Raige Creations

With all that is going on in the world, I heard this song yesterday and absolutely love the message, the lyrics, the simple melody, the calmness of it. I said to hubby - "This is a beautiful message I wish I had told my sons , well my girl too, years ago. Maybe I should do this as a Music Monday and share it with them now!" As you all know, I have not been blogging for a while now, and so when he agreed I was a bit surprised! He is all for completely unplugging these days, with all the hacking, the people out there that can just steal your identity, and use the things you share against you. So I have been mainly quiet. Though with the current political circus going, on I have had to work hard to hold my toungue, for fear of unwelcome comments and unneccessary online drama. But to this he agreed, as he loved this message too. And he feels just as strongly as I do about what I hint at below. All I will say about it is that is is a sad day when a man is rewarded for sexua...

I commented to hubby this morning, "there is nothing better than having coffee with you, out here, on a Sunday morning". "Bee Happy" photo courtesy of Raige Creations. I totally felt that, right then, in the moment. I was truly enjoying my slightly sweetened and slightly creamy coffee, after a very good 3.1 mile run (I went past our place to get over the 3 mile mark....yes I was that runner today), and just relishing the moment (even tho hubby was trying to talk politics....my least favorite subject). I feel I should add - this was all before 8am! I just realized at that moment, I was thankful for the slow Sunday we were enjoying. You might say, "SLOW? you call getting up before 6am and running 3 miles slow?" And to that I say, "YES!!" I could get out of bed at my leisure, not because I HAD to at that moment. I got to go for that run, and witness a most beautiful sunrise, and watch an older gentleman line-fishing off shore in the fo...

Wow,  I don't even want to think about how long it has been since I blogged. I don't even want to go through all the trials and tribulations we have gone through to get us to this point in our lives. (Let me tell you, when I sit and think about it, I am amazed at all the crap I have gone through, all the hard work I have done, and so many, many failures, difficulties, and frikin crazy bitch people I have had to deal with!) I am actually quite amazed we have made it here . Here , being a place where I wake up and am so thankful for the beauty around me. Here , being a place where stress is so much less than it was a mere year ago. Here , being a place where I can actually understand that I would not be here unless I went through all that crap. (well, and also wouldn't be here without the help of family and friends to get me through all that crap) All those here's are a state of mind, really.  A state of mind knowing all the hard work and pa...

Source: Jacqueline via Pinterest A bit unlike my recent blatherings of how wonderful life is and how good things are going? Yes. But I have realized one thing: No matter where you go, no matter how hard you try to be positive, there are some things that just suck! I will give you three things you will most likely wholeheartedly agree that universally, totally SUCK: Utility Companies Used Car Salesmen Insurance Companies No matter where, when, what other things are going on, these things ALWAYS suck.  The key is to always remember.... source: Jamie via Pinterest

I have been taking so many pictures these days. And no, not the fun, inspirational ones I usually like to take. I have been taking pictures of things we have to sell. source: zulily.com So lately, the way I am seeing my life is through all the crap we have, that we don't need.   How did we get this far away from living simply?? I don't want to see my life like that. In what way would I describe what life is like? There are so many options.........like monkey bars.... source: MotivateHopeStrength Yes, I am letting go of so much stuff!  So we can move on.  I can't wait to be done with the 'getting rid of stuff' ! It is hard to be letting go of some things. The change is hard, but I am ready to move on already. You could say life is like.......underwear? source: TARTORA Lingerie Ok...you could say that. And yes, I keep talking about moving, and yes we are moving, so you could also say that life is like riding a bicycle.... source: Move...

As you may have guessed if you are a follower, I have not been keeping up with my workout schedule. You may have noticed I stopped writing about running and walking, stopped posting my workouts, stopped talking about it altogether! Well, you are right. I have slacked. Big time. I did manage 2 workouts last week, but I barely remember them. They were at the beginning of the week, then I didn't go at all the rest of the week. This week, I am NOT off to a good start. Haven't been at all.  I know, you are saying 'well it's early in the week yet'. Yes, but tomorrow is supposed to be COLD! Chance of snow. Yuck. Plus, I have SO much to do, I just haven't had the time to spare.  Yes, this is an excuse. I know.  But I successfully have talked myself out of getting out there several days now. I reasoned that the time it takes to walk (or run) plus the necessary shower afterwards was just too much! I could accomplish so much on my list in that time. Lame...

