Ginger's Journey

Cedar Lake Winery

2012-01-29T16:17:00.001-06:00

What a great little places nestled away in rural Warren county. I didn't even know it existed until about six months ago and didn't manage to get out to the place until Saturday night. It was simply lovely!

we started out with a wine tasting at the bar.....with our little tray of nibbles and a sample of 5-6 of their wines.

The setting was warm and cozy with a big fireplace that some people were sitting by. After the wine tasting we headed to a table and had some appetizers and a glass of wine slushie!

It was good fun with friends on a Saturday night. Right now they are only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but once warmer weather gets here they have more days! Looking forward to sitting on the patio in the spring!

Cards 19-20-21-22

2012-01-29T07:16:00.002-06:00

(stamps, sharpies)

Card 19: I'm trying to use lots of different things to create cards...I mean afterall I am going to need 366 of them this year! You can see I LOVE sharpies. I bought some other markers from the craft store and they were pricey....but I find in the end the sharpies are the best!! I also have some Bic markers and they are good but not as good as sharpies!!

(sharpies, other markers)

Card 20: Some days I need a quick and easy card...this was one of those days...but I also used it to explore some letter techniques....I'm not very good at lettering so I hope to improve that!

(paper doll cutouts, sharpies)

Card 21: I found a site with a bunch of paperdolls. I forgot to save the link but it is a really neat site and these are printables to make paperdolls for your children. There are dolls from a lot of different countries. I printed these and shrunk them down so they would fit on the 3 x5 card. It's suppose to be a "joke card" but I'm not sure anyone really got the joke except me!

(collage pieces, sharpies in shades of pink)

Card 22: this is one of my faves for January...I'm not sure why...I like the different shades of pink and I like the "uncover the rock star in you" collage pieces. It speaks to 2012...for ME!!

I'm up to date on all my cards.... which I am really proud of...I'm not up to date on blogging them but I hate to overwhelm Ginger's Journey with the "Index Card a Day" challenge. There are so many things in my life right now that are blog worthy!

SoulCollage: The Princess Card

2012-01-23T17:11:00.002-06:00

I am the one who loves pretty things.

I am the dreamer of dreams that end happily ever after.

I am the one who dreams of leaving the mundane for the magical.

I am the one who believes in the power of love.

I give you the desire to explore new things, the softness of beauty, and the caress of enchantment.

I give you the wonder of dreams and the goodness of life.

I give you the doorway.

I want you to soar, to recognize your beauty, to pamper yourself and to indulge in the riches of life.

You are a princess. Your riches are inside you.

Your soul, your spirit is more valuable than diamonds or rubies.

The measure of your worth is not in dollars and cents but in the essence of you!

Hold this knowledge and do not let the weary world rob your of your treasure.

A few years back I wanted to make soulcollage cards....I made the Princess Card above and wrote out my thoughts and I started two others but then the project got set aside. It's always been in the back of my mind. I love the whole concept. The whole intuitive part of the process. So I decided to get out my box of materials and start again and to share them here with the readers of Ginger's Journey. This is NOT my idea...if you search SoulCollage you will find sites, blogs, and instructors for the process. It was originally copyrighted by Seena Frost. On my blog I hope to just record my personal journey through the process.

Index Card a Day: 16-17-18

2012-01-22T07:44:00.001-06:00

(cat collage piece, sharpies)

I'm always on the lookout for neat words, or little pictures that might work on the cards. I found this little cat in an old magazine. It reminded me of our cat Fritz who passed away in December 2011, so I decided to dedicate this card to him.

(Cut outs, sharpies, staples)

This day I had an eye doctor's appointment so I used the little reminder post card I received to clip out some pics for the card! I was out of glue (I've went through FOUR gluesticks already!) so I used staples to attach them!

(paint, sharpies)

A few days back when I was painting in my art journal...I painted a few cards so on "busy hectic" days I could have a bit of a jumpstart! The blue on the card is paint...the rest is markers. I used four shades of pink. I wasn't very inspired so I just colored and defined shapes with the black sharpie. It actually turned out "ok."

With the cards..I have been trying to mix it up...themes, materials etc...so far I have used marker, paint, chalk, colored watercolor pencils, collage pics, gems, stamps, and desk drawer "junk". Some cards have drawn on ideas on my January list...

Other days the "idea list" just doesn't "speak to me." so then I do cards like my Fritz card or Ode to Purple etc. Not every card has a name but lots of times a title pops into my head while I am working on them.

