ONEWRAP, 100 WAYS?

This product is right up there with duct tape and super glue in its usefulness in the house and yard.  Oddly enough, I couldn't find a compilation anywhere, of all the useful things you can do with it. So, in the spirit of "Inspiring Serendipity", I've started a list of the way our family uses Velcro® Brand ONEWRAP,  QWIKTIE, and Bundle Tie straps around our house and yard.
Product information for the various types of these straps available are available from the corporate site:
http://www.velcro.com/Products/Ties-and-Straps.aspx
You can purchase these straps at many stores, including Home Depot, Staples, JoAnn Fabrics, and Lowes. Send me a message if you're having trouble locating some, and I'll point you to a few on line sources as well.
I'll add photos, and more ideas, as I can. For those of you on a tighter than tight budget, simply re-use the printed bundle tie wraps from your lettuce and other vegetables - they last quite a while!
Do you have another use of this great product that's not listed?  Add a comment - include a picture, if you can - let's see how far this goes!

#1 - Cable Management -Ethernest cords
#2 - Cord Control - Stereo equipment
#3 - Pant leg control for bicyclers
#4 - Teething ring keeper
#5 - Herb drying tie
#6 - Cat proof cabinet lock
#7 - Christmas tree light storage
#8 - Emergency car repair
#9 -  Securing wires on trailer hitch
#10 - Keep a roll in the car to "tie down things"
#11 - Keep lock pin close by to where it will be needed again
#12 - Cord Control -Travel Electronics
#13 - Drape tie back
#14 - Cord control - Ironing
#15 - Cord control - Desktop electronics
#16 - Camping - suspend a lantern
#17 - Camping - tent pole management
#18 - Bike carriers - help secure bike to rack for less vibration
#18 - Plant management - Tomatoes
#19 - Plant management - Grapes
#20 - lettuce / romaine wrap 
#21 - Biking - attaching grocery bag to bike

Henna tattoos

We discovered the joys of sharing henna tattoos, with the Eastern Naturist Gathering.  As it was our first time offering our henna application to our fellow campers, we soon found ourselves with an excess of leftover henna.  Before too long, we were piping the green goo in  larger designs over entire backs.

I found this art form to be very peaceful, and fun.  It became an excellent icebreaker, and we enjoyed getting to know people a little better as they requested specific icons or designs, some of them strategically placed over scars, either to obscure or commemorate.


My favorite experiment of the weekend was a requested "Green Man". Given plenty of time to "play" with teh design, and apply several layers with a paint brush, the results were very much appreciated:

Zentangle Easter Eggs

Zentangled Easter Eggs.
Krystin and I had a 20 minute holiday moment this morning....I went with various colors and designs, while she tackled a more geometric approach.  Fun!

Follow your Dream

Follow your dream.
Take one step at a time and don't settle for less,
Just continue to climb.
Follow your dream.
If you stumble, don't stop and lose sight of your goal
Press to the top.
For only on top can we see the whole view,
Can we see what we've done and what we can do;
Can we then have the vision to seek something new,
Press on.
Follow your dream.
   ~ Amanda Bradley

Move it!

I've fallen behind on my blogging - in part because I've invested a little more time in myself.  It's important to take care of your own health and happiness - or soon enough you won't have the energy to assist and inspire others.
  A few years ago, my health was declining, and I was finding myself in rather dark and dreary moods all too frequently.  As most people can, I could point to several contributing factors - some family related, some work related, but the long and the short of it, was I was hitting near bottom on my personal energy supply.  With my trusted doctor, I explained my concerns, and this sage woman offered me some of the best advice anyone has ever given me.
Get up and Move.
She pointed out that much of my situation was indeed due to various stresses, and that taken individually, all of them would eventually resolves themselves.  However, the one thing that I did have control of was my personal health and fitness.  Never one to love exercize, my normal day had grown more and more sedentary.  She advised me to take note of my moods, and whenever I felt blue, I should simply get up, take a walk, dance, or find some other physical activity that would literally get the juices flowing a bit faster.  She did not prescribe a specific schedule, or set of exercizes - simply find something you like to do, and DO IT.. 
For the past few weeks, Dan and I have attended a series of healthy living classes called "Move it and Lose it"...which have reminded me of that talk with my doc so many years ago.  All of the insurance and fitness advice we are getting now agree - 150 minutes of cardio-activity per week is all you need to ward off a wide array of physical issues.  Simply move it.
If you are feeling down - or simply feel the need to wallow in your grief or grey mood, I recommend that you do so - while taking a walk.  Acknowledge your feelings - but don't let them take over your health, as well as your emotions.  Find 20 minutes here and there that you can reserve for you, and repeat as often as you can...that 150 adds up very quickly with a regular daily habit or two.

