Raige Creations

When the Universe speaks, we should listen. We certainly don't want to risk ignoring it, right? Okay, well maybe it was just the ceiling fan, and my over stuffed drawer. Either way, I got the message and I listened and did what was suggested.  I was looking for something in one of my junk drawers. Well, not junk, but a drawer where things get thrown to hide if the maid is coming to clean. Mostly it has jewelry, my jewelry cleaning cloths, miscellaneous things I didn't know what to do with and needed to hide.  Somehow, this box of stationary had been in there for donkey years. Mind you, donkey years here is a few years, 4 maybe that we have been in this house. Not sure, but for all I know this box could have been tossed here when we moved in and there it has been ever since. But, this box itself is truly from donkey years ago, probably from 70 years ago. I opened the drawer, and the box got stuck so I couldn't fully open the drawer, and the lid came off, and then I struggled...

No, not the new Adele song , I have yet to hear that believe it or not. But at least I am not out of the loop enough to know there is a new Hello song that isn't Lionel Ritchie.... Yes, it would appear I have been MIA for quite a while. And in some ways I have been. It has been almost an entire year since I have posted a blog. I have some drafts, but also almost an entire year ago. But I have been around. Just distracted by real life (which honestly has been wonderful). I gave up my smart phone, and do scroll around Facebook and Pinterest, but writing has taken a back seat to actual life and work. So, now I wonder if there is anyone out there that still would like Raige's thoughts of life, motivation, and creation? Yes, the Floyd song does fit here. Is there anybody in there?  Just nod if you can hear me. (But since it is not Monday, no music today.) I will still try to write, because as I realized something: I often wrote thinking I was helping others, but as I ...

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...

Photo courtesy of Buttercup (my daughter) Raige Creations A photo from many weeks ago. It was a cloudy, rainy day. My daughter and I were going in to check on our booth at the antique mall . She was snapping pictures for an art class project. When we saw this, we were kinda speechless. All I could say was, 'Look at all those tiny birds on the wire!' So original. I could say that I was the one driving, and therefore could not give the attention necessary. But my daughter couldn't think of anything either.   So I leave it to you to caption, comment, say what you think. Give us a new way to look at this photo.  What is YOUR perspective on a photo like this?  Give us a new way to see it.

When life takes over, one may not get to post every single day for NaBloPoMo . Not in my world. With the heat issues the other day, then a day playing catch-up with tasks that didn't get done due to the possibility of instant frostbite the days before, and then a day of driving, how could I get any writing done, much less sit in front of the computer to post? The pressure of this challenge, however, is not the kind of pressure that makes me anxious. It is not the kind of pressure filled with dread, panic, or stress. This kind of pressure is pushing me in a gentle way. It is an urge to write, a task I WANT to do, not one I am forced to nor one I dread. Strangely, I noticed as I tended to my tasks, my mind was planning my posts. Actually, thinking of what I would write, even forming sentences and arranging paragraphs! This is a sensation that came to me in a previous NaBloPoMo attempt , and I am so glad it continues to be part of my days. In fact, while I was driving home ...

source: Thoughts of Raige Some days, the days when I wake up less than chipper, when I haven't yet found my positive thinking and hope or a good day, I am thankful for the views from my kitchen. Out past the tree line, there is a mountain I can see most days. There are lots of trees and nature is evident all around us. It almost feels like we are out in the country, away from noise and developments and crowding.  But in reality, a main road is on the other side of the house, we can hear traffic. We are down the street from several housing developments, and we hear dogs barking day and night. Our closest neighbor is pretty close actually.  We are within walking distance to Main St, a small village street with restaurants and shops and even a local mechanic's garage.  Though we still have plans for our dream house, our perfect place, the means to do only what we love, this is good enough for now. For this is all we can do right now. We can only dream of a better...

photo courtesy of: Blue Rage of Asheville I spent most of the day Thursday on the internet, reading blogs, writing a little, browsing Pinterest (I know, I vowed to stop , but Thursday was just one of those days.....). I didn't go for a run, in fact I didn't even get dressed until 2 o'clock. My original plan was to check all my emails, maybe finish my blog I started, go for run, and then accomplish more of the de-cluttering . What happened was the internet sucked me in, again . I wasted the majority of the day. I know this has happened to you once or twice, right? I couldn't help but wonder if we all wrote on typewriters, would be be more productive? (You can actually buy this great typewriter pictured here !) What do you think? Would you go back to writing on a typewriter if it meant you would write more, and write better?

