~ A WORLD OF WOMEN & ONE ~

Ziggy Marley - Rainbow in the Sky.

2012-01-24T14:07:00.000-05:00

YOU ARE THE FORTRESS AROUND YOUR HAPPINESS!!!

2012-01-24T13:41:00.006-05:00

Life is a series of events, not all good. Life is a series of hits, not all bad...

What we make of life is what is important, and, how we deal with that is what we will feel...

No one else is in charge of our happiness, only we can bring it to life. Happiness is created, though, it might live within, it still needs to be cultivated, and, created. You are after *GOD*, in charge of your life. Yes, there are, and, always will be, outside influences on your perceptive life, still, internal life is, where, true happiness, stems from...

So what? Did something, or, some asinine person, try to steal your wind today? More power to it/them. Did it/they succeed? If it/they did, it is you which is to blame. Nothing, nor, anyone can take anything from you, if you do not allow it. Nothing, nor, anyone can make you angry if you do not allow it. So, try to always remember, that externals have nothing to do with internals, unless YOU allow them to. You are the fortress, the guard, the army, and, the diplomat; use these roles at will, use them to protect your sanctuary, your peace, and, ultimately, your happiness....

REINVENTING HEALTH...

2012-01-21T19:53:00.005-05:00

Stress, sugar, and, processed foods, are dangerous to our bodies, especially, the immune system, and, the digestive tract...

Read this: {Here's an interesting fact for you: Studies have shown that a mere teaspoon of sugar can depress your immune system for up to 5 HOURS.} Wow! This IS some pertinent information! Do you realize that a can of soda pop has 12 teaspoons of sugar, so that means, for 60 hours, the immune system is depressed, and, if you add to that, the snacks, and, other bad carbs, such as white bread, that you, possibly, eat EVERY day, you immune system is CONSTANTLY depressed, if not sent into hiding/shock!!!

I just read an interesting article about industrialized nations too; according to the article, people who live in such countries, DO bear the most weight, which, is attached to the air that we breathe, then, of course, the foods that we are taking in, which, are surely, laden with the chemicals that cause our systems to go out of whack, on top of, the bad eating habits, we already have! Intense stuff, yes???

Please, read this article from your Immune System/Sugar Sweet Poison , and, be sure to scroll down to the health related problems associated with sugar, it is an awakening, that is for sure! I use sugar in my teas, coffee, cereals, and, other stuff, as well! Scary!!!

Sugar causes inflammation too, as does stress, and, processed, packaged foods! Inflammation is, basically, one of the more common denominators in health risks, and, problems, and, in such countries as this, the United States, people are suffering from more, and, more, problems, because they ARE taking in that which, in short, poisons, the system of health, plus, the air, and, the huge amount of stress we bear, especially, in tough times!!!

What can we do? Be MORE AWARE of what we reach for, to put in our systems, eat correctly, which, isn't always possible, exercise, find ways to empty our minds, thus, our systems of stress, stay clear of pre-packaged foods, junk foods, and, convenience foods! There is not much we can do about the air we breathe, yet, IF we HEAL the internal healing system, the immune system, and, practice breathing exercises, it should better the odds!!!

From Discovery fit & health I found a list of 8 stress busters, and, at the end of the article, there is more great information, so, take a moment to browse through it, and, see IF you are treating yourself well:)))

LOTS more to come, because HEALTH IS KEY to living a life fulfilled, and, as some say, Health is Wealth!!!

2012-01-18T14:38:00.001-05:00

Yeah baby!!! Click on pic to enlarge, then, there is a close button:)))

ONE BRIDGE AT A TIME, TO RESOLVE...

2012-01-17T16:05:00.004-05:00

LOTS of people are suffering right now, in America, and, abroad; things like unemployment, rising prices, and well, you know the trends! DON'T YOU GIVE UP HOPE!!!

Don't allow yourself to give up, to become bitter, or, overtaken, by what is! Find ways to make up for the lack, one of which is, FIND HAPPINESS in EVERY day, it is NOT impossible to do, nor, does happiness cease to exist, when we work through tough times! Remind yourself of the things you DO have, and, be grateful for them; these are like having gold in a safe deposit box, and, they exist for reasons, such as, to encourage you, and, to UPLIFT you, when times are less than worthy of rejoicing!!!

With little, or, no income, it IS most difficult to keep up the spirits, and, the lifestyle, however, DON'T GIVE UP; you know, ALL things work out, slow as they might seem to be moving, there IS an end to the storms of life, when the rainbow breaks through, the sun shines, and, the birds sing, SO, HOLD ON, keep on keepin' on, and, KNOW that this too, shall pass!!!

I am going to do some research, and, find ways to encourage all of us, as we ride out these uncertain times! I know there are LOTS of websites popping up, concerning the downtrend, and, what we can to do to maintain what we do have to work with! The most important thing, is to face this with courage, strength, HOPE, and, FAITH; FAITH in *GOD*, IF you believe, but, if not, FAITH in self aids greatly!!!

When we slip into the darkness of suffering, it removes opportunities, vision to see, and, the heart-felt spirit to endure; all ADDING TO the problems at hand! Keep yourself BUSY, so, you DON'T dwell on the problems at hand! Find ways to be entertained; smiles, and, laughter, LIGHTEN the load! It IS gonna get better! It HAS to, and, a POSITIVE outlook, brings us closer to the end!!!

Take one bridge at time, to getting on track again, for that path to resolve, is just beyond your reach, but, I BELIEVE it IS, within your reach:)))

THE RESTORATION OF LYNDA:)))

2012-01-11T22:43:00.003-05:00

I have taken 2012, as a year of restoring ME! It is imperative, as, for the past decade, I have devoted myself to *GOD*, HIS work, and, almost, totally, caring for others, caregiving, and, other such!!!

Somehow, I got left behind, in more ways than imagineable, and now, I see, that, in order to continue to do my work, and, care for others, I MUST be in the best condition, feasible, body, mind, and, spirit! Realization is the first step, so, on, I go!!!

Restoration of self is not an easy task, but, doesn't have to be a hindrance, either! It is 14 attitude, 1/4 Faith, 1/4 action, and, 1/4 steadfastness, and, can be done in segments, a bit at a time!!!

Being on the computer so much, hasn't been good for me, either, so, my time spent online, must be allotted, and, consciously disciplined, otherwise, the steps taken, are as, half-hearted! This is a difficult area to manage, because of my work, and, my LOVE for writing, creating, and, other such, though, it CAN be worked out, because it MUST be!!!

I am not getting younger, nor, healthier, therefore, I MUST take of myself! I LIKE, and, LOVE myself ENOUGH, to present to the world, my best, possible being! I want to be active, healthy, strong, vibrant, effective, giving, sharing, and, FUN, all of which, require that, the WHOLE being be in the best form possible!!!

It is a matter of eating better, meaning, more fruits, vegetables, protein, and, whole grains, and, eating more, because I do not eat enough to keep a bird alive; drinking lots more water, cutting down on sugars, and, exercising, for the body! For the mind, more studies, and, classes in art, photography, and, other such! For the spirit, going deeper, and, deeper into the soul, with *GOD* as my guide! And, I, absolutely, have to have more FUN! I am FUN deficient, as of late, and, it is wearing me down!!!

There will be no strict guidelines, no stringent regiment, just focus, and, deliberation, to meeting my goals in this year! Most people who set standards, and, expectations, suffer along the way, and, even give up! I am not challenging myself, per se, I am, merely, seeking to RESTORE ME, to a state of wholesomeness, that, I am able to continue caring for others, and, do my work, effectively, efficiently, and, without it becoming counterproductive because of failing health, stamina, desire, and, so forth!!!

I have plans, such as making exercise videos, and, other such, that would require that I BE in my best form, and so, my goals, have goals, too:))) Wish me luck, and, may 2012, be a year of accomplishment, abundance, and, advantage for us all!!!

AS WE STEP INTO 2012...

2011-12-28T16:46:00.004-05:00

Oh LORD, how bad am I??? I didn't even stop by, to wish the World of Women a Happy Thanksgiving, nor, a very Merry Christmas; was just overwhelmed with things to do; I apologize, and, HOPE that your HOLYdays were fabulous!!!

Just days before we ring in the New Year! Always an exciting time, eh? The promises, and, possibilities of a New Year, bring a new sense of can, and, will, DO! WHY, I don't really know, it is one of those human psyche things:)))

Life is an odd mix of busyness, and, nothing to do right now, and, I am exhausted from the season, but, I intend to be here more frequently, even if it is but once a week! Between my work for *GOD*, and, other responsibilities, I get lost, then, my life went through a 6 month series of changes, which, I feel is a transition to betterment, at least, that is what I am holding onto in heart, and, mind!!!

Do you plan the New Year? Like, do you sit down, and, make a list of objectives/goals/dreams, and, so forth? Just curious, because I do it every year, and, am serious, every year, of fulfilling ALL on that list! Of course, not everything does get fulfilled, but, I am lenient enough with myself, that it does not bother me, too much, as I strive to fulfill the most imperative things on that list! It is fun, gives me something to look forward to, and, adds some motivation to my days, especially, the LONG days of Winter!!!

I am going to attempt to make this site more interactive, and, live, in the coming year; I would LOVE to SEE, and, HEAR the voices of the WORLD of WOMEN; it would be great for us to ACTUALLY SHARE in one another's lives, that, we can assist one another, encourage one another, uplift one another, and, support one another, in every way possible. I KNOW LOTS of Women in the world, NEED more from their Sister's of the world, and so, we HAVE to find ways to bring us ALL together, so, those who ARE in need, have more advantages, and, options!!!

PLEASE, KNOW that IF ANY of you should need support, or, whatever, you can contact me, I am nearby!!! My email address is lyndaluv@gmail.com !!!

Well, I am off to do some research, and, enjoy the rest of the evening:) I took a WHOLE day, and, spent it on nurturing ME! It was SO necessary, and, I am SO grateful to have had it; I much, enjoyed it!!!

Later, with ALL my LOVE, *GOD* BLESS us ALL, and, may PEACE be as our breath, vital, and, life sustaining, and, in case I don't make it back in the next few days, HAPPY NEW YEAR; may it be the best EVER!!!... OXOXOXO

THE WORLD INTO ONENESS...

2011-10-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

How different are we, but, how alike are we, also! The human condition is diverse, yet, as one! Which is why, the World Wide Web is so successful, as, it is PROVING the common threads which bind us, and, which, IS having a POSITIVE impact upon us all! Of course, there are those stiff-necked people, whom, will probably, always, remain in tenseness, creating dissension, and, discord, but, for the most part, we are discovering the commonness amongst the people's of the world, while, enjoying the differing aspects of one another! Isn't it just the coolest thing to be a part of such???

It is opening up to the kind of LOVE which *GOD* tells us to adhere to, but, which is masked, beneath the problems, and, troubles, and, the lies, which culture, tradition, and, ignorance, have created for most of us! I have always been open to the world, but, most people I know, were, extremely segregated in their perceptions of the world, and, how the rest of the world lives! Now, that is all changing, radically, and, there is, almost, an audible sigh of relief, as people realize, we share much more, in our daily lives, than was imagined, which, brings us closer to the truth of PEACE!!!

PEACE begins with one! Like ALL GOOD things, there is always, someone to deter, diminish, and, disregard, the NEED for that which, was intended, from the beginning of Mankind! The more people share, the more ignorance, prejudice, bias, and, worse, fades away! You know, and, I know, that the COMMON people of the world, do NOT condone war, violence, oppression, or, any of the negatives, which, are almost forced upon us, daily! Instead, we WISH to exist in LOVE, and, PEACE, despite, our differences!!!

The LAW of LIFE is LOVE; and, from this LOVE, spirals forth, ALL GOODNESS; there is NOTHING negative in this LOVE, which is WHY, this IS the LAW! We COULD live in this state, quite readily, IF we so chose to, but, many factors have kept us, from doing so, this far, such as the fires of dissension, which, are fanned by those interested in keeping the masses controlled, confused, dazed, and, without a UNIFIED voice, to correcting the wrongs!!!

How wonderful it is, that through this, and, other media's, we ARE given a glimpse of the SIMILARITIES that bonds ALL people's of the world! We should act upon this opportunity, to make GOOD things happen, FOR ALL of us!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

2011-10-28T11:14:00.003-05:00

It is Halloween weekend; lots of fun, for, mostly everyone!!!

Personally, I have NEVER liked Halloween, but, I have my reasons, stemming from when I was a young girl! There are several years of scenarios, which, caused me to turn from Halloween, but, one year in particular, I was chased by a very tall Man, who was as spooky looking as they come! I ran so fast, so hard, it took me all night to catch my breath! Somehow, I wound up alone, and, was heading home, when I spotted this Man, whom, also, spotted me! It was dark, and, when, I started running, he chased me! I don't know if he was, only, TRYING to scare me, but, I tell you what, he scared the Halloween outta me:))) Funny stuff, that we can cling to such memories! I mean, I am not afraid, anymore, but, I prefer more Angelic Holidays:)))

That being said, doesn't mean I don't participate to some degree, nor, does it mean I would ruin the fun for anyone else, and, so, I wish all of you who DO LOVE HALLOWEEN, a VERY FUN, exciting, and, safe, night of fright!!!

MY COLOURFUL, COMFY, HOME...

2011-10-23T15:23:00.008-05:00

A crystal star burst, flowers, candles,
Pottery, and, vases, with, or, without, handles;
Colours of red, yellow, green, white, cream, black; even more
Grace each room, ceiling to floor.
Paintings, graphics, stripes, swirls; abstracts, too,
Add visual effects, through, and, through.
Tradition is infrequent, yet, does have it's place,
To draw the eyes, to a special space.
Books, and, muzik, of, nearly, every kind,
Offers stimulation, to the spirit, body, and, mind.
Mirrors add dimension; several in every room,
Aiding to lift, the darker, days of gloom.
Sun catchers, and, wind chimes, lend ambiance,
Elements of the Earth, lie, in happenstance.
Crosses, Angels, CHRIST, as well as BIBLES, and, other religious materials, are, within reach,
Encouraging *GOD'S* presence; to protect, comfort, heal, guide, enrich, enable, empower, and, to teach.
A black cat, with under-growths of white, has her beds, here, or, there,
With a variety of moods, to share.
Warmth for the being, in my home, is a necessity,
That the entirety of the household, is enveloped in PEACE, you see.
All that one could need, is, right here,
Though, only in gratitude, is it, ultimately, clear.
While, wealth is not evident, there are riches of TRUE measure,
The walls of this dwelling, grant, sanctuary, to very rare treasure,
Souls; whom abide, within,
Be they here, or, not, the GLORY of LOVE, has touched them once, and, shall, again, again, again...

Lynda Winsor (Sha'Rosa) © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

MOTHER/DAUGHTER/THE MEATLOAF BOND...

2011-10-14T12:41:00.005-05:00

I just enjoyed a very nice visit with my lovely Daughter, whom, has moved too far away, and, has been quite busy in her new life! This is the 2ND visit since the beginning of the year, which, is not bad, so, I feel BLESSED!!!

I had wanted to take her out for Dinner, last night, to make her time here, more festive, but, she wouldn't hear of it! She wanted me to cook one of her favorite meals! She asked for homemade chicken pot pie, but, I did not have all the stuff I needed, and, was pressed for time, so, couldn't make a run to the store, so, we agreed on meatloaf, with my own version of potatoes Au gratin, and, a fresh romaine lettuce salad! It turned out perfect, and, everyone was happy!!!

Life is so different when your Children grow up, but, especially, when they move far away! Some people have lots of money, and, can visit with their Children, but, I am not one of those people, plus, I have an aging cat, who needs me here with her! After she has gone, I will take two weeks, and, drive down to visit, but, until then, it is rather difficult to get used to! I am happy for her, especially, since she LOVES her new life, so, that helps some. Still, it is just, sooooooooooo far away! This is still pretty new to me, so, I imagine, that with time, it will get easier??? I pray it is so!!!

I don't use recipe's but, here is my meatloaf, as best as I can relay it, void of measurements! Serves 2-4 people...

2-3 lbs. of ground chuck
10-20 saltine crackers, ground finely (I put them in the blender on the ice grinding mode)
2 whole eggs
1 small chopped onion (last night I used dried, minced onion, about 3-4 Tbs.)
Sometimes I add a BIT (like a 1/3 - 1/2) of chopped green, or, red pepper
About 2 Tbs. of garlic powder
Seasoned salt to taste
Black pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients well, knead a bit, form into whatever shape (I make mine like oblong), place into an oven safe dish, or, pan (I use a glass brownie pan) NOTE: Meatloaf pan works best, especially the new kind with the drain liner in the bottom!!!

Now, I make the sauce...
Taking a 2 cup measuring cup, I add ALMOST a 1/2 cup of sugar, or, brown sugar, then, I NEARLY fill the measuring cup with ketchup, then, a small squirt of prepared mustard, like French's, and, about an 1/8 tsp. of Worcestershire sauce, and, a BIT of seasoned salt. Mix very well, and, pour onto top of meatloaf. Place into center of oven on just a bit BEFORE 350 degrees, and, bake, roughly, an hour and, a half, or, until center is browned. Hard to be exact, as EACH oven, and, pan temperature varies! The sauce should be bubbling, almost like candied!!!

This meatloaf is very tender, tasty, and, LOVED by almost everyone who tastes it, and, is highly, requested! Some are used to meatloaf with gravy, so, the sweet-sour taste of the sauce is not welcomed by some! The ones who LOVE it, LOVE it SOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!

Cooking is one of my favourite things, and, while I was never TAUGHT to cook, I was able to become quite adept at it, by memorizing tastes, and, being able to taste ingredients, plus, by some sort of memory of how my Grandma used to cook, which, amazes me, but, actually, IS locked in my memory banks!!!

Well, I am off to get ready to go to the nursing home for Dinner! It is dark, windy, and, cold today; a TRUE Autumn day, so, don't know if I will be able to take the person I visit out for their nightly walk, but, am going to try! Last time I was there, he is in a wheel chair, and, put his feet in a position to become a human plow, through the leaves, and, had a HUGE pile of them ahead of us! It was hilarious! I was laughing so hard, then, I got bit all over by the bugs, which, were resting in those leaves! This place is in the woods, and, is quite beautifully landscaped, with an enormous amount of trees, flowers, and, other beauties of Nature; the people who reside there, are fortunate, in comparison to the other ones I have visited!!!

I wish you LOVE, PEACE, and, all the best, ALWAYS!!! May *GOD* BLESS, and, BE with us all:)))

ENJOY THE GENTLE SWING OF TIME...

2011-10-10T13:13:00.005-05:00

Womanhood, like Manhood, is NOT about an age, instead, it is about a point of KNOWING that you have reached such! LOTS of younger people claim to be Women, or, Men, and, even, some not so young one's, WITHOUT having, yet, reached a state of oneness within!!!

I was 32 when I realized that I was a Woman; though, having been on my own for many years, prior, I thought of myself as a Woman, yet, one day, it was CLEAR to me, I had reached Womanhood, and, MANY of life's dilemma's became more manageable that day, in a strange, mysterious way! I felt inspired, and, enabled, PRAISE be to *GOD*!!!

Being grown is a mix of countless characteristics, and, takes time to create the perfect balance, then, blend! Don't rush being grown, it is a LONG road ahead, and, never forget, a certain freedom is lost in too much knowledge! ENJOY your time to growth, live for today, not tomorrow:)))

MORE ON SPICES...

2011-10-07T09:14:00.001-05:00

Common healthy spices include ginger, garlic, chilli, cinnamon, tumeric, black pepper, oregano, coriander, cumin, fenugreek and mustard. Spices add delicious flavour and aroma to food, and are primarily used to enhance the taste of food. If you are looking to change your eating habits to include more low fat, high fibre food and less salt, try cooking with Healthy Spices to compensate for flavour.

Traditionally, while spices have been widely used in Eastern curries and Mediterranean style food, they work well with many vegetable dishes, and can be used to boost the flavour of baked, roasted, steamed or stir fried vegetables. For example, try baking squash or pumpkin with sprinkled red chilli powder, or add garlic and black pepper to brussel sprouts or zuchinni before you stir fry.

Spice up your life
Spices compensate for flavour in low fat diets.
Spices have potent anti-oxidant properties and could help slow down ageing.
Spices can help boost your health.
Spices have disease fighting properties.
Spices can turn an ordinary meal into an extra-ordinary experience!

Health Benefits of Spices
As a food group, spices are high in antioxidants and therefore have many potential health benefits, including cancer and cardio-vascular disease prevention, as well as having anti-ageing properties. Studies have shown that you only need to eat small quantities of healthy spices to reap the benefits.

Common Healthy Spices used in Cooking
Mustard is a widely used spice, with known anti-cancer properties and high selenium and magnesium content. In Indian cooking, whole mustard seeds are used as a flavour base for a range of vegetable curries, by heating in a little oil until the seeds make a popping sound, and then adding the vegetable ingredients.

Cayenne Pepper is a hot, fiery spice that is used extensively in Mexican and Indian cooking. The heat in cayenne pepper comes from a substance called capsaicin which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It also increases thermogenesis (heat production) and oxygen consumption which contributes to weight loss.

Cardamom is a fragrant spice popular in Indian Cuisine. It is used to flavour curries, chai, rice puddings and chutneys. Among the health benefits claimed for this spice are that it detoxifies the body and cleanses the kidneys.

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice well known as a curry flavouring. It is also used as a food colouring and has long been used in Chinese and Indian medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of ailments including bowel disease, arthritis, and as a cancer preventative. The active ingredient in turmeric is a substance known as curcumin.

Pepper is an extensively used spice both in Eastern and Western food. It has an impressive antioxidant and antibacterial effect and helps with digestion and weight loss because it stimulates the breakdown of fat cells.

Cumin has a strong peppery flavour and is used widely in Middle Eastern, Mexican and Indian cooking. The seeds can be ground or used whole. It is a good source of iron, and has traditionally been used to aid digestion. Cumin seeds release their full aroma and flavour when lightly roasted.

Cloves have an intense aromatic flavour and contain an active component called eugenol which has mild anaesthetic anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. Cloves are used to flavour soups, broths and curries.

Fenugreek has a powerful pungent, bittersweet flavour that is released when the small hard seeds are roasted. It is mainly used in curry powders and for making pickles. Studies have shown that it may help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Cinnamon is a common spice in many cultures and well known for it's musky sweet flavour. It can be used ground or whole, to flavour beverages, curries, rice dishes and desserts. The essential oils found in cinnamon give it anti-clotting and anti-microbial properties and recent studies have shown that it slows the rate at which the stomach empties after meals, reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating.

Ginger is one of the most healthy spices available. It is a strong pungent spice, widely used in Asian stir fries and many fruit and vegetable dishes. It has long been used as a herbal medicine to relieve gastrointestinal distress and nausea, and in modern times has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It is also used as a natural remedy for cold and flu symptoms and is thought to have immune boosting action.

Garlic is a powerfully flavoured spice that improves the flavour of any dish, and has been used for centuries for it's therapeutic benefits. It is also counted amongst the list of most healthy spices. Garlic contains a number of sulfur compunds and also vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium and manganese. Studies have shown that garlic helps prevent atherosclerosis, heart disease and potentially cancer as well. One of the most potent compunds in garlic is allicin, which has been shown to not only lower blood pressure, insulin and triglycerides, but also to prevent weight gain. Use garlic chopped, crushed, roasted or toasted in a little olive oil to turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary cullinary experience.

Oregano is a key ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, and is used as a garnish, in salad dressing, or sauteed with other ingredients such as mushrooms or onions to add a subtle aromatic flavour to food. It is a nutrient dense spice with powerful anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties and been regarded as one of the healthy spices by the Mediterranean people for generations.

The entirety of this information has been copied from a site which states that this page does not exist, but, it is out there:))) I TRIED to share the link, but, when a page expires, or, is taken down, it can't be found, so, what can I do, but, let you know that I copied this???:)))

FOOD: AROUSING THE SENSES, SATIATING THE SOUL...(A SERIES) PT. 2...

2011-10-06T20:37:00.008-05:00

I promised a series in the wonderful offerings of the world's foods, and, while I am behind, I am true to my word:)))

Spices play such an important role in our edible fare, and so, I thought, why not begin this series with LOTS of information about them?!!

When I cook, I LOVE to use spices, but, tend to stick to those I KNOW won't make what I like taste too much different, however, this series is about difference, and, finding ways to shake up the stove-top, and, oven, a bit!!!

To begin, let's take a look at this site, EATING WELL, which has a list of common spices, and, information about each one, as well as, information about WHY spices ARE a part of healthy eating!!!

As you read through this, you will find that, like, carrots, celery, and, onions, each of these spices HAS the potential to not only KEEP you healthy, but, can HEAL you, when you are in need of healing, so, they are, in duality, imperative to our lives! From Wikipedia: Humans were using spices in 50,000 BCE. The spice trade developed throughout the Middle East in around 2000 BCE with cinnamon and pepper, and in East Asia with herbs and pepper. The Egyptians used herbs for embalming and their need for exotic herbs helped stimulate world trade. The word spice comes from the Old French word espice, which became epice, and which came from the Latin root spec, the noun referring to "appearance, sort, kind": species has the same root. By 1000 BCE, medical systems based upon herbs could be found in China, Korea, and India. Early uses were connected with magic, medicine, religion, tradition, and preservation.

Spices are best if whole, or, fresh, but, are difficult to obtain, store, and, afford, and so, we have ground, flaked, or, dried spices. Whole spices have a shelf life of up to 2 years, ground ones, only 6 months! Who knew? How many of USE old spices? I DO! Wow! I NEVER knew that! So, they say to buy whole, when you can, and, grind as needed. To grind, you use a mortar, and, pestle, that the oxidation, and evaporation process, which is natural, is lengthened. Of course you CAN use a grater, a coffee grinder, and, other typical kitchen utensils! Some flavor elements in spices are soluble in water; many are soluble in oil or fat. As a general rule, the flavors from a spice take time to infuse into the food so spices are added early in preparation...

Next up, we will delve into more of the history of spices, and, go to the Encyclopedia for spices, and, see what we can shake up!!!

HELLO WORLD:)))

2011-10-06T14:16:00.006-05:00

Hello, world! Wow! It has been quite some time since I last posted here! I have been having a LOT to deal with lately, thus, have been observing from the clouds, hoping to keep the serenity...

Today is AMAZINGLY beauuuuuuuuuutiful; Indian Summer at it's finest! I wish I was outside, but, I just got over the flu, which, is now, becoming a cold; spent the morning sneezing, with watery eyes, and, just feel it is best to take it easy for a few more days, which means, missing Indian Summer, for the most part:((( Such is life, I have a glorious view of it from all rooms, here, and, have all the windows, and, the doorwall opened!!!

I am taking a new class in Wellness, which is the 2ND one, to aid my ambitions of becoming a Family Counselor! Some might ask why Wellness would be useful, but, it IS, in that it deals with the WHOLE of the person, body, mind, and, soul, and so, in dealing with life, Wellness IS IMPERATIVE!!!

Being non-traditional, I take classes according to that which I feel most people NEED, and, HAVE to deal with, the other stuff is merely, academical, and, makes an impression on paper, but, does NOT serve well, the issues of life, know what I mean???

Facebook used to be one of my favorite ways to spend time on the 'Net, but, it has, radically, changed over the past year, or, two! I find it, almost, useless to spending time effectively, but, know what? You think I can stay away from it? I have lasted, at the most, a month, and, right back I went! It is SO time consuming, but, for what REAL purpose? It is different for everyone, some just lOVE it, others are addicted, and so, go there, and, still others, have become less enchanted with it, like me:)))

Well, I am off to get some work done around here! I have spent enough time resting today; am antsy, and, ready to get into something! I have LOTS of plans for the coming months, and, this site, so, hang with me, I WILL be around more!!!