Thoughts About The Hunger Games

2012-01-16T08:53:00.003-06:00

The Hunger Games is a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I read all three books about 8 or 9 months ago. The first book was ultimately the best and the third book ultimately the worst. The middle book: Catching Fire just sort of existed. Hard for it to stand on it's own without the prior book and solving nothing on it's own without the third book. I can't say I'm a BIG fan of the books but more about that later.

Why am I blogging about the books now...so many months later? Well our minister likes to pick themes for his series of sermons and the current series is called The Hunger Games. Of course, there's lots of great comparisons there like "bread of life" and right and wrong and getting through tough situations. So his choice of theme made me start thinking about the series again. I'd tried to just forget them. The ending was so dissatifying for me that it sort of soured the whole series. I see now there's going to be a movie (of course). Will I watch it? Possibly so....perhaps hoping the movie rectifies what I see as some fatal flaws.

BE WARNED IF YOU DON"T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING,,,,STOP READING NOW!!!

I'm not stuck on happy endings. I know life is not all about happy endings. Sometimes its about the lessons learned from unhappy endings. Yet the tragic ending of this series was disheartening to a level of being really distrubing. I've sort of blocked myself from thinking about why and what nerve it struck inside me until now. I'm not sure I can put it into words...but I'll try.

The whole series centers around Kat stepping up to enter the Hunger Games in place of her little sister, whom she loves dearly. In the end, the sister dies anyway. You might say this is true of life. And so it is. But woven into the books are a sense of justice and yet what we end up with is the biggest injustice of all. What is entangled in the books is a challenge to your idea about what is right and wrong and yet in the end you come away wondering which is which. Embedded in the book is a sense of despair and you end up with the same sense of despair at the end.

Oh I know there will be those that argue that Kat ends up with the "right guy" and that they still have children and continue life. And that the districts are no longer ruled by the Capitol and are becoming independent. Those things are true but they do little to pacify the sense of despair and lack of control. We all know life can change at a single moment. We all know that choices we make along the way can direct our lives. Some of those are outside our realm of control. Yet this series takes that idea and cuts to the bone.

I believe that light always trumps darkness. I believe good always triumphs over evil. I'm not naive. I know that life has much darkness and much evil and both might reign for long periods of time but always contained within are elements of light and good...they are never snuffed out. Perhaps the author meant to weave this into the story and there are tiny slivers here and there. The bread sent in a time of need at great cost to people in the district. Yet the overpowering darkness of the books seem to cast shadows on even the good.

I also believe in a higher power. I believe in God. I repect other people's beliefs about God because he may present himself to them in different ways, with different faces. This I don't know so I respect different beliefs. This series is pretty devoid of God or any spiritual belief. Or perhaps buried in the despair I missed it. I do remember one part where it states something like that no one prays because they have learned that no one answers. (Those aren't the exact words but the feel that I got from what was written). How sad. Yet I know there are people in today's world that feel this way. To me a series with so much evil should have contained God in some way.

You don't have to agree, it's just what I believe. It's like another movie I watched called Case 39 where the girl is possessed...no God in that movie either...how can you have a demon without God? That's just not right. Evil without Good?

Perhaps what I find most disturbing is this..."are we headed there?". Not so much the idea of districts and hunger games but the sense of despair, the idea of darkness being the overwhelming presence in the world. Overall people are not kind now days nor are they overly generous. (I know that's a generalization, there are many good people and good things happening). BUT when will we reach the point where the despair is predominate? When will the world cycle into a time of darkness that seeps into all areas of life? When will people become so caught up in just surviving and taking care of themselves that humanity changes?

If the series is meant to be a commentary on social discord then perhaps the author hit the mark more than I give her credit for. Most classic literature does just that. Catcher in the Rye comes to mind. Yet this series does little to dispell the feeling of darkness and leaves one with an emboding sense of doom, and a pervasive sense of sadness even though the ending tries to wrap it up with Kat's family and the value of "remembering" the dead who fought the battle to provide a better life.

REMEMBER: These are my thoughts at this particular date and time. You don't have to agree with them. They just are what they are!

Index Card a Day 12-13-14-15

2012-01-16T07:59:00.000-06:00

(paint, sharpie, collage pic cut apart)

Day 12 finds me revisisting the high speed chase!! That's one of the great things about index cards...you can do several of one idea of topic...explore until your interest runs out!

(mishaps, sharpie, gem squares, chalk)

Day 13 I wanted to start using up some mishaps from another project so I focused on my word for 2012: TREASURE....

(ink, stamps of dragonfly & fern, sharpie)

Day 14 was another departure from the January idea card. That's ok the idea card is really more for...I'm stuck....what am I going to do today situations. I decided to try and use some stamps because I have hundreds of them. So I chose the dragonfly (my totem animal) and created this little card. It's a quick and simple one....but some days you just don't have a lot of art time!