Wow, it has been over a week since I have written. The week actually flew past. I did try to write, but every time I tried, my head went completely silent. It was not as though it was empty. It was full. It was racing.  It was contemplating and figuring and planning. But it had nothing to write. When I tried to type, my mind went silent. There was nothing I could put to words on the screen. (I wanted to say words on paper, but that is not the way anymore is it?) The words were gone, my mind could not speak in writing anymore. It could only contemplate, figure, and plan. That was my week. A head full of things, yet nothing to write. This coming week, however, I already have Music Monday planned (though not yet written), and things I could post for other days too. I think my head will have an easier time of writing this coming week, it has already been thinking in writing , and I have been able to get through this post rather easily. The week 'off' from writin...

I know there are a gazillion websites and blogs that talk about the greatness of running. I read them too. But since I have started running again, after my 3 month break, I have learned some valuable  life lessons . Each lesson is great for running, but can be translated into every-day life as well. I will be sharing these life lessons with you while training for the  Jingle Bell Run , which I am participating in on December 7th. ( Donate HERE ). Today, I must stress the importance of keeping your form. The Proper Form. I actually researched this online, because I knew felt so awkward running. I noticed as I ran by the furniture store downtown, which has full windows across the entire block, that I looked goofy and that I made it look awkward so I set to find out how to run better. There are loads of pictures , articles , videos , etc. I recommend reading and looking at some of these, as I did.  What I am telling you here is a condensed version showing how they a...

source: Pinterest I am working on having less. I need to have less, because all that we have is stressing me out ! Less furniture ~ it is too hard to move and we know we will be moving sometime in the future even though we don't know when. Less papers ~ they are heavy, both physically and mentally. My mother hoarded papers, I am so afraid of doing that. Less Kitch ~ I vow to keep only the most meaningful and beautiful. This is hard to purge, because we are collectors of the unique and interesting, and so have cool old bottles, tiny sculptures, beautiful scrimshaw, hand painted eggs and feathers, great vintage lamps (yes, we have been hoarding lamps of all things). Each thing is great, has meaning and a special place in our hearts. These are the tough things to let go of. Less blankets ~ seriously we have so many! But I feel like I can use them as batting in quilts, so I hang on. But maybe it's time to let a few go. Less Kitchen things I never use ~ will I ever make 2...

I know there are a gazillion websites and blogs that talk about the greatness of running. I read them too. But since I have started running again, after my 3 month break, I have learned some valuable life lessons .  Each lesson is great for running, but can be translated into every-day life as well. I will be sharing these life lessons with you while training  for the  Jingle Bell Run , which I am participating in on December 7th. ( Donate HERE ). Today we talk about sleep. How important is rest? The Sleep. Last week I talked about how I happily I went out for my first run in my new shoes , excited to get in a great run! But i t wasn't a great run, and I walked quite a bit. Not the energizing workout I wanted, but at least m y legs didn't hurt. But why was it so bad? Well, the night before, I only got a total of 6 hours of sleep ~ split into two 3 hour sessions with a 4 hour awake time in between.  Basically I fell asleep on the couch (a common thing for m...

I know there are a gazillion websites and blogs that talk about the greatness of running. I read them too. But since I have started running again, after my 3 month break, I have learned some valuable life lessons . Each lesson is great for running, but can be translated into every-day life as well. I will be sharing these life lessons with you while training for the Jingle Bell Run , which I am participating in on December 7th. ( Donate HERE ). Today, I must stress the importance of good running shoes. The Shoes. I know, I know, everyone talks about the shoes. And here I am  again  stressing  their importance. But let me explain. When I started back running, 2 1/2 months ago, my running shoes were already old . I justified keeping them because I had taken a 3 month break, and thought I could get some more pounding out of them.  I am not sure when it started, but I really noticed my legs hurt. They hurt when I ran, after I ran, and most of the rest of the ...