Oh, the horror.  Oh, the disappointment. I missed a day of NaBloPoMo.  A NaBloPoMo FAIL! Oh The HORROR  by  hybristophilia666  on  Polyvore It's not like I didn't know it was going to happen. I did. I had a very busy day and after dinner last night I just wanted to relax. I sat on the couch, Kindle in hand  new book waiting, full belly, family all around chillin', and said "Oh CRAP, I didn't post a blog today!" Then, I turned on my Kindle while hubby found a movie for us to watch (I can read and watch a movie at the same time. Multitasking...you Mom's know what I mean), I settled in on the couch, and the thought of blogging evaporated. It's not that I am short of ideas! I have 4 drafts going, and I even have handwritten in my journal ideas for other posts. If NaBloPoMo  right after NaBloWriMo  has done anything for me, it has got me to write every day, whether I actually post or not.  But last night, I just couldn't...

How frustrating is it when you see a package of Oreo's, or any chocolatey goodness cookie, in the cupboard, get a glass of milk, and sit down to enjoy a nice afternoon milk and cookies session, only to find one lone cookie in the package? One Damn Cookie Left photo courtesy of Raige Creations Or how about getting that package of cookies, then going to get the milk only to find out there is barely a half glass of milk left? A while back, my oldest son was home from college on break, and this is exactly what happened. The rant that came out of his mouth was like one I haven't heard since he was a toddler and the lizards didn't stop long enough for him to grab one.  "Why do you people ALWAYS leave ONE thing left in the package?! Seriously, every time I come home I see this crap." Wha?  "Yes, every time I come home and get something out of the cupboard, there is only one left in the package! Why can't you people just finish the last one?" ...

Tell us what you have learned so far from daily blogging. The NaBloPoMo prompt from Friday. Always a day late with the prompts, but here is some of what I have learned. I learned daily bloggin is damn hard.  I learned it means forcing myself to write even when I don't want to.  I learned that some days it is okay to just blog about the mood of the day, and other days it really helps to have prompts . I learned it keeps me from proofing and changing my posts 10 gazillion times before I post it.  I learned it makes me re-write entire posts. I learned the delete key is easy to hold down. I learned sometimes it is okay to share that thing I wasn't sure I should share. I learned it is okay to not include a picture with every post. (Even though I feel I MUST...ADD PICTURE....with this ten-second-attention-span world we live in.) I learned some days I am writing just for myself. I learned some days I am writing for other people, and those are the da...

NaBloPoMo Prompt . If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? This prompt had me really stuck.  You see, I find quotes about things I want to remind myself, but to change myself? Aren't I perfect the way I am? source I started working on this prompt Tuesday. I know there are things I would change. The difficult question was ~ did you want to hear about my weight or body parts I wish were different? I am sure the answer to that is NO. And truthfully, I really can't change those things, and finally after 4 decades, I am actually pretty OK with how I look now. (except for the grey, and I DO change that every 4-6 weeks) Tuesday came and went. Didn't write this post. source Wednesday came. Okay NOW I was going to finish this post. After all, this was the prompt for Nov. 6th. Wednesday was Nov. 6th! Right on schedule. I sat most of the day trying to figure out what I would change.  Oh, I would change the money situation, but wouldn...

My Current  Dream Writing Space photo: Raige Creations Someday, my Actual Writing Space and my Dream Writing Space will be the same. For now, I mostly sit at my dining room table, which is not what's in the first picture here, by the way. That is my kitchen table, with a nice view, plenty of light, more comfortable chairs. My Current Dream Writing Space. My Actual Writing Space is my dining table, and it is basically in the living room (it wouldn't fit in the kitchen). The living room is on the side of the house that doesn't get sunlight, so it is very dark and the lamps don't really help that much. My Actual Writing Space (dining set IS for sale ..... as soon as we can move it out of there.....) photo: Raige Creations It is also where after a couple hours my back starts to hurt, because my  my feet don't touch the floor when sitting on the dining room chairs because I have short legs. This strains my lower back so I can hardly sit, and basically make...