Mother's Love

Yesterday, I read a forwarded posting from another blog "A Mountain I'm Willing to Die On".
First of all - the title grabbed me and pulled me right on in...really?  what mountain might that be?
I still don't know the answer to that first question, because I found her writing so very moving, and appropriate, and just plain wonderfully supportive of life, that I guess I simply joined her on that mountain.

The piece I read was at:
http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/22/a-mountain-im-willing-to-die-on-2/

In case the blog disappears one day, the takeaways for me are:
"Children are not cruel", they practice what they see and interpret from around them, and it is our job, those of us who are no longer children, to demonstrate for them what we most want to see in them.
"People are heart-breakingly sensitive", and receptive to even moderate criticism.
"I don’t know much. But I know that each time I see something heartbreaking on the news, each time I encounter a problem outside, the answer to the problem is inside. The problem is AWAYS me and the solution is ALWAYS me. If I want my world to be less vicious, then I must become more gentle. If I want my children to embrace other children for who they are, to treat other children with the dignity and respect every child of God deserves, then I had better treat other adults the same way."
The rest of the blog is a lovely letter to her child, in which she pledges her promised embracement, and indeed, celebration, of all that her child is, and will be, no matter what path her child takes.
This particular woman has strong faith, and normally, I don't  make it through writings like this one, but there is a lovely reward in reading the entire message.  She ends her letter of love to her child with this simple statement:
"You are okay. You are a child of God. As is everyone else. There is nothing that you can become or do that will make God love you any more or any less. Nothing that you already are or will become is a surprise to God. Tomorrow has already been approved.
And so baby, your father and I have only one specific expectation of you. And that is that you celebrate others the way we celebrate you. That you remember, every day, every minute, that there is no one on God’s Green Earth who deserves more or less respect than you do, My Love."
Simply. Beautiful.  That is a mother's Love.

Hands of Time

If the hands of time were hands that I could hold,
I'd keep them warm, and in my hands, they'd not turn cold.
Hand in hand we'd choose, the moments that should last;
the lovely moments that should have no future and no past.
The summer from the top of a swing,
the comfort in the sound of a lullaby,
the innocense of leaves in the spring,
but, most of all, the moment when love first touched me
All the happy days would never learn to fly
until the hands of time would choose to wave "Good-bye"
       ~ Unknown

Song of Long Ago

Carole King - part of the tapestry of my early years - wonderful songwriter.
a little melancholy, but I believe this song describes the joy of remembering  those that were long lost.

Song of Long Ago

Whispering wind came uninvited
Looking for somewhere else to go
Here is a lamp I've left unlighted
Aren't you someone I should know?

Memory's flame is soon ignited
Lighting my lamp with amber glow
Quietly friends are reunited
Singing a song of long ago

Cry, cry for someone
Who just can't be happy
And be glad you can feel enough to cry

Younger than always, time descended
Bringing me brand new seeds to sow
Now that they've been a long time planted
What must I do to help them grow?

If it had been as I intended
I wouldn't have the peace I know
Loving the people I've befriended
Singin' a song of long ago

As it began, so I will end it
Singing a song of long ago
Loving the people I've befriended
And singin' a song of long, long, long ago

Come and let me look in your eyes

John Denver was a huge inspiration to me, growing up.  I learned to play his songs on the first instruments I dabbled with (Recorder and organ), sang along with his albums, and we sang many of his tunes in the car and around campfires.  This is one of my favorites.  If you have ever loved someone,  you know the power of simply gazing into that someone's eyes, when you need them the most.  [Although this is highly difficult with a chameleon  ;-)  ]

I guess growin' isn't hard to do, just stand against the wall
Once I was just two feet high
Today I'm six feet tall
But knowin' who to listen to, is somethin' else again
Words just whistle around my head
like seasons in the wind
All across the water the clouds are sailin'
they won't let me look at the sky
All I want to do is try to find myself
Come and let me look in your eyes

In searchin' for the way to go I've followed all the rules
The way they say to choose between the wise men and the fools
I listened to the words they say
I read what I should read
I do whatever's right to do
Try to be what I should be
Someone let me in I think the sky is falling
Seems I've gotten lost on my way
All I want to do is try to find myself
Come and let me look in your eyes
But wisdom isn't underground, nor on a mountainside
Where am I to take myself, there's no place here to hide Where can I hide
All across the universe the stars are fadin' seems I've gotten lost on my way
All I want to do is try to find myself
Come and let me look in your eyes

Diet choices

This time of year is an inspiring time for reconsidering dietary choices.  We've just spent the holiday season over-indulging in our favorite foods, and relaxing with family and friends.  January also brings fresh new resolutions to improve our health, develop a good habit, or set our new goals for the year.

