Raige Creations

Do you ever feel like you need a change of scenery, a change of pace?   Do you ever just want to avoid the computer for days? Do you ever find it so difficult to get motivated to create that you take drastic measures to change your routine, change everything, to start over?  Monday, I just couldn't find music that inspired me. I couldn't find the inspiration to write, I couldn't create, I didn't even want to do my normal computer routine.   I knew I needed to change my routine.  So today's Walking on Wednesday is about changing things up a bit.   I thought changing up the music, and posting today, would be a good way to start today. Find new music - here is a different music experience, Symphonic Pink Floyd. Numb yourself to your normal sounds, routines, experiences. Find new sights. by CubaGallery on Flickr Find new sounds. by eddie.welker on Flickr Find new routines. by JadeTang on Flickr So I began this week avoiding the computer, crea...

A fun way to introduce my Mother-in-Law ~ Bridget ~ in the new series Friday's Family Jewels. Each Friday we will see some of Bridget's creations, now available at Raige Creations .  Here is Bridget, and a little bit about her passion for stones and rocks.  Here Bridget is with her hubby, Mac Finding stones has always been a family pastime, passed down from Bridget to her son (my hubby), and then on to her grandchildren. We have stones from Iowa to New York, from the Caribbean to Maine, and nearly everywhere in between. She even bought our oldest son his own tumbler back when he went through his Caribbean Crystals Collection phase.  (We still have a big jar full of crystals and rocks found in the old quarry from when we lived there) His collection never got tumbled, though. It sits on his dresser in a jar. Still, it is pretty. Just a few of the rocks and crystals in my sons collection. But Bridget actually does something with her rocks. She goes searching for that ...

Due to the frequency of rain in the area lately, this week's Walking on Wednesday is a wonderful rainy day activity. Baking!  Often, on rainy days, I find myself in the kitchen. I don't have the itchy 'gotta be outside' feeling, and the hubby and kids are always hungry it seems, so baking and cooking are a natural rainy day activity.   On a recent rainy day, I was on a bread making kick. My hubby cannot eat dairy - no butter, milk, cheese. But he loves sweet breads. I searched high and low for a banana bread recipe with no milk or butter. Not easy to find, but I did find one. But how much banana bread can one eat before one gets so tired of banana bread they don't want to see another banana? Not much actually.... So, some experimenting and desire to use up some ingredients, I came up with a recipe for Apple Bread that uses no butter or milk. It is a heavy bread, nice and moist, just the way hubby likes it.   Flour, baking powder, salt mixture Ingredients:...

Post Father's Day. I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday and got to celebrate it with wonderful Dad's. To honor Father's Day, I bring you Everclear . A troubled lead singer creates touching, meaningful, great songs. Thanks, in a very round about way, to Dad. Ironic, isn't it?

I do love to read. Although if you met me in the last 2 years,  you would never know that. My problem? Finding a good book!! I have been having trouble deciding on WHICH book to read. Finding one that I think I would be interested, getting it, and then of course finding the time to actually sit and read a book.  I have tried, I have tried a few books lately, but never got past the first few chapters. Disappointing. So much so that now I hesitate even getting a new book. I don't trust my own judgement. I started following a great blog, The Cottage Bookshelf , that posts book reviews, and even does book giveaways! I can read the reviews and see if that is a book I think I would enjoy. This is amazingly helpful to me!  And that I have a chance to win a book is even better. I don't even know how I found this blog, but I Love it!! The Cottage Bookshelf has regular giveaways.  The two left for this month are: The Astral by Kate Christensen and  The Upright Pian...

Just some of the things you can find  while walking in our yard.  You can go from cute,  to interesting,  to downright creepy  in  just a few steps.  The Cute: A Baby Bird. This little guy is one of the ones from the nest that was in our carport inside the hanging hose . A Bunny. One of the bunnies that we see nearly every evening, munching on the grass and always watching us too. Yes, who doesn't think those little creatures are cute? Now, this one is interesting. A Spider. Some may call this one creepy, but I have come to find spiders interesting. There are SO many different kinds in this area, it is interesting to find one you haven't ever seen before. And as long as they aren't the Brown Recluse or Black Widow (common in NC), I can call them interesting. Ready for the downright creepy? This one gives me chills  every time I look at this picture. First, it's long hind end is pretty long,  and THEN,  that long protrusion of a s...

Here is a blast from the past,  requested by my friend Heather.  (thank you Heather now this song will be stuck in my head for days!) It immediately took me back to that AM Radio always on in our kitchen, always playing this song, always in the summertime (it seemed).  I was 2 years old when this song was released, but that AM Radio played this song for years. I remember it played every summer, standing in the kitchen on those hot summer days, getting breakfast, and planning our big, empty days. Where would WE be running today? Band on the Run Band on the Run Those were the only words we ever did remember anyways. As we were running through the backyard to begin our journey for the day. My kids are on summer vacation now, so to celebrate lazy summer days, and inspire journeys of summer exploration, we can all sing: Band on the Run Band on the Run

YES - you can offer your beautiful handmade creations for FREE.  You can SELL your creations FREE. Zibbet offers completely free shops, with limited features true, but free. Like Features?  Well, Zibbet offers cheap,  yes cheap  monthly fees  OR very cheap yearly fees. Click on that little birdie, he is saying get a shop for CHEEP CHEEP! heehee. Now is the time to expand your markets and reach a whole other world of customers. Not to mention the Community is wonderful.   You will meet other sellers, buyers, and get all the help an support that is lacking on other venues. And you will soon find out the staff at Zibbet   is unlike any other venues.  They listen!  They interact!  They are supportive!  Click here , and start your successful shop!

Window Shopping is usually "an activity that shoppers engage in by browsing shops with no intent to purchase, possibly just to pass the time between other activities, or to plan a later purchase ."  In these tough economic times, we all are doing our fair share of Window Shopping, hoping that we are in a position to 'later purchase'. There are even instructions on how to window shop on  http://www.wikihow.com/ !  There are 9 steps !! I am gong to make it easy for you today. This is a virtual walk , we are virtually window shopping . So there are no physical benefits, but there are plenty of mental benefits .  Enjoy these great finds in some of Zibbet 's fine shops. Lori's Styling Hair Stuff (good for wild little girl!) Pink Zebra Hair Bow Mimi and Collette (good for Dad) Mustang Hubcap Clock Pop Embroidery (good for active baby) Buh Bye Ladybug Bloomers Turn Peace Around (good for peaceful folk) Hemp Anklet with Purple Peace Sign ...

Started out as a good day, turned to a really bad day then turned out okay .... so this seems like a great song for today. But what the heck is tubthumping ? Apparently, it is campaigning. To most, this is just a drinking song.  It's repetitiveness is infamous,  ranking it #12 on Rolling Stone 's Most Annoying Songs. Oh well,  great for bringing us up when we feel knocked down! A drink would go very well with with this song. HAPPY HOUR!