MUCH LOVE, may *GOD* BLESS us ALL, PEACE, and, take of YOU, because without YOU, what is the world???

PSSSSSSSSSSST: As you can, SURELY, see, I have changed the face of this site; do you like? Is it hard on the eyes? Please, let me know! I had someone check it out, and, they LOVE it, but, one person sees differently than others:)))

FOOD: AROUSING THE SENSES, SATIATING THE SOUL...(A SERIES)

2011-06-04T10:51:00.007-05:00

Food is imperative to life, but, for those of us who cook LOTS, it becomes necessary to find new takes on the same old foods! I grow tired of foods, and, NEED variety, although, I am grateful to have food at all!!!

I found an interesting site, called
The World's Healthiest Foods , which gives an entire list of 130 of the world's healthiest foods, which also, offers 100 easy recipes, and 70 meatless dishes! Healthy eating is important to me, and, can become a chore to shop for what is healthy, devise healthy meals, and, so forth, so, I am ALWAYS seeking improvement, variety, and, taste!!!

Like, right now, it is the warm season, which means cooking outdoors, so, I bought a grilling cookbook, because I need to change up the same ole', same ole'! Also purchased a pan for the grill to accommodate vegetables, potatoes, and, other such, to encourage, TRYING, new dishes! In this economy, it will be helpful to be able to cook most of the meals outdoors, to save on energy, and, some cash!!!

I cannot help but think of the countless hungry as I write this, which is one reason I don't write about food much... *GOD* be with us ALL!!!

Coming soon, I will be bringing forth ways to eat on any budget, healthy eating, recipes, and, other offerings concerning the world of eating, for myself, and, for you! Am looking forward to this:)))

PSSSSSSSSSSSST: Be careful, for there IS an E. Coli outbreak in effect, one of the largest ever, concerning produce, affecting Europe, and, moving on... They are considering banning ground beef also, IF the livestock has been proven to have eaten contaminated products... always something xoxox

HOPE...

2011-05-31T15:00:00.002-05:00

What is life without HOPE? It is not really life, it is merely, existing! In this accelerated world we live in, it is getting more difficult for those who need HOPE to find it, as, everyone is moving about, faster than the speed of light; too preoccupied to consider what HOPE really means to one whom has none!!!

It is not difficult to spread HOPE, not at all! Sometimes a mere kindness is just what a person needs to feel elevated enough to continue! One must never forget that there are all sorts of sufferings in this world, which zap up HOPE like an arid desert does moisture! HOPE is like the Sunshine after it has rained for days, it impacts the very soul, and, lessens the burdens which reside within that soul!!!

HOPE is based upon POSITIVITY, which grants the receiver the mentality to BELIEVE in POSITIVITY once again! It is nurturing, wholesome, good, and, most of all, it is a WONDERFUL thing to give, and, to receive! Imagine having no HOPE, for days, weeks, months, even, years! Imagine if no one cared enough for you to give you some HOPE! How would you feel, how would you cope???

Even the slightest amount of HOPE can renew a person's outlook, and, inspire them to move forward! People DESERVE HOPE, it IS innate to life, don't you agree? How can we NOT give HOPE on a regular basis? How can we so easily forget that MILLIONS of people are without HOPE, even though, they have TRIED to maintain it???

Life is about giving, and, paying it forward, it IS the evidence of the LOVE intrinsic to CREATION, and, to each person! HOPE is a component of LOVE, stemming from compassion, and, compassion IS like water to the roots of a plant; it nourishes, so that the plant, flourishes! HOPE is imperative to survival, in so many ways! Sometimes, all it takes for one to SEE the way forward, is a little HOPE, a little genuine compassion, and, unfeigned concern!!!

I have been without HOPE before, but, I had *GOD*, and, found HOPE within. Not all people have such advantages, and, rely upon HOPE from external sources! The way life is set up is to PROVIDE for one another, in ANY way we can, that ALL people are strong, and, able to survive! When a person is weakened to having no HOPE, do you have any idea how difficult it is for them to greet another day, let alone make it through that day? Add to that, the fact that often, they are surrounded by others whom are as HOPELESS as are they, and, so, in this instance, it grows beyond proportions, to consume the whole of them, for there is nothing indicative of, or, proving that HOPE is worthy of their attention!!!

Open up your minds, open up your hearts, and, take time to see where HOPE is needed; sometimes, it is very near you, and, is silently crying, but, very urgent! Give of yourself, and, remember always, what your life is at this moment, is no guarantee of how it will be later, thus, you, too, might one day, be in need of HOPE, and, also, remember, what goes around, comes around, always!!!

HOW CAN YOU HATE WHAT IS ALREADY, AND, ACTUALLY, LOVE???

2011-05-30T21:38:00.004-05:00

When bias, and, prejudice, rule a mind, they seep into the emotions of the person, causing the person to become wholly dominated, by thoughts which are ALREADY determined, NOT allowing room for consideration, that their presumption might be without truth, or, reason! They become CONSUMED with despise, quickly angered by anything associated with that which they are biased, and, prejudiced against, which, in most cases, becomes extreme, without chance for any argument against what they believe; thus, HATRED is borne, then, spread through many means, mostly through association with the hater(s), be that Spouse, Family, Children, Friends, Contacts, and, so forth! It becomes an inferno of antagonism, usually, premised, on lack of real information, or, misinformation, or, second, and, third hand information, and, so on!!!

Their hatred becomes a passion which is not likely to ever be quelled! It EATS away at them, especially, if they are near that which they hate, or, are fired up, via news, actions, and, other stimuli, which increases the thought process, the origin of their hate!!!

Thus, we have so many problems in this world! People who have never met, hate each other with more emotion, than true LOVE! People whom, truly, know nothing tangible, about their imagined enemy, feed off anything they are given concerning said enemy. It is, actually, very childish, and, is rarely founded on anything more than presumption, assumption, and, deception!!!

This is especially true when it comes to national politics, religious beliefs, and, other organized components of a country; and, adds extremism to the inferno, via, propaganda, and, other means, determined to infiltrate, and, impress the mind of it's populace!!!

War is usually not about the citizens of any particular country, unless, it is to rescue them from dictators, torture, and, other inhumane instances, but, mostly, it is about power, money, oil, and, other things which leaders need to maintain position, on the global front! Most people from most countries, unless severely influenced, are not to blame for the mistakes of the leaders, the military, and, the power plays, YET, through mind control, the people of most countries ARE biased, and, prejudiced, to the extent, that they are loyal to THEIR homelands, which is natural. Now, LOTS of people, such as myself, do NOT carry bias, nor, prejudice in their hearts, and, can LOVE the world, which IS evidenced, here on the 'Net, as the world comes together in Friendship, at least, in some context, and, discuss life! Perhaps, many of these people are two-faced, and, DO hold hatred in the core of their being, but, barriers are being taken down, and, dialogue is being served, VOID of the dissension that is integrated into most!!!

I can't deny that there is massive extremism visible too, but, know what? This too, has opened to dialogue, which is encouraging! It might not be taken as encouragement between those involved in discussion, or, interaction, but, it IS OPENING UP to some things which had been withheld until now, which means, greater understanding, which means, HOPE!!!

Hatred is a poison, more deadly than ANY THING on this planet, and, it needs to be nipped in the bud, as LOVE is the foundation of life, and, all people's who worship, KNOW this to be true from their perspective HOLY BOOKS, and, BELIEVE it to be true, so what the hail is all the commotion about? LOVE IS THE WAY, LOVE IS THE ANSWER, LOVE IS THE ANTI-DOTE, LOVE IS THE PULSE OF LIFE, even if those who do not understand, continue to attempt to eradicate it, the WHOLE of the world, knows better!!!

Bottom line, if, and, when, hatred destroys life, LOVE will yet exist, for it is eternal, and, it will have proven vain to destroy what, always, and, actually, existed IN LOVE!!!

WALK AT HOME, LESLIE SANSONE!!!

2011-05-28T22:50:00.001-05:00

Walking is one of my favorite things to do, though, I found out this Winter, that it is not always feasible to get outdoors, and, do so! So, I have been doing some research, stumbling upon Leslie Sansone's Walk video's which are VERY inspiring, encouraging, and, motivating; an EXCELLENT alternative to waiting until the weather is right, and, for some, good for ALL times...

Let's take a look at some of these video's...

Walking - Part 1: Start Quick & Easy

3 Minute Mini Walk

Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds 5-Day Fit Walk

I think that these are PERFECT workouts for those who spend LOTS of time on the computer, as, you can just clik, get up, and, get busy for a while, adding exercise to your online experience!!!

Walking IS one of the BEST all around exercises there is, and, is affordable, as well as condition, and, age friendly:)))

EMPOWERED FROM WITHIN: GUMPTION...

2011-05-28T18:35:00.005-05:00

People tend to think, upon impression of me, that I have a charmed life, but, that is far from reality! I don't have a great life, but, I don't have a bad life, either, instead, I have a nice life, which is, partly, due to my attitude of my life!!!

Listen, I have way more burdens than one should, HOWEVER, I am skilled at flowing along, DESPITE these burdens! NO, I DON'T deny their existence, instead, I let them be, WITHOUT them AFFECTING the whole of my life, mainly, my outlook, and, personality! Sure, every so often, in retrospection, I FEEL the weight of them, but, mostly, I move along easily, as if they are a part of me, but, like, weightless! See, some of these burdens are not going to ever leave me, and so, I have to ALWAYS keep them in perspective, void of the MENTAL damage they could do, IF I so allowed them to! Know what I mean???

I am human, I worry, I cry, I wonder, BUT, I go through these emotions, then, PERK MYSELF UP, by being GRATEFUL for what I DO have, and, for my abilities, and, capacities! I also believe that *GOD* is NOT going to let me suffer more than necessary! I HOPE always, and, I am SURE that I CAN, and, WILL, always, arise to a higher level of existence! I NEVER give up, and, I DON'T let hindrances hinder me! So what if I am 3/4 deaf, what does that mean? I am THANKFUL I am not fully deaf, AND, thankful that I CAN'T hear all the noise in the world, as, it would probably drive me crazy! Sure, it bothers the hail out of other people, but, isn't that THEIR problem? Isn't it kind of rude that they are so affected by something which I have NO control over???

So what if I am not wealthy in materialism? I am wealthy beyond my wildest dreams from the inside out, which, took LOTS of lessons, suffering, survival, and, great deliberation to develop! So what if I am not knock dead gorgeous? I am doing just fine with what I have to offer! So what if I haven't yet published that book I so long to do? Does that mean it will never happen? You see, there are hundreds of things MOST of us could list as less than optimal in our lives, but, so what? Does this NEED to affect you negatively? NO WAY! It should inspire you to look at WHAT YOU DO HAVE, ALWAYS!!!

NEVER give up, especially on yourself! NEVER give in to what seems like defeat, as, defeat only happens when YOU allow it to! Even if you fail, here, and, there, there is GAIN in that failure, such as lessons, strength, perseverance, and, renewed resolve, IF you look forward, and, NOT cling to the emotional baggage incurred! LEAVE that behind! Cry AT that moment, then, as you dry your tears, LOOK FORWARD, ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD, there IS a rainbow in the sky, just waiting for YOU!!!

Life is a series of ups, and, downs, it is HOW we deal with the highs, and, lows, which MAKE us, or, break us! I choose to MAKE the MOST out of nothing at all, and, I am VERY ADEPT AT DOING SO!!!

The cup is ALWAYS half full, even when it is half empty, who could deny that???

The past is there for reference, tomorrow is there for dreams, but, today is here for action! Even the slightest action to upgrading your life is a step in the right direction, don't you agree? Another problem humanity faces is, IMPATIENCE! Most people feel if they haven't done this, or, that, by this particular time, it isn't going to happen! Well, with that attitude, how could it? You have to ALWAYS keep FAITH, and, HOPE alive in your life, otherwise, you just exist, without really living, by accepting that which does not have to continue, and, forgetting to look forward!!!

I may not have the answers, but, I have the GUMPTION it takes to resolve almost anything! I am not going to lose out on any available opportunity to seize the moment, and, find that golden beam, and, I am NOT speaking, merely, of material gain, instead, of EVERY gain I can manifest, but, the most important to me, is, to become the finest person I can be, as was *GOD'S* intention, as proof of my life, in HIS GLORY!!!

Nope, I don't have a charmed life, but, I have a BLESSED life, in many ways! I have come up from the pits, I have survived amazing incidents, I have grown, I have a roof over my head, nice stuff, clothes, food, LOVE, a gift, or, two, and, so much more, PLUS, I have *GOD*, whom HAS led me to this point in my life, and, has shown me HOW to BE CONTENT in every respect of my life, for the moment IS for living, and, embracing, and, empowering the moments to come, *GOD* be willing:)))

RIDE ON SAUDI WOMEN!!!

2011-05-23T07:10:00.017-05:00

Our Saudi (Arabian) Sisters are NOT allowed to drive, they are the only ones in the world, purportedly, who are not allowed, though, they own half the cars in the Kingdom! They can own cars, but, have to have a Male driver (often, their unqualified teen-aged sons)! They can also, own car dealerships, but, cannot test drive the cars, and, such! Well, they are ready to protest, set to happen on June 17TH, 2011, if I remember correctly! Some have already been protesting, by driving, and, have been arrested, one who learned to drive in the U. S., and, at least one, met with severe punishment!!!

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any form of dissent and applies an austere version of Sunni Islam in which religious police patrol the streets to ensure public segregation between men and women.

What happens when age old customs are challenged? According to reports, most Islamic/Muslim countries HAVE allowed Women to drive for quite some time!!!

Sharia, the body of Islamic law, which means, the way to the water hole, is the code of conduct, and/or, religious law, on which traditions are based. The Qur'an, and, the Prophet Muhammad whose example, became customary, are the foundations of Islamic law! There are several types of Marriage contracts in the law, which is very interesting, as they have Marriage laws which dissolve after a certain amount of time, in which there is no dowry, and, the Husband is NOT responsible for the Woman's economical welfare! Which, sorry, would imply, that the Woman SHOULD be allowed certain freedom's that she might provide for herself! It is, of course, a very complex matter, with ancient roots, and, Saudi Women are under the laws of the Kingdom, as well!!!

Anyway, laws concerning Saudi, or, Islamic Women, are fairly strict, but, it would appear, that Men take the law to the extreme! Let's look at this a bit:The study of women in Islam investigates the role of women within the religion of Islam. The complex relationship between women and Islam is defined by both Islamic texts and the history and culture of the Muslim world. While men and women have different roles within Islam, some argue that the Qur'an makes it clear that they are equal,however the Qu'ran states in 4:34, "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard." Although the Quran does say this, the superiority of men is only in terms of strength as can be seen by the context - men maintain women(WIKIPEDIA)...

Women of the world are So concerned for their Islamic/Muslim Sisters, often, for good reason, but, there ARE always Two sides to each story, and, we hear of the EXTREME cases! I live in an area which is LARGELY Islamic/Muslim, and, I have to say, most examples of the Women from what I have observed is, they live way better than most of us, meaning, they are well provided for, and, at least here, have enough freedoms to keep them happy! When they are at home, they have many freedom's, and, well, it is way different than people imagine! ANY WHERE in the world where there are Men, there are going to be those whom take their rights, their beliefs, their strengths, to the extreme! I am a survivor of domestic violence, so, I KNOW that extremism is FROM THE PERSON, not exclusive to heritage, and, other such!!!

As you read above, MANY of the Islamic/Muslim Women are devoutly obedient; this is partly from upbringing, partly from their religious convictions, and, partly, because they CHOOSE to be! Remember this article is dealing with rights to drive, not, with the other issues these Women, our Sisters, face, so, let's not find more negatives than necessary!!!

Back to the driving ban! Women in Saudi Arabia ARE fighting back for the right to drive, and, at least one Male with authority is for their right to do so, but, others are not, or, are inconsistent in their stance, saying yes, then, no!!!

Let's take a look at this: Since King Abdullah, the current monarch, came to the throne in 2005 he has eased restrictions on freedom of speech and particularly on women, encouraging them to study and work.

He opened Saudi Arabia's first mixed sex university, and even appointed a woman minister.

In return a small but growing band of middle-class professional women have both expressed gratitude and used the opportunity to press for further reforms, big and small. Note, it is MIDDLE-class Women pushing for this, which, could indicate NEED, and, other important things! Also, perhaps they could approach it in a way which would be more respected by their leaders, like, beginning with rights to drive for work, and, school, then, see how that works! I don't have many answers to this dilemma, as, I have never had to deal with such, but, I do have ideas, and, prayers to lend:)

The above article goes on to say that driving for Women seems as far away as ever, partly, I am assuming, from their over eagerness to win!!!

Saudi Women are also fighting for the right to vote, which, in the upcoming municipal elections is expected to be denied!!!

I wish to see ALL Women, EVERYWHERE, with rights, and, common courtesy's, yet, do I want them to SUFFER by INSISTING that they have these rights? NO! It is so complex, on one hand, it IS 2011, and, on the other hand, age old customs, HAVE worked for all of this time, as well as, has made it DANGEROUS for Women in such predicaments to revolt! The whole world will be watching, I am sure, to see what comes of the brave attempts by these Saudi Women to sway authorities, and, I wish them, the best of luck!!!

The world of Women is always ablaze, by courageous reformists, and, those who refuse to be kept down, sometimes, with dire consequences, but, ALL change has had it's martyr's, and, it's downside; that is HOW change comes into existence! One thing is for sure, when a Woman has her mind made up, such as the likes of Manal Al Sharif, who was arrested most recently, and, is adamantly protesting, there is little, if anything, that can stop her, for her spirit is undaunted by the obstacles, after all, that is part of being a Woman!!!

More to come, as it unfolds, let us pray for our Sisters, near, or far, and, support them as we can!!!

P. S.: Did you know that in Saudi Arabia, there is relatively, no such thing as a night life? Read this Saudi Arabia Travel Guide , so, you see, this country, in particular, is SERIOUS about upholding morality, and, their religious beliefs! I have much to say on this subject, so, more to come:)))

P. P. S.: According to my research, Saudi Arabia's Women ARE allowed to drive in small towns, and, villages or in private housing compounds—some of which extend to many square miles. The Saudi Shura Council recommended in 2008 that the ban be relaxed, allowing young women to drive subject to some restrictive conditions, SO, the protests are aimed at being allowed to drive IN major cities, and, towns. I HAD to continue to research this, and, apologize for NOT being 100% accurate in the 1ST place; instead, was posting, based, on the current status! Always something, always something...

COLOURS OF INDIVIDUALITY...

2011-05-19T22:39:00.003-05:00

I see the colours of the world, I am not partial to any,
As *GOD* designated that they should be many!
I LOVE the shades, hues, and, dimensions, of the colours before me,
Pleasing, is the sight I see!
What would the sky look like without a hundred shades of blue,
Or, the palette of greens, on which lands the dew?
How about the sunrises, and, the sunsets,
Which is about as perfect, as nature gets?
I don't believe that skin has any exception to the rule,
To prefer one over the other, is to play the fool!
What would it be like if we were all the same, in every way?
How much interest would there be, in any day?
Some say I am white, but, honestly, I am pink,
With tones of gold, I think!
It is wonderful that each colour has a vast array of differences, however slight they might be,
This is the proof, of the truth, of our *GOD* given, individuality!!!

Lynda Winsor
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

THE HEAT IS ON!!!

2011-05-18T13:24:00.005-05:00

In these uncertain times, it seems that relationships, IF that is what you want to call them, are for the sake of, excuse me, SEX! People are shying away from commitment, instead, seeking SELF gratification, where they can find it! Just as many Woman are players, as are Men, there is no denying this! Part of this is due to the fact that Women are TIRED of being hurt, and, have adapted to THE GAME! This is all so sad for the whole of society, just look at how many of the younger people have sworn to NEVER marry, based on the examples of marriage they have been subjected to!!!

Marriage has NEVER been perfect, but, that is par for the course! ANYTIME there are 2 people sharing close quarters, time, and, all that it involves, there is bound to be problems, turbulence's, and, adjustments to be made, BUT, it was INTENDED that people have enough LOVE, SENSE, and, STRENGTH, to ENDURE the rough patches! Never did *GOD* intend for us to run when trouble comes! NO WAY! HE has made us STRONG, much stronger than we give ourselves credit for, but, of course, for the lazy, and, unsure, this provides a way out...

Promiscuity has become the norm! Like frenzied creatures under a spell, everyone seems so, so, so, OVERHEATED! People are sharing themselves with more people than they can remember, and, are rarely, satiated! None seem to realize the harms involved in doing so, and, the example they are setting for future generations! Look at the Hippie generation; these people set new standards for FREE LOVE, which became an invitation to experiment sexually, and, lose the uptightness, which HAS had an effect on the generations thereafter, indeed, just take a look at your Children, or, Grandchildren, and, you will see what I speak of!!!

It is even worse now with the Internet, and, ready to go porn! Even so called religious people are delving into the forbidden, not able to resist! Super stars, and, public figures are no exception, and, in fact, are delving in so deeply, that they are ruining their own lives, and, leaving bad impressions upon their fans, as well as upon the kids of the world! It is like, SELF CONTROL has been sold for the right to indulge!!!

I gotta tell ya, SEXUAL URGES BEGIN, and, EXIST IN THE MIND, and, the body is regulated by, EITHER, CONTROL, or, LACK OF CONTROL! It is the same with food; the temptation to overeat GOES AWAY after a few moments, IF you do NOT give in to it! The MIND is the center of ALL wrongful actions, it is WHERE it all begins, as it feeds the emotions, and, urges, IF YOU ALLOW IT TO DO SO! People say the body has needs, and, that is true, but, promiscuity is NOT a need! Those who are never satiated, are BEYOND control, and, are existing to fulfill EMPTY fantasies, and, imagination! They will NEVER be satisfied, because they are not seeking anything REAL to appease themselves, instead, they are existing in their mentality, which is NOT providing satisfaction, instead, increasing the delusion that they are in need!!!

Sex between two whom LOVE one another, is a natural, beautiful thing! Sex with just anyone is, well, over-rated, dangerous, empty, and, holds no grounds for satisfying needs! UNLESS it is for vengeful conquests, like, to PROVE that what is good for one, is better for another, and, other equally empty excuses for their actions!!!

What is going to happen to some of these overly desirous people? Especially as they age? They will face loneliness, void, and, regret! Their lives will not show much for the effort, and, COULD leave them with AIDS, HIV, and, other afflictions which they incurred all because the HEAT was TOO MUCH for them to handle!!!

Loyalty is almost a thing of the past, evidenced by the amount of infidelity going on! I wonder how many people even consider such things BEFORE they make such mistakes! I understand that many will commit one, or, two, indiscretions, but, as the headlines indicate, a LOT of these weak people are out to score in a BIG way! Trust is becoming a thing of the past as well, due to the many who do not respect, or, regard, themselves, others, and, commitments! It is like a flame which caught the wind, and, spread into an uncontrolled wildfire, and, all goodness is being scorched in the path of the raging blaze!!!

I am no Angel, but, have learned my lessons from mistakes, but, I cannot keep quiet about the frenzy of promiscuity going on before me! Men are locking their Wives out of where they keep their computers, Women are exhibiting themselves to lift their ego, to entice, to tempt, and, to shut down, would be lovers, teenagers are selling their photos, and, lives for money, everyone is caught up in attention deficiency, like, look at me, look at my body, and, it gets much worse! Sex has always been around, but, the availability of illicitness was not as handy, nor, as great, prior to the World Wide Web, which does not discern about whom is clicking on what!!!

Something HAS to give! Otherwise, we are going to see a total breakdown of Family, of LOVE, of relationships, and, of VIRTUES, such as TRUST, RESPECT, REGARD, SELF CONTROL, HONOUR, and, all others along with these basics, which nurture the GOOD of life, and, of lives!!!

LIFT UP YOUR SELF TO POSSIBILITIES

2011-05-12T13:34:00.000-05:00

Often, in the life of a Woman, there is no place to draw our strength, but from the Heavens, or, as some of your refer to it, the Universe, above, and, this is how it should be, for only ABOVE the world lies resolution of all sorts!!!

This old world will tie us down, take us under in negativity, and, completely defeat us, IF we do not reach for the Heavens above! When we allow our minds to seek that ABOVE the world, we are opening to POSITIVE resolve, and, are freeing ourselves from that which would keep us bound to unnecessary anguish!!!

When things happen, as they do, and, will, it is so easy to feel defeated, but, that is when it is optimal to look ABOVE, and, AHEAD, so that we will NOT be burdened more, with excess, and, I might add, USELESS, negatives, such as fear, worry, anxiety, giving in, and, up, and, so forth!!!

I learned the power of LIFTING to the Heavens long ago, but, have I mastered it? Nope, not quite! It is not easy, HOWEVER, practice DOES make perfect, so, NEVER give up! I am one who goes THROUGH the trauma, drama, and, other such, AT the onset, THEN, I lift UPWARD, and, FIND some PEACE IN the POSITIVITY of my mind, EVEN IF, at the time, that POSITIVITY IS IMAGINED, the more I FOCUS ON THE GOOD, the better, and, easier, things become to deal with!!!

There are NO magic formula's, only Wise ones! Choices have much to do with the result of events, occurrences, circumstances, situations, and, our actions, and, reactions to such! You KNOW deep inside that no matter what is going on, you WILL overcome, survive, and, go on to live the rest of your life, *GOD* willing!!!

Which brings me to another point, *GOD'S* WILL; HIS WILL for YOUR life, SHALL be done! We have NO control over HIS WILL, and, DIVINE plan, or, as some of you believe, over the powers of the Universe! I am speaking in reference to things that seem to repeat themselves, or, things that NEVER come to be, no matter how much of ourselves we put into it. In this case, it is Wise to come to terms with the fact, that, perhaps, it just WASN'T meant to be, and, move on...

Yes, I know, well, the feelings of despair, and, defeat, HOWEVER, I do NOT ALLOW them to become my future! Instead, I kick these feelings to the curb, and, FIND ways to alleviate the pressures, and, to alter the current situation, that I AM growing from the experience, and, moving forward! I, also, sometimes forget that I WILL survive most things, but, I remind myself of ALL I HAVE SURVIVED this far, which IS quite amazing, considering I have done most of it alone, of course, with the help of *GOD* ABOVE!!!

YOU ARE WOMAN! That speaks volumes for your ability to endure, persevere, tolerate, and, CREATE ways to improve upon ANYTHING you are faced with! I believe in you, so, reach UP to the Heavens ABOVE, believe in the Heavens ABOVE, and, in self, then, receive!!!

TO HELP A SISTER, TO HELP THE WORLD...

2011-05-10T09:29:00.006-05:00

There are many ways we can help our Sister's, you know? We can share empathy, sympathy, thoughts, knowledge, Wisdom, ideas, inspiration, experiences, kindness, clothes, stuff we replace, encouragement, and, support!!!

There are Web sites, such as the
The Hunger Site , which, incidentally, has a very high standing over most aid sites in the world, and, for good reason; you can help your Sister's by clicking, for free, to donate food, AND, by clicking on their Sponsor pages, more is added to the daily distribution. PLUS, there are GREAT offerings of items created by our Sister's of the world, at excellent prices, and, all is secured! Offerings include jewelry, clothing, organic products, jackets, bags, artsy items, and, much more, including petitions to further the betterment of Women, Children, and, the state of life for all! It is well worth the navigation! I have been clicking for years, and, am just grateful that there is such a site, that I can, DAILY, contribute to my world Family, so easily!!!

