Redneck Feng Shui Artisan Jewelry Studio Blog

It's January, and that means Garnets!

2021-01-04T08:51:00.006-06:00

Look at all the different colors of garnets! Did you know? Read on......

Heartlight Garnet Pendant Necklace on Sale through Jan '21 at Redneck Feng Shui

The beautiful January birthstone is the garnet. Being the stone of New Beginnings, they are special indeed and treasured as high energy stones. Garnets are said to protect the wearer from poison, bad dreams and depression, as well as curing fever and inflammatory disease and providing safe travels. I don't know if that is so, or not, but I do know they are quite beautiful to behold - and to hold!

Ohm Earrings on Sale through Jan '21 at Redneck Feng Shui

In researching for this blog post, I learned an interesting, darker side to the lovely garnet. Warriors of the Crusades believed they would be protected from harm or injury by the garnet. On the other hand, Asian warriors believed that garnets used as bullets inflicted more wounds, with the Hanza tribe actually using them against the British during the conflict at Kashmir in the mid-1800's. Not being a big fan of war, I tend to like the "softer side" of the garnet, and will enjoy them as beautiful to look at and to wear...

Flowerful Garnet and White Jade Necklace on Sale through Jan '21 at Redneck Feng Shui

Most of us know garnet as red. Beautiful deep, dark red. The word,"garnet", actually derives from the Latin "granatum", meaning "pomegranate", likely due to the red color. But there are other colors, too! Lovely oranges (spessartite), greens (I love tsavorite!), pinks of many shades (rhodolite) are just some of the many garnet colors. I prefer the dark reds of almandine and pyrope stones, so that is what shows up most in my garnet work, but here is a tsavorite (green garnet) necklace I made that is available on sale through Jan '21 on the website:

Green Goddess Garnet Necklace on Sale through Jan '21 at Redneck Feng Shui

So, now you know a wee bit more about this popular gemstone. Investigate all the varities of garnet gemstones, and treat your January loved one to their mystical, fierce, protective birthstone set into a beautiful piece of Redneck Feng Shui jewelry!

All Garnet Jewelry on Sale through Jan '21 at Redneck Feng Shui

Silver is the New Gold

2020-12-28T14:43:00.001-06:00

With all the bizzareness of 2020, it may be possible that you missed the news that the price of silver is moving rather rapidly upwards. It was sailing along in 2019, just sort of holding it's own at a reasonable price, then BLAM!, covid made it's debut. Prices plummeted momentarily, which was nice in a way. However, facing the uncertain future, investors realized that silver (along with gold and other precious metals) may be the way to hedge against inflation. Another BLAM! moment as prices went up, up, up.
Did you know?

(above:Redneck Feng Shui "Rustica" bangles)

35% of all silver goes into electronic and electrical applications, while only 6% goes into jewelry and silverware!

With electric cars, cell phones and other silver-using applications becoming more and more in demand, silver mining companies have had to scramble to produce. Note the explosion in the "we buy your silver and gold" stores - there's a reason! China has a HUGE demand for silver, and lots of grandma's beautiful silver dinnerware, scrap silver, etc is melted down and makes it's way there.

What is my point? It has been solidly and consistently forecast in 2020 that silver prices will continue to rise. Why not invest in sterling jewelry NOW, as a part of your "hedge against inflation"? Like the Vikings and other ancient cultures, you may be literally adorning yourself with your money!
Shopping small-batch silversmith businesses like mine is a great way to support your economy and to avoid the "mass manufacture" of factory cast work.

(above: Redneck Feng Shui "Rustica" necklace with copper accents)

(above: Redneck Feng Shui "Breathe" chain)

So, two great ways to invest! One is to invest in silver, the next is to invest in local artisans in your home country! It all pays off.

'Twas the Day Before Christmas Eve......

2020-12-23T14:04:00.011-06:00

......when, instead of doing all the million little chores I had planned, I decided to resurrect my blog!
Why not? It's only been EIGHT YEARS or so!
Oh, so much has changed in 8 years....I have so much to tell you! Love, loss, career change....all those fascinating adventures that make life so wonderful and interesting.
I'll be using this platform to help promote my business of the same name as my blog! When I started this, I was actually a hairdresser who curated and sold vintage items on the side. But, time marched, and I was blessed with the good fortune to make a big career change - I am now a metalsmith. Specifically, at this time I work in sterling silver and copper. I get to play with wire and fire (more on that in another blog), and it's lots of fun and burned fingers. I do art shows in Texas and sometimes, points beyond. In the process, I also became my own web developer, inventory specialist, marketing and public relations director, creative advisor and oh so much more.
I will leave you to prepare your own sacred celebration of the holiday with a promise to be back soon, to tell you more and share the journey and processes.
Pop by my Facebook and Instagram pages, and give me some likes and shares and mentions and all that good promotional stuff. As a woman-owned business consisting of ONE person, creating a made in Texas, made in the United States, totally original and handforged product, it is GREATLY appreciated!
Merry Christmas!
Indeed, it is........

....you know.......

Sunday, Yummy Sunday

2011-10-02T13:19:00.001-05:00

The oldest form of theater is the dinner table. It's got five or six people, new show every night, same players. Good ensemble; the people have worked together a lot.
Michael J. Fox

One of the things I look forward to all week long is Sunday Dinner. I plan and plot the menu all week long, with attention to detail. This is a bit obsessive, as there are only two people in my home now~Mr. Man and myself, so why scheme and make lists?