(paint, black sharpie)

Evan (5 years old) wanted to get in on the fun so for Day 15 I let him put some paint on the card for me. While he was doing it he said..."these can be snakes," and so I made snakes. In the middle of cold dreary January....we painted snakes!!

Little Leather Journal

2012-01-15T10:51:00.000-06:00

You might remember I mentioned picking up this little leather art journal. It's so adorable. It is 3 1/3 inches by 5 inches so not really big at all. I love it so much I am having anxiety because I want to buy a few more and I'm afraid they will sell out of them before I get back to Hobby Lobby. (ok, I'm a little CrAzY).

I love it so much I was having a hard time starting it because I didn't want to mar the perfect little thing! I was also unsure of how the pages would stand up to watercolor or markers because they are kind of thin. Plus I wanted to pick something special to use it for and that thought just hadn't popped into my mind yet. I decided to try watercolor on the first page because it is slightly thicker. Then after painting it, it just sort of popped into my head....Soul Musings!

I've blogged Soul Musings and I'm actually writing a book called Soul Musings but I've never explored them in an art journal. Soul Musings are little spiritual thoughts about God, life, spirituality, the soul, life's meaning, etc.

Well one thing lead to another and I watercolor painted the back of that first page and added a little sheet of scrapbook paper to the opposite page so I could journal some thoughts easily. I'm not sure how the rest of the book will progress but I love the little journal so far. I think having a little book that one loves makes you more inclined to put some of your most creative thought into it!

Creating with Paint

2012-01-12T12:44:00.000-06:00

I promised a post NOT about index cards...but this one is still art related so I owe you another one! This is the art journal page I created using the two little sponge brushes I got for Christmas (they were in a set of different kinds of brushes,),,and so I thought....hmmmm....Let's try them out.

I dropped some paint on the page and used both sizes of the sponge brushes. As soon as the page started coming together..I knew what I would do with it....I call this page "The Microsope of Life" It was fun using the black sharpie to create bugs, germs, worms and other crazy little critters. Then I thought of how there is so much of life "unseen"...many times unsavory parts of life...hidden beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary days and people. The thoughts don't really go with the bright and lovely colors but at the same time...that is the way it is...bright faces, smiles, lives that seem perfect....often hide much more.

Index Card a Day 7-8-9-10-11 The Creative Journey

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-06:00

(watercolor paint, black sharpie)

As you can see I have ventured off my January List again...into a rainbow colored world! I thought I was using sharpies way to much....so I decided to use some watercolor....and then my mind went blank so I just doodled a little house and tada! Again I have to remind myself that this isn't about great art...it's about "messing around with materials and having fun!"

(sharpies and other markers)
Back to the list for card 8....and it's My Lucky Number....8. I tried to use the lines of the card to help make straight lines....it worked ok...but I am line challenged and I need to remind myself to keep a VERY steady hand!

(tea bag packet, sharpies)
Again...I ignored the list. I wanted to try something "different". I had intended to collage but found myself without collage materials when the muse struck....so I opened my desk drawer and decided to create "Art From My Desk Drawer". About the only glueable thing I could find was a tea bag packet. It actually turned out "ok." In fact, I sort of like it because it is a bit more artsy than my cards have been so far!!

(watercolor, black sharpie, collage eyes)

My "Ode to Purple Card". I decided to watercolor a few cards because I had the paints out and I figured I could do the water color part on like four cards and then use them for upcoming days. This one I decided to use only purple. I tried to create some swirls etc because I was reading on an "artsy" blog how you should do that and then "look" for things in the swirls and go from there. I could "see" some little flowers so I doodled those and then the whole "ode to purple" keep singing in my brain. So I knew if I did collage I would need some purple things. I have only recently started my collage files so I didn't have a BIG selection....but I did find the eyes and they worked. Again I like this card because it seems a little more "artsy" and less elementary schoolish. LOL

(watercolor, collage)
I was only going to share three cards per post but then I decided I was so close to having them all "caught up" that I might as well post the last one. I love this little card...because:

1. I love the little monkey. He's adorable. When I clipped him out of a magazine I knew he'd make a fun card!

2. I feel like my cards are evolving into something...I don't know...what...but they have "grown" in just 11 short days.

3. The card is ME...Live Hard....with attitude...in 2012. The heart makes that little statement "softer" so not live hard as being mean but live life fully!! Have adventures....enjoy!

So all the cards are blogged...except of course todays....which I haven't done yet. I need to get up some other posts so this blog doesn't become ALL index cards...lol. Later dear readers....it's a snow day so perhaps I'll blog a bit more...later!