I give clothes, and, household items to my Sister neighbors; at least, the ones who are not too proud to receive them. One time, my, then teen-aged Daughter, went through all of her clothes, some of which had the price tags on, and, were NOT inexpensive, and, offered them to a neighbor, whose Daughter was around the same age, and, size; well, she told me off, upside down, and, slammed the door in my face, but, before she did, I could see the hurt in her Daughter's eyes, as, this Family DID need assistance, and, she KNEW how my Daughter dressed! There were LOTS of new things in there, which would have helped the Woman's Daughter feel better. We were not trying to offer charity in the sense that this Woman was perceiving it, we were sharing what we had, in the communal sense of LOVE! LORD knows there were times when my Daughter, and, I, could have used someone else's shares! So, there ARE people unwilling to embrace sharing, but, there are LOTS more who will take what they can get!!!

For instance, my nearest neighbor is raising 4 Children by herself! They are DEFINITELY struggling in this economy, as we all are! They are often knocking on the door, asking for tape, batteries, and, so forth, which is understandable, I think! I gave them all of my old dishes, when I got new ones, they were quality dishes, and, in excellent condition. She was so happy to receive them, as she said all of hers were mostly broken! Dishes are expensive! I also gave her all of my sets of towels when I changed my bathroom theme, which, with 4 kids, you know was needed; we can never have enough of such things. When I finally go through my clothes, the ones I think might fit anyone in her home, I will offer, the rest will be donated. I give her foods, now, and, again, and, special treats for the kids. Not as often as I would like to, I am not wealthy, and, we are not Friends, but, we understand the bond of community!!!

The point IS: SHARING! Share in ANY way you can! Lots of neighborhoods these days, have created, like, block parties where all neighbors bring forth that which they can't use, or, replace, and, share with one another; like a FREE flea market! Neighborhoods where there are Children, SHOULD do such things, because a discarded toy for one kid, is a new toy for another, and, the same goes with outgrown clothes, and, other such! This works great for Mom's whom can't afford to splurge on new clothes too! IT IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY, and, LOVE of our fellow peoples!!!

Lately, when I have an extra, say, $5, I give it, anonymously, and, discreetly, to someone I know is hurting. Like, there is this guy that is working, but, he is barely making enough to live; his car is on it's last miles, the doors are held together by straps, and, so forth; I deposited $5 in the cracked window the other day, to help him out just a bit, and, to give him some HOPE! He will never know where that small amount of cash came from, but, I KNOW it brightened his day! Once upon a time, when I was so down, and, out, I took my Daughter to the park to play, and, was worrying about how we were going to eat, since I had no money. As we left the park, and, came to my raggedy old car, under one of the tires was a folded $20 bill! It was as Manna from Heaven to me, and, who knows, it may have been, but, I never forget such things, nor, the feeling that it gave me, and, the warmth it put in my heart. I couldn't pay anyone back, but, I learned, quickly, how to pay it forward, in even the smallest of ways, as, sometimes, HOPE is all that can be mustered of the day, IF someone cares enough to place that HOPE into another! See what I mean???

IF there is any lesson we NEED to embrace of *GOD*, it is the lesson of COMMUNAL LOVE! HE set up this world that we might LOVE one another enough to CARE for one another, in ANY way imaginable! IF we had embraced this lesson from the first peoples, there would be NO impoverishment, hunger, homelessness, or, other such, thus, no dissension, violence, or, war, for ALL PEOPLE would be provided for, OUT OF THE VAST GIFTS OF LOVE!!!

Remember your Sister's, and, your fellowman, today, and, always, by paying it forward, in whatever way you can, as, no way is insignificant, and, any way IS helpful, and, which helps to create a standard!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, WITH LOVE, AND, RESPECT XOXOX

2011-05-07T18:29:00.005-05:00

A Mother brings forth life, a miracle from *GOD* above,
Which is totally premised on the fact of LOVE!

She nourishes, nurtures, cuddles, reads, explains all sorts of things,
While she is strengthening your hidden wings!

Almost everything you know, by a certain age,
Has come from Mommy, that discreet sage!

Her hands mend your boo-boos, her heart grants you confidence, her arms provide a haven from the world, and, it's ways,
Your Mother has placed in you, knowledge to carry you through your days!

How beautiful is the relationship between Mother, and, her Child,
Such a soulful connection; by natural instinct, beguiled!

As the years go by, life begins to separate them, bit, by bit,
Like a butterfly, the Child has need to let their wings, flit!

Still, the attachment grows,
Though, less, it shows!

The Mother stands on the sidelines, noting the person their Child has become,
With a heaviness, which leaves her numb!

This is the time when those memories of the past come to play,
And, last, forever, and, a day!

Reminders of the fun, the silliness, the hours of playing, of laughter, of walks in the park,
Times when there were snowmen, skates, Rollerblades, concerts, and, chasing fireflies in the dark!

All of those times were so beautiful, so precious, and, are now embedded deep within the soul,
Truly, such experiences have made, both Mother, and, her Child, whole!

A Mother is a spiritual oasis for her Children, sent by *GOD* above,
Endorsed, and, secured by a most mighty LOVE!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, beautiful Women of the world! *GOD* knew what HE was doing in CREATING us to carry on HIS WILL, evidenced by the Children we raise, regardless of the difficulties in doing so, which has been our pleasure, think??? *GOD* BLESS each of you for adding something wonderful to this life, and, for having the courage to endure it all, while your heartstrings were tugged, at least a million times, in the process, from birth to watching them go off on their own!!!

Lynda Winsor © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

THE MYSTICAL BEAUTY OF WOMAN...

2011-05-06T07:04:00.005-05:00

Beauty is something which is deep,
Deriving from a point where the soul does keep;
Not always readily, seen by the eye,
Instead, felt, though, we are not sure why...

It is comprised of strength, propelled by LOVE,
Which has it's origins from the Heavens above!
Resplendent is the Woman who KNOWS her beauty,
It shines as a priceless diamond, for all to see!!!

A Lady such endowed, might be struggling, day to day,
Yet, nothing before her, seems to get in her way;
She has creative stamina, knowing how to pull it all together,
That, those near, have the vision to see something better!!!

A beautiful Female has sight beyond measure,
Which leads her to treasure;
Treasure which has more worth,
Than anything upon this Earth!!!

Her intentions far exceed what she receives,
Still, in giving, she relieves,
What *GOD* placed deep within,
That she can find more, again, and, again!!!

Charming is her appearance, rugged is her spirit,
As she forges on to get what she can get!
Hearty is her resolve, mighty is her endurance,
Yes, she is BLESSED with great perseverance!!!

Loveliness exudes from the depths of a Woman who realizes,
How to improve upon reprises,
How to gain from little; how to build without material(s), without instruction,
Mystical is the empowerment of her production!!!

Don't doubt your comeliness, Woman, it is quite evident,
Impressively elegant!
Never imagine that your value is unknown, it is, surely, blazing,
Sparkling, glimmering; all in all, YOU are AMAZING!!!

Lynda Winsor © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

TRUE MEASURES OF SUCCESS...

2011-05-04T18:22:00.002-05:00

Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. ~ Winston Churchill ~

SO true is this statement! And, might I add, that YOUR successes are as individual as are YOU, without NEED to be compared to the successes of others!!!

MANY people feel like failures because they are not wealthy, gorgeous, perfect! Well, you know what? That is a crock of self made misery! YOU are NEVER going to be like anyone else, so, why not just get used to that fact first?!? And, while we're at it, WHY would you want to be? YOUR life holds SO much purpose, it is amazing! Just because those purposes are often subtle in their existence, does not lessen them, NOT AT ALL! YOUR very presence in this life has MUCH importance, whether it seems like it, or, not! That doesn't mean that you should get headstrong, but, you SHOULD be confident, of your own worth, for it is as rich as all the Kingdom's of this Earth combined!!!

I know, it is difficult to sit on the sidelines while others just seem to have that golden touch, but, it is what it is, and, UNTIL it changes, why not make the MOST of what you have, and, have going FOR you?!? Believe me, people who appear to have it all, are lacking things too! Some are lonely, some are bored, some are dissatisfied, some are lost in the land of OZ, and, some are NEVER going to be happy! Some of those people would give anything to have a 'normal' life! Many wealthy people do not have happiness, all they have is wealth; some do have it all, but, that is, really, quite rare!!!

Things CAN'T make you happy! Sure they can alleviate certain things, FOR A WHILE, but then, what is there to look forward to when your dreams have come true????

Be always busy improving self, then, the rest will come! I believe this with all my heart! Developing our character is top priority, that we are enabled to withstand all that life hurls our way, AND, that we are better equipped to pay the best of self forward, that WE are giving to life, so that life can give to us!!!

Don't complain, fret, worry, or, other negatives, instead, set your sights HIGH, and, BELIEVE! I am not talking about unrealistic sights, I am talking about that which CAN be, such as advancing from your current state, while helping others along the way! Leave the negative to the evil of the world, that is where it came from, and, where it will end; it holds NOTHING useful for anyone!!!

YOU are something viable, something wonderful, something powerful; you only need to tap into the endless, *GOD* given resources of your being, they are there, waiting to be used!!!

No matter what you have tried, and, failed at, you learned from the experience, and, experience is the evidence that you ARE living! Don't get down because things don't always work out the way YOU wanted them to, they DO, eventually, work out the way they were meant to be! Believe in YOU, and, your capacities; I BELIEVE in you!!!

Look forward, never backwards, but, live IN the moment, for each moment holds something wondrous, which, if you are not paying attention, might mean missing out! Be grateful, thankful, appreciative, and, always look for the best in any situation; this is HOW many arise from dire straits! Live not for things, but, for that which makes you rich inside, for that, my Friends, is what carries you, elegantly, into a ripe old age, and, shines like a fortress of jewels, for all the world to see! Seek Wisdom, it IS the TRUE provision of all provisions!!!

THE STORMS OF LIFE...

2011-05-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

I don't watch the news often, but, I do try to catch up on what is happening in the world, and, each week, it seems to be worse than the week before! Lots is going on, little of it is good, but, we should NOT let that take us down!!!

EACH day holds something wonderful in it, it really does! It is when we allow the bad to overtake our SENSES that we miss out on the simple, wondrous, aspects of life! That is why the negatives are called darkness, as they, TRULY, darken our outlook, and, dampen our spirits, which leaves us mulling, and, experiencing that which we cannot change, instead of looking to the good, which IS all around us, EVEN when the bad is right there!!!

It IS all about attitude, and, gratitude, both HARD lessons I have learned in life! Look, I have been down, out, hungry, without a home, and, have experienced even worse situations, so, I am not some Sunny Rebbecca running my mouth about things I haven't experienced! I used to scoff at the messages about attitude, and, gratitude, as well, but, I LEARNED, through my circumstances, the POWER in these two, seemingly, simple attributes!!!

Attitude can be altered, PRONTO! Gratitude can be found at ANY time, you only need to do a reality check! Mentality IS our OPTION, or, our OPPONENT! HOW we feel, act, or, react, can be GOOD, or, it can be BAD! We can make our circumstances MUCH MORE BEARABLE through our mentality, at ANY time! Believe it!!!

WHEN you alter your attitude, it OPENS UP to POSSIBILITY; when you remain in despair, it CLOSES off possibility! Think about this for a while, you will begin to see!!!

I worry, don't get me wrong, but, really, what does that worry profit me? NOTHING! I can't change the price of gas, food, shelter, or, not being able to afford basics, but, I CAN, through POSITIVE mentality, begin to change the way I act, and, react in the current situation, as well as, INSPIRE myself to being CREATIVE enough to find ways to lessen, or, even, to eventually, improve the state of my life! Know what I mean???

*GOD* says, "BE STILL, and, KNOW THAT I AM!", which means, LET HIM! When things are so tough you don't know what to do, TURN TO *GOD* first! Then, turn to POSITIVITY! Watch as things begin to improve! Watch as your attitude coupled with gratitude, LIFTS you above the negatives! Watch as your spirit soars, free from the shackles of restraint which was brought on BY negatives! Watch as you find ways to overcome! Watch as you begin to realize that NO MATTER what, things DO get better with time, AND, with patience!!!

Some of you do not believe in *GOD*, but, you believe in SOME HIGHER POWER! Tap into the heart of your mind, and, free yourself! BELIEVE in POSITIVES, and, YOUR abilities! DON'T remain tied down to that which will further bring you down!!!

Life is a series of events, over which we have little control! We should not cling to certain things, such as possessions, wants, and, other such which COULD be gone in a flash! NO! Instead, we should cling to thoughts of GOODNESS, POSITIVITY, and, RESOLVE, as well as GRATITUDE! GRATITUDE for our life, our health, our Family, our Friends, the beauty around us, and, well, I could fill pages with things to be grateful for! DON'T let the other stuff diminish the truth of reality, as, most of it is fleeting, superficial, and, not worth the anxiety! Whereas, the TRUE things we hold to heart, ARE our reality, and, DO last, NO matter the current situation we are in!!!

I was watching the video of a Woman who survived a terrible tornado, in Alabama the other day! She was walking in the rubble of her home, saying, "Everything is gone!" "Gone are my photos, my pictures, and, everything else!" NOW, while I FEEL for her loss, I couldn't help but wonder WHY SHE WASN'T REJOICING for HER LIFE! Over 300 people, her neighbors, LOST THEIR LIVES! You see what I mean? She was CLINGING to possessions, and, IGNORING the ONE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT, HER LIFE! Such people, rarely, fully recover from such, BECAUSE of the fact that their gratitude is not placed effectively! They cling to material matters more than the gifts of life!!!

Ah, well, some people learn, some don't! All I am saying is that, YOU are in control of MUCH in your life; it is NOT measured by wealth, possessions, lack, or, such, INSTEAD, by that which resides in your mind, heart, and, soul; the rest CAN be improved, but, if you haven't got what it takes, in the first place, what you get in the last place, doesn't mean squat!!!

I LOVE YOU! PERSEVERE! ENDURE with a smile on your face! HAVE AN ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE, and, let life be; take care of YOU, from the inside out, and, pay the good forward; I KNOW what good can come from doing so!!!!

THE HAPPY COUPLE...

2011-04-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

The Royal kiss! This couple just looks right together, don't they? I pray that they will be ever BLESSED with marital bliss, but, I suspect they KNOW, full, and, well, the responsibility which they are now bound to, AFTER ALL, theirs WAS a LONG, LONG courtship!!!

Catherine is the 1ST commoner to marry into Royalty in approximately 350 years, so, she is favoured greatly, by the adoring public! Congratulations to them, may *GOD* BLESS them in great abundance!!!

Most of us Women, have had our fantasies of fairy tale romance, but, began to see, somewhere along the line, that such fantasies do not always come to light, which is fine, after all, you ARE living YOUR own tale, even if it is NOT quite what you expected, or, dreamed of! Still, those times of dreaming such served it's purpose, and, gave us inspiration to forge ahead, right?!?

People forget, too, the amount of pressure that is associated with Royalty, fame, and, lives of importance! There is intense responsibility, not only to maintain integrity, dignity, and, a certain social significance, but, also to protocol, to all within the structure of the entitled, as well as to the world! I, for one, would not want to bear the weight of all they have to consider on a daily basis, as, while they have certain freedoms which I do not, my world is WAY more free than is theirs!!!

Ah, fairy tales! So inspiring from the sidelines, but, as was proven by Princess Diana, not always so wonderful within the closed sect of their reality!!!

Yet, I have this feeling that THIS Royal couple IS well matched, and, that there IS truth to their union, and so, I joyously wish them all the best that *GOD* might bestow upon them, and, all that life can bring forth to them! Wonder how long before a new Royal will spring forth? My guess, in the next year:)))

NEVER BE DISCOURAGED, NEVER GIVE UP!!!

2011-04-27T09:53:00.005-05:00

I would like to share this Devotional with you; it is from GOD'S Little Devotional Book, Women...

The difference between genius, and, stupidity is that genius has it's limits...

A partially deaf boy trudged into his home one day after school. In his hand, he carried a note. It was a note from school officials, suggesting that his parents remove him from school. According to those wise officials, this boy was "too stupid to learn."

Upon reading the note, the boy's Mother vowed, "My son Tom isn't too stupid to learn, I'll teach him myself." And, that is exactly what she did.

Many years later when Tom died, many Americans paid tribute to him by turning off their lights for one full minute. This was a fitting tribute, for Tom Edison invented the light bulb--along with motion pictures, and, the phonograph. In all, he was credited with more than a thousand patents. He also had a gift for powerful, motivating words. You will read several of his quotes in this book.

Neither you, nor, anyone you work with is beyond learning. No one is beyond discovering new ways to express talent, enthusiasm, creativity, and, LOVE. No one is beyond receiving affection, and, encouragement.

NEVER give up on yourself, no matter what anyone else says. Stand up for others, and, encourage them to stay the course as well. Your HEAVENLY FATHER hasn't given up on any of you. And, HE NEVER WILL!!!

We are *GOD'S* workmanship, created in JESUS CHRIST to do good works, which *GOD* prepared in advance for us to do... EPHESIANS 2:10...

HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY DAYS!!!

2011-04-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY PASSOVER, HAPPY SPRING, and, HAPPY DAYS!!! Let us always be grateful for what we have, and, for Christians, let us never forget the GIFT of LOVE which *GOD* bestowed upon us! Let ALL of us always LIVE in that LOVE, caring for one another, sharing with one another, encouraging one another, supporting one another, and, well, just LIVING, TRULY, in LOVE, and, in PEACE! PRAISE *GOD* for HIS GENIUS plan to grant us redemption, despite our shortcomings! What an act of LOVE!!!

In this time of rebirth, renewal, and, rejuvenation, always be thankful, and, grateful for what you DO have! Don't waste time mulling over that which you don't have, as, it can take you down to a pit of negatives, which can make you ill, and, worse, plus, to what advantage does being negative serve? We ALL have our circumstances, and, situations to deal with, that is life, and, yes, I know full, and, well, that some suffer beyond imagination, but, know what, things always work out! Time may not be on our side, but, with perseverance, endurance, and, determination, we CAN improve our state of existence, from the MIND outwardly, which EASES some of the suffering, thus, allowing us to have a better time building, or, reaching betterment!!!

Find something wonderful in this day! You shouldn't have to look far! Perhaps to your Child, or, your Spouse, or, to Nature, or, in the eyes of a Friendly stranger! I guarantee you that there IS something special in each day!!!

*GOD* CREATED us to create our way, to be strong, courageous, inventive, creative, industrious, and, to forge ahead, with FAITH, NO MATTER what we are facing! We CAN do almost anything! There are millions to testify to this fact! BELIEVE! Open up to possibility, dreams, and, watch as thoughts become reality, bit, by bit, which is WHY we should keep our thoughts POSITIVE; be careful what you think, before THAT becomes YOUR reality!!!

Have a most BLESSED day! It all begins within! Muster up the best of your mind, and, look nearby for reminders that *GOD* LOVES us, they ARE right within reach, no matter how bad things seem! I LOVE YOU ALL, PEACE xoxoxo

GOD BLESS WOMAN!!!

2011-04-17T00:10:00.000-05:00

A Woman's world is a mixture of balance, imbalance, drama, calm, exasperation, improvement, overload, boredom, and, well, our days are as in the hands of a potter! We do well, though, we really do, even if we are half crazed, half of the time! My favorite vision of Womanhood is one where the Woman has lots of kids, lives in the country, has flour, and, dirt on her face, running back from one thing to the next, yelling at the kids, playing with them, hanging laundry out to dry, and, despite it all, MANAGING everything at once, and, looking as a rumpled Queen! Don't tell her that, though, she will think you are trying to charm her, or, you are placate her, as she moves with the intent of an army, yet, with the grace of a ballerina!!!

We juggle a multitude of things in any 24 hour period, including that which is going on deep within us! I often wonder if Men ARE equipped to handle all that we have to deal with, all at one time, and, pull it all off, so effectively that no one is quite sure of what has been done! I am guessing, some might come close, but, only a handful throughout history, could! That's okay, I couldn't do what they do either, partly because I LOVE being Woman, and, I like them being Men! There is comfort in the differences between the sexes, at least, I think so! I LIKE Men just the way they are, even though not all of them are worthy of their socks! They have their own little world they live in, which keeps them outta my hair, know what I mean??? Hahahaha!!! I am almost joking, ya know???

Men don't quite know all that we do, even if they have done quite a bit of these things, a time, or, two in their lives. Part of that is due to the WAY they do the same things we do! I am guessing lots of Women know what I mean?! Men approach things differently than we do, they are more pragmatic, soooooooo, ever so practical! They are cut, and, dry in the way they do things, too! They are concerned with getting the job done, more than the results of the job being done, UNLESS, it is their source of income; then, they are more visionary in their approach, and, labor! We, on the other hand, are systematized, romantic, visionary, and, deft in all matters; we HAVE to be, as, often, unless it is routine, we are not quite sure what we are doing:))) Again, almost joking, but, you know what I mean, right? How many things have you, a Woman had to approach with zero experience? QUITE A FEW, be honest! From the start, what I say rings true!!!

Ah, it is all so humorous, this life! I find it amusing to say the least, and, especially when it comes to the differences, even the sameness, between the sexes!!!

Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the world of a Woman! We are robust, bodacious, audacious, daring, dauntless, and, unstoppable! In retrospect, and, reflection, I am amazed at the many things I AM able to do, even when it was clear I was not able to! We have spirit! We have gumption! We have backbone, common sense extraordinaire, grits, discernment, guts, and, well, we are SOMETHING, aren't we???

Don't EVER forget, or, deny yourself the right to some pride in your being a Woman, as, it is the toughest job ever created, and, we do not get enough recognition, respect, appreciation, or, airtime for our efforts! Plus, by reminding yourself of ALL you ARE capable of, you are better prepared for the next load of to do's!!!

Well, I have lots to do, I had better sign off for now! I wish you the sense to always KNOW what you ARE to this world, and, to treat yourself to something special, at least, once a day, even if that is just locking yourself in the bathroom, and, daydreaming, while the Family is just outside that door, TRYING desperately to drive you mad enough to come out, and, holler at them:))) Hahahahaha! Take care of yourself, pamper your soul, then, the rest of you! Take time to just be the Woman you are, even if you think you lost her in the responsibilities!!! *GOD* BLESS Woman, she IS the backbone of this world, indeed!!!

WE ARE SISTERS, LET US HELP EACH OTHER!!!

2011-04-12T10:42:00.006-05:00

Women past a certain age, I will say 40, the world over, are, apparently, suffering very similar turning points in their lives, which could leave them without means to survive, health issues, which they cannot afford, and, more! Lots of Woman past a certain age, are reporting problems with their knees, their hips, and, other related problems which have nearly disabled many of them! Others have worked past an acceptable, or, shall we say practical age, but, with current economical woes, need to continue working, but, with the over-population, and, a younger generation in charge, many of them will not succeed in finding, or, keeping their jobs! The plight of Women these days is one which requires attention, and, NOW!!!

It is time for Women, of ALL ages to band together, and, to aid their Sisters! Women need direction, encouragement, support, aid, and, advice! No one is going to help us, so, we need to help one another; I think that this is the only solution to a HUGE issue!!!

For those of you whom are in dire straits, persevere, and, DON'T give up! In some countries, and, some areas, there are ways to create income! If you are yet strong enough, you can offer your services in many areas, such as being a housekeeper, taking in laundry, babysitting, caring for elders, cooking for others, and, well, you see what I am getting at! Don't let pride stop you from making your own way! Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are above doing anything to survive! Well, mostly anything!!!

You could take up a craft, such as knitting, crocheting, beading, handiwork, or, any other such, and, sell these items! I know it takes money to make money, but, you can, at least, begin, which will give you something to do, occupy your mind, and, encourage you! Where there is a will, there is a way! There are plenty of places which buy handcrafted goods! I will share some with you along the way! Take a visit to the HUNGER SITE, and, clik to give food; it is free, but then, take a look around this site! They ARE HELPING WOMEN, WORLDWIDE, by offering their handcrafts! So, you see, this is just one example, and, one way you might be able to improve your state of living!!!

Women whom have lives of comfort should come to the aid of their Sisters, in any way they can! Besides offering emotional aid, offer financial aid, references, and, whatever you can! Perhaps a few of you could come together to form a home for Women who have come to the point of being unable to provide for themselves, DUE to current conditions which makes it difficult to do so! There are just so many things running through my own head, that I can barely retain them long enough to jot them down, but, I know this, Women past a certain age NEED their Sisters, in lots of ways, NOW!!!

Can you imagine what it must be like to work all of your life, maintain a Family, a home, and, a life, then, suddenly, due to financial strains, loss of work, loss of ability, and, disregard by society, be faced with becoming homeless, and, all that goes with it, such as loss of esteem, feeling rejected, and, all sorts of emotional issues which could take a Woman down to the pits? Can you just imagine???

I, too, have faced such times, but, I am very resourceful! I have always been able to make a way for myself, regardless of the way! I have scrubbed toilets, floors, been treated less than worthy, and, whatever, to make ends meet, but, as I age, will I be able to do the same? I have no health insurance at this time, and, probably never will, as it is just beyond my means! I am not eligible for state assistance's, nor, Medi-Care; I have applied several times, and, have been denied! So, if my health should fade, or, deteriorate, I am on my way to losing everything! Nice thing to have to consider, but, such IS part of the facts of life in this present age! And, MANY Women are in the same boat! Which means, Women HAVE to band together, and, aid one another, because, if Family, and, others won't, we are all we have!!!

In the right sidebar of this site, there are some helpful resources for Women, but, we need more! We need awareness amongst ourselves of the plight many Women will face over the next 5 - 20 yrs.! It is not going to become easier, that is for sure, as the world economy worsens, and, more of us reach an age beyond appreciation of the masses! Right now, there are LOTS of Women living in their cars, who had wonderful lives up until recently, and, lost it all, or, lost their pensions, and, could no longer afford the lifestyle to which they were accustomed, and, here in America, their Social Security can barely pay for basic necessities, let alone the bulk of the cost of living! People's Grandmother's are homeless, living in cars, and, being quiet about it, because they are embarrassed, and, do not want to burden anyone! How could a Family not know, or, allow this to happen? I do not know, but, according to statistics, MANY Women, and, Men who worked hard all of their lives, and, planned well, are now in the streets!!! Comforting, eh? It is terrible, and, it is against common sense! How degrading, how wrong, how heartbreaking!!!

So, I, personally, am going to take this up as a cause, informing ALL Women consistently, that awareness begins to brew up resolve for our Sisters of the world! I am going to find ways to help, because we just never know what is coming! No one deserves to wind up in circumstances which are degrading, and, without means! But, especially Women past a certain age! Let us take this deep to heart, and, keep it in our minds, that we can, person by person, SHARE ideas, thoughts, and, offer information, to make sure that our Sisters do not face the worst, but, can always find a way!!!

WOMAN OF THE HOUR (I'M EVERY WOMAN)

2011-04-06T19:18:00.001-05:00

Some days I am the Princess of Power, some days I am Wonder Woman, some days I am Super Woman, some days I am Roseanne, some days I am Phoebe from Friends, some days I am Marilyn, some days I am a mess, some days I am all together, some days, well, some days I am drained from being every Woman:)))

Today I am Smurf like! Colored blue, but, joyous all the same, just smurfing along!!!

