my age helps me to keep that part of my brain active. It also helps me build characters to write about.

Well, time to get up and fix coffee. The dog is squirming and the husband will be waking soon.

Have a glorious day!

From My Bookshelf To Yours

If you want something to read on a rainy day, check out my e-novella on Amazon. The name of it is Once Upon A Mountain Christmas. It is short, sweet, and deliciously Christmas.

For those penny pinchers, you can also read the Kindle version for free.

Act now while it is still available.

A tribute to Western Carolina.

What Is Your Source Of Strength?

With everything that is going on in the world around us, you wonder how we got to this point. How did society take such a big left turn?

I grew up in a middle-class household but from day one we were taught strong values. I never saw my parents read the Bible but I knew they believed in what was in it.

And yes my parents were old school and believed strongly in the “spare the rod and spoil the child” theory because my behind rarely got spared. My father worked hard and ruled with a firm but loving hand.

Come Sunday we were off to church. We listened to what the preacher said and tried to apply it to our lives the best we knew how. Have I ever made mistakes, you betcha. At the end of the day, I asked for forgiveness and enjoyed God’s grace.

I left the church some years ago when it became so obvious that their focus became more about money than God. My focus was on finding peace with my faith. I took a year to read the Bible and focus on who Jesus was.

I grew closer in my walk with God that year than I ever did in church. Mind you I am not saying all churches are bad but some are. Most are driven more by the love of money and power than the love of Jesus! Mega churches have sprouted up like weeds but their backbone is theatrics not faith.

Faith is not learned. It is not theatrics that feel good in that moment. Real faith is much stronger. When you are in a dark room without the theatrics and the loud music it is just you and Jesus having a conversation that matters. That is where faith begins. Yes, I guess you could say the church drew out a plan of faith but they failed in that plan.

I hold on to my strong faith and yes I probably would return to church if I could find one that didn’t just talk the talk but could prove they could also walk in the path of Jesus.

I pray that this world can wake up and find faith in its Creator. In the meantime here’s a little tune to remind you.

Have a blessed day.

Spicing It Up

You may not recognize what is on my grits. There are three spices here, Tumeric, ginger, and cinnamon. No, this does not alter the taste. I know you are scratching your head right, but sit back and open yourself up to a new way of thinking.

If you are a fan of Mexican,Mediterranean or Chinese cuisine, it is probably because of the spices. On this day I ran out of my Tumeric/Ginger supplement I went to my spice cabinet and pulled both along with Cinnamon. The Tumeric is great for the relief of arthritic pain and swelling. Ginger is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant. Cinnamon is used to speed up the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Herbs and spices are also mentioned numerous times in the Bible. In Genesis 1:29 it mentions herbs. Leviticas 2:1 talks about Frankincense, which is also a strong spice for healing and was presented at the feet of Jesus. In Exodus 25:6 it talks about using spices for anointing. The queen of Sheba presented the king spices because they were so highly valued.

The moral to this story is that you can improve your health by adding something as simple as a spice. You can add them to your tea, coffee, meats, and vegetables. While most you may not taste, you will slowly change your body in time.

In the time of Jesus spices were also used on the deceased as an embalming agent. There are so many ways to use spices. Yes I know some like frankincense can be pricy but aren’t you worth it?

Have a great day.

The Art Of Design

People often ask me how I create the things I make. It is a process but one I have come to love. To tell the truth I think it’s the design process I prefer over the actual creation on some things.

Things pop into my head often without invitation particularly on sleepless nights. Why these things could not present themselves during the day I will never understand. It’s the idea, the first thought, the inspiration you see that leads down that colorful road of design.

Last night when I could not sleep I was sitting up working on a cross stitch sampler when it popped into my head I should be creating my own sampler design. I put away my cross stitch project and grabbed some paper and a pen to start roughing out the design.

The layout may change once I enter it into the computer, but you get the concept. Getting the idea on paper as soon as possible is important. Otherwise, it becomes a missed opportunity.

While I would like to have the time to work all of the designs I create, my many other interests don’t make it possible.

I just resurrected my shop on Etsy. Hopefully, I will be posting some of my designs there. I will keep you posted on that and provide the link.

I guess my drive to design somewhat stems from my childhood as I watched my father painlessly draw house plans.

What motivates you? Do you have a hidden skill or talent you have yet to explore? Why not test the water. Maybe you’ll create that next great invention. It all starts with just one idea.

Blaming God!

The last five years have provided a lot of tragic events. From a man-made virus to violent and disastrous floods, earthquakes, and other unpredictable events. Who is the one who is first blamed, God. Hate to bust the bubble of those people, but God is NOT the one to blame.

While thousands have died during the last five years, you have to look not at the negativity of the events but what these events taught us. Pointing the finger at God is a waste of energy. We all know God created us, and he has the right and capability to destroy us at any time. But what have we learned? God did not create these events, but in some instances, He may have allowed things to occur to open our eyes to things we need to face.

If a person has a heart attack but survives, it’s not just a coincidence. It is because God loves us so much that he doesn’t want us to suffer but needs us to learn how to be faithful and take care of our bodies. In some instances, a person is allowed to pass because they have already suffered so much.

God does not do anything without reason. Some years ago, a small child fell into a public swimming pool. The lifeguard saw her go in and went in after her. Despite her valent attempts to save the child, she never took another breath. When the death was reported, there was an investigation, and it turned out that sweet child had been abused by a family member. Sometimes, in situations like that, God does intervene because he knew that child had suffered enough! When bad things happen, look at what leads up to that event.

At other times miracles happen even at the worst of times. Just look at the events that occurred after the massive loss of life in Western North Carolina. When the government failed to provide comfort and relief, people came from states away to help. There were miracles that occurred almost daily.