There is something cathartic and soothing about the Sunday Dinner preparations. I love, love, LOVE to cook and eat well-prepared food, and even more than that, I LOVE watching Mr. Man eat until he has a "food baby" in his stomach. His sighs of contentments are music to me. Perhaps it's my need for approval, but he fills the need well....

Honestly, though, one of the more important benefits of Sunday Dinner is the connection that it brings to us. It's the end of the weekend, and we know that Monday brings with it the return to the drudge of work, errands, meetings and such. So sitting at the table over really good food and conversation brings a sort of pleasant closure to the previous week's toils and pleasures, and sets the stage for the week to come.

My mother recently gave me a lovely old book entitled Fifty-Two Sunday Dinners by Elizabeth O. Hiller. Mrs. Hiller was the founder and principal of the Chicago Domestic Science School in the early 1900's. I got really excited when Mom gave this book to me! I immediately declared that I was going to cook all 52 dinners, much like Julie of "Julie and Julia" blog fame~it'd be FUN and TASTY! Mr. Man would be impressed and validate me EVEN MORE when he ate my delicious vintage cooking!

Then I read the book.

I have now acquired a real high respect for Ladies of that bygone era. The IMMENSE preparation that went into those meals is mind-boggling I tell you. The lack of pre-packaged ANYTHING and the archaic cooking equipment explained to me exactly WHY women wanted equality in the workplace - working outside the home was probably EASIER than getting these dinners to the table! Here is one menu from the book:

Oysters on the Half Shell
Consomme' with Rice Balls
Braised Beef Tongue -Savory Sauce
Baked Potatoes
Bermuda Onions in Butter Sauce
Creamed Celery
Florida Salad
Yankee Plum Pudding - Vanilla Sauce
Coffee

So, you have to shuck the oysters yourself, serve them with small cress or cucumber sandwiches, make the little rice balls, order a fresh tongue, cook that, peel off it's skin and trim off 'roots'(?)-eewie!, then cut all this stuff up to cook with the tongue, make this sauce to go with it, bake the potatoes in a "hot oven" - what actual temperature is "hot" ?, peel the onions and boil them and add stuff to that, cook the celery and make a soup out of it, peel oranges and put them in lettuce heart leaves in a pretty fashion and make some homemade dressing for that, then make the yankee plum pudding which has to be steamed for three hours and you have to pit and prepare the plums yourself because they didn't come in a can , make some vanilla sauce, then make the boiled coffee, but don't boil it too long or the tannic acid will be extracted, causing serious gastric trouble, but don't forget to stuff the spout of the pot with soft paper to prevent the escape of aroma, and...and...and.... WHEW!

I wondered how in the world would that industrious housewife of times gone by get 5 SECONDS to bond at the dinner table! Plus, if I had to peel the skin and trim the roots off a boiled tongue, I don't think I'd have the appetite to eat it. blecch. And that was just one Sunday!

So, I traded in my dream of being the Perfect Vintage Housewife for being the Reasonably-Relaxed Modern Semi-Housewife. This guarantees that we will never, ever have "Young Pigeons (Stall Fed) Stuffed and Braised" or the dreaded beef tongue upon our Sunday Dinner table....

The National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse did a study determining that family dinners actually help teenagers make better grades and stay away from alcohol and drugs. It's apparent that the Bonding Energy that comes from sharing food at a table is vital and important. The implementation of Sunday Dinner has started a trend with Mr. Man and I where we now eat every meal at the table, together. These meals also start with prayer, and there is just something about praying over a meal that makes the food taste so much better! Perhaps it's the awareness of God's Abundance that blessing the food brings. It is a testimony to Abundance and Prosperity to actually SEE and BLESS the food on our plates here in America. We are so fortunate to have so MUCH!

Mr. Man just popped his head in here and asked me if we could eat Sunday Dinner a little early this evening. He had no idea that this is the exact topic of today's blog....too funny.

Therefore, I shall leave you, Dear Reader, and go prepare him some tasty vittles!

As a gift to you, I will share one of my very, very favorite dishes - this particular one has been modified and refined by me over the years, and always gets rave reviews. You will find this goes great with beans and rice when the weather turns cold....

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Jalapeno CornBread~Redneck Feng Shui style

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
1 egg
2/3 cup half and half (I use a little more, it makes it rich and custard-y)
8 0z. shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 onion, chopped
2 cups thawed frozen corn kernels (or fresh, at your discretion)
bacon grease (a staple in the South!)
pickled jalapeno slices
an iron skillet (another Southern must-have)

mix all the ingredients except the bacon grease and jalapenos ~ put a good tablespoon or so of the grease into the skillet and put this into a 375 degree oven till the grease is melted. Take it out, swirl to coat the skillet, and sprinkle just a little sea salt across the bottom of the skillet. This will give the cornbread a wonderful sweet/salty flavor. Pour the cornbread mix into the skillet, dot with the jalapeno slices all over the top (or not, if you "fear the burn") and bake till done - I've never timed it out, just cooked it till it looked nice and done (30 minutes???? maybe a little more - yes, Virginia, there IS a little vintage cook in me, and she doesn't use a timer)~dot some butter on top and let melt into the cornbread before serving.

The real secret to the great taste is using Jiffy Cornbread mix, and the lightly salted bacon grease. It's just not the same without those. You can substitute with Crisco, or use another mix, but I tell you, it's not the same.....