Tomorrow who knows what personality will come along? I don't worry about it, I am up to dealing with it:))) Seriously, being EVERY Woman is tough work, don't you agree? And, the worst part is, there is always someone who is not happy with the way you are! Don't they know how much skill it takes to be everything to everyone? Don't they realize that if it weren't for all the Women I am, all rolled up into one dynamo, that their life would not run as well as it does? Don't they understand that I am multi-tasking while manifesting FOR them? Ah, I don't like to complain, but, I just wish they could see how draining it is to cultivate enough personalities to provide for every one's needs! And, they wanna know why some Women say they lost themselves in the process??? Hahahahahaha...

Know that I am just messing around, playing on words, and, thoughts! But, also, I AM multi-dimensional in my Womanhood, no 'bout adoubt it!!!

I LOVE being a Woman, especially since I have passed those uncertain ages! Being a Woman is a great role, in countless ways! We get to dress up, dress down, we get to paint up, or, paint off, we get to cater to our senses, by having things which inspire, and, satisfy those senses, we get to rule our worlds, even if no one is quite aware that we are doing so, we get have it our way, while others are getting it their way, we get to play heroine, then, the frightened, helpless girl child, and, so much more! We are very creative, clever, and, have a great gift for detail, plus, uncanny memory storage! We are versatile, flexible, even to the point of being slinky! There is not much we can't do, though, we don't always let others know our capabilities, after all, we are already quite busy helping them along! Yep, being a Woman is like a special gift; and, within that gift, are endless gifts which appear in the course of growth!!!

I don't change my character on purpose, it just became necessary in filling so many requests on my time, and, juggling the world on my feminine shoulders! I am kind of thinking that being so many characters all rolled up into one is part of being a Woman! How else could we pull it off? *GOD* IS GENIUS, ya know, so, I am sure HE had something in mind when he gave us the ability to be every Woman:)))

Life is a trip, but, that is intriguing, as well as, interesting, then, add, the challenges of greeting the hourly Woman of need, and, I am extremely entertained! I wouldn't give up being a Woman if I had the opportunity, because Women ARE the only CREATION to date that can't be quite defined, categorized, or, inclusive to theoretical assumptions!!!

Wiles, styles, smiles; they carry us through the seemingly, endless miles of life, as we manage to fend off evil, duress, and, strife; not only for ourselves, but, for the world as a whole; yep, *GOD* surely made a helper, when HE CREATED the feminine soul!!! :)))

WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE...

2011-04-05T13:32:00.004-05:00

Women of substance, what does that imply? Quite a bit! It is not a tag, or, a label, instead, a state of existence! A Woman of substance is honed to exhibiting the kind of characteristics which are POSITIVELY enriched! She is gifted in virtue, she is strong in resistance, in will, and, has the betterment for all as her vision! She works constantly to improve upon what *GOD* gave her, KNOWING that what HE gave her is powerfully empowering, not only for self, but, for anyone on the path of her journey! She is LOVING, compassionate, caring, sharing, and, counts more worthy WHAT she can give, than, what she can receive! She is a pillar for the weak, an example for the young, and, the warmth of her home! She has become a Woman of substance THROUGH effort, understanding, and, the Wisdom of the importance of maintaining a relationship with the Heavenly Hosts, and, with the TRUTHS of Heavenly LOVE!!!

A Woman of substance may not have much, materially, but, she has vast wealth to share! She is rich in spirit, and, in manner! She knows HOW to make something out of nothing at all; how to feed the world with very little! She knows the way to kindle HOPE, FAITH, and, the will to survive! She knows how to mend things, tend things, she finds ways to make all things better, regardless! She is a TRUE example of what a backbone to the world is, WOMAN!!!

Such Women can be found living in the dirt, yet, making all around her find reason to PRAISE *GOD* for what they do have! Such Women can be found in palaces, teaching others HOW to share what they have! Such Women are not really rare, though, they are not heralded enough!!!

After the kind of life I have survived, I have come to understand that becoming a Woman of substance holds far greater advantage than most of what this life has to offer! I have also found that suffering, enduring, perseverance, fortitude, forbearance, and, survival, can LEAD a Woman to becoming of substance! I have learned the hard way that looks, goods, and, acceptance by the masses, has little to do with BEING a Woman, it is all about what she can leave in her footsteps to further the advancement of goodness in the world!!!

We are not raised to be Women of substance, at least, not many of us! We ARE raised to be of the world, to compete, to acquire, to overcome on the human plane, but, few of us are brought up to become as lights of the SPIRITUAL plane, which, believe me, IS the only way! All looks fade, all acquisition can be suddenly lost, wealth is defeating, and, then, after life happens, what have you got? Nothing but what lies INSIDE, which then, DEFINES the person, the Woman! See what I mean???

Chase dreams if you will, develop outward pleasures if you must, but, know that YOU are not really worthy until the INTERNAL being is developed! Know that your TRUE survival relies on the skills of the inner being! Know that you are only as wealthy as the wealth of goodness you carry within! Know that when all else is gone, the REAL you is all there is, and, if you are not yet substantial, you are going to suffer more than rebuild, and, without substance, rebuilding might not occur!!!

Being a Woman of substance is optimal in every way, but, under-rated, for sure! As you grow, as you age, much of this sort of Woman will begin to appear in you, IF you are lucky! Development IS key to becoming the sort of Woman that stands strong, with open, LOVING arms, to receive the world, that they might gather from her gifts!!!

Fleeting is the beauty of youth, but, the beauty of SPIRIT endures, and, shines like a vault of diamonds, in the one whom chooses to cultivate, embrace, and, utilize it... ljw 2011...

CANDIED CARROTS!!!

2011-04-03T18:58:00.002-05:00

Here is a recipe for my candied carrots, along with variations! Carrots are not a favoured vegetable around here, unless they are shredded in salads, but, little do these people know that I sneak them in MOST things I cook, because, they are soooooooooo good for you!!!

1-2 carrots per person, peeled, washed, then, cut diagonally, like close to a 1/2"...

1 orange, or, you can use a snack pack of mandarin oranges, or, any orange citrus fruit you might have on hand. If using fresh fruit, cut in half, squeeze the juice into a saucepan, then, you can tear out the fruit, and, add, if you wish! You can also add some applesauce to the recipe, it is good, and, adds to the consistency, as well as the flavor...

Add a bit of butter, like 1 - 2 TBSP...

A dash of garlic powder...

A shaking of cinnamon...

1 - 2 TBSP. of sugar, more if you prefer it sweeter...

Mix together in pan, and, bring to boil, stir... Turn down to low heat, and, simmer for a while, stirring to make sure it is not sticking, and, to aid in thickening it up... The sauce, generally, gets thick, and, has a sheen to it, which means it is done... Some people like the carrots yet firm, so, it is by preference!!!

Often, I add some bell peppers, and, even some green onion, just to take it up a notch! You could add pineapple, and, well, be creative!!!

These carrots go well with turkey chicken, beef, or pork, it depends on what the whole meal consists of!!!

My people LOVE them, even though they do not care so much for carrots!!!

Enjoy!!!

Pssst: I forgot to add that IF you DON'T have any fresh citrus fruit, you CAN use Orange Juice, like a 1/4 - 3/4 cup, depending on the amount of carrots you are preparing:)))

I AM A WOMAN IN LOVE!!!

2011-03-27T16:12:00.001-05:00

I am a Woman in LOVE!
My LOVE begins with *GOD* above,
Then, spreads to my Family,
Which, expands with humanity!!!
Then, more LOVE is found,
As, I look all around,
At the Mother Earth, and, all her glory,
Her beauty inspires many a story,
So wondrous are her many atttributes,
Working as one, to become magnificience, absolute!!!
My FATHER in Heaven, designed perfection for my eyes to see,
For all my senses to revel in, great is HIS LOVE, and, MAJESTY!!!
I could never run out of LOVE, it pours forth from my soul,
As does a waterfall, whose raging river, lost control!!!
LOVE is the essence of HIS gifts,
I feel them, taste them, smell them, hear them, and, as I view them, my spirit uplifts,
All the LOVE I can muster, in sincere gratitude,
Because of the splendor, around me, LOVE is the gist of my attitude!!!
Yes, I am a Woman in LOVE, in LOVE with LOVE, and, all in it's wake,
So strong is it's empowerment in me, that, it, I could never forsake!!!
Look near, look far, look low, look high,
LOVE is the pulse, the equation, and, the only answer to why!!!

Lynda Winsor © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

HYDRATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTHY, GLOWING SKIN...

2011-03-27T13:04:00.003-05:00

At any age, one must make sure that they are drinking enough water, and, other essential fluids, such as natural juices. You can also get some of your hydration from fruits and vegetables. Most fruits will aid in hydration, only some vegetables will. Cucumbers and celery are great for hydration...

Many people die each year from dehydration which causes a variety of illnesses, such as kidney failure, lung (water aids in the flushing of phlegm from the lungs, and respiratory system, which when built up suffocates cells and healthy tissue), and respiratory problems, and actual dehydration. Dehydration kills cells quickly, cells need water for oxygen, they also need protein and other nutrients. You can replenish most dying cells, however, if they die quickly and significantly, there is little hope. Your cells are your life-line so to speak...

Your skin is affected by dehydration in more than one way. You have had dry, itchy, flaky and ashy skin before, right? Well, this in part is from lack of oxygenated hydration. That is why, though you may moisturize, it doesn't go away. As you age, this is even more evident. Therefore, be sure to drink plenty of fluids each day! Also, make sure that you get plenty of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and The B Vitamins, especially, B6 and B12...

Bottoms up!!!

DO IT!!!

2011-03-27T12:56:00.002-05:00

Dream that dream, think that thought, give thanks, have faith, have confidence, believe, move into action, cultivate, be determined, be deliberate, keep your sights on the vision, and, rock steady, baby!!!

Oh, and while you are REALIZING, while you are MANIFESTING, remember to give of self to others, and to maintain gratitude always, for such actions rebound!!!

Never, ever give up! You can do mostly anything you want to with the right attitude; the attitude of assurance, the attitude of thankfulness, the attitude of rightful gain!!!

Keep those dreams alive, those thoughts moving to action, and give thanks along the way, and believe that you CAN do anything you want!!!

JUST DO IT!!!

WE ARE NATURAL BORN SURVIVORS!!!

2011-03-26T23:42:00.003-05:00

Seeing photos of survivors of Natural disasters, one has to smile because of the proof that we ARE adaptable, and, DO persevere in the face of adversity! I just saw one of two tsunami survivors in Japan, like a Grandmother, and, a young Child; they are both wearing masks, but, she is reading to him, and, there is smiling in their eyes! How beautifully touching is this to me:)))

When we are hard hit, we have choices; we can become lost in the situation, we can become despondent, depressed, angry, fearful, and, other negatives, or, we can adapt, and, get on with our lives, regardless of how altered they might be! I am one to move on, to adapt, to look forward to rebuilding, as, the other alternatives are NOT progressive, instead, debilitating, and, useless to what is occurring, know what I mean???

From my own experiences of surviving harsh times, I know now that I could survive almost anything! I could live, and, adjust to almost any situation! It is amazing the strength we derive from having to survive harsh lessons, and, how much we grow from them, even though, at the time, they are agonizing to the entire being!!!

Life is going to happen, it is going to hurl the unexpected our way; thus, it is wise to NEVER become complacent, and, too comfortable, that when things happen, you are not prepared from within, to deal with what is happening! Comfort can be restored, but, those whom are overly comfortable are the hardest hit, when things get crazy! We ARE resilient people IF we allow our resourcefulness to lead the way through the worst of times! We ARE equipped to deal with the blows of life! We ARE able to restore, rebuild, and, refurbish our entire lives, if need be! We only have to believe that better times are ahead, despite what is evident at the time!!!

*GOD* did not CREATE us as weaklings! HE made sure that we were strong enough to deal with all sorts of challenges, for HE knew before the world was CREATED, that challenges would be imminent, especially in the light of the great deceiver, and, the advancement of mankind! We ARE enabled by a HIGHER power if only we seek, then, tap into it! And, as you have noticed in recent times, from photos, videos, and, stories of disaster survivors, war survivors, and, other survivors, life DOES go on, and, can be even better than before, for surely, after such setbacks, appreciation for the simple things in life is greater, and, our regard switches back to the imperatives, such as *GOD*, Family, and, our fellowman!!!

Let us never become so comfortable that we ignore the plight of others either! Let us always be caring, and, give to others, for what we give is as a seed, and, will reap bountiful thereafter! *GOD* BLESS us all, and, may we arise to ANY difficult challenge which comes our way with the calm knowledge that this, too, shall pass, and, we will survive it! Our attitudes can alter any situation, circumstance, and, direction, we only need to learn to develop our minds to focus upon the positive, regardless...

Have a beautifully BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING, and, aid your fellowman! LOVE & PEACE always xoxox

IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES...

2011-03-25T12:43:00.006-05:00

Things change, that's life, that's the way it is! The world changes, people change, things change, and, so on! Some people view change with discomfort, some with disdain, some with fear, some with anger, some with cheerfulness, some with happiness, and, then, some don't notice change, or, so they claim! One thing is for sure, change IS imminent to life, and, is gonna happen, no matter what!!!

Again, the MIND, that ole' egocentric self, is the determining factor in our acceptance of change! If the mind is comfortable with ANY thing, situation, condition, person, or, belief, that is where it will fight to remain, which, makes hell for reality! It depends greatly upon a person's ability to become flexible enough to embrace change, AND, to make those changes work FOR them, instead, of allowing the mind to make those changes difficult to adapt to!!!

Some changes, such as the change of our face, our bodies, and, other external changes which time has the rights to, do not settle well with us, and, we suffer from these changes, EVEN THOUGH, we KNOW we do NOT have any choice in the matter, save for surgery, or, such, which, is more changing to deal with! Personally, I believe in embracing change, even when I am not fond of it's presence, in such instances as the physical change, because I believe that *GOD* made us to change for reason, and, whom are we fooling when we have expensive, extensive surgeries done to alter the changes that are occurring anyway? So, right there, that PROVES that the old EGO is prevalent, and, that vanity says NO to change! Lately, I am sure you have seen many of the horrific outcomes of some people who have demanded to change the change, with their faces, and, bodies, marred for life! No thank you! If I fail to be attractive as I accept the changes of age, I would rather deal with that, and, KNOW that I am LOVED for WHO I am, than to be disfigured by some surgeon!!!

Of course, I am scarred anyway, being the survivor of domestic violence, and, have dealt with that, so, you can see, I am not one to rush to change what has already been changed! As I age, these scars will become more prominent, but, those are the evidences of my endurance, and, have made me WHO I am, so, they are as much a part of me, as is my personality!!!

I, sometimes, fear change; I would be a liar to say I do not! But, I do not wish to change those changes, for they ARE a part of life, and, this life, I accept as it is, from *GOD*! I CAN make improvements in some areas of life, especially internally, but, cannot alter the external conditions too often, though, I CAN improve upon the changes which occurred, which again, begins internally! When I fear change, I have to deal with that head on, otherwise, it will debilitate me, overall! I have to seek the positive from the negative, if, indeed, the change IS negative! It could be that the changes we do NOT like, are only negative due to our ego! So, there is LOTS to the world of change, which, does not change change!!!

Let me be strong enough to endure change, then, seek from that change, the positives, then, embrace that change, that is no longer foreign to me, but, becomes a part of me, so, it is no longer considered change:))) And, as they say, if life deals me some lemons, I can, first, get used to the tartness, then, I can make lemonade, which I will perfect to the best tasting lemonade ever!!! Hahahahahaha, that's my story, and, I am stickin' to it:)))

ANXIOUSLY AWAITING SPRING!!!

2011-03-24T16:46:00.002-05:00

Spring is in the air! It is right around the corner; at least for those of us in the Western Hemisphere, and, after the Winter we endured, we couldn't be more joyful in it's arrival!!!

Where I live, we had the most snow accumulation, since 1808! But, that meant less freezing ice, so, that is alright by me! Also, it just MIGHT be an indicator that we are going to have a NORMAL Spring/Summer, which has not been the case for quite a few years! In the past many years, we were lucky to have any warmth in the Spring months, then, right on to high humidity for the Summer, which means, being shut in more months, due to HAVING to have the air on! The past 2 years, I began running the air with the windows, and, doors OPEN, so that I could at least have air, even though, it was a wall of mugginess! Bad me, but, I can't tolerate being shut in for an entire year, it is just too much!!!

I have been awaiting the time when I can begin walking each, and, every day! Looks like next week I can begin! One year I walked 20 lbs. off of my honey, and, about 5 lbs. off myself, plus, tightened, and, toned! Walking IS the best all around exercise there is, and, is gently persuasive to the body! Besides that, it is invigorating, and, with the gorgeousness of Nature, it is healthy for the entire being!!!

This year I admit, I have more work to do to revamp this tired body! With my care-giving responsibilities, I have been doing nothing more than cleaning, laundry, cooking, shopping, and, managing 2 households, which has taken a toll on me! I am exhausted, and, while you would think that is being pretty active, that sort of activity merely sustains, it does not count as working out! Though, truly, my body has been worked to the limits! Both places have quite a few stairs, so, you would think I am getting beneficial exercise, which, is true, partially, but, not quite! So, it is like, I have to begin anew! This year though, I am SERIOUS about it! Partly because I have an important wedding to attend in June, and, partly because MY health is of necessity to myself, then, to all those whom rely on me, plus, I am battling the myths of aging; meaning, I am NOT gonna give in easily, NO WAY!!!

I have already begun, though, I admit, I have faltered, here, and, there, a healthier approach to eating! Fruits, and, vegetables several times a day, plenty of water, protein, and, oats, grains, nuts, and, healthy carbs! I lost 3 lbs. in a few days with this eating plan, so, I am encouraged! I eat a normal breakfast, then, like applesauce with cinnamon (there is new evidence that cinnamon helps to burn belly fat, just a teaspoon a day! Of course, they have supplements you can buy too!), shortly after, then, vegetables, fruit, and, some protein for lunch, then, a snack, then, a normal Dinner with vegetables, healthy carbs, protein, then, later, a snack, like yogurt, or, cereal, and, more fruit! Lots of water, and, green tea, and, stay away from packaged foods, corn syrups, fast foods, and, sweets, and, lighten up on the sugars!!!

Ah, Spring! A time of rejuvenation, a time when the Child inside, comes out with wide-eyed wonder, to catch a glimpse of the rebirth of the Earth! A time when people just feel better all the way around, and, are able to find some new energies to greet the season with!!!

Looking forward to sharing this Spring with you; lots of tips, recipes, ideas, fashion, and, all things which make our lives better, easier, more fulfilled, and, help them to run more smoothly, efficiently, and, joyously!!!

YOU CAN CHANNEL THE UPS & DOWNS OF LIFE!!!

2011-03-24T16:21:00.004-05:00

Life is a series of ups, and, downs, it is what it is, and, regardless, we must make the most of it, while altering what we can, then, work on eliminating the effects of negativity! Negativity IS what takes us under, slows us down, stagnates us, brings us stress, duress, pain, agony, suffering, illness, and, much more! Negativity IS the enemy to life, and, MUST be wrestled to submission, in order for us to become all we can be, while enjoying the time we do have!!!

In overcoming, in battling negativity, we often get lost in the midst of all which is transpiring around us, which is alright, as long as we do not choose to remain lost, meaning, it can be beneficial to experience what we are dealing with, but then, it is time to let it go, and move on...

Yep, sometimes, it is easier said than done, but, that is like the oldest excuse ever, think? I mean, really, if you want to arise above something, that is going to happen, and yes, you need to apply some effort to get there, you might suffer a bit, but, growing past that which is debilitating is the key to greater happiness...

The positive mentality realizes that it is going to experience negativity, it is inevitable in life, however, it also KNOWS that this, certainly, will pass, and the sooner it lets go of the sting of the negatives, the sooner it will be gone. A positive mentality lives in the state of, things happen for a reason, with the conviction that there might be good out of this, so, get through it, time to move on!!!

Pain, anguish, suffering, and, attitude, can make you sick, they can drag you down to levels where you feel you might never escape, but, if you really want to grow beyond the state you are in, you most certainly can. It is not easy, it will take time, but, every moment, every effort counts, and will lead you to brighter days:))))

And so, I leave you with this thought, from a song by Johnny Nash:

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day...

CONFIDENCE OF WOMANHOOD...

2011-01-13T14:26:00.005-05:00

I am extremely confident in my Womanhood, as, *GOD* has empowered me, while I have overcome, survived, and, endured a LOT! Womanhood is GIFT; a gift to the world, to life, and, to those whom embraced themselves as they are!!!

How wonderful to be a Woman? We ARE the backbone of the world, and, have so MANY attributes; those which bring life into the world, and, support that life, and, lives of others, throughout our time! Not only that, we have remarkable beauty, from somewhere deep within, a place I can't quite put my finger on, but, sense that it is way deep! This beauty is slow in lots of Women to develop, or, to perfect, but, it usually does, at some point! The PROBLEM with Women is that they seek OUTWARD beauty over the inner, which is a grave mistake, as the inner beauty of a Woman is almost, or, probably IS, DIVINE! This inner beauty radiates through a Woman, it is noticeable in her movement, her gestures, her ways, in general, AND, GREATLY contributes to her outward appearance! This beauty is endowed with the strength of an army, with the grace of field of wildflowers, gently blowing in the wind, and, the innate sense to KNOW how to handle most of life's dilemma's, for herself, and, for others whom are under her care, or, just happen to be in her presence!!!

I am proud in my Womanhood, NOT haughty, but, glad that I have risen to the wonder of being a Woman! I am solid in this role, unshakable, undaunted, and, quick to exhibit the gifts of this state of existence! I am thankful for being a Woman, in almost all respects, as, I KNOW it is that which contributes to cultivating society, whether, now, or, later, as well as, is the substance which goes into anyone attached to this Womanhood; so, you see, it IS a special gift, straight from *GOD*! One which I willingly hone to becoming the best damned Woman I can be, despite any one's appreciation of it, or, any one's acceptance of my strong stance in my Womanhood!!!

So many things fall into Womanhood, such as femininity, which is amazing in retrospect, as we are lucky to have the traits which accompany this state! Like, being concerned with our looks, how we smell, the appearance of our bodies, our house, those in our household, our ability to make things sweeter than they are, our wiles, and, well, the list goes on! This all reminds me of an ancient song I found on You Tube recently, I Enjoy Being a Girl, from the movie, Drum Song, and, of a song by Chaka Khan, I Am Every Woman!!!

Sure, there are LOTS of downsides to being a Woman, but, we overcome those in such a powerfully quiet way, sometimes, not even sure we did, but, we come to realize that we, mystically, grew past, or, overcame things along the way, of which, each, bring us to becoming a GROWN Woman! Being a GROWN Woman, MIGHT have something to do with age, for some Women, but, some of us have been GROWN since we were quite young!!!

Embrace the gift of YOU, the Woman in YOUR world, the strong, sufficient, capable, efficient, productive, caring, sharing, LOVING, commanding presence you truly are! Don't allow yourself to compare to others, each Woman is uniquely qualified, and, should not be tampered with, not by thought, nor, action! Let other Women be themselves, and, you be yourself, as, in doing so, you are contributing to the overall magic of Womanhood!!!

Lynda Winsor © 2011

LET'S ROCK THIS YEAR; 2011!!!

2011-01-11T18:39:00.004-05:00

Oh wow! A lot of time has passed since I posted last! Was soooooooo busy with many things, but, it IS a NEW YEAR, and, I need to get back to what matters most to me, of which, this site is inclusive! HAPPY 2011 to everyone! Are we ready for the promises of this year? Are we ready to do our part to make this year that promising???

I don't make resolutions, as, we all know how that goes! Instead, I make goals, and, objectives, to better myself, my life, and, the world around me! One day, one step, at a time, never rushing to prove anything, merely focusing upon, at least, accomplishing what I can in the next 12 months! But, I am always fired up after NEW YEAR'S EVE, like that magic moment is rocket fuel:)))

Too, I find that some of my goals are left over from last year! This doesn't bother me too much, as long as I accomplished SOMETHING along the way to this time! Some things are not easy to accomplish, and, so, I keep adding them to the list, and, working towards them, no matter how long it takes, because, they ARE relevant, and, important to my life, but mostly, to WHOM I am!!!

Important things such as health, well-being, finances, and, other such, will, naturally, be on most people's list of things to do, in any given year, as, we are always attempting to UPGRADE, think? And, with such matters, there can never be too much emphasis, nor, too great an effort to make it just right; although, I wonder, do such things as these, EVER become just right? Probably not, but, it gives us something to work towards, and, we benefit for the effort!!!

Anyway, here it is, 1-11-11, and, I am looking forward with childlike anticipation, of all that this year brings forth, good, or, not, for these times ARE the substance of our existence, and, are what mold us into the best beings we can be!!!

With LOVE, HAPPY NEW YEAR, *GOD* BLESS, and, may PEACE be one of our goals this year, and, every year!!!

LWINSOR © 2011

A WORLD OF WOMEN & RELATIONSHIPS...

2010-08-22T20:10:00.004-05:00

A great part of a Woman's life is her partner, or, her potential partner! For me, that is a Man, for other's it is a Woman, it doesn't matter, there are still things to consider for any one person before they give themselves away!!!

And, a lot of it begins with what kind of people we attract, ya' know what I mean? Attraction is generally something which we do not have control over, and, yet, psychologically, it is said that we DO indeed, send out certain vibes, or, signals which attract a particular type to us! Hmmmn, I attract some very controlling, player types, and, I tell you, I CANNOT figure out why, nor, what kind of vibes I could possibly be sending out that would give them the impression that I am game to play! In all honesty, I was pretty much a player at one time too, not like player Men are, as, I wasn't out to hurt anyone, I was merely looking in all the wrong faces for LOVE, so, perhaps that is the cause of my attracting this type. Who really knows???

I have become so adept at detecting wrong types that the Man whom is in my life, and, the Men near to me, are wonderful people! Yeah, they have some areas to tweak, but, don't we all? And, honestly, doesn't that make for some fun along the way? Not like changing them into what we want them to be, but, refining them a bit, here, and, there? Don't they kind of do the same thing with us? If there were no challenges, we would be bored stiff right out the gate, think???

We learn as we grow, either from age, or, experience, just how important it is to take your time with LOVE, lovers, and, relationships. We learn patience, tolerance, compassion, devotion, how to support, encourage, and, all sorts of character building positives which not only aid the state of the relationship, but, build us into better people. Impulsive behaviour is much to blame for divorces, and, for shattered dreams, or, lives. We have to realize when we are being impulsive, then, nip that right in the bud, otherwise, we are doing nothing more but setting ourselves up for disaster later on. The initial attraction to anything could very well be temporary, this applies to all areas of life, and so, maturity of reasoning is necessary to determine whether we should jump, or, float for a while!!!

Taking our time can be frustrating, which is why so many people leap into situations they later regret; that, and, fear of letting something wonderful slip away! Listen, if something is gone before it is known, then, it wasn't worth the second thought anyway! Don't let your body talk to you, don't let senseless chatter in the mind talk for you, don't let anything but logic, sound reasoning, and, control decide for you what to do next. This is extremely important in finding, securing, and, maintaining LOVE, for EFFORT is the most part of it!!!

Ah, the world of Women, their relationships, and life! A great mix! But, a mix which HAS to be dealt with in the most thoughtful way, otherwise, we are left with but another problem, or many, to deal with! Women are very intelligent, but, we often let externals rule our control, our sensibilities, and, our passions! We will get into this more in a later post!!!

