Zany friends

Mr. and Mrs. Potatoe Head, a couple zany friends of mine! It is good to surround oneself with friends that have a sense of humor and fun. And I am all for fun! It has been a busy month and I am glad it is finally winding down. Tonight is our Pheasants Forever banquet and I look forward to going each year. Then on Saturday and Sunday I am going to Logan, KS. to the Dane Hansen Museum for a basket making class. A very talented lady from Iowa is coming and we will make two different baskets from willow. I am very much looking forward to the weekend and a chance to relax and learn something new. I just realized I am at the end of the alphabet!
We'll just have to start over!! It has been great fun.....just like my friends! What a true blessing they are....even as potatoe heads!
(p.s.) They suggested I jump into a brown paper sack and be a tator tot......... ha ha

Yoga

How do I replenish my spirit? By quieting my inner chatter. I let go and let God take over. Things happen for a reason and I'm being guided all the time. Yoga and meditation enable me to understand the impermanence of life. Nothing lasts forever, which in itself is very freeing. I can get over the hurdles in life and know there is an end to them. I am reminded that I'm here for more than going to work, going home, making dinner and going to bed. I am still very new to yoga but find myself more relaxed each time I do it. I was so surprised when I sat down on the floor and could not sit cross legged. When did that happen? Take a few minutes every day even to just stretch and ponder. Quiet that inner self.

xenophobic

Just when I think the world is changing and our arms are open wide for all people someone dashes my hopes. Generationally I think acceptance is broader but there are still those small pocket of individuals who are afraid I guess. Brown, white, black. What difference does it make? I love the clip in the movie, Robin Hood, where a little girl comes up to Morgan Freeman and asks, "Did God paint you?". He responds, "For certain." "Why?"she asks. And his answer to her, "Because Allah loves wonderous varieties." Shalom.

Hakuna Matata!

I know you are thinking my title does not begin with the letter "w" but I'm still blogging about "w", just in a different sense. Remember the movie Lion King? I loved this song. It even plays on my cell phone instead of the phone ringing!
Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze. It means no worries for the rest of your days. It's our problem-free philosophy. Hakuna Matata!
Today instead of worrying try out some compassion.

Van

I have decided that I am not aging but regressing! Regressing is to move back to a more primitive state or condition. Yup. That's what I am doing. I have been thinking about a different vehicle of late. One of our boys is without a vehicle so my car could go to him. I have not had a new car for years and have no desire for one. I like paying cash and no car payments and cheap insurance. And for some "wierd" reason, I am thinking a VW bus would be a hoot! I have always loved them so why not. They are 4 cylinders so gas mileage would be good. LaVern really misses our Ford Windstar van that we had (two cars previous). But I'm just not into one of those again. But a VW, now that would be cool.

I would love to find a '60's flowered one. We actually looked at a couple while in Greeley. A good friend of my brother's had them. Neither one ran. He told us that out there the guys are putting Porsche rebuilt engines & trannys in them!! Can you imagine? A VW bus running 80 mph down the road? I want to grow my hair long and where it in a braid along with my round wire rim glasses and birkenstock sandals. A VW bus just works for me!

Unintentional

Wow! Time really does slip away. I haven't ignored my blog unintentionally. No excuses really. Time. I have been spending alot of it exercising. Four hours a day at least. Two every morning and another two in the evening. After years of not taking care of myself I decided it was "time" to get out of bed and begin. Needless to say the first month was rough but I have broken through the barrier and it is much easier. I'm excited about snow shoeing this winter and am buying a mountain/road bike. May need the bike when I can no longer buy gas and will walk to work in the snow shoes if the weather gets bad! Actually, if it gets that bad I won't have to come to work as no one will be buying a house. I love fall. Spending time outdoors in it is such a blessing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16- Always be joyful. Pray continually and give thanks whatever happens.

Tea

My business is people oriented, and after a busy day, I just want to be on my own. I make myself a cup of tea--spiced herbal Chia--and retreat to a quiet corner in my home. Tea is my companion. Sometimes the retreat is my "wool" room where I spend time relaxing by hooking wool rugs. Or I just may curl up in the living room in a rocker and read or look through books on primitive homes. The photographs, the text and the process let my mind unwind. I recently have enjoyed experiencing different teas. I tend to navigate towards the "milder" blends and herbal teas. Where is your quiet corner? How do you feel when you're there?

Slow Breathing

It's such an incredible time to be living. I'm connecting in ways I couldn't even imagine before. It's like I'm coming out of my cocoon before I start flying! It's beautiful and uplifting. It's a new way to see myself, and it is a good time to take a breath. I relax through slow, deep breathing. Very helpful when trying to meditate. Get back on track. Focus. Life is something to celebrate on a moment to moment basis. Deep, slow breathing is part of nuturing myself. That's one way I replenish my spirit. If you usually have lunch at your desk or at the kitchen table, take a breather and take it outside.

Riding a Bicycle

I had way too much fun last Saturday riding a bicycle. And not just any ordinary bike but a two seated one. It was alittle strange riding on the back. I found out you don't just sit there and let the front person do all the work! Our museum celebrated their 50th anniversary and we had a grand parade in downtown Oberlin. I was busy working on a float for one of the numerous boards that I am on when the call came from Vickie asking me if I would join her. "Sure, why not" I replied. Initially we were going to be clowns. I raced over to our little second hand store on the hunt for a clown costume. But when I saw the square dancing skirt underslips a light bulb went off. Why not bicycling ballerinas??? The rest is history. We even stopped the bicycle periodically on the parade route and did our ballerina positions; first position, plies, twirling, crow pose. Maybe we will be the next winners of AGT! It was a fun day beginning with a pancake breakfast early, the parade, Indian dancers, buffalo burgers for lunch, melodrama, homemade ice cream and the museum had several people demonstrating crafts. Our six year old grandson Reid was down and he loved it. We camped both nights out at our park. The weekend couldn't have been better.

Quiet Time

I am either on the phone talking to people or with people all day long and sometimes I get tired of hearing other people's voices. Yesterday I was out with a potential new doctor for our area and for two hours it was constant chatter. Now I enjoy talking, ask anyone that knows me. In fact, I am an auctioneer and I enjoy it. But I also relish quiet time. I don't put on my Ipod or the CD player. I sometimes shut my phone off! It doesn't matter if it rings or not. I just enjoy the hum of life. We could all eliminate more from our lives to make it more peaceful. I enjoy getting up early, usually about 5 AM. It's my quiet time. LaVern and the dogs are still asleep and the house is quiet. Make some time in your life for just quiet.

People Watching

I have been contemplating what I would blog about for the letter P. Pumpkins, prayer, parades, photography, painting. This list could go on and on. Then I thought about next weekend traveling to my brother's in Greeley. I know we will eventually end up at the mall. I think it is expected of us since we have no malls in northwest Kansas. I love to stake out a place in the mall and just sit and watch people. They come in a big range - from those wearing designer clothes and jewelry to those with purple hair and nose rings. It's like Ripley's Believe It or Not on parade! It is even more fun watching people here in town. And I wonder, "Why do some people look like their dogs?"