Namaste, Y'all!!!

Living Namaste

2011-07-24T11:06:00.000-05:00

At the end of my yoga class, It is customary for the instructor to bow to us, hands to heart-center, and say "namaste". I have been thinking lately about how to LIVE namaste. Because I have been thinking a lot about that, the Universe has been sending me information and situations that are growing my awareness in that area of my Spiritual Growth.

Namaste, in the traditional Indian sense, is used as a respectful greeting. It is accompanied by placing the hands in prayer position, either at heart center, or as a highest gesture of respect, above the head (pranamasana).

I prefer to think of Namaste as translated into the modern "the Spirit in Me bows to the Spirit in You".

To bow to the Spirit in You is to see everyone around you as Divine. To bow to the Spirit in You is to honor the people around you, at all times, in all things. Christ asks us to show honor to all, in our words and deeds.
This would mean acting with respect in all situations; not giving in to "base-ness"-being a demonstrator of Namaste.

I find myself re-acting with sarcasm and high emotion to those who "insult" or "offend" me. I wound, because I was "wounded". However, more and more I discover that when I behave that way, it leaves a bitter taste, whereas before, it would bring me relief and satisfaction. The more Conscious I become, the less revenge-full attitudes "work". I am beginning to understand that it really is not possible for someone else to "insult" or "offend" me. Those feelings are coming from WITHIN me, regardless of what is said without. In the heat of those feelings, I forget to see the Spirit Within both them AND me. If I remembered Who I Am, then I could also remember Who They Are, and perhaps not re-act, but to act toward them with honor.

In practicing Namaste, there is no room for rudeness, nor justification for bad behavior. Would we be rude to Christ if he cut us off in traffic? Probably not, if we knew that He was Christ. We would say that He probably wasn't paying attention or had something on his mind, and let Him drive on by. But we will shoot the finger and scream expletives in front of our children if that Dude in the Dodge Ram cut us off! For we fail to see the Christ in him. In particular, and most disturbing, we fail most often to see the Christ in the people that we claim to Love the most. We are the most unkind, critical and sarcastic to our spouses and children, or our parents. Shouldn't they be the Ones that we see Christ in FIRST? For they are so close to us as to be One with us! Yet we are harsh, impatient and rude with expectation, aren't we?

Living Namaste will bring about Great Healing, I believe this with all my heart. I also believe that it starts with honoring the Spirit within Ones' Self. This practice has started to heal me already! I have quit smoking (how in the world can I honor the Christ within ME with a cigarette in my hand?), I have re-upped my yoga classes (GREAT practice for settling the mind), I am eating lots of fruits and veggies and am no longer self-medicating with too much food or drink.(honoring the Body that hosts this Spirit). Recognizing your OWN Spirit is just as important as recognizing It in Others. For me personally, it is where I started, and I am now learning to extend this thinking outward.

Now the only way I know to make a shift in my Self with regards to Others is to shift my intention. So I have been setting the goal each day to see Christ in everyone. It takes a very conscious effort, believe me. It's pretty easy to be kind to the grocery clerk, or my boss, or my client-it is much harder to see the Spirit within my husband! Or to those I have not yet forgiven! But I have grown to understand that every action produces - a good action will produce a good result. So I practice. And practice and practice and practice....

Let's make a difference in the World by truly intending to practice Namaste in all that we do! Let us bow, hands to heart center, to each Other and to God today and every day. Let us honor and revere the World around us, this magnificent Journey, and all those Traveling Souls that we encounter on the Road...

And the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, tell yourself that it's Jesus, and He's in a hurry to get to His next miracle!

Namaste, y'all!!!

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Salad Dressing

2011-05-10T19:17:00.001-05:00

Here in Texas, right now, it is HOT. Very, very HOT. And dry. We are experiencing a dreadful drought right now that has turned our usually lush and green little 25 acres into a veritable dust bowl. It seems that all the rain has gone to Tennessee, and Arkansas and all those other poor states that are now paddling for their lives.

So, Summer has come to us very early, and Summer always turns into "salad time" at my house. Salads are so cool and refreshing! The crunch of the wet, cool lettuce, and the light feel of it in the tummy, YUM!

One thing we love with our salads is homemade dressing. It has become very easy to just grab a dressing off the supermarket shelf. Those dressings have so many "alien ingredients" in them: preservatives to keep them fresh, gums to keep them thick, and Heaven Forbid!, the SCOURGE of the Salad Dressing World: Fat Free Dressings!! **shudder**

Here, Dear Reader, are some great, easy homemade salad dressings, using the delicious, nutritious, amazing Lemon! Lemon, so refreshing, Lemon, so tasty and tangy and cooling! So give these recipes a try, and explore the world of homemade salad dressings. They are so easy, and so much better for you, that you will not go back to the store brands! Now, for some Salad Dressing Feng Shui

Classic Lemon Vinaigrette

1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 Tsp. salt
1/2 Tsp. fresh or dried thyme
3/4 c. olive oil

Put it all in a jar and shake it like a Polaroid picture!

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Here is a "blast from the past" recipe that doesn't show up on too many tables these days, but we love it!

Green Goddess Dressing

1 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. finely chopped fresh parsley
2 T. finely snipped chives
3 anchovy fillets, minced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp tarragon vinegar, or use rice wine vinegar and a small amt. of fresh minced tarragon
1/2 c. sour cream
dash salt or to taste

This is best whirled up in a blender, in my opinion, and is great with a seafood type salad

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Inevitably, in the South, one MUST have Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. It's in the rules. I don't know why. But it does go so well with any salad and it's a given with take-out pizza...