Take care, *GOD* Bless, and, keep you! LOVE, and PEACE always...

LWINSOR © 2010

SALMONELLA EGG OUTBREAK...

2010-08-19T09:13:00.005-05:00

Last I heard, 380 MILLION eggs have been recalled! OK, so are the chickens infected too? And, what about all of the packaged foods that were made with eggs during the outbreak of salmonella? Wouldn't all of those foods cause problems too???

According to reports this began in May, so, surely packaged foods will cause problems. This could be more far reaching than realized, that is for sure...

Here is some information on salmonella: SALMONELLA INFECTIONS , and, this, Salmonella Food Poisoning which offers information on symptoms, treatments, and, so forth...

It is always something, I tell you! We have to find ways to care for ourselves in this world, as there are just so MANY things which can infect, harm, and, cause us to suffer, so, a bit of knowledge is optimal...

I am suffering from food poisoning a week ago, from eating chicken in a popular chicken restaurant (not a chain), and so, am really curious how far reaching this might be...

AS SUMMER FADES AWAY...

2010-08-18T10:46:00.004-05:00

One week until Labor Day weekend, here in America! The end of Summer; the beaches close, many parks close, and, back to school! Was one of the HOTTEST Summers ever, and, it just FLEW by! Ah well, what can we do? Such is life!!!

Since it was NOT the perfect Summer, filled with problems, and, other such, I am kind of looking forward to the end of it, for some very simple reasons! Time to get back into the groove of finishing my studies, finishing my book, and, other such! I find Summer terribly distracting, and so, give myself room to play, enjoy, or, dream!!!

I also, LOVE Fall clothes! That must be left over from school daze, think? I always LOVED getting new clothes, and, all the supplies, and, I still dig it:) Fall clothes are interesting, as, most years, there is a whole new look on the fashion scene! I LOVE clothes anyway, but, certain seasons I really look forward to what is new! I just wish that people would start dressing less casual, I miss dressing each day, and, I tell you what, casual clothes make you feel so casual that it actually, and, has been proven, makes you less aware of your overall posture, from spine to the abs, so, it works against many areas of life, plus, puts you in an often, too relaxed mode of dealing with life!!!

Lately, I have met some absolutely beautiful people online, some of which have books on the market, some of which are working on books, and, are otherwise, fine examples of having used positive mentality to arise, despite the odds! I hope to share some of these fine people with you in time! I am simply, amazed at how many wonderful people grace the pages of the Web, it makes up for all the other types, know what I mean???

Well, I am running late, again, to go and care for the elderly! I will be back soon, hopefully, since the days of Sun are shortening, way more often! I pray that YOUR day is full of inspiration, the unleashed Blessings of *GOD*, LOVE, PEACE, & HAPPINESS! SHINE ON, you ARE a star in the matrix!!!

FROM THE FRONT PORCH:AUGUST??? ALREADY???

2010-07-27T08:40:00.004-05:00

Well, July was an interesting month to say the least! I have developed Shingles, and, it is on the face, and, left eye, so, it is a very uncomfortable time indeed! Shingles are active Chicken Pox viruses which live in dormant cells until you either, have a weakened immune system, or, hit a certain age group. My immune system has been through a LOT lately, so, I am sure that is why this is happening, and, I wish it wasn't! I am on some powerful meds which are sickening me, but, we have to be very careful that the Shingles don't settle in my eye, because, it could cause blindness, whether now, or, later in life, plus, it is a nerve affected disease which is quite painful, so, if it settles IN the eye, there will be much to suffer! I DON"T LIKE this, not at all:((( What ya gonna do? Life happens!!!

It is August, can you believe it? Where is time going? It is like so hard to keep up with these days! Like, "Whoa, slow down, let me ENJOY it some!" Nothing we can do about it, so, why we wonder about it is futile, still, the faster it goes, the more we do:)))

Lately, I have been trying different things on the grill, like Bourboun Brown Sugar marinaded steak, which, is DELICIOUS, indeed! Today I have Balsamic Vingarette, mixed with garlic, sugar in the raw, and, pepper marinading on some halved chicken breasts, which I will serve with garlic mashed potatoes, and, a fresh salad. I get SO tired of the same ole' same ole', as I have stated before, so, the option is to be more creative, think???

Because of my illness, I have NOT been very active this Summer, though, that is about to change! I owe it to MYSELF to be the best I can be, even IF that means effort! So, starting this week, walks are mandatory, sit-ups, crunches, and, well, you know the drill, PLUS, lots more outside activity! Winter will be here before we can catch our breath, so, it means that I HAVE to make the most of the time NOW!!!

I was looking up some arm exercises, as we Women, all complain about our arms at some point in our lives, even those barely past 20, and, was reading about that meat under the armpit which is fleshy, and, grows with age, EVEN in Women who are as buff as they can be. Well, they say it is the same as any other body area, diet, exercise, and, such, but, that it IS difficult to get rid of. Anyway, I was thinking about this, and, came to this conclusion: the muscles we use in our arms are limited, as we mostly use them in downward positions, rarely using our arms above our heads, and so, those muscles are not being worked much at all! I caregive, which means fully caring for 2 households, all of the cleaning, laundry, shopping, and, all that goes with it, so my arms are being used almost constantly. The other day I was trimming some bushes manually, and, those muscles got worked well, SO, I was thinking that perhaps it might work to keep a pair of pruning(?) shears onhand, in the house to use daily for exercise. Now, the ones I am using are about 16" long, and, have some weight to them, plus they are jagged on one side, which makes opening, and closing them, a bit more challenging, therefore, I REALLY believe that they might be a GREAT workout tool! What do you think? Now, the key would be to act like you were trimming something about shoulder level, and, just below the chest! I am gonna give it a try, then, I will let you know, but, I tell you, I felt it after doing just 2 bushes!!!

Well, I am going to TRY to be around here more often; I just got lost in being busy, and ill! I hope these months have been GREAT for YOU, and, that LOVE is the center of all you do! Take care, until later, LOVE, BLESSINGS & PEACE! Shine on Women of the world, without *GOD*, without YOU there would be no world:)))

IT IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE...

2010-06-10T12:20:00.005-05:00

My life has not been one of greatness lately, that is for sure! Funerals, sufferings, depressed people all around me, my cat is very ill, with caregiving, and such, it has been non-stop emotions! I am one who totally believes in maintaining POSITIVITY despite the conditions of life, so, that is helping, plus, it is beautiful outside, and, that aids in keeping the spirits up, but, I gotta tell ya, I am tired! I just absorb every one's pain, and, go through it with them, even if I am not nearby. Thank goodness I have a whole free week coming up soon, so, I can get on with my life, enjoy the season, and, heal from the down times...

We NEED to give ourselves Sabbaticals in the course of life, even if they are not extended, mini-Sabbaticals are just as refreshing to the spirit as longer ones, and, might provide quicker results given that they are used for rejuvenation! There are vacations, then, there are Sabbaticals, in which one FOCUSES upon reviving the deeper person, alleviating the weight of the being, and, tuning into the HIGHEST order! I will definitely make this Sabbatical one of cleansing the being, that I am all the more enabled to care for others, which has become my primary function, as well as my joy, despite the many challenges along the way; it is a privilege, and, an honor to care for others, for it is Heaven decreed, therefore, I am HAPPY to oblige. I find that making others feel better has the same effect on me, and, even when it is not immediate, it returns itself often enough to convince me that it is worthwhile...

A time to grieve, a time to celebrate, a time to cry, a time to laugh; it is all in the BALANCE! Each time should be experienced to the fullness of it's effects, though, in none should we reside, for even if we choose to laugh all the time, that is outside practicality, and, balance! We were given the yin, and, the yang for great reason, and, such, actually, coincides with our body's nature, in mind, heart, and, soul! The most difficult thing for me, these days, is trying to help people to see that while things might be devastating, a smile will replace the agony, as, people somehow, find a resting place in the worst case scenarios, upsetting the balance, which leads to all sorts of complications in the entirety of their lives, but, I will not relent, for, if I can understand this, so, can they!!!

Endure what life brings your way, even though it brings pain, suffering, tears, endure with a grateful disposition, for these events bring greatness to the character, to the being, to the flow of your life! Cry when it is necessary, but, after the tears are spent, find the GOOD in the reason for the tears, I promise you, there is GOOD in everything under the Sun, it is merely our emotional immaturity which makes the bad seem like it is prevalent over the GOOD, but, LOVE is the premise of life, and, LOVE is all GOOD, therefore, the GOOD is dominant, despite the confusion of the delusion of the not so good...

We must not become complacent, nor, passive in life; instead, we must experience it, regardless of what that involves, for this is how you truly know that you are alive, growing, and, advancing to the person intended! Many people wallow in negativity, and, in doing so, resign themselves to living life, which is debilitating, stagnating, and, ultimately dangerous to the entire person, for illnesses of all sorts will begin to take over, as the negatives are deadly, if they are catered to, for only more negativity can come of constant negativity. See what I mean here???

Well, I am off to do some laundry, and, sit out in the Sun to soak up some POSITIVITY in it's rays, and, to heal the damage done by the emotionalism I have been experiencing, in light of recent events!

I pray that your life is always full of wisdom, understanding, LOVE, balance, and, perseverance, for in such, comes PEACE which is the most optimal tool available to living a life fulfilled:)))

May *GOD* be with us all, that we walk in PEACE:)))

YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE...

2010-06-03T10:34:00.006-05:00

Is your life suddenly altered, do things seem out of control, are you having major problems, has money gotten tight, are you at the end of your patience? If so, remind yourself of one thing, you have to start somewhere, and, no matter how bad it seems at this particular moment, that IS where you are, AND, where you have to start from, otherwise, it is going to get worse from clinging to the negativity of the moment...

Believe me, I KNOW what I am talking about! I have been down more times than not, but, after going through the agony of any particular situation, I reminded myself that this IS where I have to start from, and, it doesn't serve any purpose for me to dwell in the awfulness of this time, so, I best get busy, in order to eradicate the situation!!!

I have worked as a food prep in a roadside restaurant before, for WAY below minimum wage, just to start making things happen. You see, effort produces, sometimes slowly, but, it ALWAYS produces results along the way:) I have done all sorts of things which I felt were beneath me, just to get the ball rolling, and, every single time, something better came along, so, I for one, believe that just getting started leads to better times. Not only that, it helps to keep the negatives from saturating the logical, practical mind, and, heals the remorseful feelings we experience when things are not going as we would have them...

Pride stands in the way of many people's ability to alter their lives; they are ashamed to do things which are beneath them, but, sometimes that is all that is available, plus, that unleashes events which lead to better things! Yeah, it sucks, and, you have to take some things along the way, but, this is all temporary, and, when you look back, you will see the worth in what you endured!!!

Bad times bring growth, IF we adhere, IF we do something to change them, without feeling sorry for ourselves, or, for placing blame from Heaven to Earth, for these bad times. Bad times are, simply, a part of life, for everyone, but, it is how we deal with them, which alleviates their impact!!!

An example: an obese person, sits and cries, often for way too long, then, when no more tears come, they realize they HAVE to do something to make changes occur, and so, little by little, they act upon the NEED to alter their weight, losing pounds along the way, and, even before they understand HOW their ATTITUDE effected their results, they are sizes smaller! You see what I mean here? Now, those who continue to wallow in self-pity, grow larger, making the need to lose weight even more difficult, thus, instead of acting when it was imminent, they make it even worse BY giving in to the negativity of self-pity. You could even say they acted selfishly in that, they EXPECT that somehow, the situation would MAGICALLY fix itself! NOT so people, it NEVER works this way, even miracles have to have a basis on which to manifest, and, just so you know, lack of action is not a basis for ANY THING!!!

People tend to ask, "WHY is this happening to me?", which is redundant, as, there might be a multitude of answers, or, events which led to this moment, or, there might not be ANY answer whatsoever! Instead, it is always best to ask, "What can I DO to change this situation?", and, believe it, or not, once you start with this mentality, things begin to happen, a bit at a time, keeping you busy enough to leave the fear, the worry, and, the self-pity behind:)))

You HAVE to have FAITH, first in the HIGHEST order, then, in self, and, act upon that FAITH, KNOWING that YOU CAN get from this point to the next! You HAVE to ascend your outlook, and, never look back from where you began, except for reference to lessons learned!!!

Even with all my experience, and, all of my overcoming of obstacles, when something bad happens, I still feel the impact, but, I soon remind myself that it is NOT going to change, UNLESS I DO something to make sure it does:)))

Don't bear the weight of the bad, shed that weight by looking FORWARD to the product of your EFFORTS to alter that bad:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY 2010...

2010-05-30T14:54:00.003-05:00

It is Memorial Day weekend, here in the USA, which is a time of many events, such as Parades honoring fallen Veterans of Wars, past, and, present, those currently serving, then, there is the opening of waterways, beaches, boating, outdoor concerts, BBQ's, family gatherings, and, lots more!!!

I am sure more people are having fun this weekend than they are honoring the Military folks, but, in their hearts, there is respectful thoughts of them, and, of their families. It is difficult right now, as SO many are against war, let alone the current wars, and so, many people choose to ignore anything Militarily related!!!

My nature is totally against war, however, I pay tribute where tribute is earned, and, the Military, and, those serving, have earned my respectful regard, and, honor, for, they have done what few of us would do, they have laid their lives on the line for something they believe in with all of their beings, FREEDOM! May *GOD* be with the families who have lost LOVED ones, and, may HE protect, guide, and, bring home, those who are in harms way!!!

Well, I am off to finish my preps for dinner. We are having steak, grilled veggies, grilled pineapple, and, salad, along with watermelon, and, probably some ice cream! I have all the veggies cubed, potatoes par-boiled, soaking in olive oil, seasonings, and, a touch of vinegar, but, have to put everything on skewers, which is time consuming, though, the effort is well worth it when it is time to eat:)))

Enjoy this blessed Holiday, and, remember those who are sacrificing that we might live in Democracy, despite the fact that this Democracy is shifting as we speak! Honor the honorable, pray for those serving, and, *GOD* bless us all:)))

A MARVELOUSLY BEAUTIFUL MONDAY!!!

2010-05-24T09:31:00.003-05:00

It is Monday, but, it is a GORGEOUS one, even though, it is going to be a scorcher, like near 90!!!

I got up way too early, but, when it is the warm season, I LOVE to watch the morning miracles, like the Sun dancing on the dew, the flowers opening up, the reflection of the light off of one of my chimes, I even saw a butterfly! Plus, I have to get in the habit of arising earlier, for, it is better for the soul, and, it will probably be the best time to get out and walk, especially if we are gonna have a HOT Summer!!!

Because I knit for the impoverished/homeless, I bought some of those Knifty Knitter looms, which are supposed to be easy, and, fast, but, I guess I need to really watch the DVD, 'cuz they ain't so easy, at least, not yet. I just taught myself to knit last July, and, while I have made some progress, I have not come close to the projected amount I thought I could do in a year, so, I am looking for ways to turn out more, and, more. I will probably just break down, and, buy a knitting machine, for they claim to turn out a foot, or, two, a minute! Also, I am going to teach myself to crochet, as it is a useful skill, and, seems that I might be able to do MORE with crocheting. I learned long ago, but, even then, I could not get off the first row, hahahaha, could crochet a line around the world, but, never get to the next row, so, I gave up on it:)))

This weekend (Memorial Day Weekend!) sees the opening of pools, beaches, lakes, and, recreational parks, which means swimming, which means donning a suit! This is a bothersome thought for some of us, if not, for many of us! It is like wearing shorts for the first time after Winter, you feel so, well, you feel so exposed! Then, after we do it, we are fine, for the most part, but, working up to it is intimidating! You could have the best body in the world, but, if you live in a 4 season area, come that time to get into a suit, it is overwhelming, isn't it???

Life is so funny, 'cuz we make such big deals outta most things, things which aren't gonna change, or, things which are not worth the worry! I laugh at myself often, as I let things get to me, even when I am not aware of it happening! Whatcha gonna do? We are very adaptable, even when we don't think we are, yep, we always manage to overcome, in whatever manner that might be, we do it!!!

Fitness magazine has some awesome new ab workouts from around the world, which features some exercises I have never seen before, so, am gonna try a few. The article recommends doing them all in succession, but some, I tell you what, I have to work into slowly! They appear to be very effective! You can also go to Fitness.com to build your own personal workout, print it out, and save it! Just join, and, you will get a FREE year of Fitness magazine for you, and, a friend! It is a great site, with lots of information, great exercises, a growing community, and, lots of offerings! Check it out, it is worth it:)))

I have been checking out recipes for Summertime, and, will share some of them with you! Crock pot meals are one of Summer's favs, as there is little work involved, plus, no heat from the stove! I also noticed that lots of whole chickens are being grilled in a grill safe roasting pan, on the grill, with a good variety of flavors, like Chili BBQ, Lime herb, and, so forth, which look delicious, and, are not difficult to do, so they say. I am so tired of ordinary dishes, plus, my odd schedule so, I am scouting constantly for more variety:)))

Well, it is past time for me to head out to caregive for the afternoon/evening. Have a beauuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful day, be good to yourself, then, to others, and, watch the blessings of this day flow:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

FOR EVERY THING THERE IS A REASON...

2010-05-20T13:03:00.005-05:00

LOTS going on in this house, and, over half of it is NOT good, BUT, that is alright, 'cuz, that IS life!!!

You see, attitude makes things SO much easier to deal with them, AND, shortens their duration, their impact, which allows for moving on, without being crushed under the weight of the hindering negatives that accompany the less than perfect. I have learned the hard way that holding onto the positive renders quicker results, greater resolve, and, an end to what plagues us, at any given time...

Don't get me wrong, of course, I go THROUGH whatever happens! I experience it to the full, but, I do NOT let it encompass me, for I BELIEVE that good comes of everything, and, it has proven itself to me, time, and again, so, that IS what I hold out for...

Life is as imperfect as we are, and, that means we have to tap into our strengths, our wisdom, our faith, in order to combat the EFFECTS of that which comes along to hinder us! We CAN choose to dwell in the bad of the moment, the hour, or, the day, but, what good does that do? And, what good comes from it? NONE!!! We get down, depressed, despondent, discouraged, then, we become listless, lifeless, and ultimately, we get ill, so, what kind of choice is choosing to dwell in the bad???

The bad in life only lasts as long as we allow it to! IF we see that things happen for a reason, go through them, experience them, then, put them into their proper perspective, and, let go of them, they are finished, gone, kaput! Yes, they might leave lasting impressions, or, lessons, but, that is far as they should reach into us, for then, their purpose has been fulfilled, in the PAST sense, only useful for referral, for reference, for the experience gained...

Ahhhh, as we grow, there are so many things which become easier, it is soooooooooooooo true! We have to ALLOW ourselves to grow, past the moment, past the pains, past the lessons hard learned, for then, we are coming into ourselves, which is a very comfortable state of being, believe me:)))

Well, I have too much to do, and so, off I go! I pray that everyone is healthy, and, as happy as they can be, and, that you are enjoying each moment of each day for what it is worth, which is worth the world, as, you see, each moment holds gifts that last a lifetime, and, if we are not IN the moment, we are missing out on some imperative essentials to character, to life, to LOVE, to self:)))

PEACE be with us all:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

2010-05-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Is a week of mourning for me, will return soon... *GOD* Bless, and, keep you always....

NEWLY RELEASED BOOK BY M. WOLF COPELAND; A TRIBUTE:)))

2010-05-11T09:36:00.009-05:00

A remarkable, and, interesting friend of mine, since my blogging journey began, has had the first installment of his amazing book published, and, I wanted to share it with the world! His name is M. Wolf Copeland, a Husband, Father, and, Author, whom has taken his calling, and, made it happen, all the while being responsible to the rest of his obligations, working hard, and, building a beautiful house for his family. I call Mark the painter of words, as the words of his book can actually place you in the settings of his book, a very shining example of raw talent, indeed!!!

Mark's book is the first of Native Trilogy "The 7th Reenactment: From the Wintercount of Horse's Ghost, is available here Publish America . I have had the pleasure to read most of this from the beginning, and, was very taken in by the entire work. It is compelling, interesting, intriguing, there is lots of action, contains much historical significance, is romantic, and, lots more! This work is definitely worth reading, and, once you begin, you want for more!!!

He has also penned some very inspiring, funny, delightful Children's books in honor of his two youngest children, so, this is a truly gifted individual, though, at this point, fairly unrecognized, but, I have no doubt that he will arise quite quickly through the literary world, and, will become a future ruler of the New York Times Bestseller List!!!

I hope you will take a look at his work, I promise you that it is worth reading, and, will share in his heartfelt efforts! While it is a long read, 504 pages, it is the beginning of a most thought provoking series, one which takes us back in time, and, offers light into that time, as well as the trials, and, tribulations of the role of the Native American peoples in shaping our historical foundations of today!!!

It is not my intention to play publicity agent, except when it is worth doing so, as in the case of this 'Painter of Words', and, a few others, one of which is placed in the side bar of this page!!!

The best of luck to the receiving of your efforts, Mark, I stand with you! May the fruit of your determination, and, discipline flow forth like a river (I see the makings of a movie of this book in my mind, and, I BELIEVE it will happen)!!! *GOD* Bless you, and, be with you through all your days:)))

Congratulations to you, from my heart! I am proud of you:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

MOTHER; THE EARTHLY SOURCE OF LOVE...

2010-05-07T20:00:00.003-05:00

A most natural, beautiful event,
Is the child, Heaven sent,
To a Mother who is full of,
A unique, and, special kind of LOVE;
Yes, there is a certain bond, between Mother, and her offspring,
The sort that nothing else in life could bring...

Mama kisses foreheads, boo-boos, with lots of hugs too,
Just to make sure all of her affection gets through,
Because there is so much, flowing from deep, deep inside,
With an urgent need to share it, because, a Mother's LOVE just cannot hide!
She tucks you in at night, and, gets your breakfast in the morning light,
No matter what is going on around you, she makes everything seem just right!!!

You learned to walk with her help, you learned so very much,
With her Wisdom, your soul, she did touch,
Leaving traces of security, lending you the will to do the things you must,
Teaching you LOVE, patience, honor, respect, and, the meaning of trust!
Always there to help you, always there to lift you up, always there to make you smile,
Showing you that Motherhood, is definitely, worthwhile!!!

Today you are who you are because your Mother cared enough,
To stand by you through all kinds of stuff!
You have gone through so many changes, phases of becoming you,
No matter what you experienced, your Mother was there, strong, and true!
I hope everyone remembers the wonderful times that, with Mommy, you shared,
For every ounce of herself was given to you, not an iota was spared!!!

To you, the Mother's of the world, I commend you, one, and, all,
For graciously arising to protocol,
For being the kind of Woman who could carry great weight on shoulders of sculpted steel,
While balancing all involved, that children know one LOVE so real!
May *GOD* ever be with you, may you have a high place in Heaven for your sacrifices, none too few,
You are a remarkable lot, a blessing to all, and so, with LOVE, I wish a wonderful Mother's Day to YOU!!!

LWINSOR © 2010
http://womanlyn.blogspot.com
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

CHICKEN TONIGHT!!!

2010-05-06T15:36:00.004-05:00

This household is kind of on a chicken diet for many reasons, but, we do have some beef now, and then, too. Anyway, not knowing how to fix another chicken meal (I was going to BBQ, but, it is too chilly), I started thinking; this is what I came up with. I poured some unbleached flour into a Ziploc bag, then, added some seasoned salt, some garlic powder, some pepper, and then, some Parmesan cheese. I took the boneless, skinless chicken breast, and, cut diagonal slices through the width, then, heated up some olive oil, and, butter, in a frying pan, put the chicken in the mixed flour mixture, tossed it several times, then, fried it until a bit brown. With a fork, I removed the chicken, placed it in a baking pan, and, topped with Italian dressing, just enough to cover the top of the meat, and, a bit on the bottom of the pan...

I then took some red skin potatoes, and, halved them, placing them in a baking dish. I added a bit of water, some coarse cut onions, seasoned salt, garlic, pepper, parsley, and some butter. Both dishes will cook about an hour, maybe longer. After an hour, I will then lightly broil both dishes at the same time, while making some spinach, and, dinner is served!!!

Not much mess, not many dishes, not much time, and, since it is way chilly here today, the oven is heating up the house, saving on heat costs for later:))) Hahahahaha...

I don't use recipes, never have, so, I just kinda make up my own meals as I go along! Thank goodness I have a good memory that I can make things again, if they are not usual dishes. I LOVE to cook, no one taught me to cook, I just sort of tasted my way to ingredients, and, through trial, and, error, I was able to become quite good at it! It is one of my favorite things to do, though, after all these years, I do become bored, and, seeking new ways to fix the limited foods we have these days, especially with the weather, economy, and, so forth...

Tell you what, groceries have risen a LOT lately! I can't believe how much we are spending, and, we buy, mostly, bare necessities, because I cook from scratch, and, with no little ones around, it is mind boggling how much money we spend to eat! I HAVE to figure out a way to cut costs, but, how much more can I cut? This is bothering me...

Every time I worry about the cost of food, I worry about single Mothers who have 2, or more, children, trying to make their wages spread over the many expenses! It has to be so tough to make it, and, you have heard the stories, I am sure, of the large number of children who are going to bed, and, to school, hungry these days, so, it is simply, something which never leaves my mind. I donate to Feed The Children, as I trust them, and, KNOW that they do deliver food to struggling households, in America, and, abroad, but, I wish I could do more, because I have been so poor before when raising my own daughter, that I could only feed her a can of Spaghetti-O's, and, go hungry myself. These kind of memories never leave you, that is for sure...

There are, certainly, LARGE numbers of single Mothers these days, and, regardless if they make decent money, or not, the cost of living is OUTRAGEOUSly high, thus, try as they might, it doesn't ever seem like their effort is enough, which leads many to depression, fear of the future, and, worse. Plus, so many children suffer, as they cannot have all the things that it seems the rest of the kids have, around them. So sad, isn't it? We should do more for others, or, we should think of ways to end this seemingly endless, senseless economical ruin, which so many of us are facing...

Dinner is smelling wonderful, I pray that it is as good as it smells! Have a great day/night, keep the faith, keep the spirit alive, and, reach out to someone, you never know what the slightest act of kindness might do for them:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

TIME KEEPS ON SLIPPIN'...

2010-05-04T13:50:00.003-05:00

It is a day to myself, though, I have much to do! I slept until almost noon, and, am taking my time getting to the to-do list, for, I need the time to myself more than things need to get done, so, I give myself permission to catch up later on, as I can do the laundry at any time this day, while doing other things at the same time, so, no big deal! This is one area where we Women falter, as we NEED time for us, in order to continue on with our never ending responsibilities, 'ya know? AND, without the guilt trip! We ARE worthy of some free time, even if it is merely 15 minutes, we NEED this time!!!

Time is a way greater pressure than it need be, that is for sure! We have ourselves so psyched to race the clock constantly, and, all we are doing is expending energy, wasted energy, as, we can only get so much done in a day anyway, so, prioritizing is essential, which should include ourselves as a MAJOR priority, because we have all these things to do, take care of, provide, and, so forth, therefore, we need to be in our best health, frame of mind, and, be spiritually ready to deal with the infinite responsibilities of being Woman!!!

Yesterday, I got behind in my plans, then, had to rush like hail to get to where I needed to be, which created lots of frustration along the way, such as, the traffic was terrible, and, slow, and, well, the effects of rushing snowballed so much that the whole day was tainted, all because I was in such a hurry to fulfill! What I needed to fulfill would have gotten fulfilled regardless, so, you see, it WAS a waste of energy to get so overwrought about time, because it only made the time less profitable, AND, I wore myself out before I got started!!! Hahahahaha...