Index Card a Day: Days 3, 4, 5, and 6

2012-01-07T08:05:00.001-06:00

(index card, black sharpie)

For Day Three I didn't need the list either....I wanted to try a little cityscape. I had noticed these several times on different blog. This is my first try at one....it isn't near as cute as some I've looked at but it's ok for a first one. I imagine I will be doddling lots more of these so I hope to imporve my technique!

(index card, black sharpie)

Day Four I used my focus list...and the Five Senses of Winter popped out at me. So I created the card using just black ink and a tiny smudge of brown sharpie!

(index card, black sharpie)

Snow Family is the theme for Day Five!! Reminds me of being in elementary school and drawing little things like this. To me the index cards aren't about GREAT art...I'm really not all that talented in that area. the cards are about enjoying the creative process.

(index card, collage words, highlighters, black sharpie)

Day Six....I decided I have been using the black ink and sharpies too much and I want to try to mix it up a bit. My idea was a collage but I just didn't have any good collage material available....so I used the Reflections of Life cut out of a book. I also used high lighters and black sharpie. I'm not crazy about the lettering on the card...I needed a finer tip marker and the sharpies tip was a bit worn down!

I'm almost to day seven!! I'll do that card today which will mean I have made it through week one!!

Index Card a Day (1 and 2)

2012-01-02T10:26:00.000-06:00

So 2012 is here! So I started the Index Card a Day...an art challenge,,,,,create a little art everyday...on an index card...small, simple, doable...we aren't talking museum materpieces here...just a bit of fun and exploring with different kinds of art...

(Index card 3x5, sharpies)

I have a little list of topics I jotted down in case I needed inspiration. No rules about having to follow the prompts, there just there if I need an idea because I am drawing a blank. One is called New Beginnings....and so I created the above card on January 1st, 2012....a NEW year ahead...what will it bring!

(Index card 3x5, watercolor crayons, sharpies)

Day Two....I didn't need the list because I knew I wanted to create a card called High Speed Chase. When we went out on the first of January, we were right in the middle of a high speed chase, after dark with lights flashing, with one car going about 100 miles and hour and 12-15 police cars chasing....it was a little scary when they started zipping around us...whew! In fact this is such a fun little topic...you might see some more cards based on it. That's the great thing about the index cards...you can do several all on one topic...until you are really satisfied that you have "created" the mood/idea/etc that you want to.

I won't blog the cards every day because I doubt I can keep up...but I'll try to post every few days and include several cards in a post. Of course, I will still continue to post other blog posts about happening, thoughts, poetry, etc.

The Story of the Postcards

2011-12-30T10:06:00.008-06:00

Ok it all started with Pinterest and the Calendar/Journal shown above. You can find information about this project at Design Sponge. That's where the Story of the Postcards starts but not where it ends. I love this project....the way you can jot a short note each day and that after a few years you will have a journal of sorts for each day of the year. . After you use the cards for the month you move them to the back of the box. I was determined to get one in order for 2012

I didn't have a berry basket and no offense but I don't like how the postcards are used sideways so when you look at them as dividers you can't really see the postcard picture correctly! I knew right away that I had a box of old postcards my mom had given me years ago and actually located them quite quickly. I looked through them and noticed right away that the size of them would not work with this project. So I put them away and used some manila colored dividers instead. I found a wooden box I had that really wasn't being used. It is a recipe box...but other than saying "recipes" on the front it is just a nice wooden box. I bought a package of cards but not the date stamper. I'm thrifty and I figured since I was making this for myself and not a gift that I could just write the dates in!

Yesterday I cut some of the index cards for the box. This morning I started working on the project again. I wasn't completely happy with the divider cards because of their size they didn't really stick up above the index cards and so they weren't very useful as dividers, I also knew that I'd need to decorate them. My original intent was to collage on each of them. (Sigh a big ongoing project). I thought about running to the store to buy a larger size...and then I thought NO...my mom always managed to dig around and find some material to use. She wasn't in a place or a financial situation to just run to the store and "get something else." So I used some of the additional divider cards I had and cut and stapled them to the dividers, making them "taller".

Ok you are saying..."What about the Story of the Postcards?". We are getting there...trust me. I liked the size much better. There the dividers sat in the box, plain and drab...hmmmm. I went to get the post cards again. I place one of top of the divider...it looked..."nice". It didn't cover the whole divider but it didn't need to because the bottom half is down in the box anyway! I looked through a few and picked out some. They are tattered and stained but they are "different" from ones I might pick up at the flea market or resale shop. They have a history. They are not really my mom's even though she kept them for years. They are my paternal grandmother's. I have had this box of post cards since before my mother passed away. She has been gone for 20 years so I have kept this box in a drawer for about 23 years. I have used a few select ones in picture frames. They are ones related to holidays. Other than that they have stayed, in the box, in the drawer.