There are so many diets, and so many different advisors out there. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to keep up with them all.

For me, these health choices seem to resonate with a respectable level of truth - I will keep this updated as the truths evolve.  I'm a firm believer in continually challenging myself to improve - so change is inevitable.

#1 Strive to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in every meal and snack
#2 Eat many small meals, rather than one or two large feasts - Plan ahead to eat before you truly feel hungry
#3 Avoid foods with more than 5 ingredients, overprocessed or overpackaged foods.
#4 Share mealtimes with others, whenever possible, but don't let others negatively influence your own healthyy choices.
#5 Mindful eating - pay attention to the food you are eating as well as how you are eating it. Whenever possible - do not combine eating with other activities. For example, eating while watching TV.
#6 Avoid sodas, and other sugar syrups as much as possible.
#7 Include oat bran daily
#8 Try a new recipe or food often

The Rose

Bette Midler  'nuf said
There are some beautiful versions of this out there - be sure to listen to a few.  :-)



Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need

I say love, it is a flower, and you, it's only seed.

It's the heart, afriad of breaking, that never learns to dance.

Peace Rose

It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes the chance
It's the one, who won't be taken, who cannot seem to hear
and the soul, afraid of dying, that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long
and you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter, deep beneath the bitter snow
Lies a seed, that when the suns thaw, in the spring, becomes
a Rose

Making Changes

Tips from an inspirational speaker on wellness and exercize I heard the other day - and want to remember.
In order to make effective change, to create a good habit.

First, identify where you are, and what you want to do. 
Write it down, document it, and talk it up.  Research everything you can on the steps you need in order to achieve the goal.  Get the true facts, and then don't ignore or excuse them away.  Recognize and acknowledge your own feelings, but seek out and get motivated by other's success stories.
Consistency triumphs everything.  
A steady effort of a minimum of four weeks will yield a level of progress toward your goal.
Start today to build an exercize habit for the rest of your life.  Aim for:
6 days a week of exercize
once that is in hand,
be sure that you include serious aerobic elements 4 times a week.
   aerobic = min of 20 minutes in target heart zone - 
                                        (220 minus your age) X .60 = low target
                                        ( 220 minus your age) X .80 = high target
once that is part of your routine, add strength and resistance training 2 times a week.
Eat many smaller meals - increase vegetables and fruits
Another term for boredom is "absence of participation" - get involved, live in the present.  
Proactively look for new activity.  Guilt and shame do not motivate, so learn from your setbacks, correct your actions, and give it another try. Always strive to work toward something measurable.  
Write it down - every day if possible, so that you can see that measure of success.

Begin where you are

I found this poem as a teen, and tucked it away with other treasured poems.  I feel it is a good one to start with, for our collection of poems.

If you want to be happy, begin where you are.
Don't wait for some rapture, that's future and far
Begin to be joyous, begin to be glad,
And soon you'll forget, that you ever were sad
    - Author Unknown

Getting Inspired

Hello, I'm Krystin ("the daughter" also known as Katts)

I'm an Illustrator by day, and bartender by night. I paint fantasy, sci-fi, zoological and botanical topics mainly. You can see some of what I do at my blog. I sent the this journal idea to my mom and I'm sooo proud that she's picked it up and decided to run with it. I will be posting now and then with some things that I would like to share.

I have been musing for a while on what I should put in my first post on this blog.. I decided that I would give a tip on something that I find difficult myself. My boyfriend recently gave me this tip after I fumed that I just couldn't get inspired that day. I've been having lots of trouble getting inspired. I would sit here on my computer staring sideways at my painting like it was a 20 foot high brick wall and I had no equipment with which to scale it.

Strawberries make me think of Tolkien's "shire"

There's a lot of inspiration that's needed to draw, craft, even to study your books for school. Next time you're doing something that you wish you were inspired for, chew some gum. Pick a flavor you like, one that you can get a bunch of. I chose Strawberry Orbit gum for my fantasy-themed paintings, and Wildberry for my zoological/botanical works. For my boyfriend, he chews mint gum when he's trying to study biology, and lemon for math.

Before it was a house!

Every time you do that task, chew the same flavor gum. Eventually you'll find that when you can't seem to get inspired, chewing that same flavor gum will set in a little reminder to your system and you can get inspired again. It's like when you eat a favorite childhood food and you can practically feel yourself sitting in your mother's kitchen again. For me, it's lemon brisk tea. I drink that and I feel like I'm standing on our land, 8 years old, as we were excavating it to pour the cement for the basement walls!

