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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Artistic Escape

Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.
John Lubbock, Sr.

Everyone has an inner artist. Some of express it often and some of keep it hidden away. A work of art can be anything from a home cooked meal, a decorated room, to an oil on canvas. That's the cool thing - we all have our own unique art to share.
 
It has been less than a month since I began taking a six week art discovery workshop called Soul Restoration. I was given a list of art supplies to buy, and each week we get our assignments with instructional videos to assist the beginner artists like me. I had never heard of Mod Podge and now I love it dearly. My instructor, Melody Ross calls it Soul Glue.
  There is also something fun about having my own art supplies. It reminds me of the joy my kids have as they get their new school supplies each summer. Now my heart goes pitter patter in the art and craft sections of stores. Martha Stewart's Florentine gold glitter, fresh paint brushes, and a Krylon 18 kt. gold leafing pen seem magical. I don't think my art is ready to be entered in a juried art fair but the journey sure is fun.
Go ahead, unleash your inner artist and see what you create.
Keep shining your light,
Kathy

Thursday, January 27, 2011

How do you say goodbye to a 12 year old girl?

How to do comfort a friend who lost her 12 year old daughter to the flu?
You go there. You listen. You take food. You make her lunch. Hot soup, a chicken salad sandwich and an extra large fountain diet coke. Carrot cake bars. Her favorites. You know because she is your friend of 25 years.

But Hunter is not there. Sweet, beautiful, artistic, loving Hunter. Hunter with the denim blue eyes, light blond hair, pretty smile and gentle ways. You are not gone are you? It is not real. How could this be?

Hunter, we miss you so much already. How do I comfort your mom? What will make her feel better? Her faith in God? Her loving family? Her true friends? I hope you help us. I will continue to be a friend to your mom.You touched so many in your short life. We will always cherish the time we spent with you. You are so loved.
Summer Fun. Hiking and creek stomping with friends. Hunter on far left.


Friday, January 14, 2011

More Meatloaf, Mom!


Marvelous Meatloaf!
I am writing this even before the dishes are done. Tonight I took pictures too. My family loves this meatloaf recipe and it was gone in a flash. No leftovers. My son Indy had four helpings. I think it's the sweet glaze on top. Make this for your family and let me know if they love it too.
Ranch Meatloaf
2 pounds ground chuck/beef/your choice
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 onion chopped - I keep bags of frozen chopped onions in the freezer  -use 1 cup.
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 t. salt
1/2 ground pepper
Glaze
1/2 cup ketchup
3 T. brown sugar
2 t. mustard
*for a little spice I add a dash of ground cayenne pepper
Combine first eight ingredients in a large bowl. Optional: squirt a little BBQ sauce in too - about 1/4 cup. Place in a lightly oiled pan and shape into a big loaf. Bake for 40 minutes at 350.
Make the glaze and spread it on after the 40 minutes. I like to spoon out the grease and add some frozen corn and green beans around the meatloaf then too.
Bake for 20 more minutes. Turn off oven and let rest for 10-15 more. Salt the veggies, slice the meatloaf and serve. Enjoy!


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

1/11/11

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.
Albert Einstein
Life is mysterious and constantly changing. What are the stirrings of your heart? Listen to your intuition. Keep moving in the direction of your whispers. What is calling you? Write something down in your calendar or journal. Little steps will move you forward. Today is a day of new beginnings. 1/11/11.

Today the snow is falling here in Indiana. I was able to capture a photo of a red fox across the pond.

Today my friend Tiffany featured me in an interview on her photography blog about my passion for yoga. I was honored she asked. She and her brother have an amazing business. They inspire me with their creative photography and style.
http://blog.nathanieledmunds.com/2011/01/10/guest-blogger-yoga/

I'm also starting an online art course today called Soul Restoration. I set up a little table in the family room under the window. I have no idea what I will create but my heart is open to possibilities. Are you open to the possibilities?