Even in the most horrific of situations, God tends to let us know He is there.

What can you do? Be grateful daily and give of yourself to others. Love begins with you.

Hair And Prayer

Guess you are wondering what these two have in common! Throughout the Bible, prayer is discussed, and we are taught how to pray.

Women used to wear their hair long and men wore their’s cut short. Somewhere along the way that standard got reversed. Here is what the Bible says about that: 1 Corinthians 13 – 15 13 Consider for yourselves; is it proper and decent for a woman to offer prayer to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the native sense of propriety itself teach you that for a man to wear long hair is a dishonor to him. 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

I just happen to have long hair and have worn it most of my life that way. Having read this, I do have a greater appreciation for that gift and is an added reason to let my hair grow.

This world needs a lot of prayer. In your prayers, remember those who have lost so much in Western North Carolina, Texas, and New Mexico.

Have a great day.

Road Trip – Sanford, NC

Thursday – despite predicated bad weather, my sister Donna and I packed our bags and departed for Sanford. After an easy two-hour trip, we pulled into the parking lot of our rent-a-home for two days. Our suite was squeaky, clean, and pleasing to the eye.

We settled into our room and made plans for dinner. After researching the area restaurants, we settled on the Bay Breeze Seafood. It was a nice restaurant with the typical beach theme. The price was not bad for what I had and the area we were in. Needless to say, this place did not disappoint in food quality.

The next morning, we took advantage of the motel’s continental breakfast and made plans for the day. After breakfast, our first destination was the Ole Gillium Mill Bridge and park. After about a ten minute ride, we arrived at the bridge.

Even though this is a reproduction of the original bridge, it is still pretty awesome.

Across the road from the bridge is the park, which is privately owned but opened to the public most days. Here’s what we saw at this unique mill park.

After leaving the park, we decided to go back to the motel for a brief rest and swim

For lunch, we chose the Rufus Restaurant in Goldston just a short ride away. The restaurant was very small and looked like an old store from the 59’s. It was so small inside that you could barely turn around. There was even with the size a steady stream of people in and out. Needless to say the food proved to be wonderful. Leaving the restaurant we ventured downtown to the visitor’s center. After collecting brochures we decided to follower the mural trail. Even though we did not find them all the ones we did find did not disappoint.

I also shot the depot and house.

We ventured back to our motel after our day of adventure. Today, we depart to visit our sister in a town about an hour away before heading back home.

Thanks for following me on my road trip. Yall come back now here!

Let’s Talk Money!

If you have been awake at all over the past five years, you have seen hyper inflation with prices that more than trippled what they were in 2019.

Managing money in difficult times is tricky at best but can be done. If you are on a fixed income like I am, it pays to be thrifty. First, we’ll go back to the basics. While I was still working, a fellow coworker and I were engaged in a conversation about money. In the conversation, she revealed she never balanced her checkbook. I could not help but laugh and said, “How do you know your balance is correct?”Oh, I know how much I spend.” I’m still laughing, and so I said,”so you account for your husband’s checks, bank fees, and automatic drafts, right?” Well, no, she said I just estimate it. I am just about hysterical at this point. This person was a nurse. Someone that you would think would be intelligent enough to manage her finances. It wasn’t that she wasn’t capable of being able to do it she simply didn’t take the time to do it. Balancing your checkbook is critical for several reasons, like accountability and security. Regardless of whether you write checks or conduct all digital transactions, you still need to balance your receipts and/or checks against your bank balance. How often you balance is up to you. Some people balance daily while others do it only once a month.

Treat your household like a business. Set a budget, maintain your journal (check register), and keep a ledger of important accounts like mortgage payments, building supplies (particularly if you are doing any renovations), credit cards, etc. Yes I know, you don’t have time. Taking the time will give you a better vision of what you’re spending, where it’s going and how to eliminate or reduce any waste.

Now that you have set up and are maintaining your corporation, it’s time to diversify. Put your money in several baskets. Money markets and CD are always safe places to park some cash. I am not a fan of cash apps but do recommend the use of an online bank for things like Etsy stores, royalties or other payments that are digital that you do not want mixed with your personal account. Silver and gold are solid and good for retirement and certainly secure if you house it in the right place.

In a tight economy, you do want to keep spending to a minimum, but don’t cut yourself off at the knees. Allow enough for small vacations or day trips to keep you sane.

If you are thinking about crypto, I recommend XRP because of its affordability, and it is gaining momentum in value. I personally do not have crypto for religious reasons, but like everything else, it is a personal choice.

Lastly, stay on top of current trends by following sites like money.com that give you a lot of information on a lot of topics.

Have a great day!

Smooth Your Way To Better Health

While I am not a big fan of “diets,” I am a fan of smoothies. They are quick, easy, and can be loaded with all the right stuff!

Today’s smoothie is this….

Oh my, you almost missed it. Have not even given it a name. If you follow me on Facebook, then you have already gotten this recipe.

No, you won’t find this in a recipe book. As a natural health enthusiast, I am always looking for healthier options and playing with whatever I have in my kitchen at the time. This recipe is good for your immune system and is high in potassium. If there is something in it that you don’t like or have an allergy to simply alternate with a veggie like spinach or another fruit of your choice. My recipe also contains pumkin spice, honey, and tumeric, which also have health benefits. Here’s the recipe:

Smoothie to supercharge you. 1/2 mango, 1 whole banana (chill in frige for a day before use),6 large black cherries, 2 teaspoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon pumkin spice,a splash of tumeric powder. Add ice and blend in a large Bullet cup. Enjoy!

Take charge of your health and create your own smoothie!

Have a great day guys!