Take it easy, things will get done! Be steady, but, don't rush to fulfill everything at once! Keep a check on what is important, which means YOU too!!!

Remember stress has all sorts of negative attributes in store: it saps energy, it dehydrates, it ages, it causes illness, it creates temper, and, much more, so, is all that is on that to-do list, actually imperative today? Prioritize! We can only manage as much as we can, we do NOT NEED to push it to the limit, unless it is work related, or, some other urgency, in which case, all else will fall into place, it is true, so, believe it:)))

Time keeps on slippin', into the future, AND, it is nothing we can alter, it is nothing we can race, it is nothing we can stop, so, do what you can, while you can, as you can, and, what doesn't get done, can wait until the future, which is just the next moment away!!!

Women need peace in their lives, and, the only way we can get it, is to give it to ourselves, which requires giving ourself permission to be less than perfect, less than quick, less than we expect of ourselves. No one else expects as much of us as we do, believe me, this is true, but, one of the hardest things for us TO believe! Granted, there are lots of things which DO have to be taken care of, these are the priorities, but, all the rest, well, it will be there, no matter what, so, why rush like crazy to fulfill it all, only to leave YOU worn out, and, too weary to enjoy time AFTER you performed like a bullet to it's mark???

They say 12 minutes of exercise a day will do wonders for our bodies, minds, and souls, and, it is also said, that 10 minutes of YOU time can perform miraculous wonders as well, so, you see, there IS time to care for YOU, the same YOU whom so many rely on, the same YOU who will be all the more effective, and, efficient if she is taken care of too:)))

Make a date with yourself every day! Close out the world, do what YOU want to do! Listen to music, read, write, craft, knit, meditate, walk, run, rest, just DO IT, 'cuz baby, you ARE worthy, and, you KNOW you need it:)))

LWINSOR © 2010
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP

YOUR BEST DEFENSE IN LIGHT OF THIS CRAZY WORLD...

2010-05-02T11:54:00.005-05:00

Lots going on in the news, eh? They found a crude bomb in a SUV in Times Square, which upon detonation did not explode; praise *GOD*! It is amazing how many attempts there have been in NYC over the past several years. I guess they are determined, very determined, eh???

People in many countries live with bombings, security threats, and, such, every single day of their lives, and, manage to retain some normalcy, sad as it is. If only people could get over their petty feelings of superiority, jealousy, animosity, hatred, prejudice, and, bias, the world could be what it was intended to be. But, whaddaya gonna do? People are people, and, that will never be ALL good...

In the light of all of the bad/negativity around us, it is most imperative to develop, and, embrace the positive which co-exists around us, for it IS the positive which uplifts us over, and, beyond the influence of negativity! We HAVE to build goodness, from the inside out, and, live in constant vigilance of that goodness, while accepting the negativity as is, but, realizing that with a good thought, intention, or, action, we CAN overcome the negativity with goodness/positivity!!!

Why become entangled in the net of negativity? You have choices! No matter how bad, no matter how stifling the bad/negativity is, there IS ALWAYS something good therein! Believe it, it is true, and, the more you realize this, then, act upon it, you will see that I am right, and, that good prevails over all, IF you allow it to. Negatives are like anchors, dragging you under, holding you there, and, then, suffocating you, so, why become a victim of negativity, when freedom from it, exists right there, inside your own being???

Life is gonna be good, or, bad, right, or, wrong, but, we can alter it's effects with our reactions, with our resolve, and, with belief in the wholesome goodness in all, and, everything! Sure, we will suffer, we will feel pain, we will experience remorse, and, down times, but, the point is, get up! Get up from down under, and, arise to the refreshing state of mentality, which is available to one, and, all, by simply believing in the good, and, adhering to it!!!

We know not what is ahead, but, we can develop our fortitude, our perseverance, our skills for overcoming at all times, that when something less than appealing does arrive, we are stronger in resolve, that it won't suck us under!!!

This old world needs to change, but, with some of the wild imaginations of certain people, it is not likely to, though, if each person would live in the state of goodness intended, and, spread the core of that goodness, then, bit, by bit, it would begin to alter, if only, somewhat. The problem is, in fear, in shock, in other negative feelings, people resign themselves to complacency, and, often, to heartlessness, figuring that if they don't feel much, then, they won't suffer much! This is truly sad, and, if you ask me, a total cop-out, for, life is not perfect, it is what it is, and, for better, or, worse, we are alive, in it!!!

At any rate, life is as good as you allow it to be, and, the future offers as much as you open up to, in your hopes, dreams, and, what you give to it, so, why not give the best of yourself to life, that life will give back to you when you most need it???

SPRING STORMS, & GARNERING THE WATER...

2010-05-01T11:14:00.004-05:00

We had a beautiful Spring storm here this morning! I LOVE storms, they are awesome! Well, unless they are destructive, or, take down the power, but, mostly it is an amazing occurrence of nature! Lightning glowing in the sky, thunder rumbling, or, roaring, torrential down pouring of rain, the smell, it is simply thrilling!!!

Last year, a friend of mine who lives in GA, said that they were on water rations most of the Summer, due to lack of water! Now, this perplexes me, because there was plenty of rainfall! Do we not garner the rain that falls, besides in the rivers, and, lakes? There should be in place, lots of ways to store the rain water to use WHEN there is a shortage, I mean, it is free, for the most part; it would cost money to filter, distribute, and, for the storage tanks themselves, but, it would be better than NOT storing it, think? Sometimes the answers are so simple, but, never get used, and I, being one of a disturbing logical mind, cannot figure out WHY they are not! No one can explain to me why simple resolutions are rarely used either, which really hurts my head:)))

Along this same thought, there are lots of states who have tons of water, so, when there are droughts in food producing states, why are there not avenues to sharing water? Food producing states are IMPERATIVE, AND, if they are suffering, then, it affects the ENTIRE country, in ways such as HIGH prices, lack, and, so forth. If it was in place that when there was a drought that water could be trickled to them, via many optional ways, then, it would certainly be worth whatever initial cost, labor, and, means to set up, think? Really, what is so difficult about imagining something like this? OK, like MI has LOTS of water, so, you create SIMPLE canals which run to food producing states, which are regulated like a dam, when water is needed, a certain amount runs to the troubled areas. Is this too far fetched? I think not! Other countries certainly have such standards in place, such as desert areas. I just think that more could be done to prevent drought, lack, and, certainly, provide necessary water for life to areas hard hit!!!

Not to get politically heated, but, there are numerous ways for this country, the great USA, to cut costs, EVEN if initially, it is an added expense! SOME things, such as water, are imperative to life, and so, if we need to take greater measures to PROVIDE for our people, which will, in the LONG RUN, SAVE money, then, we, seriously, need to consider EVERY option, think???

Anyway, before I get on my soapbox, I better wrap this up, saying, Happy May to ALL! May the storms of today bring the bounty of tomorrow, and, may flowers shoot up to grace the scenery, filling the air with the aroma of the nectar's of Mother Nature...

Have a great weekend:)))

IT'S ALMOST SUM, SUM, SUM, SUMMERTIME!!!

2010-04-30T22:42:00.002-05:00

Spring is in full bloom, moving right along! In just minutes, it will be May! YAY! I am SO looking forward to the Summer, as, the Winters are too long, AND, last Summer I was inflicted with some oddity, on steroids, and, miserable until like October, so, this will be make up Summer!!!

I haven't got to start walking yet! I am usually on track by now, but, seriously, no excuses, so many people are tying up my time, I barely have time to sleep anymore, and, am definitely run down! Plus, the weather has been funny, and, is gonna be for at least 3 more days, but, I am psyching myself up for it:)))

The warm months are about storing up energy, vitamin D, some color on the skin, basking in the warm rays, swimming, dancing under the stars, outdoor concerts, tastefests, BBQ's, and, in short, memories!!!

When you miss a Summer as I did last year, it makes the Winter all the less tolerable, and, much longer...

I am determined to make this a healthy warm season! I want to shed some weight, tighten, tone, and, sculpt whatever I can! It is not about vanity, it is about health, fitness, and, longevity! I REALLY want to be in the best shape I can possibly be at my age, for as long as I can defy Mother Nature! I am not too far from this quest, but, definitely need to bust a move, or two thousand! Hahahahaha...

The hours we spend here on the 'Net are not body friendly either, so, we have to make choices, all the way around! For about 3 years, I spent more time here than anywhere, but, that has panned way down, and, I think I am just about balanced now! Well, at least it feels more like a balance...

I am sitting and trying to think of Summer dishes to cook, as, I am bored with most foods. It gets to be boring cooking all the time, and, there are only so many ways to make so many things. I wish I could go from country to country, sometimes, just to get away from all the same things, know what I mean? I think I would start in Mexico, 'cuz me loves Mexican fare, then, I would go to Italy, Greece, Japan, China, Germany, Arabia, and, most other places. Don't know if I would like to do some countries, but, I am willing to try things, well, mostly:) Some foods of my foreign friends is like, well, not appealing to my tastebuds, like some Albanian foods, but, most are alright, some even delicious:)))

What is your fav Summer pasttime? I think that for myself, being outdoors, walking, or, just sitting on the deck, or, in the park, and, cooking out are my favs, along with concerts of course! And, I detest the air being on! Give me 10 fans, with the windows, and, the doors open; we are couped up all Winter long, so, why do we do the same in the warm months? Granted, there are some unbearably HOT days, but, isn't that part of the season? Fans work just fine for me:)))

Ok, I am about a month ahead of myself, but, I LIVE for Summer!

THE TAKEOVER OF CANCER...

2010-04-30T21:25:00.005-05:00

I wrote a few years back of a family member(extended)who has breast cancer, and, had a double mascetomy. She has been battling a sneaky cancer for several years, which spread, here, and there, and recently, after a Caribbean cruise, was rushed to the hospital to find out that she now has brain cancer. She called her closest family members yesterday, I think, and, told them that the Dr's. have told her that she has from one month, to one year to live...

She is barely 51, a happy, go lucky, caring Woman, mother of 4, and, a loving Wife! It is sooooooooooooo very sad, so very upsetting, so scary...

She believes in miracles, as do I, and so, if anyone happens to read this, please, won't you say a special prayer for her? It is awful to lose anyone to cancer, but, this woman has really suffered, BUT, all the while, she was a fighter, a trooper like none I have ever seen, with an attitude that she Will beat this! *GOD* bless her soul...

We all know that death is the only sure thing there is, but, such a death, along with fore-knowledge of it, has to be the worst thing ever to bear. She has to remain strong to her family, and, to those who love her, while she is facing the worst scenario imaginable...

I am just so sad over this, even though I am a believer that *GOD'S* will must be done, it is really eating away at me.

*GOD* be with you Sherry, we love you, we support you, and, we are praying for you with all our might...:(((

A WORLD OF WOMEN & ONE IS BACK:)))

2010-04-30T19:43:00.004-05:00

I have decided to bring this blog back, as, I really miss it! It is one of my originals, and, has much meaning to me, so, I hope you will join me once again, as I attempt to bring the wonderful world of Women closer together, in as many aspects as feasible...

Lots has happened to me since I retired this site, so, there are variations on the theme, for sure!!!

I am very busy these days, with caregiving, studying, and, trying to maintain a life besides everything else, but, I promise to dedicate as much time as is feasible to this site, as, I truly LOVE the premise of it, and, truly, do CARE for all Women of the world, as we ARE all Sisters of the Mother Earth, and, from the FATHER of all birth!!!

Stay with me as we explore the vast diversities of the world of Women, from A to Z!!!

Please bear with me as I make sure over the next few weeks that all links are up to date. If any are not, they will be removed:) Lots to catch up, plus, might put a whole new face on this site, so again, please, bear with me... Thank you:)))

WEEKEND MEANDERINGS...

2009-01-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

This is the first weekend day I have had in a long, long time simply to relax, and be. I am loving it. I am feeling grateful, peaceful, and secure...

We are having a winter storm, lots and lots of snow. My lovely Daughter decided to go to another state in this, and they are getting worse than we are. They drove down there, and I hope they listen to the weather reports before they attempt to drive home, it is pretty bad, with lots of ice under the deep, and still falling snow. Kids! They always provide anxiety, don't they???

I have been posting, writing, thinking, and now am getting ready to make a Roasted Chicken with all the trimmings, plus, a chocolate cream pie for the weekend munchies. This will be the one of the last desserts for a long, long time, as it is time to get serious about getting totally healthy, as without the option of health, life is nothing...

Several family members are suffering. One is going to have heart surgery on Monday, another is having some intestines removed as she has Crohn's disease, another has a blood clot in her leg, and lots more. Is terrible to have to worry about people all of the time, ya know???

I have been caring for ailing people, and I love it much. Though, it does leave lots of time for reflecting, contemplation, and makes you wonder at times. Still, I am happy to be able to help where I can, and enjoy watching the healing process, no matter how slow it might be...

I was planning on starting a new business by now, but, with all I have going on, I haven't got time for it right now, and so, it is on hold. I am so excited about it, though, I am not ready to launch it. I think most of the excitement comes from the prepping to launch, and the rest is maintaining it...

Women who are in war torn, or financially crippled nations need our help, our ideas, our voices of encouragement, strength, and support. I will never stop until we find ways to help them. I was thinking and came up with one way they can help themselves. It is taken from the example of African women who are weaving baskets, making trinkets, and so forth to raise money for aiding the children and women who are starving, sick, diseased, or worse. All women have a skill of some sort, and with world markets as they are, and interest in buying cultural items, even a simple handmade scarf could raise money, you see what I mean? I wish I could reach women of power to get involved in helping our sisters, for it would be wonderful if we could help any of them, if not all of them. Never forget, we CAN, oh YES WE CAN, make a difference...

Well, I am off to butter the bird, add my special mixture of seasonings, make the stuffing, and so forth. Then, I have laundry to do, and some odds and ends, and then, the rest of the evening is mine, all mine, to enjoy as I wish...

PEACE & abundant blessings to ALL!!! Feel the power of your worth and run with that! Make your mark upon the world regardless of proportion, and keep the head held high, regardless of the plight, for you are WOMAN, wonderful, diverse, capable, and imperative to the course of life!!!!

RESEARCHING GEMSTONES AND CRYSTALS AND THE NATURAL ELEMENTS...

2009-01-06T13:07:00.004-05:00

I have been researching gemstones and crystals for healing purposes, although, I have always loved and used them, I am seeking to get more into the whole depth of the powers of them. Stones are mentioned in the Bible throughout. The Hindus, Native Indians, Buddha followers, and many more use stones for healing, balance, and much more, which means that they do, indeed, have powers which align with the whole of nature, of which, we are an intrinsic part...

I have always loved rocks, petrified wood, volcanic rock, stones, crystals, wood, and other natural elements. And, I have always believed that they are filled with energy, and a life form of some sort. I have plenty of stones and rocks in my house, and where ever I might go, I always bring home some more. It is something which has been a part of me since I was but a small girl. Rocks are like natures prizes to me, and when I find an exceptional one, you would think I had found something worth great value! Funny...

A home should be graced with air, fire, water,and Earth (some cultures & practices place Space in the list of elements, and Medieval includes Aether, Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt); each of the natural elements which comprise the Earth, for then the natural flow of energy can be released in our homes, granting many optimal effects, which includes health, peace, harmony, and understanding of being one with the whole...

Researching such a subject is a deep one, with many side stepping inter-related subjects. Very interesting though, as this simple use of the 4 basic elements is world wide, used in religions, alchemists, and many more...

The five classical elements are used to the present day by esoteric movements such as neo-paganism, astrology and tarot...

Such a simplicity of life are the elements, and yet, they have evolved into our lives from the spirit to the intellect to the body, and even beyond...

According my research, there are 62 gemstones and minerals referred to in the Bible. A mere 15 of those are: alabaster, galena, amethyst, iron, beryl, agate, jasper, malachite, flint, carnelian, sulphur marble, quartz, onyx, coal, each of which has a different effect on life itself, but, has certain properties which are beneficial to human life. Cool, eh? I know I have seen jasper in the Bible, as well as beryl, agate, flint, and others, but, never really thought about it before as being imperative to sustaining balance of body, mind, and spirit. You see, we learn something new each and every day!

I have a collection of rocks and gemstones right here which I am going to research to find out each ones properties. I am compelled to do this for some reason, and so, off I go...

Have a perfect day! Be blessed from the inside out! Live in faith! And smile all the while, you will feel better for the effort...

CUTTING THE COSTS OF FOOD...

2009-01-04T15:02:00.006-05:00

In these uncertain financial times, we are looking for ways to spend less, and one of the smartest areas of spending less should be on our food consumption. One way to do this is to eat at home more often, or if you work, to brown bag your lunches, as you will, in a month, notice some extra change, that is for sure...

Another way is to find ways to stretch your food, in ways such as making two pot meals, like chili, beef stew, chicken and noodles, lasagna, spaghetti, and well, you get the idea. Buy less snacks, especially chips and cookies, instead, make popcorn, make your own cookies, eat nuts, fruits, serve veggies and dip, and so forth. Those non nutritious snacks from the store are costly, and are not good for anyone...

I buy those 60% cocoa chocolate chips, which are inexpensive, offer antioxidants, and can be used for a snack attack, or for making delicious hot chocolate, plus, you can melt and serve on fat free ice cream, and so forth. I buy the Ghirardelli ones, and pay like $1.88 a bag, which lasts me about 2 weeks, but, I don't have little ones around, so, if you do, they will go faster for sure. Point is, they are more nutritious than Nestle's chocolate chips, are satisfying in small amounts, are packed with antioxidants, are versatile, and save money...

Rice and noodles are must haves, as you can take leftover meats, make a sauce or gravy, and use either of these to make a great meal, plus, it is quick. I use brown rice, as your body needs the nutrients from such foods, but, I have read that any rice is good for you. With leftover roast, or chicken you can make pepper stir fry, or meat, gravy and noodles, or chop suey, or hot meat sandwiches, or many other dishes. You don't need lots of meat to make a satisfying meal, not at all...

If you eat pork, hams are your most versatile and while they might be costly, you can lots of meals out of the ham. You can have a ham dinner, then, wrap and bag in freezer bags, individual servings for other meals. From this you can make ham and cheese scalloped potatoes, ham fried rice, ham sweet and sour, bean soup, or several other dishes, each of which might give you an additional 2 meals per individually wrapped package. Also, you can have grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with some kind of soup, fries, or salad, for a fun meal...

I have to care give most of this week, so, right now, I am making chili. Then I will make a roast, then, I am making chicken pot pies, pepper steak, and other great two (or more) meals, some of which I share with my clients...

For lunches, there are lots of ways to go. Mott's applesauce, whether in individual containers or not, is a great buy, and is packed with body essential nutrients. You should eat 2 cups of salad a day (use green leaf lettuces, like romaine, green leaf, red leaf, and so forth), so make a big salad, make sure is dried well, and pack in gallon sized freezer bags, it keeps for days. I usually take peanut butter sandwiches, as they provide nutrition, plus, I don't have to worry about them spoiling, along with applesauce, and some sort of snack, though not always. For kids, there are lots of options, but, steer clear of the costly, non nutritious pre-made lunches. True, they are time savers, and kids love them, but, add up the cost over a month; it is outrageous...

Did you know for calcium milk is still the most cost-effective source of calcium? Kids need 4 servings a day, adults need 3. Milk is another food which is extremely versatile. You can make chocolate milk, hot chocolate, pudding, add to foods, make shakes, fruit smoothies, fruit desserts, and so much more. I have a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios's in the morning, along with a glass of milk to which I add 1 teaspoon of Nestle's quick chocolate, take my multivitamin, and am good for hours. I have a glass of milk with dinner, and then hot chocolate at night. My 3 servings are done. I also eat organic yogurt, and cheeses, but, milk is the cheapest way to get the calcium, for sure...

Vegetables are so versatile as well. I make many soups with them. I serve them at most meals, and just love them. You can make many dishes with vegetables as well. I also make sure to eat beans at least once a week, though, you should have them more often. Beans are another very versatile food. A great snack: Take red kidney beans, put in blender or food processor, and mash a bit, pour into saucepan, add some powdered garlic, and about 2 Tablespoons of butter, cook on medium high until bubbling, then simmer for a while. When cooled, spread into an oven safe dish, add some cream cheese on top of the beans, then add some grated cheese, bake until cheeses are melted, about 15 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, and salsa if you prefer. This is so yummy, satisfying, and very inexpensive. We love it!

Well, this is just a post of reminders and tips. I will be offering more money saving ideas this month, as gas is going up again because of the Mid-East crisis, and we might as well get used to cutting costs when and where we can, for we know that things are unlikely to ever be the same....

Have a great week, blessings & PEACE...

THE WORLD IS YOUR FAMILY...

2008-12-29T16:26:00.004-05:00

With all of the dissension throughout the world, I cannot but help, daily, to think of the many women of the world, who are suffering. I have suffered in my life, but, am in a country where I can make decisions to alter my state; some women do not have this privilege, some never will...

We have heard the stories of women being helped, even rescued from their current state, which is awesome. We have heard stories of people of Sudan, the Congo, and other such places, being able to escape, and somehow find their way to the safety of another country. Such stories are inspiring, and makes me wonder what we can do to help more people live the life they are deserving of...

I wonder if there is a way to set up a board for women of the world to share their stories, to find friends, to seek help, to find advice and support? I know that many of these women do not have access to computers and such, but, I have heard that many of them do have pen pals in other countries, and find help through that avenue. I just can't sit idle and not try to do something, know what I mean???

Women of the free world who suffer often feel that they are never going to arise again, so, I would like to share examples of women of the world who are way worse off, that help can touch all bases, all sides of the world. It is but a dream, but, such dreams have been realized...

People need people. Women need women to support, encourage, discuss, and guide them along their journeys. Communication is necessary for the world to advance, and for those who are suffering most to be helped, communication is the first tool of many which must be used on a wide scale...

The world is family. We are of the same genes. We are of the same Maker. We are family. There is nothing to change that fact, we are all inter-related, each and every one of us. The bottom line is this, the more women who suffer, who are hungry, impoverished, and worse, the more children will die, grow up with a terrible outlook on life, and might become one of the violent ones who assault women, children, villages, or worse. So, you see, it is a world wide social responsibility to care for others, especially those in the worst predicaments imaginable...

I know that there are women who would find a way if they had some support, if they had some ideas, if they had encouragement to battle their hopelessness, their fear, their feelings of inferiority. I believe that if only some are saved, some are rescued, some are assisted, then the world will be a better place, and the children of these women can grow into appreciative, and contributing adults. One thing is for sure, you never forget from where you came, nor do you forget when someone uplifts you, which totally influences positive results...

IT IS STILL THE HOLIDAY SEASON: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

2008-12-26T11:36:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Chanuka (Hanukkah)! Ah, a world wide celebration going on, isn't that wonderful? I wish it could be like this always...

I hope that your Holidays have been perfect! Mine have been exceptional, despite some bad situations around me, such as the breast cancer survivor I told you about before being in the hospital for all of this season with cancerous fluids filling her lungs, and being diagnosed as now having lung cancer. She is so ill. According to the family, she has a really sneaky type of cancer which hides from detection, and while she did so well with surviving the breast cancer, the sneaky cancer is still taking over her. How very sad, eh??? I hope you can join us in our prayers for her, she is an exceptionally nice person, who was always full of life, laughter, and love...

I spent the day today getting my hair done, returning some gifts for things which I like/and/or fit, and grocery shopping. Was lots of fun, especially since it was 60 outside. Just yesterday, I could not get anywhere in the morning because of iced roads, which were really bad. By afternoon, it had begun to melt, but, it was awful. Crazy weather, eh???

I have yet been so busy, but, that should slow down soon. I miss being able to be here a lot, and making new friends...

I would like women of the world to know that while miles and culture might separate us, nothing should not stop us from reaching out and supporting one another. We are yet women, sharing much of the same issues, situations, ideals, fears, stresses, and much more; you might be surprised at how alike we really are. Any woman who would like to share herself on these pages, just let me know, I would love to hear from you, as I am sure other women would love to as well. Let us make this an international forum for women to share, learn, and support one another. That would be a great thing to accomplish for 2009 I think!

Alright then, I am going out tonight to listen to a favorite band and shake my good stuff for a while, I haven't been out in ages, and might have to caregive on New Years Day, and so, won't be able to go out New Years Eve. Take care, Happy Holidays to all, be good to yourself first, for then you give the best of yourself to others. And remember, I am here for ANYONE who needs whatever... Blessings & PEACE:))))

2008-12-14T21:06:00.004-05:00

Ah, the wonder and beauty of Christmas, from the eyes of a child of any age...

I have to take some time off from my posting in order to fulfill all of my obligations, and so, wanted to wish you and yours a wonderfully exciting Holiday season...

As you come together with family and friends, even strangers, remember that this season is all about love, a love which should be grasped and held onto that it last for the coming New Year...

Share with everyone the best of yourself. That is far more important than any other aspect of this Holiday, as it is what truly creates magic, memories, and lasting good will...

I am like the child in this picture, filled with delightful wonder, and anticipation of the coming of the sharing with family and friends...

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. May Santa be good to you, may he treat you right, and may the mysterious power of this Holiday last the coming year through, that life is more than a decided delight...

God Bless each and everyone, and keep you in His sight, providing for you in every possible way. Until later, Merry Christmas, from my heart to yours!!!

MUSTERING STRENGTH TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SEASON...

2008-12-12T20:42:00.003-05:00

I honestly do not remember ever being this tired. With all the care giving I have been doing, and keeping up with my own life, writing, and other, I am wiped out! Not complaining, nope, am glad to serve, and to take care of what is mine, for sure. I just don't understand why I am soooooo tired. Perhaps I am still rebuilding my immune system from my recent illness, who knows? I will prevail, of that I am sure, think???

Today is Dec. 12Th, and I just got my tree up and decorated, my cards done, and ready to mail, and my master list compiled for the coming 13 days. The cards I send out are not all that many, about 20 - 30, but, I hand write a poem in each of them, so, it takes some time to do. I should simply write a poem and have that printed on cards, but, I never found it to be as time consuming as it was this year. I even tried to do some while care giving, but, could not concentrate, so, did them all today. Oh well, at least it is finished! Yay! The tree looks wonderful and smells so good. It was purchased after Thanksgiving, but left out by the garage to keep it fresh, and was put up on Wednesday night, so that it will be nice and fresh for Christmas Eve and day...

I cleaned the oven, the fridge, the freezer, and a few other things very well over the Thanksgiving holiday, so, they will be easy to do. But, this office, which houses 7 kids on Christmas Eve, has to be kid proofed, and cleaned good, and it is a chore, as I have books, magazines, and all kinds of things, like printer, elliptical trainer, keyboard, and other stuff which has to be put out of the reach of curious and bored hands. The good thing is I can start the New Year off fully cleaned, cleared, and organized, so, it is worth it...

I am so happy that Christmas Eve is at my house, as when I was growing up, Christmas Eve was the bomb. Most people look forward to Christmas day, not me, the Eve is my favorite, and there is such magical anticipation in the air. The kids are all so restless, and the adults are trying to relax, but know they have lots of last minute things to do when they leave my house. It is a great time: we exchange our gifts, have lots of snacks, drinks, and a dinner, plus, other goodies and fun, then on Christmas day, it is just one quick stop and the rest of the day is for relaxing and revelling in the wonder of the spirit of Christmas, and thinking forward to New Years Eve, and exciting new adventures of all sorts...