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

1 c. buttermilk (full fat is great, but harder to find these days)
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 Tsp. lemon juice
1/8 Tsp. paprika
1/2 Tsp. dry mustard
2 Tbsp. finely chopped Italian parsley
dash salt, or to taste
1 finely chopped green onion

Combine the ingredients and shake, shake, shake - shake, shake, shake - shake your dressing, shake your dressing!!!

ps: if you add some blue cheese, then this dressing morphs, and become another piece of heaven!

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All these great dressings keep very well in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks max, but I have the feeling that you won't keep them that long!!

Homemade salad dressings really only require some imagination. The beauty of homemade is the knowledge that you are dressing your wonderful, God-given salad greens with flavors that also come from nature, and not from the chemists' lab!

So, stay cool, my friends!

Now, I am thinking in Limoncello, but that is for another day!!

Namaste, y'all!!!

The Burnt Food Cafe

2011-04-04T16:44:00.000-05:00

At the Burnt Food Cafe, the toast is always extra crispy, usually with a light black look to it. As a matter of fact, all the bread at the cafe has that look to it, and makes a great "crunch" sound when you bite into it. When you order steak, it is cooked "Pittsburgh Style" - charred on the outside, deliciously medium on the inside. The mushrooms served on the side are chewy and have not a hint of moisture in them. The eggs are scrambled dry, unless you order fried, then the edges are amazingly crunchy. And the french fries! Oh, they are divine! So brown and crispy they almost snap when you bite into them! At the Burnt Food Cafe, there are always "crispies" - fries that are small and extra crunchy that hide in the bottom of your burger basket, and are expected and sought after by the Burnt Food Aficionado. The fried okra is never slimy and greasy! Of course, the burgers are well done, too, with great toasted buns. If you order the cheeseburger, or a grilled cheese, then the cheese has oozed down the side and fried itself into divine crackles you can pick off and eat. One never worries about their fried chicken, as it arrives at the table the most beautiful shade of deep, deep gold.The cornbread is cooked with bacon fat, and has the most amazingly decadent crust....

The best item on the menu, though, is the bacon! Ahhh, burnt bacon!! A pigs' best gift to those who enjoy the food at the Burnt Food Cafe. So crackling, so crunchy!! Heaven in the mouth, I tell you!!

Of course, the vegetables are NEVER burned there. Just the salad croutons. Oh, and, if you order the grilled asparagus, it has that great burnty grill flavor....

One does not worry about carcinogens at the Cafe. Carcinogens just simply don't exist there. It's against the Rules. So one eats up without any fear of cancer, just an intense joy for the Love of Burnt Food.

Where is this mecca? This mouthgasm for the Burnt Food Foodie?

Well, nowhere on Earth that I know of. But it does exist in my mind, and if Mr. Man and I keep on ordering my fries extra crispy, and they keep coming all soggy and sad , and the meat is still moo-ing when it comes to the table, well, I may just have to open that Cafe someday.

Namaste, y'all!!

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Burnt Food Cafe Burnt Bacon

it really is an art, I tell you. But a simple one.

The secret behind burnt bacon is this: you don't fry it fast till it's black and awful. You put your bacon in an iron skillet and cook it very low and slow. You turn it fairly frequently, blessing the pig that gave it's life for this gourmet treat, and you just let it cooooook. It usually takes me about 30 minutes to cook all the fat out,but it creates bacon that is perfectly brown, crispy, crunchy and deeeelicious.

Simple perfection!

Aloha, Y'all

2011-03-10T11:03:00.001-06:00

a north shore view

This Redneck Girl recently had an "Experience of a Lifetime" - the kind of Experience that changes you, reshapes your vision and prepares you for new and better Experiences. Mr. Man and I took a trip to visit my Wise-Woman-Mother & her Captain in beautiful Hawaii.

chinamans' hat

Neither of us had ever been, and neither of us knew what to expect. Mom and I had been relegated to visiting here on the mainland every few years, at my Grandparents' home, weddings & such. Always with a "mission" and surrounded by others. I had never visited her on "her turf", so I knew very little about her home and life there. Mr. Man had the daunting task of meeting his Mother & Father-in-law, which could be stressful anywhere, much less in Paradise!! We were excited, but uncertain. Would we "fit in"?

Well, did we ever! From the minute I walked into my mothers' home, I knew I was Home. Mom practices "Aloha Feng Shui", just as my home is "Redneck Feng Shui". Here in Texas, our evenings consist of "Porch-Setting"-watching the pink-&-purple sunset in our rockers on the porch. In Hawaii, we sat on the Lanai and watched the sunset - with a spectacular view of Honolulu, Diamond Head, & the humpback whales - like home, only more tropical! Our Porch has now been renamed the "Texas Lanai" - and I think of Mom's Lanai as the "Aloha Porch".

rainbow from the lanai

We had many adventures there, and I could detail each one, but I want to address the main Life-Altering Experience we had there, and that was the gift of the Spirit of Aloha. Let me try to describe this - being a Spiritual Gift, somehow words feel a bit inadequate.