Taking part in NaBloPoMo , I look forward to prompts to help me get started some days. If you are at all like me, you sometimes sit there, with a blank screen, and stare. Hoping something comes to you.  Then, when it doesn't, you scan the internet for inspiration. I try Facebook , Pinterest , BlogHer , Slate (okay, mostly I read Slate to unwind, not for inspiration) .  I sometimes am forced to look through my old pictures , try to remember which ones I have used, and try to find one that I can do something with. That is why I longingly read the suggested prompts that BlogHer suggested. I need someone to jump start my brain and get me moving! And sometimes it really works!! Sadly, the one posted on BlogHer for the first day did not. The prompt was:  "If you found one million dollars in the morning and had to spend it by nightfall, what would you do with the money?"   I tried, I really did, but who really cares how I would spend $1 million dollars in one...

Greeting Card from NobleWorksCards.com We all have our 'I can't remember where I put that' moments. I have them more regularly than I like. I get teased relentlessly for it. You might remember if you follow me on Facebook , that I went searching for my Kindle , with no success.   Many, many months ago I misplaced my Kindle . I searched high, low, in between. I looked everywhere I thought I would put it, safely. I looked everywhere I thought I would put it that made no sense. I looked under the couch (found far too many hairballs), under the bed (found some socks), cleaned out my closet (where I found far too many clothes that I don't wear anymore). No luck.   I was teased, lectured, and felt completely terrible, like an idiot. I could not for the life of me remember where I put it, but I KNEW it was in the house, somewhere. I just could not for the life of me remember!   We STILL have boxes that were't unpacked from out last move. photo courtesy of Rai...

As I gained consciousness this morning, I was wrangling the tasks to do today in my head.  It is going to be a full, busy day, dealing with lots of people. That alone is enough to make me feel I have to prepare, not to mention the errands I have to run as well. Each on their own is draining, together, almost too much. I almost wrote on the fridge board Terrible Tuesday . But not wanting to spread negativity to the kids, I wrote this: Wishful thinking perhaps. At least some great art was in view. Sculpture done by my daughter. photo courtesy Raige Creations . Determined to make the best of this day, I got right down to folding laundry (yest at 7am), as I had put that off for far too long. Then it hit me. October 1st. I lost a little of the positivity I had mustered. Where had the time gone? How did it get to be October already?! Then I remembered NaBloWriMo , on top of everything else. NaBloWriMo = National Blog Writing Month. A blog post a day for the whole month...

My daughter is so sweet and thoughtful. When back to school shopping she insisted on buying me a journal. Out of the blue! She brought me over to the journal section in the book store and asked which one I liked. I thought she was getting one for herself. "Well you have to pick honey, it's up to you" , I said.  She said, "No I want you to pick!"   " Why?" I asked.  "Well, I want to get one for you" , she said.  I was confused. " Uh, why?"   Why did I need a journal???  She said, " For you to write in. You want to start writing, Mom, so this will help you.  It will help you write, you can put quotes in there too, and get your ideas down." I mumble...and say "But I write on the computer" ....and she rolls her eyes. She continues, with a hint of disappointment  "I thought sometimes I could write quotes in there too, and you can bring this with you anywhere, and it's pretty isn't it?"   ...

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...

Under Pressure. The pressures of life, we feel them. We are either weighed down by them, crushed by them, or we grow stronger because of them. This week, I have experienced pressure. Pressure from the obligations of life. Pressure I impose on myself. Pressure others put on me. I have been weighed down, nearly crushed, but ultimately I have grown stronger, as I am still here, still going. The pressures don't have to get the best of us. And that is something we sometimes forget when we are feeling the pressure. We can let the pressure get the best of, but it is just as simple to overcome the pressure, and tackle each one as it appears. I was imposing on myself the pressure to write, on top of the month end pressures the business requires, along with the housekeeping pressures that always exist, the time pressures that never let up, the creative pressures I long to take more time on. All with the self imposed disgust from not running in almost an entire month. Not even ...