Life Learning Journey

Waiting For The Perfect Time

25 August 2011 04:41:00

Tightly rolled, waiting for the perfect time to blossom.. Don't we all do this? We keep ourselves rolled up in a tight ball, afraid to expose who we really are to the world. Afraid that we will get laughed at or ridiculed. Even worse, people may decide that they don't like us. Then where would we be? When we think about it in this way we are not just limiting ourselves, but depriving the world. Who we each are is a unique being full of individual talents, thoughts, and ideas, that will benefit the world around us in some way. We may not see how we could possibly do so ahead of time. We may not be able to imagine that simply being ourselves could affect any change at all. Yet, it is in being different that we make a working whole. It is by being yourself that you shine the brightest and can achieve the most. It may seem easier at times to keep yourself rolled up tightly, but consider how much more you can be if you unfurl yourself and allow the wind to fill your sails.. What a fabulous sight that would be.. just imagine.. each of us sharing our unique beauty with the world!

Which Road Will You Choose?

24 August 2011 22:27:00

On a hike one day we came across this lovely choice. Our path split into two, and we were faced with a choice on which way to go. So often in life we come across choices like this. And as in the well known Robert Frost poem below, we look as far as we can down one choice until we can not see any more. Then we turn to look down the other choice, paying attention to every little difference, hoping to find an answer to which one we should choose. When faced with such a choice, which do you choose? Do you take the road that is well worn, or do you forge ahead into an unknown direction? Which road entices you? We chose to head to the right, looking wistfully down the other path as we went. It was a lovely surprise to find as we walked along, that in the end we came out to the very same spot, and had done nothing more than explore a lovely circle of nature! The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. By: Robert Frost

Caterpillar Adventures

24 August 2011 02:55:00

We have had the wonderful experience of having a tree across the street that is home to caterpillars! Of course, this means that caterpillars were caught and brought home to be shown. followed up with the inevitable question, "Can I keep it?!" And when you look into that sweet child's face, full of wonder and excitement.. well.. every mother knows how the rest of the story goes! The little caterpillar was first moved into a mason jar, but the lid sealed too tightly. It was quickly upgraded to a sprouting jar for it's temporary home. Of course a larger jar, full of leaves led to the introduction of more caterpillars into the environment. When we hit 15 caterpillars I knew I had to do something different.. Can you believe I went to the pet store for the caterpillars? I did. Okay.. not quite true.. I went to the pet store for ds8 when he said, "Mom, the reason I want to keep the caterpillars is to watch them and see how they live.. Maybe we can even watch them turn into butterflies to release!" How does one turn that down?! We now have a 5.5 gallon terrarium in our house. I know my little insect whisperer will find many insects to fill it over it's life.. What an exciting adventure! And it all started with a fuzzy little caterpillar being spotted on a leaf. I love life!

Speaking Your Truth

03 August 2011 06:57:00

Speaking your truth - this is a brilliant excerpt I read today. Well said Tara!"It doesn’t work when you speak from a place of anger or fear.It doesn’t work when you fight or demand or criticize.People shut down when they hear your anger, or feel attacked.But people hear Truth.Truth is not angry. It’s not fear-based. It’s not judgmental.It’s just Truth.And real Truth comes from a place of love. It comes with compassion and acceptance and gentleness. It doesn’t back down or hide.And it speaks volumes louder than anger."Read the full post at Is Our Anti-Child Society Your Fault?

Egg Flower Photo

31 July 2011 00:27:00

This is one of my favorite photos that I have uploaded recently. Have you seen it yet? "This lovely flower was another find on a hike. It reminded me of watching an egg in a frying pan. July 2011 Arizona" Egg Flower

Racing Beetle Photos!

25 July 2011 02:29:00

You asked for it, now you are getting it! I have a couple of those fantastic racing beetle photos up! I can't believe how many photos I took of that little bugger, and only a very small handful are good enough to show. I'm kind of bummed about it. At least I got a couple of really good ones! Check out these two photos! http://bit.ly/alieninsect http://bit.ly/crazybugbelly Snowshoe watched the bug for a bit, and then decided to check it out a little closer.. here's the first of those pics too. http://bit.ly/snowshoebug

Too Long For Twitter RTs!

23 July 2011 05:09:00

These fabulous words would no longer fit into the Twitter limit when RT, so I brought them here to share instead! Enjoy! You can only discover the extent of your self-imposed limits by going beyond what you perceive those limits to be. #JetNetting - via @heshiesegal To be able to make a difference is truly a blessing with no equal. - via @ralphmarston "Failure is only postponed success as long as courage coaches ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of victory" Herbert Kaufman #quote via - @iain2008 Wouldn't it be great if we chose to live every moment as if to create a memory we'd will cherish for a lifetime? It just takes a smile :) via - @darrensproat “What no wife of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.” Burton Rascoe via - @quotes4writers Vincent Van Gogh was a big regular of the cafe society and famously said: I have tried to show the cafe as a place where one can go mad. via - @choosecoffee A clear & focused mind will last a lifetime. Getting your mind in shape is the key to sustainable success in the world. R Simmons via - @delphileaders You're beautiful, powerful & capable of achieving ANYTHING. What's stopping you are your self-limiting thoughts & beliefs. Awareness is key! via - @sarah_hopkins_ Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. ~Rabindranath Tagore via @shivpreetsingh watch you drift into sleep ~ hold you ~ love and protect you ~ to keep the smile in your heart ~ this is my joy #micropoetry via @paintswithwords #thinkingofyou

Racing Beetle Excitement In Our Kitchen!

22 July 2011 22:20:00

We just found this fantastic beetle crawling around our kitchen! It was about two inches long and had yellow stripes running down it's back, like racing stripes! Perhaps the little thing's speed is what made me relate the stripes that way! I finally had to catch the beetle in a clear shoe box bin so that we could get a good look at it, and get some photos! This thing had the most marvelous antennae! They had these red feather looking things at the end, that made it look like the silly thing was wearing false red eyelashes, held away from it's head. The cat even made an appearance in the shenanigans. At one point, Snowshoe even laid down in the bin with the beetle! Mostly she had a great time pawing at it and watching it crawl around. I am completely wiped from a really long day following on the heels of an excellent all nighter.. so photos will be forthcoming.. hopefully tomorrow! I bet you can't wait to see them now!

New Photos! Grasshopper

22 July 2011 21:38:00

I have been busy putting up a series of photos of the grasshopper that my youngest brought me the other day! Grasshopper 6 is my personal favorite! This little green guy actually held still at several points as if posing for me! Loved it!Grasshopper 1 Grasshopper 2 Grasshopper 3 Grasshopper 4 Grasshopper 5 Grasshopper 6

Updated this Hubpage! Cheap & Easy Parmesan Noodles

22 July 2011 14:41:00

I just finished a quick update on this HubPage. Cheap & Easy Parmesan NoodlesI am thrilled that we found Tinkyada brand rice noodles at Wal-Mart.. who would have guessed it? We haven't been able to find Tinkyada anyplace other than Whole Foods, so it has been a good three plus years since we have had them! I was thrilled to be able to use them for last night's dinner!Yeah.. I am that excited about noodles.. go figure!