The literal meaning of aloha is “the presence of breath” or “the breath of life.” It comes from “Alo,” meaning presence, front and face, and “ha,” meaning breath. Aloha is a way of living and treating each other with love and respect. Its deep meaning starts by teaching ourselves to love our own beings first and afterwards to spread the love to others. Nowhere was that more evident than on the Aloha Porch. In a world where it is so easy to take each other for granted, it was moving to see the obvious Love and Aloha (and Mahalo) that my Mom and Captain have for each other and the world around them.

Being able to live the Spirit of Aloha is a way of reaching self-perfection and realization for your body and soul. Aloha is sending and receiving positive energy. Aloha is living in harmony. When you live the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings and thoughts, which are never gone. They exist in space, multiply and spread over to others. We found this everywhere we went-from the waitstaff to the store clerk to the lanai.

plumeria in the backyard

I had a marvelous opportunity to meet a Wise-Woman-Friend of Moms'. She is a gifted metaphysician, and just being in her presence was cathartic. Her clear, clear eyes, and her beautiful soft skin just resonated with an inner peace. My Mother has the same clear eyes and soft skin - it seems to come from living an appropriate Inner Life, which works its' way out.

Mr. Man and I thrived over there. We grew closer, and became determined to bring the Spirit of Aloha to our Little Texas Home. As we have learned, this can be easier said than done at times! We live in times where coarse talk means nothing; it is easy to flip f-bombs and sarcasm around the room without thought. But go somewhere where that doesn't happen, and one becomes very aware of its' absence. Come back to it, and one is very aware of its' presence. It's very easy to fall back into old habits, but we keep reminding each other of the "Aloha rule", and Captains' rule which is "BE NICE".

It was a wonderful thing to experience Hawaii this way, and we know that we are very fortunate to see that beautiful place from a different perspective than the average tourist. We have decided that we must go back, and soon. We crave the kindness and peace that we found there. We left pieces of our Selves there on that Aloha Porch, with Mom and Captain, and we took pieces of them to our Texas Lanai.

I looked in the mirror this morning, and I swear that my skin is getting softer and my eyes are getting clearer!

Namaste, (and Aloha) Y'all!!

And for some REALLY GOOD FOOD, a must-go-to-place: Buzz's Steakhouse - Lanikai

the beach where the famous scene from

"From Here to Eternity"

was filmed

Life is a Highway - and I Hit a Pothole.

2011-02-18T08:10:00.000-06:00

Howard Arnold Walter, 1906

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
|: I would be brave, for there is much to dare.| 2. I would be friend of all--the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
|: I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift. :|
3. I would be faithful through each passing moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God;
I would be strong to follow where He leads me;
|: I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod. :|

This lovely song is a great guide for "how to live". Though I try very hard to follow the Masters' Path, sadly, I allow my weakness to become the lens through which I see my world, and that particular lens is not the one that creates beauty and peace!

I happen to be a big fan of Apostle Paul. Probably because he was just so human! and passionate! In Romans 7:15 he says, "I do not understand what I do. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate"

What a statement! Have you ever wondered what it is that he has done? Many have speculated, but no one is certain. But it must be his Achilles' Heel, as he expresses great remorse.

I like him because in a way, he is a sort of Every Man. As he grew in power and arrogance, he began to inflict great harm on others, without regard to their lives or feelings. He was quite the destructive force. This is what we do to others, when our own pride and arrogance get in the way.

When he had his amazing Awakening, he began to use his Powers for Good, and became a beacon and inspiration that lasts till this day. Which is what happens to us when we work to Awaken to the Christ within.

If Paul could do it, well, so could I.

However, this week I fell off my Path. I inflicted damage, and there has been a consequence, that is for certain.

I have an Achilles' Heel. I will not elaborate here at this time, Dear Reader, but I am well aware of what it is, and, like Paul, I get baffled at myself when I let that Ooky rise up and cripple my walk.

A Dear Friend has reminded me that I am a Learning, Growing Person. That we can make mistakes, as long as we work to be aware of what we have done, and set about to correct the behavior. She also reminded me that, although I wrote the script and handed it over, the other Players have their parts as well. I am no less Spiritually Progressive for having "slipped" in my behavior.

A great mantra that comes courtesy of the 12 step program is: Progress not Perfection.

If you are interested in learning more about Apostle Paul, in an entertaining way, then I recommend the book "Great Lion of God" by Taylor Caldwell.

Although I love to learn from Jesus, when I have become less than my highest Spirtual Self, I turn to Paul to remind me that I am a Human-Being, and not to be a Human-Doing. I love his Human-ness and passion. I love MY Human-ness and passion, even when it leads me astray.

All I can do is embrace it, own it, and get back on the Path!

(but, like Paul, I wonder - 'will I EVER stop doing that which I hate?')

Namaste, y'all!

Is "Crass" the New Black?

2011-01-11T21:33:00.001-06:00

Definition of CRASS

1a : gross 6a; especially : having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination b : being beneath one's dignity

2: guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values

It seems to me that being crass has become quite the rage, not just here in America, but worldwide.

Example: a facebook friend of mine, whom I have never met but befriended me because she saw some of my posts, was lamenting today over a comment she made that involved eating meat. She was upset because someone who SHE had never met-a friend of a friend-attacked her online, calling her a "corpse eater" and telling her she should "put her dogs on the grill". (this woman is an animal rescue person, and does a lot of posting trying to place dogs that she fosters).