Bucket Lists

As an adult, I met a friend who maintained an insanely long and seemingly impossible "bucket lists".  Some of his ideas are positively wonderful to contemplate when I first read the list.  It's been quite some time since then, and in reading through that same list now, I realize that each single item on the list - while still out of reach for me - were not out of reach for this person.  Each one did involve a certain amount of persistence, effort, and drive - but it is very impressive how many of these seemingly impossible items have now been crossed off of his list.   Simply having the opportunity to read through his list inspired me to start one of my own.  Recently, I met another person who maintains the list in the opposite direction, with a concerted effort  to make sure at least one item is added to her list of "new things encountered and accomplished".As I write this, I can't help but wonder how both of their lists are doing.  No matter how long or short those lists are now, I'm sure both of them are not at all disappointed in their accomplishments.

Niagara Falls - Skywheel

Attitash Mountain Coaster

Have you ever come to the end of a season, and found yourself mourning the fact that yet another year has passed, and you never accomplished some simple task?  For example, I often reach the end of summer, and realize that I never once made it out to the beach, or the coming of Spring, and realize that I've missed out on trying out the special sledding hill that looked so good.  This year, Dan made out a Summer Bucket List, and we managed to accomplish quite a few new things.  We skipped the ocean this year...but I have no regrets.

Arethusa Falls

There is a power in simply writing out your desires and accomplishments - earned or yet to be earned, that somehow managed to help you find a way to make them come to life.

Here are a few of my own personal "bucket list" items.  I hope they inspire you, as my friends inspired me.

Accomplished:

• Take a hot air balloon ride
• Create and sell a handmade craft
• Travel through the bermuda triangle
• Learn a martial art
• Kayak a quiet lake in the early morning
• Earn a master's degree
• Attend a ball
• Ride on the world's fastest rollercoaster
• See the view to the top of the tallest building (NY, Toronto, Tokyo, Manchester, Boston, St. Louis, Dallas, Niagara Falls-Canada)
• Tour an ancient castle
• Smithsonian (Air and Space, Natural History, Fine Art)
• Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum (London, NY)
• Learn to Contra Dance, Square Dance
• Learn how to shoot a gun
• Stargaze from the deck of a boat
• Watch fireworks from a deck of a boat.
• Raise dairy goats for milk
• Raise chickens for eggs
• Create a kitchen herb garden
• Ride in a sleeper car of a train
• Win an art contest
• Raise my children in a good and happy home
• Watch my son graduate from college
• Enjoy the sun and sand au naturale
• Share a hot tub with a ridiculous number of good friends
• Built a geodesic dome house

Yet to do:

• Learn to make the perfect Tiramasu
• Bid on and purchase a work of art from an auction
• Make wine with grapes grown on my own land.
• Make it through one Christmas giving and receiving only handmade gifts.
• Create something useful, and obtain a patent for it
• Swim with dolphins
• Explore a volcano
• Visit a tropical rainforest 
• Publish a book
• Illustrate a book
• Sell a photograph, drawing, or painting.
• Maintain a personal worth of over $1,000,000
• Vacation at an all-inclusive beach resort
• Kayak through a marshy, slow river or pond, photographing wildlife
• See the view to the top of the tallest building (recommendations-anyone?)
• Learn Zumba or Line Dancing
• Visit Stonehenge
• Soak in a natural hot-spring in Iceland
• See the fjords of Norway
• See the waterfalls of Hawaii
• Participate in an active hunt for deer or moose

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments below - I'm always looking for a few good ideas to add to my list!

Family News Album

While cleaning the office, I realized what a gem I have in our old Holiday letters.  I've saved each one, in those years I actually managed to get one written, and I find it interesting to see how dramatically the style has changed, as technology also evolved, and my available time to throw the letter together!.  I've started work on preparing a proper display notebook containing these letters, which ultimately records our family history, as documented in holiday letters and a few other nostalgia.  For right now, I've simply started an old 3-ring binder and some clear acetate protector sheets, and loaded in the letters in chronological order.  I'm still missing a few years, and I'm sure there is a nice crafty way to dress up the cover for this valuable compendium. - Any suggestions or ideas?

 So here’s my tip number one….it doesn’t have to be a traditional Christmas letter, but once a year, or some other regular time interval, it is good to spend a few moments looking back, and documenting how far you’ve come.  It’s important to live in the present, and to have an open mind and ready spirit for what the future holds.  However, it is also a good thing to recognize and celebrate your accomplishments and progress.  

  I hope to create a nice memorial book for my grandchildren to read through so that they know a little about what my life was like.  I know that I enjoy reading details about what it was like for my own parents and grandparents, when they travelled through the paths of their lives.

   I've found a few other interesting letters, and documents that I think will end up in this same album, as well as a few ads that detail favorite annual events that our family has enjoyed. In effect, it is an instant scrapbook but easy enough for anyone to do, even the busiest of moms.