Why did I get up so early today? Since we moved the business out of its downtown location, and I no longer have to work 6 days a week, including all weekend long, I have completely enjoyed sleeping in on Saturdays. I do still wake up, but the freedom of not having to get up, going back to sleep....ahhhh. There is nothing quite like it. But today, alarm went off the normal weekday time. I got up by 6:30 am (yes, I like to press snooze for an excessive amount of time), made coffee, fed the animals, the normal morning routine. WHY? My youngest son had to meet his drivers ed teacher at 7:30am! photo courtesy of   Travelers Point . Yup. It has happened.  All of my children are now drivers . I now have to dispense the advice that has been handed down from my father .    My youngest is now on the road. He took the class, and now is out there with all those other crazy drivers . I honestly don't know if I can handle sitting in the car with him while h...

  When will it sink in? Will it sink in? Door Closed photo courtesy of Raige Creations What will I do, now that the move is done?  Even the moving truck is tired. photo courtesy of  Raige Creations The truck was filled once on Monday, and 4 times today. Empty. photo courtesy of  Raige Creations Now I can re-group and focus. But focus on what? 'An Open Road?' photo courtesy of  Raige Creations Well, I suppose the way forward! I can now walk down that road! I can get to the next door, actually pick the next door maybe. photo courtesy Pinterest Just don't let me get caught up in the hallway while I open that next door.

It was time.  I was ready.  Time for change, time for a more focused direction, and I am ready to introduce... Not a different direction really. It is one I have been going for a while now.  As I was growing my other businesses, I was wishing more and more that I could write, share my motivations and insights that I have learned along the way.  Well, the time has come, and my opportunities are changing to allow me to give a more serious effort to writing, blogging, and creating in many different ways.  So I have focused this blog, and my facebook and google pages, to be the Thoughts of Raige; views of life, motivation, and creation. Basically what I have been doing all along, I just didn't realize that the look of my blog had been outdated for quite some time. I will still be selling my creations, as Raige Creations (on Artfire and Zibbet , plus Vintage Rage on Zibbet ), sharing my motivations, getting through life's highs and lows...

This great reminder helped me get out of bed yesterday. A wonderful quote from my hubby, knowing I was grumpy and overwhelmed with life, as has been the Modus Operandi these days.  I was having a difficult time finding the motivation to get up and start yet another day of stress, worry, uncertainty, and  chores. Who wants to get out of bed for that? But he wisely reminded me we have a goal, we have something to look forward to. And we are one day closer to getting there. Some days, he knows just the right thing to say.

Listen to the whispers of your heart....... There are opportunities where you least expect them to be....... All you need is one reason.........

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out And if you want to be free, be free 'Cause there's a million things to be You know that there are And if you want to live high, live high And if you want to live low, live low 'Cause there's a million ways to go You know that there are Chorus: You can do what you want The opportunity's on And if you find a new way You can do it today You can make it all true And you can make it undo you see ah ah ah its easy ah ah ah You only need to know Well if you want to say yes, say yes And if you want to say no, say no 'Cause there's a million ways to go You know that there are And if you want to be me, be me And if you want to be you, be you 'Cause there's a million things to do You know that there are Chorus Well, if you want to sing out, sing out And if you want to be free, be free 'Cause there's a million things to be You know that there are You know that there are You k...

It can be scary. It can be exciting. It could not work out the way you thought or intended... but... it could be perfect.

Struggling to write lately, I found I have been going through a long list of emotions. I have tried, perhaps too hard, to find words of wisdom to share, funny stories to tell, sayings that mean something important. Each time I think I've got something, the feeling is fleeting, and I am on to another tangent. As I go back and forth, even today when I have a definite list of things to get done, I am sad, happy, stressed, appreciative, worried, hopeful, excited, afraid. Everything. Which means it is very tough to get through my list.  A Guide! This could come in handy... The problem, it is hard to put a term to it. Sometimes if I write it, search for inspiration, give my emotions a name, it eases them. But I cannot find a way to name all this! I found myself sitting in front of the computer wishing.... -Wishing I didn't have to go in today. -Wishing it wasn't month end already.  -Wishing I could not stress.  -Seeing the sun, after a morning of fog, and thinking t...