Now I put forth to you, dear reader: here is a person who uses a social venue to roundly attack-ASSAULT- a person who has chosen not to be a vegetarian. Here is someone who is obviously very passionate about vegetarianism, and not eating animals. This person obviously dislikes the inhumane way that we go about processing animals to eat. You might even say this person CARES about the cows, pigs, chickens and other animals that humans consume. Doesn't want them to be hurt. However, this person had NO PROBLEM belting the snot out of someone verbally and HURTING them to "get their point across". Hmm.

I wonder if celery screams when it's cut from it's root system?

Example: not too long ago, I posted on my dear friends' social venue regarding some of my conservative ideology. I did this without crassness, or rudeness. I did not insult anyones' intelligence, and my comment was considered very mild. Katy-bar-the-door, out pops this young, idealistic avowed socialist who calls me names and states that I am "ignorant" and undereducated. He toots his horn loudly, and rudely, and takes obvious delight in grinding me into the ground. This is someone who stated that he was for "the little guy" and wants to see us all "share the wealth" and "help each other" - kind, loving goals, I might add. But he, too, had no problem crushing me under his heel to "make his point". Hmmm

I did ask him to send me some money, because I needed some money, and strangely enough I never did get that check in the mail, and I was polite about it!!

Seems that there is a lot of this going on these days. A great, angry desire to hurt anyone that doesn't agree with what you believe. To the point of violence sometimes.

On pondering this, it dawned on me that this insensitivity has been coming for a long time.There was a time a while back where I wondered where it got to be "funny" to "diss" and embarrass someone. I saw it very clearly with the rise of television shows like "Married with Children" - everyone thought that show was hilarious - I never got the humor. They were horrible to each other!

It hurts to be hurt.

Why is that delightful to some, that superior, smirking, insulting attitude of superiority?

Being a Redneck Gal, I had the company of some other Redneck Gals that decided that Redneck Gals had to be "tough" and "they weren't gonna take nothin' off no damn man!" My one RG Gal-pal used to tell me that I was too nice because I would go get my fella coffee or tea or beer if he asked me to. Most of my RG Gal-pals would say "git it your own damn self, I ain't your maid!" So those guys would slink off, get their own stuff, then the RG's would wonder why their relationships were going down the toilet. Hmmm.

My Mother is what I would categorize a "Classy Lady". She has poise, and emotional restraint. She treats people the way they want to be treated. She has ticked me off to high heaven, but she has NEVER insulted or "punched below the belt" when we have disagreed. Class.

I want to be a Classy Lady, not a Crassy Lady.

"Having such grossness of mind as to preclude delicacy and discrimination." hmmm.

It's crass to cuss in places where people aren't cussing. Example, Old People, restaurants, where children are. Bars are good places to cuss, and with your friends that cuss, too. I have to admit to cussing in bars, especially if I am with RG's and we are mad at someones' man because they left them for the girl that works at the All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Buffet. But it's crass to cuss at Luby's, sitting next to some elderly, polite folk.

It's not funny or justifiable or cute, charming, in good fun, just being a guy, a patriot,blahbiddyblahblah to insult or assault someone whose political views you don't agree with. It's crass. Even in a bar!

Fighting with your spouse in public is crass, too. Even in a bar.

It's base to not get each other things, and to shame your significant. Always. It's crass. It's kind to help each other and "git it your own damn self" implies to that person that they are not worth serving. So why should THEY serve YOU?

Boy, I can think of a million examples of the crassness that prevails everywhere these days.

My facebook friend did not deserve her treatment. The Socialist dude might have been able to persuade me to see some things his way, with a proper discourse. You can learn a lot from listening to someone without ripping off their heads and _________(I don't want to finish this, because it has cuss words in it and I am not at the bar, or my good friends, but YOU know).

I didn't really plan this blog topic. It just came up tonight as I was thinking about that facebook friend who was so upset this morning. Our current political situation adds to my thoughts on this topic - the way people are communicating their frustration today is VERY crass.

This week my goal is to be aware of the word and experiences tied to "crass" and catch myself if I exercise my crassness.

Care to join me? I will start by ending this blog and going to get my husband a beer. And maybe a Corpse sandwich.

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Now you knew there would be a Corpse sandwich recipe, right? Let's go with a simple Pig-Corpse sandwich recipe.

A Great Pig-Corpse Sandwich

1 lb. shaved DiLusso Double Smoked Ham

1 thinly sliced tomato

red onion slices

baby spinach leaves

Kraft Horseradish Sauce (or as we call it, 'Horse Sauce)

4 Ciabatta rolls, sliced

Well, you KNOW how to make a sandwich, get after it!! And take one to your mate, too, with politeness, restraint and courtesy - don't forget some chips!

And for a REALLY wicked tasted, try Mendocino Sweet and Hot Mustard - this stuff is the absolute BOMB of mustards!! And they ship, too!!!

Namaste, Y'all!!!!

Birds Gotta Sing, Fish Gotta Swim

2011-01-02T15:57:00.009-06:00

As a young girl, I was what one would call, a very lively and precocious child. Not in a bad
way, mind you. Life was a fascinating and marvelous thing. I remember feeling filled with Light and all my senses tingled with delight at each new thing I saw or heard. It was hard for me to sit still. There was too much to see, too much to feel! How could I 'sit still' - why, I might miss something!!! The sky was brilliant blue, the tiny snail was leaving it's crystal trail across the sidewalk, the trees changed color with the passing of the seasons - Life, in all its' many forms, was mine for the taking!! As a girl, I was Powerful - filled with Spirit and Love.