So, busy, tired, excited, and hoping it all comes together soon, so that I can have at least a day of total rest and relaxation before the big night, though that is not likely, I can wish, can't I????

Off to do some more, this is like a break for me, though it is relaxing me a bit much, am getting sleepy, yawn. Take care, have a great weekend, be good to yourself in this time, take care of yourself, and enjoy the days, the hours, the minutes, with the spirit of a child; that is what Christmas is all about:))))

IN THIS BUSY SEASON, I AM, INDEED, BUSY...

2008-12-07T20:24:00.004-05:00

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining... My favorite Christmas song, done by Celine Dion, or Josh Groban, although, Celine does it with such magic, it moves me to tears. I would actually like to hear Josh and Celine do this song together, that would be totally moving...

It was a busy weekend. I did get lots done though, and almost half of the presents wrapped, which is good, as my care giving takes up several days and long hours a week, though that will be slowing down after this week, which is great because then I can do my house thoroughly, and will be able to move forward into the Christmas week organized, relaxed, and able to enjoy it. OK, scratch that, as I just realized (hello, Lynda!) that it is only 14 days until Christmas, so, it is going to be that I am like flying around to handle everything. Where did the time go????

I am working this week, so, with all else I have to do, it is gonna be a tight one. I try to stay on top of my posts and such, but, sometimes cannot get to all of my sites, which I have concluded is fine, for I am not conducting business on them, if you know what I mean, still, I do feel negligent a moment or two in these times...

I am very happy with the way this Christmas season is unfolding; the excitement is igniting daily. It is a funny condition with those of us who love to celebrate, isn't it? We are like gangbusters for over a few months, and when it is over, we are left hanging, though we are glad to resume a more normal lifestyle. Well, for the most part anyway...

I am trying to figure out a way to keep the light effect of Christmas lights year round in a classy, like, contained way. I love the effects of the lights of Christmas, the glow they give off is mood elevating, and could be installed in ways which enhance a home. Perhaps by running a plastic rod with diffused lights, like a track lighting system, or installed in the ceiling or wall. It is complicated, though I don't see where it has to be so. Seems like it would be easy to do, and could be done in such a way as to look great. I will keep working on this idea... Hahahaha...

Ok, I am outta here, got lots more writing to do, a long soak in the tub with milk, olive oil, honey, and some cocoa, then straighten up the house so I won't feel any pressure with the heavy workload this week. Have a beautiful day, take care of yourself, and keep the mindset of positivity flowing, for it always comes back to bless you...

SNOW AND SHOPPING...

2008-12-06T19:27:00.003-05:00

Ah, the first real snowfall and Christmas shopping. We got about 3 inches, and it is so pretty for now. Cold, real cold though...

The stores were all so busy. Some of them did not have all of their cash stations operating, though lines were like a city block long. What is up with that? People get irate, snappy, and downright rude when they have to wait like that. I don't get upset, but, I am like a pre-schooler, just can't stand still. I goof around, and move around, and probably get on people's nerves, but, that is how I am, always have been. Guess I just never learned to behave in lines... Hahahaha...

So far, the Christmas price wars are working. It is the only area of the economy where people are seeing concessions I think. I have never seen so many sales, mark downs, and door busters going on, almost continuously, but, I imagine they more or less have to just to make it through this imbalanced season. I know I have landed some great deals, and have had luck finding most things I wanted to purchase, and that makes me a happy consumer...

Well, it has been a busy day. I am tired, been out shopping for too many hours. The streets are a mess with the snow and the bitter temps, so, it is slow moving out there, but, it is beautiful too. Was listening to Christmas music earlier, and feeling the mood. Now to fix a bite to eat, and time to get busy wrapping, which will take who knows how long. Still have some shopping to do, but, am mostly ahead of the game. Now if I could just get caught up on my house, I would be ready for Santa's visit...

Have a great weekend, have fun, and spread that Holiday cheer. Spread the love, and be kind. Be kind to yourself, and to everyone around you, let's make this season one to remember for a long, long time, for we do not know what is around the corner, given the current trends of our economy, and such... Blessings and PEACE always...

WOMEN OF THE WORLD UNITE FOR OUR SISTERS WHO ARE BEHIND ENEMY LINES...

2008-12-05T22:11:00.005-05:00

I was just wondering what it would be like to live in the Congo, or many other volatile places of the world, where violence, fear, hunger, and disease are a part of every day. So many women are living in this type of life, trying to be Mothers, trying to save, spare, and comfort their children. How awful, isn't it???

I am also wondering what we women of the world might do to help. I know there are hundreds of things we could do, but, some of these women are so behind enemy lines that until they are rescued, or deemed safe, how could we help them? It would seem that big governments would assist, but, I can see that is not an option here. So, what can we do???

We can pray, we can be informed, that perhaps a brainstorm might occur. We can send aid of sorts, we can be actively involved from the sidelines, in various ways. There are women from each country who visit such places on a regular basis, even women like Oprah make their journeys to these inflicted places to find out what they might do. Perhaps we could arm these women more with certain help, who knows? I am calling out for women of the world to unite, to pray, to send out positive thoughts, to donate either money, time, or materials to our sisters of the world. They are never going to arise without our help, no, not ever...

Remember this, nothing is impossible. Things might seem improbable, bleak, and out of our reach, but, united minds create miracles, it is true...

We are so busy worrying about what we do not have while millions of women from many countries of the world will never have the opportunity to worry about what they don't have, for they are too busy trying to survive and stay alive, facing more than hardship, they are facing abuse, rape, and worse. So, sisters of the world, unite, in any way you might. Pray daily for these sisters and their children, uplift your thoughts to the Universe for recognition of their plight, don't let them suffer more than they need to...

BEEN SO BUSY...

2008-12-03T00:07:00.002-05:00

Oh my, time has sped on by. I have been so busy that this is the first day I have had time to even think about catching up, and have been doing so since noon, and it is after midnight now...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, well, those who celebrate it. Mine was nearly perfect. Now, into the Christmas mode and rush. Only 23 days left, ooops, 22 days left! So much to do, but, most of it is fun, think???

Do you do baking for the Holidays? I used to but, my kitchen is soooo small, and seriously, I am a great cook, and can bake some things, but, Christmas cookies made by me, are frightening. They might taste good, but, they do not look good, so, I do not mess with them. I do miss doing it though. Oh well, someday I will have a large kitchen and can make all sorts of stuff and messes too. Hahahaha!

I am fairly close to being finished with Christmas shopping, which is great! The past 2 years have been so easy as far as shopping is concerned, although, it will take a long time to wrap this stuff, as usual. I am getting so good at wrapping, I have come a long way from years gone by. I learned so many tricks and such, and am pretty fast at it, but, extremely fussy, and like to do ribbons and bows, which hardly anyone around here does anymore, but hey, a present should be a vision of excitement, don't you think so???

While I am mostly better, I am not fully recovered from whatever is plaguing me. But, having been so busy, I am sure I have depleted some of my immune systems fighting strength, and taking care of a person who is recuperating from back surgery is draining work. A work I love, and enjoy, but, the hours tend to be long and tiring, plus the drive. They expect that he will be on his own again soon, so, this leg of my journey will be done soon, as far as I can tell...

I have started yet another project which will take some time to get going, but, I feel is extremely necessary. It deals with Seniors who are struggling to make ends meet. Did you know that there are lots and lots of Seniors living in their cars because their Social Security checks, and dwindling life savings are not enough for them to afford to live as they should? It is so terrible to hear or read about Grandmas and Grandpas who are forced into this end to life, don't you agree? And so, I have come up with a way to help them, if I can get enough attention stirred up. Donations will go directly to the person in need, there will be no organization to worry about, just a site which will provide contact information for needy Seniors. I do so hope it works out as I envision it...

Well, it is the end of another day, and I am beat, so off to watch some old reruns, and then lights out so I can dream up some more ways to help...

Take care, blessings and PEACE to all...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

2008-11-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

Cleaning, washing, planning, getting everything done,
So that Thursday, Thanksgiving, will be special for everyone!
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, fresh cranberry sauce, and much more,
As we sit down to give thanks, and stuff ourselves with food galore!!!

This is the kick-off to the Holiday season, that favorite time of year,
When even the least excited, get a dose of cheer.
Decking the house with Christmas trimmings, lights, and mistletoe,
Shopping, wrapping, parties, writing out Christmas cards, and wishing for lots of snow...

Becoming child-like in our visions of the perfect Holiday,
As we wonder what St. Nick will bring our way.
Opening our hearts to those less fortunate, and our homes to family,
Yes, this season is as wonderful as wonderful can be....

Only 3 days until Thanksgiving! Can you believe it? I don't know about you, but, I have lots of work to be done. I will be busy, busy, busy, but, it is all a labor of love...

Wishing you and yours a fabulous Thanksgiving, may you remember all you are thankful for, may you embrace the love in your life, may you enjoy this Holiday as never before~~~

FIGHTING VIRUSES WITH NATURAL MEANS...

2008-11-19T18:29:00.004-05:00

'Tis the season to get sick, fa,la,la,la,la,la,la...

I have one of the worst, most debilitating colds I have ever had. I have had it since Sunday, and have slept more than I ever thought I could. This terrible cold is going around, so, be sure to keep your immune system strong, and stay away from sick people as much as you can. I think I contracted mine while shopping, for that night, it hit me, and hit me hard. I wash my hands all of the time, so, that must not be enough...

I saw that they have a new allergy resistant rub on for the nose. I wonder if that would help us to resist viruses that way? Just wondering...

Soups, lots of liquids, vegetables, fresh fruits, especially citrus, and lots of rest. That has been my battle gear. Along with different teas, including, steeping thyme for 20 minutes and drinking. Sound strange? Well, thyme loosens phlegm just like an over the counter expectorant, plus, its most active ingredient 'thymol', is an antimicrobial which kills the virus or bacteria which is causing the cough in the first place. You should drink this about 3 times a day. It doesn't taste all that bad, and it really did help...

Another great helper is dark chocolate! Believe it, it works on that dry tickle in your throat. Dark chocolate is loaded with theobromine, a natural compound which is nearly 33% more effective in stopping persistent coughs than codeine, and with no drowsiness. They say 2 oz. a day, and if you are feeling chilly, drinking 2 cups of dark hot cocoa will help...

During this season, be sure to drink lots of water. I know, here we go again. But, besides keeping your cells healthy, and filled with oxygen, water helps to thin and loosen mucus. Also, eat lots of chicken soup, it is packed with compounds which fight the inflammation which triggers coughing. Another great inflammation fighter is honey, as is green and black tea, loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients which are natural healers...

To keep yourself healthy, get plenty of rest, exercise, be active, eat well, and drink lots of water and other essential liquids. Taking care of yourself is not always enough though, as I have found out the hard way. So, when that insistent virus takes a hold on your system, use some of these tricks to make the virus shorter lived and easier to cope with..

DID YOU HEAR ME? JUST ENJOY THE SEASON FOR WHAT IT IS!!!

2008-11-16T18:51:00.004-05:00

Just a few days over a week until Thanksgiving, wow~

Time for tradition, guests, and lots of Holiday cheer, plus, the stress, the weight gain, and the guilty pleasures which leave us less than ecstatic when the Holidays have gone...

The best advice I have for anyone is to live life in moderation, in most areas. Sure, you can splurge here and there, but, make up for it the next day or two. Make sure you get plenty of sleep (7 is the least recommended amount), exercise (at the very least 10 mins. a day, though it should be at least 30), count your blessings, get organized, and give yourself ample time to pull off everything you plan. For instance, start Holiday cleaning 5 weeks in advance, and deep clean one room a day, and so forth. This is also a good time to rid of excess, know what I mean???

Don't get lost in the worry of the Holidays! They always work out, they always come and go. You are not in competition to have the best Holidays ever, and if times are tight, it is best to accept this, and do the best you can do, for truly, that is ALL you can do, right? Just enjoy the season for what it is, don't let it eat away at you in silly ways, such as I wish I could give my kids this or that, and well, you know what I mean.
One year after my ex left me for another woman, with all of the bills, no car, no money, and no job, it was terrible around the Holidays. I cried so much I made myself sick. When my Daughters friends Mother invited her for Thanksgiving, I was so relieved, but, while she was gone, I lay on the couch the whole time, blaming myself, and feeling less than worthy of being a Mother. I ruined time feeling sorry for myself. It was NOT my fault, and I was gonna be alright. Kids are a lot more understanding than you give them credit for, and even if they aren't, the lessons they learn in tough times are priceless, for they teach them appreciation, and hopefully some gratitude for what we DO do for them. So, give yourself a break, life is not always fair, and not always easy, and not always what we have it be. Just enjoy the season for what it is, and if you have to enjoy it from the perspective of an outsider looking in, then make sure you really look in!!!!

Thank God for Dollar stores! Back when I was raising my Daughter, there were no Dollar stores, so, you women who are struggling, have some advantages I did not. Some of the Dollar stores around here offer all sorts of great things you could give your kids if your budget is not allowing for a great Holiday. I remember one time, I went out and bought my child all kinds of really inexpensive gifts, just to make her Christmas fun for her. It lightened my load, as I had fun wrapping, and placing everything under the tree, which incidentally, I purchased and dragged all the way home, probably about 4 miles, as I did not have a car (I had taken the bus to the tree lot, and could not take the tree back on the bus). It was a cheap pine, I decorated with what I had, and bought cheap things to add to it. Know what? WE had a great Christmas! Though it wasn't what it should have been, it was magical in that it was all there was, and in that enough care and love had been implemented that it came to life!!!

Oh, the Holidays have come a long way since those days, but, guess what? I never take them for granted, for I know full and well, that at any time something, especially in this economically challenging time, could happen, and I could once again be facing the Holidays with little or nothing more than imagination and love, see what I mean???

Just enjoy the season for what it is!!! I cannot stress this enough, for really, truly, that is what the season is all about~

AND THE WOMAN CRIED...

2008-11-13T15:14:00.006-05:00

And the woman cried. Oh, she cried; each night when all alone, she cried her soul out, often filled with anger and the weight of frustration. She just did not know how she was ever going to make it with 3 kids, a minimum wage job, child care costs, and all of the expenses she faced day in and day out. Sometimes she literally starved, just so the kids could have a decent meal, which was making her weak, tired, weary, and depressed. She had tried working two jobs, but, by the time she paid for child care and such, it was like working for nothing. Because she made minimum wage, she was not eligible for much help, as so many aid programs had been cut in light of the economical disaster of this time...

She thought long and hard, each and every day about what could be done. She knew that if she could further her education, that she might eventually make more money, but, where would the initial money and time come from. She would again, have to pay out lots of money for child care if she took night classes, and she could not afford Internet services, so, the idea of online classes was out of the question. She considered going to the local library to take the classes online, but, again, what to do with the kids. Yes, there was much to consider at any moment, of any day, and the answers were not readily available...

Life had been good not so long ago, but, when her husband suddenly dumped her for a younger woman, and left the state, she was faced with all of 'their' bills, their mortgage, and so much more. He did not pay child support, except once in a blue moon, though he had been taken to court more than once. He was irresponsible when it came to her and the kids, selfishly seeking his own happiness with his new love...

In a few short months, she was forced to foreclose on their house, and had to move into a cheap, cramped apartment. It was all that could barely manage to afford. She had found one which included heat and water, so, that took some of the weight of utilities off of her, but, with her meager earnings, she was struggling just to pay the rent. She was eligible for some food stamps, but, it wasn't enough either, and with 3 growing kids who deserved what kids like, by the time she was done at the supermarket, especially with the outrageous prices, there was not much to put in the fridge, cupboards, or pantry...

Her clothes were becoming like Goodwill picks, tattered, worn, and dated. The kids' clothes were not much better, though she did receive hand me downs from certain friends and co-workers, which she was grateful for. It was a never ending stack of issues which led her to breaking down each night, and while she had faith, it waned in the light of the circumstances she faced each and every day. It was tough being a woman in these times, though she tapped into her reserves time and again...

Ah, so sad, and so many women are facing this these days. What are their options? What does their future look like? How can they feel better about themselves and life? These are just a few questions I would like to have answered that perhaps as women of the world we can help some of these women. I urge you to share you insights, we are all in this together, won't you help someone find a way, a sense of relief, a happy moment, filled with human sharing and compassion??? Think of it as your gift to the world, for not only are you helping a Mother, you are helping children to learn by example, and what better example than compassion???

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY...

2008-11-10T13:28:00.006-05:00

Ah, Monday, a day which I am not fond of, as it is so difficult to get in the groove on Monday, for some strange reason. Especially when it is like today, snowing, bitter cold, and dark as evening. Still, I find ways to get into it, and enjoy it as much as I can...

This week begins the busy season for me, with clients, and prepping for the Holidays, Birthdays and parties, shopping, and much more. I took a good 4 days and did nothing but what I wanted to do, to get caught up on this that, and on some much needed restful reflection...

Thanksgiving is getting closer and closer; where does the time go? I made pumpkin pie last night for a treat, so, will not be making it for the Holiday, which would be a waste anyway, as Thanksgiving is my Daughter's Birthday dinner, and I make a cake for her, so, dessert is not necessary, nor welcomed...

I have found that if I start cleaning, organizing, and such in late October, throughout the Holiday months, it is much easier to keep my sanity in these times. You know as well as I do, that it is mostly our minds which cause us to over-react in these busy times, so, if you get a head start, things seem to flow easier, for much is already taken care of, or at least, it feels like it...

Here is recipe for my homemade cranberry sauce. I do not use measurements, so, this is as best as I can determine in measurements...

1 - 2 bags of fresh cranberries (washed and drained)
2 or 4 oranges (peeled, seeded, and cut up into pieces, reserve the juices)
2 or up to 3 cups of sugar (if you like it more tart, add less, more sweet, add more)
About a tablespoon of cinnamon
A sprinkle of cloves, not too much
A bit of water, like 1/4 - 1/2 cup

Put rinsed cranberries in saucepan, add oranges and orange juice, add sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and water. Bring to boil, but, be there to watch, as it WILL make a sticky mess all over your stovetop. Reduce to simmer. After it has cooked for about 20 minutes, take a masher, and mash the cranberries, as much as can. Let simmer until it is thickened. Cool, then refrigerate...
This is very, very tasty, and something different. The sauce thickens more in the fridge, so, do not worry if you think it is too runny, although it should not be when it is done anyway. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do...

Well, have a client late this afternoon, so, need to get busy. Have a great Monday, a great week, and treat yourself well so that others can benefit from your mood!!!! Blessings and Peace:))))

FRIDAY FREE FLOW...

2008-11-07T20:25:00.003-05:00

Do you, as a woman, realize all of your characteristics, and do you prefer certain ones over others? Like me, I favor the mystique, the sensuousness, and the empowerment of my female qualities, and I have honed them since way back when...

I was raised in a different environment than most women, and sensuality seemed to play a large role of the women around me, plus, in the movies and such, which kind of rubbed off on me to a very large degree. Because of the kind of life I came from, it was useful, and further aided in my being able to become the lady of mystery, even though I am pretty open, I do have a huge sense of mystique about myself, and I like it. As far as cultivating and using the empowerment of my overall female qualities, well, that has just started becoming a strong point in the past few years. I have been freed from constant belittling, and so, have been left to empower myself to a point where those who might have gotten to me before, could no longer do so. Life is wonderful with this attitude, this strength, and this confidence, and I don't think I could ever let it be less, as it would be a waste of a wonderful characteristic, which was danged hard to come by in the first place...

I have also always been one to learn and to teach, so, I feel I am fairly balanced, in most respects. The characteristics which are not strong within me, are none the less there, and for sure, as I age more, will become more apparent, for isn't that how it works? When the exterior changes to becoming less noticeable, doesn't the interior become more visible? That is how I HOPE it works anyway, hahahaha...

You know, I just hate the idea of getting old! I used to look forward to it, but, now that it is getting ever closer, and I have worked with soooooooo many elderly people, I am scared. But, I am not going to let that fear stop me from enjoying myself, my world, and others until I can no longer enjoy them. Fear is a waste of time. It is real, it is tangible, but, we can rid of it, as it is mostly perceptual. Our thoughts can be changed as quickly as they come on, therefore, go away fear, I haven't time for you!!!

I worked with a lady who was 94 before she passed away. She was a trip, I tell you. Her breasts were like down to her waist, I kid you not. She was a tall, largely built woman, but not fat, just a huge woman. She barely had any hair, and was in a bad way, though, not too bad, given her age. Anyway, she used to tell me all kinds of things, we would sit there and crack up for hours; the off the wall things that came out of her mouth even astounded her at times. I so enjoyed her company, and loved to watch her expressions as she relived the past, but, she told me so much about growing old, and to see her suffering within the aging process, ripped at my heart, releasing questions of why this has to be in the first place, and whatever happened to the romantic ideals of the past about aging? It is like it is a whole new game now, and no one is winning it...

Life is funny, isn't it? You come in crying and in diapers, and go out the same way; the only difference is that the old baby gets drugs, and the new one gets lots of love... Shame...

THURSDAY'S TREASURES...

2008-11-06T12:03:00.003-05:00

And so, we have a new President elect, Mr. Barack Obama. A man whose race to the White House was unprecedented in many ways, and whose election has been historical to say the least. This man, with only 147 days experience in the Senate, was able to, by a landslide, capture the hearts and minds of the American people. Like it or not, he has done his homework, aligned himself with some powerhouse people, and got the job done, which should make one take note of his determination...

I am so glad this race is over, for it was the most broadcast, media hyped, confounding, and constant race ever. It was everywhere; it was torturous in many ways. It surely did create attention, it was cleverly devised to be effective enough that you could not go more than a few moments without seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking, or discussing it. Simply brilliant, I will have to say. Wish we could understand the mechanisms of this race to apply to our businesses, eh???

Actually, I would have to say that perhaps we should study the mentality of this race (mostly by Obama, but, McCain had some fine moments too), that we might understand fully, the essence of what determines how we can go from a single thought to victory. This is an example of arising despite all odds. Within Obama's determination, came a focus, which became a fine tuned machine of strategy, a constant vehicle of vision, sound, and effects, a do or die application of will, perseverance, and ability, which was masterfully pulled together to gather the required conditions to arrive at the end goal...

Women especially, might take note of this race for reason of understanding what belief can do to empower one. There are great lessons to be learned from this race, regardless of political content, the mastery of determination and will are the primary effects which won the race, and in a huge way...

I know I can sense some of the powerful elements of what Obama used to make his visions come true, and it has inspired me...

I was at a house yesterday, it was the 5TH of November. In the front of the house is a rose bush; over half of the rose bush is dead, dried up, and lifeless, but, in the back of it, there were 4 beautiful, fresh, and magnificent roses blooming. It was remarkable, given we have had some very cold nights, and because it is the rosebush of the late MaryAnne. I told her widower about the roses, and he said, "MaryAnne". I told him that as soon as I saw them that is exactly what I said. What a lovely sign she gave us of her continued presence in our lives, hearts, and love. You see, love does live forever...

Life is an amazing mix of love, pain, excitement, lack, strength, defeat, perseverance, weakness, and a multitude of oppositions, but know this, it is how you perceive it, how you hone it, how you choose to live it. I know this from having been so down and out that I thought I would never see a life fulfilled, and from determination that I was going to arise, even if it was not to where I might want to be, anything was better than that. You see, we are only STUCK in a certain place as long as we allow ourselves to be. Now, that does not mean that it won't take time, it took me years to rebuild, and I still have a way to go, but, just getting past that initial discovery of being in a bad place, and losing the negative mindset is freeing. You CAN do what you set out to do, even if it seems as if there are no alternatives. A positive mind can work miracles, believe me, and when you decide to arise, what is there to hold you down? Even if you are STUCK without any resource or option, I KNOW for certain, where there is a will, there is a way, you CAN overcome...

1ST MONDAY OF NOVEMBER & THE COUNTDOWN TO THE HOLIDAYS BEGINS...

2008-11-03T12:06:00.003-05:00

Well, here it is, the 1ST Monday of November, the day before the most frightening election this country has ever witnessed, and the countdown to lots of Holiday preparations...

I was reading an article about how to stay calm and sane through the Holiday season. It mentioned taking time for YOU, no matter how hectic, stressful, or demanding this time is, take time for YOU! Even if it is simply a special lunch with a special person, take time for YOU! Perhaps a weekly spa treatment, even if that is at home, pampering, relaxing, quietly breathing in your own space, and forgetting schedules, deadlines, shopping, and trying to figure out how to get it all in control and finished before the big dates!!!!

Breathing helps relax us, and rejuvenates us at the same time. Simply sit erect, and breathe in your nose, and out your mouth, at least 15 times. It really works, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes, plus, it gives us energizing oxygen to make the time more easy to deal with, plus, it melts off stress instantly...

When you are out shopping, take a break. Just sit somewhere and watch the people, the sights, the sounds, it will clear your mind, and assist you in remembering everything, as well as giving you some much needed down time. Then, instead of walking the mall for the mere sake of shopping, take a quick stroll as exercise, for then you are creating more energy, getting some heart healthy steps in, and relaxing. You see, you can do everything, just do it in breaks and starts. For instance, go to the mall, walk your walk for exercise, then do some of your shopping, sit down and rest and reflect, then do some more shopping, take a break, and so on. It does really help...

One thing which is very important to remember is: YOU ARE NOT ON A STRICT TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE HOLIDAYS! YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT, YOUR HAPPINESS! YOU CAN AND WILL GET EVERYTHING DONE, IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT, SO DON'T CREATE STRESS WHERE THERE NEED BE NONE! It is true, we make ourselves sick with worry and stress, and for what? We KNOW it always works out, and we always get everything done, so, do yourself a favor this year, treat yourself well FIRST, take it easy, and ENJOY the challenges of the season, you will see, it always works out!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

2008-10-31T12:45:00.004-05:00

I am enjoying a day off from all responsibility today, it is much needed, indeed! Today is Halloween, more importantly, it is the end of the month, which means November is here, already???

This is an important time of year for many of us, especially here in the USA! We look forward to the Holidays, with much to do in anticipation of these coming months...

Which means, lots of preparation, eh? Cleaning, planning, shopping, and much, much more, then add entertaining, and we are busy, busy, busy. Lots of people feel like they are going to lose it during these hectic months, but, given the alternative, which is having nothing to do in these cold months, I would rather be losing it than sunk in the depths of the darkness of winter, think???

Women, especially, are going to be busy. We are the creators, the cultivators, and the chief doers during this season, that on top of everything else we have to do. We manage because we so love it, and enjoy making everything just so, well, for the most part anyway. We tend to get frazzled, worried, stressed, even fall ill because of the massive overload we take on, so, we need to find ways to stay calm and collected through these times...

There is so much to share through these months! I am excited! Recipes, entertaining ideas, gift ideas, how to keep everyone occupied, how to get the family to contribute without battles, and so much more, I can't wait!

Enjoy your Halloween, and have a great weekend! Will be back soon with the latest and greatest of useful information to help us glide through the hectic Holidays, and even how to have fun along the way....

FINDING WAYS TO ASSIST OTHERS...

2008-10-28T19:23:00.002-05:00

So many women from every country in the world, need empowerment, encouragement, and shared compassion from their 'sisters' of the world. It is so sad to consider how many women are going to sleep tonight hungry, impoverished, unloved, scared, cold, alone, beaten, or even worse, and, it should be our concern, don't you agree???

