Raige Creations

We have a nice neighborhood to walk in. We can walk down the street, along the river, then walk up a bit of a hefty hill to get back to our place. A nice rectangular walk that includes all sorts of interesting things.  One day, it was the bus stop bench. It has a a great rusty look, right next to the River Walk path.  We have seen clothes left there, food, the usual garbage. This day (being from about 2 months ago - still no sign of Spring), a most interesting piece of what I would call garbage was here, but I would bet that someone will pick this up and do something with it.  Our neighborhood has a great bunch of landowners who have all kinds of interesting bits in their yards. They also add beautiful things to their porches, and even garages! I would love to see this interesting thing left on the porch bench appear creatively in someone's yard. I am not sure what it came from, but I bet it could be used for something interesting. The last time we went by, this piec...

What a treat it was yesterday to leave the shop, after several very long days working, and find this in the park across the street. It had just rained, and the sun came out again, and the music started playing. A very light, relaxing way to end my work week. (I have help at the shop today, and thus am still at home....a much needed first day of a two day break for me!) Though I missed recording the beginning of the song, I got most of it here. (Sorry for the unsteady arms, I am new at taking video's on my phone. ) I was so enjoying this, we bought a CD and I played it while I cooked last night. Quite a pleasant way to cook, I might add. Their CD cover says: May the reality and power of love  imbue each note with redemption,  magnificent enough to inspire  us to find another way to live.  ~ from "Kutambura Kwavo" Enjoy, and if you like as much as I did, you can get a CD of your own on their website.  (And, I learned how to upload ...

Well I did it. I ran in my first public race - for a good cause. The Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell 5K Run . When I heard of this 5K run, I thought 'that really isn't much further than my usual route' so I thought this was quite do-able. I wouldn't say I have been working up to this, in fact it was a spur of the moment decision to enter. I never really thought of running with a huge group of people with bells on my shoes.  I only discovered a few days before the exact distance I had been running, well and walking mixed in. It was right at 2 miles. A 5K is 3.14 miles. I was nervous - would that extra mile really do me in? Just one more mile really, not bad, right?  A very festive walker! My 'festive' feet,  complete with bells and number. My Festive Ears So I joined, and day of race got my Christmas Spirit going. I wasn't the only one - in fact I was dressed rather conservatively. Just my festive feet and Santa Hat. Oh yes, and...

As I mentioned the other day, something about the fall air is invigorating . I get to experience breathtaking views and beautiful color every day. I am as amazed by it now as I was when I first saw it, when hubby brought me here  to show me our potential new home that October 5 years ago. Perfect motivation for getting out there and enjoying! So get out there. Enjoy. And if you are in the Asheville area, stop by Blue Rage of Asheville for the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting and Fine Art Exhibition Colors In Time .

Yesterday was a true autumn day. Through and through.  First thing in the morning there was this beautiful crisp view from the front sidewalk of the high school. Soon after I went for my run/walk and the breeze was string and cool, with the smell of leaves in the air. I brought the dog and Madonna with me, and something about the entire experience was invigorating! Each wind gust, the birds riding the air, the leaves in their reds and yellows. It all gave me energy I hadn't felt in a long time.  I ran almost the entire time, and it felt good. Surprisingly good. The energy stayed with me and I accomplished so much yesterday morning it surprised me.  Up until that point I felt this sadness when I let it sink in that it was fall. I was missing the warm air, the hot sun, the summer!  Yes the leaves are breathtakingly beautiful, but I wasn't ready for the seasons to change. All I could see was winter not far off and I am just not ready for that.  ...

'Take time to stop and smell the flowers' they say.  Yes, that sounds like a good idea, but every time I stop and take a minute, I say to myself "When the heck did THAT happen?!?" Things are moving so fast these days, events that happen often take me by surprise. For example, my oldest is now in his second week of college! Yes, well into classes and settled in. I know we drove him there, unloaded all his things, said our goodbyes and drove home without him. (all in one day too, 5 1/2 hour drive each way. No wonder it is all a blur.)   See me hanging on tight.... when did he get so tall??? I look at the pictures and think 'When the heck did my little Cuddle Bear become a man?' It seems like it happened so fast, the last 18 years..... Then today, I nearly fell over when my  youngest  walked in the kitchen like this:   Sir, yes Sir! He is in JROTC, and uniforms are the dress each Wednesday. But when did he become such a handsome young man? (...

As I try to get back into a normal schedule, I am really loving this song and this long version of it. It is a groovy way to start the week. Hopefully a nice and normal week. With school starting, the oldest now off at college, the shop duties taking up most of my waking hours, it is hard to feel consistency these days. This week, I am hoping to really get back to normal even if it is a new normal. I am ready for the comfort of repetition and steady schedule rather than the chaos of jam packed days in ten different directions. Crimson and Clover, over and over should set the tone. This song was written in an effort to change the band's directio n, and it experimented with sounds and effects . Another fitting theme for this week. Embracing a new direction at t he shop , and finding a schedule that will fit some aspects of the old schedule I was comfortable with.  Happy Monday and here's to new beginnings and old ways.

I love my neighborhood. Though I am sorry to say I missed my goal of walking each and every day since my birthday, I am still walking at least 5 days a week, and I still love seeing everything in my 'hood'.  How about seeing some of the things in my own 'hood' today? I run into some beautiful nature, fine neighbors, and interesting things that make me appreciate where I am. Today I am bringing you into my 'hood'. This area is full of dog lovers.  Dogs go with their families to eat, to festivals, and there is always someone walking a dog or a yard with a dog in it, whether you are downtown or here further in 'the country' as we are. Plus, there is a dog every other house here in my hood. Some houses have 2 dogs. They each greet us with their barks, scaring LadyJ, but I think they just mean to say hello. 'yang' 'yin' These 2 fine dogs, the 'yin' and 'yang' dogs of the 'hood', share the same house, ...

Story of my life.  Oh Crap I'm Late Again Clock My mother was always late. Growing up, w e were never super late, always five or ten minutes late. Not too late to miss much, but always late enough to miss the beginning.  I vowed to not be like that of course. But some things are just inevitable.  As I got older and functioned on my own time, I got to be less late. But still late just the same. I usually made it within the first five minutes of something, and even sometimes right on time. I never did manage to say I was actually early for something.  Rum Point, Grand Cayman Then I moved to the Caribbean, where late is the norm. Everything moved slower, perhaps the heat and beauty slowed everyone down. It was perfectly acceptable to be late. In fact, if you were on time or even (gasp) early, you were often all alone and then eyed suspiciously by those who showed up at the assumed proper start time, fifteen to thirty minutes after the stated time. Buffal...

Okay, I lost a few days this week. Last thing I knew, Monday was finishing up and the week looked good. Now, it's Thursday and I am trying to figure out what happened to Tuesday and Wednesday!! Days of the Week Underwear. Need some in adult sizes me thinks I haven't walked in the last two days (I know, I know! I can't say I have walked every day since my birthday. Don't worry, I am chastising myself so you don't have to.) I haven't listed my new Toekini's, I haven't made any new Toekini's, I barely managed to pay the end of the month bills. What is going on?  Want it? Here is Amazon link I know part of the culprit. Kindle . I found a book (for free) that I liked over the weekend and decided I would 'take a break' and just read. Well, that was the weekend. Turns out this book was part of a series, and so I got the next book, and then the next, and now have the next. It is the  Solomon and Lord series, by Paul Levine . It seem...