In one moment, one moment in Time, all that changed for me. A tragedy took my Voice, my Power, and my zest for living. One moment, and the World became dull, and sad. I could not, try as I might, conjure up that Inner Light, that Love of Living.

And I stayed in that dark, sorrowful place for a very long time. The tragedy became "The Tragedy" and all that I was emanated from that one, fateful day. I became The Tragedy, and everything that happened, everything I felt and saw and did, was filtered through it. This created a World of darkness around me. Relationships emanated from that place. All my thoughts had their origins in "that place". Looking back, it was as if my vision was obscured by a gray shroud of sorrow and self-pity. With that self-pity came self-loathing. One can imagine how I allowed my Self to be treated in those times.

At some point, however, I recalled the time in my life where I loved and enjoyed and thrived on the Pure Love that was me. I remembered her, that little precocious and happy child. And I decided to return to her. To find her inside. She was there, small as a mustard seed. I had to go get her. It was a painful, yet exciting journey. I had to go and confront the dark places in me, the places where my "sin" lived. "Sin" means "to err". We most often "err" against our Selves. Does this sound like Someone you know?

There was no Magic Moment when it all fell into place. No noticeable epiphany. Finding her, and bringing her back was (and still is) a journey, There was a day, not too long ago, where I realized that I have lifted the shroud. "The Tragedy" is no longer the filter that I used to process every emotion, experience and feeling through. It is merely a point of reference that can be useful for the times when I want to retreat into that Old Self, when I want to pull the shroud around me.

Dear Reader, too many of us have pulled a Shroud of Sorrow across our Vision. We have lost the delight in Life, the Joy of seeing the World with our Spirit Eyes!

Do not be afraid to look at your Self. Find that place that changed you, that "Tragedy" that stole you away to the dark places where Joy was lost. Look boldly at it - ask your Self where you have pulled the Shroud across your vision - give Voice to that within you that craves Life and Love. Go within to shine without!

"I know not how I seem to others, but to
myself I am but a small child wandering
upon the vast shores of knowledge, every
now and then finding a small bright
pebble to content myself with."- Plato

Jesus said " let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these" - this is a powerful statement. Do we not hinder our Inner Child? By not allowing him to express his Magnificence, by telling our Selves that we are not worthy, by deeming it "not appropriate" to be like we were as Children, we are denying God. And with that comes an inability to enjoy Life, to long for that which we perceive as "not there" , to continue to believe that the grass is greener "over there". There will be no contentment with where we are today when we deny this.( I used to long to be "over there" - my "over there" was a home on a mountain in Colorado, or a return to my hometown of Sacramento. A Wise Woman that I know told me to stop Longing - it was draining me of vital energy to enjoy my Now.) (Thanks, Mom!!) - Whoever or whatever told you that it was not Good or Safe to have Your Voice was LYING to you!! Turn away from the lie. Love, REAL love, does not lie. If someone lied to you in the name of Love, then it was NOT love.

Be as a child, before the veil was pulled down, before someone restrained your Spirit. Seek that person who reflects Love and Joy, ask them how they do it. I have a couple of people that I trust to talk to me, encourage me, and re-mind me when I am not being as good to my Self as I should. Find that person that you can talk to - whose Life emulates the one you want for your Self, and talk to them. Seek their Wisdom, if they are Conscious, they will want to share with you! Seek Joy - which means taking your eyes off your "Tragedy" and looking out around you for places of Joy.

"If my heart can become pure and simple,
like that of a child, I think there probably
can be no greater happiness than this."- Kitaro Nishida

You will not do this to perfection. Perfection is another place where people tend to 'sin' against them Selves. We think if we can't do this right, and get immediate results, then we are "wrong". This is another lie. If we relapse, we can forgive ourselves, observe the moment, and move on. It gets easier with practice!!

This sounds easy as I re-read what I have written. It isn't always, that is the Truth. I know this: Becoming a Self-Aware and Conscious Person is a dichotomy. It is both the easiest and hardest thing that you will ever do. Finding your Voice can be scary. Most people never get there. They are too frightened to look at their ooky parts. The results, however, are amazing!!

I mean, really, have you ever SEEN such a blue sky?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, on a lighter note, let's make a Spicy Carrot-Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Spicy Carrot-Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

2 eggs
1/2 c. warmed honey or maple syrup
1/4 c. brown sugar ( dark is nicest)

3/4 c. oil
1/4 c. buttermilk
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. grated carrots
1/2 c. chopped nuts (pecans, almonds or walnuts)
1 c. raisins
1 1/4 c. all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 300 degrees and grease an 8x8 inch pan. Peel and slice apple thinly and layer on the bottom of the pan. Beat eggs. Add honey,brown sugar, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir in carrots, nuts and raisins.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda and spices. Fold into carrot mixture and mix well, but do not beat. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Personally, I have to bake it about 10 minutes longer so you may check this after an hour by inserting a knife into the middle.

You can substitute half and half for the buttermilk - just add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

Some people just don't like carrots - you can omit them if you like.

This cake is so yummy it can stand alone, but I like Cream Cheese Frosting on it!

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened

mix together to a silky consistency, and spread on your cooled cake!

Namaste, y'all!

The Truth About Texas Weather Is....

2010-11-30T09:01:00.002-06:00

....that everything you hear is true!