I have never used Mod Podge or any of the supplies I on the list.
Here's to new beginnings.
Shine your light,
kathy

Saturday, January 8, 2011

We are Magical Magnets attracting the life of our dreams

"You are a magnet
that attracts to you
all that you focus your thoughts,
emotions and energies on."
~ GRACE

I woke up this morning, looked out the window to the clear winter sky, and told my husband I missed the birds. I know they will start to return in a few months, but I miss their sweet song and happy presence during the long cold winter months here in the Midwest. Winter is a good time to go within, dream, plan, and do our inner work.

What would you like to attract more of in your life?
If you desire more health and happiness in life, are you reading books on health and happiness? Are you aligning with healthy and happy people? Are you smiling a lot, gently exercising, eating healthy food, and imagining yourself as a vibrant, healthy, and happy being?
We are magnets to the energy we want and the energy we give out. Are you ready to get on another path? You can do it! We truly have the power inside of us. My blogger friend Kerri wrote about finding a necklace saying She Can Do Incredible Things! She is now wearing it and hoping to do incredible new things this year. I can't wait to see what she does!
Decide what you want to do and then Ask, Believe, and Receive. Go in the direction of your dreams.
Write your dreams down, make a vision board (I will write about this later they totally work!), talk to a trusted friend about finding your passion.
Do you know what your passion is? It's OK if you don't. Look around. What calls to you? Browse the web or a bookstore and see where you are drawn to. Crafts, organic gardening, healthy cooking, traveling to far exotic places, modern architecture, aviation, collage art, animal rescue, children's literature, painting. The list goes on and on and on.
Being a stay at home mom, I love e-courses. You can find them in any area of interest and do them at your own pace.
Jump on that new path of discovery. If you are trying, I know for sure that doors will open, people will enter, experiences will present themselves. It is the law of attraction at work.

You are incredible! You are meant to let your light shine and live the life of your dreams. Find out what your dreams are and live them!
Keep me posted too. E-mail me if you want me to help you discover your passion. Shine your light,
kathy
kathyanne70@gmail.com

This is my favorite spot to dream in the summer. It's under a tree overlooking wildflowers and a pond.
Our lives are our creation.
We need to acknowledge how incredible our lives already are and therefore how powerful we are. We have all created a great many unique, interesting, even amazing experiences in our lives so far. We have attracted a number of fascinating characters in to the drama of our personal reality. These people and experiences are all mirrors of our creativity . Although we are all capable of creating even better and more satisfying realities, what we have already manifested is strong proof of how powerful our beings really are
Shakti Gawain
.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year!


Colorful Balloon I saw flying this summer
Happy New Year, Friends! Yes, this is a few days after the new year but I was down with the flu from New Year's Eve until now. I am so happy to feel better. I am ready for a fresh start, how about you?
The past year was filled with many good things that fill me with gratitude.
1. I continued teaching my yoga class and now have quite a few regular students coming each week. My class on New Year's Eve (just hours before the flu bug struck me down) had 21 yogis on their mats as I read to them about taking the path off the path in life and embracing the moment.

2. A big milestone and life changer -My youngest son is potty trained! Ten years of carrying a diaper bag has ended. For this I am so grateful!
3. I took an online class by artist Kelly Rae Roberts called Flying Lessons. That class gave me creative inspiration and put me in an online group of artistic flyers where we support each other's creative projects. This encouraged me to paint for the first time since high school, keep blogging, and dream bigger.
4. In April, I turned 40 and it felt fantastic. Also, my book club celebrated ten years together and we continue to eat, read, and connect once every month.

5. I continue to help at my kids school collecting and counting thousands of Box Tops, reading with students in reading groups, and being a PTO mom, soccer mom, baseball & basketball mom, and dance & tumbling mom. The list keeps growing with my kids.
6. My husband and I continue to finish our house project to make it what we have always dreamed it to be. It's been a long slow process but so worth it.

7. The most fun family thing we did was take the kids to the ocean this summer. It was a fun filled week of adventure that we hope to do again. There is nothing like a sandy beach if you live in the Midwest.
8. My final thing I stay grateful for is growing with family and connecting with friends old and new. These are the things I hold most dear. It's all about embracing the moments in life.
Here is to another year filled with family, friends, good health, gratitude, continued creativity, and big dreams.
Gratefully yours,
Kathy