Women from their perspective countries should take up a stance of assisting other women. Here in the USA, millions of women are nearing total impoverishment, hundreds of thousands are homeless. These are women who once had decent, if not excellent lives. They are the 'new' poor, the divorced, abandoned, left to struggle, and the struggle won over their efforts and will. Along with them are children, and it is heartrendingly painful to see or think about, but, if everyone would simply do so, then something might be done to help them out. One of the greatest rewards of life is to help our fellow-man, or fellow-woman...

If concerned women of each country would take their concern to the streets, to their friends, to where they might, then perhaps a mentality might be initiated which would create some relief for these women and children, who do not deserve this at all...

If everyone in the world donated just $1, that would create billions of dollars to care for these suffering souls. What is $1??? I realize that there are obstacles to distribution and other such concerns, but, if women took it upon themselves to handle the operations from the first $1, to distribution of aid, I am sure that it would work out well. It is really sad that people cannot find faith or trust in helping others, isn't it???

JUST BE!!!

2008-10-25T19:48:00.003-05:00

Am I pretty, am I not, am I cool, am I hot? What difference does it really make? Ego does little more than get in the way, slow down the learning process, and cause you unlimited duress for very shallow reasons...

Sure, we all want to be accepted for our looks, our style, our intelligence, or at least, something, but, when it becomes more important to us than developing the interior person, then even if the exterior is stunning, it is not worth much more than the eyes can see. Now, if you are the whole package, then good for you, but, most of us are either or, and, are in the process of being one over the other; usually obsessing along the way...

How much attention do we need anyway? How much can we really handle? I just don't get it, that we are so insecure that we need tons of feedback from the world around us, and yes, I fall into that trap at times too. It is human nature to an extent, but, we need to get a grip on our own self worth and forget the external support system, for it should not be a basis for our self confidence, nor for our efforts, or lack of them. I know lots of people who let others' opinions decide their directions and actions for them. They will say, "Well, so and so said that I was not pretty enough to become a model, so, even though that is something which really burns desire within, I will not pursue it, for they must know more about it than I do, or I must be seeing myself differently than I actually am." Sad! Just sad! Don't listen to anyone who tells you negatives in any way. Constructive criticism is acceptable, to an extent, but, negatives are never acceptable. You know your capabilities better than anyone else, so stop listening to others and DO what you want to do...

If I look in the mirror and am satisfied with what I see, then why should I let you determine that it is not all that great? Why should I let anyone make me less than I am or feel from the inside out???

People who judge you based on exteriors are not worth the effort they use doing so, and certainly not worth your thought or emotion. Just forget about the world and lead your own world. Walk tall, proud, secure, and confident in who you are. Pursue your dreams, act out your desires, and live life as you know you are worthy of, forget about the rest, just be~!!!!

YOU ARE AN ENDLESS SOURCE OF AMAZEMENT...

2008-10-22T20:20:00.002-05:00

Do you know how to tap into your endless resources, and bring forth your gifts, your talents to the world? I see that many people do not know how, and many do not believe that they have any talents or gifts. My own Daughter does not believe that she has any gifts or talents at all. It is a shame, but, perhaps with age, she will begin to recognize and understand that gifts are not always something tangible, and talents are not always visible...

Every one of us has something. A gift or gifts, a talent or talents, a speciality, a mysterious power, or something which sets us apart from the rest of the world, and fulfills our purpose in the matrix of life, it is just the way it is, and yes, it truly is...

What do you do better than most people? What trait of yours is exemplary? What skill is honed to almost perfection? What do you most enjoy doing? These are just a few questions to ask when you are considering tapping into your innermost being seeking your special something, even if you might already know, there is more to be found than you might imagine...

I never imagined that one day I would be helping people in the capacity which I do. But, it is one thing I do well, and one thing I truly enjoy. I knew at a young age that I was a poet, but, was not confident enough to pursue it in a large way, and so, now in my later years, it is blossoming, though, throughout the years, I have been published here and there, and I did write, oh, I did write. I thought people were simply being nice in telling me how good I was, and so, wasted time, which might or might not have any effect on the overall usage of my talent in the long run. I have recently discovered two more talents or gifts, and am pursuing them relentlessly, for I now know that when you find something special, develop it, hone it, and use it to fulfill your life, and lives of others who will be seeking your own specialness...

Getting to know yourself is not an easy task if you think about it, but, if you let yourself flow, you will see who and what you are, what special qualities you possess, and which things you most enjoy. It is never, not ever too late to develop your gifts to the world, so, don't imagine that it is. Some of the most famous people in history, including Benjamin Franklin were not famous until later in life, so, don't let the age thing slow you or stop you. In fact, forget about age all together, for it is in aging that you really come into yourself and begin to appreciate the gifts that GOD has given you...

You are an endless source of amazement, believe me, it is true!!! You have to step outside of self-judgement, and instead, embrace yourself in all of your worth. I cannot say this enough, for it is a true tool to an enhanced life, and it will set you free, open you up to possibilities and producing amazing things, just realize it, and go with it...

STAND STEADFAST, WOMAN!!!

2008-10-21T13:45:00.002-05:00

Stand ever strong in what you are: WOMAN!!! I too, know the feeling of wondering if being a woman is as great as I think it is, but, know what? When I look at the world around me, when I look into my own world, my Queendom, I can see that being a WOMAN is ALL that and more...

As a WOMAN, with the abundance of spirit and resources which we possess, it is inevitable that we are ALL that and more. True, men might have built the world as we know it, but, the difference lies in the fact that it was their, mainly, sole purpose, and, behind the scenes, was a WOMAN of some sort, be that a Mother, a Sister, a Friend, a Lover, or a Wife, of that, I am absolutely sure. Men do what they do, but, when their day is over, their day is over, whereas ours continues, often well into even our sleep, for we ARE the substance which holds the world, our world, our Queendom, together, with, or without a man to share some of the weight...

Stand steadfast in belief of yourself, WOMAN!!! When you are strong from within, that strength carries to the world without, and your seemingly, unimportant presence at times, is making a definite impact upon that world, believe it! One of the greatest treasures of life is the silent workings of a WOMAN as she knowingly implements her skill, her touch, her impression, her secrets to those around her, without much affair. Yes, there are some women who make it known, who are loud in their presence, who have to have lots of attention, and who are gonna make sure that their presence is recognized, but, most women work like the mysterious realms of the Universe: you know it is there, and you know things are occurring within and without it, but, you do not really see, feel, or hear it. Yes, this is the usual implementation of a WOMAN and her ways...

Feel as if you are invisible at times? Let that not be your measure of worth, for eventually, your visibility shines like a galaxy, as you are praised and recognized for your efforts. Funny thing about life and effort and being a WOMAN is that we often Expect instantaneous recognition, praise, and appreciation, which is merely setting ourselves up for disappointment. The wise thing to do is to move forward, ever realizing internally ALL that you are and do, for then you are free to move on, not tied up in expectation. Remember this, men and our children do not realize that which are comprised of, and they may never know, though surely they will be given glimpses along the way; if you handle yourself and your world, your Queendom, in the skill, confidence, and security of a true Queen, perhaps one day, it will be understood by them around you.[NOTE: This is one reason women/sisters of the Earth should stand side by side, that they can support one another!] Does it really matter that they do not understand? How could they? They are not given the abundance of spirit, mind, and body which we possess, nor are they given the abundance of skill necessary to carry on in our capacity! Therefore, stand steadfast WOMAN, in your own worth, and realize that being a WOMAN is a privilege, a status, and a GOD given gift which those around us might never truly understand...

FALL/WINTER TRENDS FROM SHOPPING THE TREND

2008-10-19T14:54:00.003-05:00

Well, it is that time of year again when we need to revamp our wardrobe for the coming cold months, and I found some great looks at Shopping The Trend as per usual. Theresa and her crew have really been busy putting together a great selection of wonderful items for us to check out, indeed! I have put a few of the styles that I would wear, just to give you an idea of the wonderful findings at this great site, and while some are expensive, some, such as the lovely trench coat are more than affordable...

I love clothes and accessories, which is one reason that this is one of my favorite sites, for there is fashion, accessories, advice, and trends from all over the world. I don't know if you remember, but, I interviewed Theresa over a year ago, and wow! has her work taken off, she is just so gifted at putting it all together and finding the latest greatest stuff for us to oogle at and buy...

Give it a glance, I guarantee you will be impressed, and come away with tons of ideas for when you are planning your Fall/Winter wardrobe, it is simply jam packed with great ideas and items!

TIDBITS...

2008-10-16T11:35:00.002-05:00

It is cold!!! I guess Autumn has settled in, eh? Speaking of Autumn, it is almost Halloween! Halloween is not one of my favorite Holidays, but, hey, most people love it! It is fun, mostly in the planning of it, but, it is not like it used to be, well, I guess without small children around, all Holidays are different, think???

Not to do a plug, but, there is still time to find great and affordable costumes, just take a look here, there are some great costumes, and not just for Halloween, but for the entire year long, and for the entire family, plus, for ALL sizes!

Just thought I would share that, as many people have been seeking great costumes online, and this site is packed with selection, styles, and great prices!

I am going to be busy for the next 5 days. Has to be done, but, I am tired just thinking about it, hahahahaha!!!

As the cold air sets in we will be getting more and more into our home lives, which means time to get that Fall cleaning done, and start prepping for the soon coming Holidays. Time to clear out the old and get ready for the new. That means cleaning out closets, drawers, cupboards, and such, ridding of things never used or even noticed. Not a favorite chore, but, it has to be done. This list includes the garage and such too...

I was reading that air fresheners emit toxins in the air, and we all know that lots of candles do as well, and with the winter months approaching, we need healthy alternatives to keeping the home smelling clean, fresh, and delightful. A cup of white vinegar tucked away absorbs lots of odors, and does not emit an odor. They recommend 100% beeswax candles for air quality, plus, they burn for a long, long time, and usually more evenly than traditional candles. I think that incense is alright, though, am not fully sure, so, will have to look into this. There is a product called ZorbX which is all natural and does a great job of eliminating odors from cigars to socks. So, you see, if you look around, there are ways to keep the home fresh smelling without being toxic, which should always be avoided, especially in the winter when everything is sealed tight...

Well, I am off to get domestic, have to clean, organize, and get ready for the coming busy days. I seem to work much better if my house is spotless and organized. Have a beautiful day, take care, and keep the Queendom running in your own signature way. Be sure to take care of you, the Queen, that all operates in your favor...

EMBRACING THE KICK ASS WOMAN YOU ARE!!!

2008-10-15T13:58:00.002-05:00

Wanna be a kick ass woman? The easiest way to do so is to embrace your own worth, and never to compare yourself to anyone else, not ever...

When we reach inside and assess the worth we carry, embrace that worth, and stand steadfast in it, we develop a confidence which cannot be overturned. Yes, it might falter now and again, as we are faced with certain facts of life, but, when we are strong in our own worth, it is as a stronghold against all opposition...

Too many of us allow other people to rule our worth, and while it is alright to take notes of other peoples opinions, criticisms, and thoughts, they are not seeing the WHOLE package of YOU. They are only seeing what they want to see, are led to see, or that which their opinions have led them to see. No one can see the whole of you, and no one can know the many qualities, characteristics, or traits of you better than you, so, do yourself a favor and learn to live on the faith of all that you are and possess...

As we grow in life, this becomes easier to do. I guess that we become used to ourselves and realize that we are what we are. This does not mean that if you are a bad person that you should accept that without attempting to change, no, I am talking about substantial people, people who attempt to live in the right ways. Anyway, as we age, we like ourselves a lot more, and can deal with a lot more, needing less and less feedback from the world to feed our egos. It is kind of humorous that by the time we get life right, it is almost over, isn't it???

Women have so much going on!!! Each and every one of us have a multitude of great things in store. Perhaps we do not feel that these things are worthy because we are used to them, and think that there are many more with the same, but, remember this, each is unique to the person, and the cultivating of what you have inside will shine to the outside, making you an example for others to see and follow...

You don't have to feel less than worthy for any reason! There is NO ONE on Earth quite like you! Some might have better hair, better skin, a better body, but, they have their flaws too, usually inside, and could not hold a torch to what you might possess. Life is perceptual, and conceptual. What you perceive, is what you will live. If you feel that you are not worthy to stand up and acclaim your worth, then that is how you will be perceived, do you see what I mean???

Learn all of your wonderful attributes, your strengths, your intelligence, your creativity, your ingenuity, your diversity, your heart and soul, and let these be the light which lights your face, your mannerisms, and grace the world with the kick ass woman you are, believe me, you are!!!!

REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEONE IN THESE TRYING TIMES...

2008-10-13T11:54:00.002-05:00

It breaks my heart, it makes me cry, to see so many women suffering from these economical times; divorced, with more than a few children, struggling to make ends meet, not being able to, trying to find ways to succeed, and unless they are gifted in many areas, might go unnoticed by the rush to do the same by so many around them...

I refuse to give up that each woman is my sister, for we are all in this together, and should support, encourage, and help each other to advance. Remember, we are not doing this simply for each other, but, for the children too, that they might have advantage, and not be limited due to their situation. There has to be more done to help each other, for the future, for ourselves, and for the good of helping...

GOD be with us in these times, but, especially for the women, the children, the elderly, and the ill, for each of these will surely suffer the most, and if no one cares, then they are left to demise just as are the helpless children of third world countries, and that is a sin, a crime against humanity itself...

Reach out, touch someones life, help where you can, give of your time, your heart, and be there to empower and uplift someone, for in doing so, you have not only inspired more of the same, but, seriously, you might have saved someones life...

TODAY IS A GIFT...

2008-10-13T10:57:00.002-05:00

It is going to be 81 today! Full sunshine and beautiful. Definitely have to get out and take advantage of it for a moment or two, as by this weekend, the high is going to be 56...

I had a nice weekend, it makes me so happy that I have the quality of life I have. While I do not care much for Monday, it is still a day in my life, and though I am slow, really s l o w moving on Mondays, it is my own special, selfish day in which I can do whatever I want to do, or not. I have much to do, but, on this particular day of the week, if I do not get to those things, I do not feel guilty, nor do I chide myself, for it is established that this is MY day...

I awake every morning with a prayer of praise, "Thank you Father for this day, Thank you for all of the wonderful bounty you bring my way, Please, take care of my babies (my people) and me, I thank YOU and praise YOU eternally." I just read that waking and giving thanks is something which triggers a surge of stress reducing brain chemicals which stay with you for hours. Plus, in my opinion, it gives you an optimistic outlook for the day, by helping you to keep it real when faced with negatives around you. I believe in thanks and praise, and for keeping your gratefulness flowing at all times, especially in these uncertain times...

Each day should involve some fun, laughter, and enjoyment. You cannot go a day without some element of real pleasure, for life is too filled with negatives and troubles. Find ways to fit fun into your life, alone or with others, the family, the spouse, or friends. Rent comedies, watch funny sitcoms, go biking, rollerblading, take a class, or whatever, just do something EACH day for enjoyment and pleasure. Of course, we all know the benefits of sex, but hey, that is not always possible, though, there are ways to have shared experiences with your partner without sex, which have been proven to be just as beneficial...

It has been proven that people who make their lives more enjoyable, who share with others, and partake in social activities, live longer, are healthier, plus, their immune systems are stronger...

Each day is a gift, a gift just for you, a gift which should be embraced, and one which you should be grateful and praiseful for. It should be lived in the mindset of a gift, that the negatives don't take in your mind or spirit, it should be fully appreciated, and lived as if it were the last, for you just never know. In the same frame of mind, appreciation of your loved ones, and the world around you should be expressed in as many ways as feasible, although they can be subtle, for it is all that around you which makes the gift of life all the more pleasurable, and each are a large part of the life you live...

Make this day and every day special in some way. Forget about the crisis at hand, forget the rude people, the outside influence, the negative, just enjoy YOUR world in YOUR own way...

A WEEKEND IN AUTUMN...

2008-10-11T12:56:00.002-05:00

Autumn, lovely and glowing, not too hot, not too cold, just right, but, winter lurks, and that means it is time to enjoy as much of the weather and sights as possible before the white blanket covers everything for way too many months...

After I post, I am going for a walk just to enjoy the day. I am feeling kind of sluggish, and walking always rejuvenates me. Tonight I am going out to hear one of my favorite bands, which will be the last time for quite a while, with Christmas, lots of birthdays, Thanksgiving, and the economy, it will simply be an option I can't afford, so, have to make the best of this day, live in the now, and enjoy it...

I am so sick of this Presidential race, it is the most brutal, aggressive, propagandized, and sickening race I have ever witnessed. It makes me want to move to a quiet island where only GOD and the sea are rulers...

My friend's sister who had a double mastectomy last year, and who is a survivor, has started the reconstruction surgery, and is now in the hospital for the second time with bad infections. I hope she is going to be alright, poor thing has suffered so much. I don't think that I would have reconstructive surgery if I had to have my breasts removed, I mean, hey, if they are gone, and I survived, that is enough pain for me. They have to take the muscles out of your shoulders to put in the cavities, which is a 6 week or longer healing process, plus, you have to walk around all of that time with your excess fat and such, from your original breast, hanging under your arms until they can do the reconstruction. Uh, no thanks, I would rather deal with reality...

Humans today are plagued with so many things; if it isn't politics, the economy, it is stress overload, health issues, and worse. Of course, the truth still remains, we brought much of this on ourselves with our careless lifestyles, still believing that while we are here, we are pretty invincible. We do not listen to Dr.s, advice, or GOD; instead, we listen to our own wants, and believe that fulfilling them is the way to live, which is fine, to some extent, however, look around at the effects of this mentality...

It has been a long week, lots of work, lots of frustration from hearing and seeing the world financial chaos, and the freakin' political crap. I can't wait until this election is over, it will lighten the load quite a bit, as it has sparked rifts, dissension, racial tensions, anger, and worse. I find it amusing that people look to ONE person to fix things, like that person is the Wizard of OZ or something. Truth is, that person might be commander in chief, but, aside from the Congress and the Senate, there is another group, or groups who have much control of what he/she does while in office, therefore, adoration or blame is wasted, for that ONE person is nothing more than a puppet for most of the time they are in office, end of conversation!!!

IN THESE CRAZY TIMES...

2008-10-08T14:44:00.003-05:00

Lord have mercy!!! We are all at our wit's end trying to determine what life in the near future might be like, not only here in the U. S., but, the entire world is shaking in reverberation of this financial mess. Iceland is on the brink of total bankruptcy, and there are other countries to follow suit. It is frightening, it is crazy, and it should not be happening in this late date!

However, what can we do? To worry ourselves sick is not going to help, not at all, and could worsen the load around us. No, we need to stick to our own agendas, and taper our lifestyles to fit into the scheme of things around us. We need to focus on our lives, our homes, our money, and forget the externals, for living in panic and fear is only going to make things worse. I believe in the power of positive mentality, and it is crucial to these times...

Yes, it is true, we are all going to be affected by this crisis, there is no doubt, but, we can alter our way of living to make it. We might not get ahead, but, if we can keep our heads above water, we are doing good...

Keep the electricity off as much as feasible, run the heat on low temps, shop at Walmart, and forego some of the extras you are used to, use white vinegar in your rinse cycle instead of softener or dryer sheets (I have been doing this and it is great), make food last by making meals for 2 nights, make homemade soups, desserts, and such, and use your car only when you must. Water, well, it is hard to cut back on water usage, I have been trying, and it is partly habit, I just forget that I should be conserving...

There are lots of ways to make sure that our useless dollars stretch as far as they can, it will have to be an effort of everyone, not just some, plus, it has to be a conscious and positive effort,
for the power of positive mentality is as powerful as prayer...

Setting your mind to make it is important, as it will ease the load of worry. Safeguard your money, your health, and your lifestyle by making concessions, and simply living as best as you can in light of this situation. It might get mighty tough, but, if we all make some effort, that will help balance the economy some. Oh, and if you know people who are going to suffer really bad through this, won't you help them as best as you can? With food, or whatever? It will come back to you in untold ways. I wish us luck, love, peace, and renewal of the dreams we worked so hard to make reality, Lord have mercy on us all!!!!

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, CONSIDER YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AS A PREVENTATIVE...

2008-10-06T10:55:00.003-05:00

It is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and that means lots of information is available to make us more aware of how we care for our bodies, our minds, our spirits. We have all been touched with this disease in some way, and we need to come together to find a cure, to strive for more help for those who are affected by it, and to learn all we can about this painful, sometimes deadly disease which is even plaguing men...

Here are a few 'natural' ways to lower our risks, from Woman's World magazine, Oct. 13, 2008 issue:
DRINK GREEN TEA! An antioxidant found in green tea helps to shrink tumors by 68%!!! If you don't like green tea, most teas contain the same antioxidant, as they all come from the same plant. The compound which is called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, reduces the number of blood vessels in tumors, which debilitates their ability to take in nutrients, therefore shrinking them...

EAT ORANGE, YELLOW, AND RED VEGGIES! Eating veggies such as carrots, and peppers provides carotenoids; those who have high levels of carotenoids are half as likely to develop breast cancer. You only need to eat like 8 baby carrots a day to have this benefit! Carotenoids wash away oxidation, which is like a rust which builds up on cells, which keeps them healthier, and the healthier your cells the less likely disease is to occur...

MAKE SURE YOU GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D! It seems that women who don't have enough Vitamin D in their systems, and are diagnosed with breast cancer, have the likelihood that it will spread, by 94%!!! Correcting this deficiency can help to ward off the disease in the first place, women who have the highest levels of Vitamin D are half as likely to develop the disease. The Vitamin causes changes in breast cancer cells which slows their growth, and causes them to die...

GET ENOUGH EXERCISE; JUST 30 MINUTES A WEEK! Epidemiologists have concluded that just 30 minutes of recreational activity, such as a bike ride, a hike, or a slow jog, once a week, can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 50%!!! For those who have already been diagnosed with the disease, exercise increases survival rate. Estrogen in high amounts can set the stage for breast cancer, and activity keeps those levels in check...

There are more preventatives, which I will bring forth later, there is just so much we can do for ourselves but we have to take the initiative, and have to keep the mindset on health. One area of interest is belly fat. Women with lower belly fat are more likely to not only develop breast cancer, but cervical cancer and even more diseases, so, it makes sense to keep belly fat in check always, which is not easy, but, we will find ways to beat that problem too...

FYI: Most women, that is 56% polled, believe that heredity plays the biggest factor in breast cancer; that is not true! Genes only account for 5% - 10% of our risk! That is great news for that means that we are more in control of making sure we never develop the disease!!!

Have a great week, take care of yourselves, there is so much importance to your life, and so many rely on you, and the world would not be the same without you, so remember health is priority one...

AS THEY (THE POLITICIANS) ENTER THE HOME STRETCH...

2008-10-04T21:02:00.002-05:00

I am so anti-political, and yet, this race for the White House is making me anxious, for it is one of the craziest races ever! It doesn't really matter who wins, the damage which has occurred is going to take a decade or longer to be resolved, if ever. All politicians have skeletons, flaws, and other less than worthy of their stature secrets, and none is more inclined to save this country than the other. So, why do we get so wrapped up in these matters? I often wonder, I really do, as we are mostly so complacent that we take anything they dish out to us, never once standing up for our rights, never once gathering as a nation to be recognized as the citizens who are worthy of better and more than we are getting....

My stomach is in a knot, friends are battling, and the constant belittling, rumors, and harsh remarks are flying, it is worse than watching a boxing match, and the winner will only give us more headaches, worries, and problems than we already have, so, what is the solution to all of this, short of moving to another country???

Citizens need to understand what being a citizen means, and quit acting like our elected leaders are Kings (Queens), and understand how the Democratic intentions were meant to work. They were designed For the People, By the People, and now it is us, the People, who need to do our homework, learn from these lessons of the past few decades and determine what WE should do, instead of leaving it to those in Washington D. C. ....

It is really scary these days and if we don't come to real understanding, we are only going to be led more blindly than we have been this far. It is US, the People who need to restructure this disastrous mess, and perhaps restructure the political machine entirely...

DID SARAH PALIN CROSS ENEMY LINES WITHOUT BEING AWARE???

2008-10-03T14:53:00.005-05:00

Goodness gracious! What did Sarah Palin do to deserve so much animosity from her fellow women? I cannot believe how much flak she is taking. So, she wears skirts, is attractive, and seemingly embraces being a woman? What is wrong with that? She should wear poly pantsuits and be less than what she is???

One of the reasons I so admire her is that she can be ALL woman, run a state like Alaska, which contrary to popular belief, is not an easy state to manage, be cheeky and cute at the same time, and lets her intelligence show. It seems to me that people are treating her like some Salem witch or something, without ever giving her the appreciation she deserves. I am so upset that people act so ruthlessly childish when a STRONG woman appears on the scene. She really doesn't deserve the treatment she is receiving, and I am admiring her more and more, for she is definitely a STRONG woman, as she just keeps rebounding with each assault, AND, she can hold her own without NEEDING your approval, that is all good, all good...

Am I missing some information about her which makes so many against her? I just don't get it. Women should stick together, especially when they are coming into power such as she is. I keep hearing that they would rather have Hillary instead of Sarah??? Why would anyone say this?

Well, I could go on and on. I could say things about Obama, but, that is not my style. He has come to where he is because he was meant to be there, and the same is true for Sarah Palin, so, why not simply let it be? This race is unprecedented, and there is much on the table. Sarah is not going to be running the country, she will surely be a great asset for McCain, and I think that we should give her a chance. Skirts and all, she is a fine example of womanhood, and she deserves the support of her fellow sisters. Yep, this is a race such as we have never seen before, and it indicates that there will be more unprecedented races to follow, so, we might as well get used to it...

I AM WOMAN, AN INTRICATELY WOVEN TAPESTRY OF LIFE...

2008-09-24T22:39:00.003-05:00

I am a tapestry, an intricately woven work of art, with threads of colors which blend to make me true to the overall design of the mastery of my uniqueness...

I am woman, not only one woman, I am many women, and I represent all women, for being a woman is as complex as the binding of threads to create tapestries, such is the blending of supernatural gifts, intuitions, and abilities given to women throughout the ages; amazing isn't it???

Some say I am beautiful, it does not seem likely to me, for there are many tapestries much more refined, more exquisite than the one which comprises me, but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and, since I am a work of art, perhaps my beauty is something which cannot be seen by the naked eye, perhaps more elusive, more deep, more evasive, but, once spotted, it expands rapidly to make the overall design of my uniqueness more attractive...

I do not consider myself any particular thing, no, it is many things which comprise me. I am not one color, not one texture, not one material, not one anything. I am far more than words could convey, more than eyes could see, more than touch could sense, I am beyond description for the most part, though many attempt to find a category for me, and for my components, which I do not even have to defy, for if you truly study me, what I am made of will defy it naturally, you will see...

Of the Heavens I come, of the Earth I walk and rule. I am not boasting, I am a Queen of the Mother Earth, and the Highest Order has given me the privilege of being so. It is evident within the gates of my palace, within the many acres of my reach, within the reaction of those who are a part of my Queendom. It is a gift from the Heavens, one which I take seriously, one which often is confounding, profound, and even frightening, but, with the strength of a Queen, I continue to rule, often without understanding or direction, still, I manage to arise to each and every situation, every dilemma, every confrontation, every issue, and I always make it apparent for others to see, that I am a very skilled ruler, for it is all but obvious, as I problem solve, manage, create, nurture, give, teach, love, and embrace the world around me, and even the world afar...

I am woman, a tapestry of perfection, even in imperfection, my intricate weave exhibits a multitude of attributes, and while my threads might change throughout use and time, I am worth more than before, for character and much more graces the overall design of the mastery which makes me. I am woman, from the Heavens, an Earth Mother, gracious, wise, strong, and full of that which keeps life moving ever forward...