"Give it 5 minutes, and it will change"

"2 seasons here: hot and cold"

"It's not the heat, it's the humidity" (bull, it's BOTH!)

"The best parking space is determined by shade, not by distance"

"Colder than a witches' titty"

"Comes a flood" (what you say every time it rains here)

"Hotter than a pair of rats mating in a wool sock" ~ this is a phrase attributed to a Very Special and Funny    Friend, but "mating" takes the place of the much more colorful word he likes to use~~

                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanksgiving day started out in the upper 70's. During the afternoon, while we were sitting outside, full as ticks, fanning ourselves and watching Mr. Man play horseshoes, a giant wind kicked up and in minutes, literally, it was 50, with a light freeze that night!!

Yesterday it was in the upper 70's. It was muggy, the air was thick as pudding, and the a/c was running. In November!!

This morning it is 50, and we expect a freeze tonight.

These extremes in heat and cold are not because of Global Warming. We here in the Lone Star State poo-poo that notion. We know the Truth.  This is Texas Weather. Give it 5 more minutes, and it will change again. No, really.

                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In honor of our ever-changing weather, and to utilize the giant mountain of leftover Thanksgiving turkey still in the fridge, I decided that it was "Hot-and-Cold Night" at our dinner table.

Yep, that wonderful combination: Soup & Salad!

EASY-CREAMY LEFTOVER TURKEY SOUP

2 T Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped
1 Carrot, sliced
1 stalk Celery, chopped
1 can Cream O' Mushroom soup
1 can water (the soup can, of course)
2 cups Chicken Broth
2-3 cups Leftover Turkey
1 cup leftover or pre-prepared brown or white rice
1 cup Peas
1 Bay Leaf
dash Garlic Powder

lightly saute the onion, carrot and celery in the olive oil to release their flavors, just a few minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, and simmer an hour~~easy perfection!! I like cracked pepper and parmesan garnish in mine, while Mr. Man is a cheddar cheese kinda guy....

I served this with a nice, cool salad of butter lettuce, avocado, bacon, hard-boiled egg and tomato with another easy fix-it-quick: Balsamic Vinegarette

EASY BALSAMIC VINEGARETTE

1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 cup Braggs' Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (or just use 1/2 c. balsamic vinegar if you don't like Braggs)
2 T. Dijon Mustard
2 T. Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup Olive Oil

combine in a shaker or jar, let "set" for a few hours. This dressing doesn't contain much oil for calorie purposes, you can adjust if you like more....

A Great Balance of the Hot and the Cold!

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The next time you hear Stevie Ray Vaughan, that amazing Texas Saint, singing "Couldn't Stand the Weather", remember~he knew. Oh yes, he knew.......

What in the World is Redneck Feng Shui?

2010-11-29T09:22:00.000-06:00

All my somewhat long life, I have been a Creature of Aesthetics. When I was young, I sought Beauty in all its' forms. I loved the lines of trees, the sky when it was "Parrish Blue", art books, philosophy, the veins in leaves~~on and on. As I got older, I acquired an intense desire to CREATE Beauty as well. I could never put a name to this desire, but it compels me to cook, decorate, repurpose objects and collect vintage items. And when I say 'compels' I mean COMPELS.

As much as I am compelled toward Beautiful Things, I am not the 'typical' example of Excellent Taste~for, I am also a Redneck. Now, one can call this a derogatory name, but I beg to differ. I live in Texas, in a semi-rural area, where the cows moo and the train passes through the back of our property on a regular basis, headed toward the mysterious places that trains go. At night, the coyotes howl and scream, and the owls babble like monkeys in the trees at the edge of the back pasture. My husband hunts in that back pasture, and the deer are big and beautiful. Tasty, too. Some Saturday nights we head toward the Ice House, which will be a blog story eventually, but mostly we "set" on the front porch and watch the sunset in the West, beer in hand for him, wine in hand for me. Pretty much every evening. Yes, more and more Redneck women are discovering the virtues of wine! I embrace my Inner Redneck. Many of us don't fit that mold that media and bad Country Music Videos like to portray - always watching Nascar and Wrestling, calling each other 'Bubba', with a nice plumbers' crack working the back of our jeans - that's just silly. No, being a Redneck implies a strong love of the Country Life, an intense love of our Country, home and family, and a fondness for simpler, dressed down living.

So, that said, how did Redneck Feng Shui develop, and what would I like to bring to you?

One day, I was working in my home, re-arranging objects and placing them "just so". I have that compulsion to balance and harmonize the things that decorate our old house, and tend to keep those things fluid, moving them here or there, bringing in new Old Things, taking the old Old Things somewhere for someone to buy and enjoy. After I was done, I did what I usually do - looked around in gratitude and satisfaction at the beauty I had created. My eyes took in the just-so placement of our mounted deer heads, moved to the collection of small buddahs, and over to the beautiful 1904 art-deco silver bowl - all aesthetically placed to be noticed and admired. And I realized that I do indeed practice a Feng Shui of sorts - a REDNECK feng shui. I shared this on facebook, and a nice lady told me that I should indeed start a blog - and today is my blogs' birthday!

I will be bringing my love of things Old and Beautiful, terrific, delicious recipes, a philosophy of Truth, and a sense of what an Aesthetic Country Life might be like. All the wonderful things that make up The Good Life!

It is my hope that you will enjoy this little endeavor, as I bring you a small piece of my Redneck world!