I know that using them in this project means they will be "ruined". Well, ruined in the sense that if I glue them to the index card they are no longer unblemished, Who am I kidding? They are blemished already. There are stains and tears and some of the corners look like they have been chewed on by mice years ago. Do they really have any "value?" I decide I am going to do it! I glue one to the front of the recipe box!

I check the backs for any dates or other meaningful information. Some are plain cards without writing or postmarks. One has a postmark from 1910. That makes it about 102 years old! I jot the date onto the back of the divider i plan to glue it onto.. At first I try to use glue dots thinking that at some point they might be able to be removed if I so desired. This is a failure....the old card material comes off instead of the backing of the glue dot. I get the craft glue. I feel "guilty."

I try to peel one off because of my second thoughts. It starts to tear...there is no going back. I create three dividers with an uncanny sense that my mother is cringing. I stop. I feel guilty. I pick up the postcards and turn the very next one over...........

I look at it and I realize it is a message from my mother. It is her telling me that it is ok to use the items she has given me. To take them out of the drawer, out of the dusty box and to create something lovely (to me) and useful. Something that I will look at everyday. I will use this card for the month of my mother's birth! Each day when I write on a card I will see the monthly card and the one on the front of the box and I will be reminded of my mother's love.

There is still work to do on this project but I do it will a happy heart and no guilt. I love you too, mom!

Index Card a Day Project

2011-12-27T23:22:00.001-06:00

This has been around for a while. If you are interested in reading about this approach...check out Daisy Yellow she has made this an ART...:)

So the challenge is simple....do art on an index card everyday in 2012...yes you heard right EVERYDAY....those that know me...know I'm not very good at long term projects...but this interests me...and I think I might enjoy it as well as grow from it. Since I just finished my Christmas Art Journal I have been giving this project some thought. I don't really want the cards to be chunky or three dimensional. First of all they are index cards and won't hold a lot in the way of materials! So for these the plan is to use...colored pencils, watercolor paint, markers, watercolor crayons, pens, chalk, and some simple collage pictures. I think this will MAKE me expand my artistic expression rather than focusing on premade elements.

So here they are...the first 100 blank canvasses for 2012...

My Silent Auction Item 2011

2011-11-28T20:24:00.002-06:00

So it's time again for our BHMS silent auction to raise money for gifts and food for needy families. Last year's ghost hunts were a big fave....but they were also a heck of a lot of work to organized etc. Plus I wanted to do something a bit different...Hence ....the above certificate which will be attached to a gift basket including some bottles of alcoholic beverages with the gift tag shown below attached to the bottles.

I think I'll wrap the gift basket in some black or dark blue basket paper (cellophane) and tie it with some of that gold garland that has little stars attached to it. I'll also put the 7 reading cards and the 2 crossroads reading cards in the basket!!

Seven cards for seven readings....they can use them over time or throw a party and invite six friends for readings. Then we have two crossroads readings which I will do upon request but I will do these alone and type up the reading for the person. I find this method sometimes to work really well because there is less pressure to speak and time to really think about what the cards are "saying".

I doubt I can top last years awesome bids on the Ghost Hunts.....but I hope I get some bids on this to raise some money for the cause. If nothing else the alcohol should spur on some bids because I'm planning to get some GOOD stuff...LOL. After I put the basket together I'll take a picture and I'll let you know how the bidding goes!

Black Friday: Notes from the Frontline

2011-11-25T13:48:00.002-06:00

Black Friday, frenzied shopping for the best deals of the holiday season, kicked off Thanksgiving evening at 10:00 with Walmart opening it's first round of "super deals". This, after several stores, such as Toys R Us had earlier "super sales" prior to the traditional Black Friday.

My daughters and I have shopped Black Friday for quite a few years, and so despite the outrage at the earlier and earlier sales that required workers to miss their own Thanksgiving dinners we headed out again this year. After browsing the holiday ads, which seemed heavily loaded with electronics and sorely lacking in what I call "normal" gifts, we headed to Walmart at 8:15ish. Yes, I know the first "round" didn't start till ten p.m. but arriving early ensured us that we could weave our way around the heaping mounds of plastic wrapped items and locate the one or two things that we wanted to at least "look" at.

The picture above, snapped by my personal photographer, Kelsey Schenck, shows the waiting masses. I found myself with a bit of a problem because one of the items I was "assigned" to get (yes we each had our missions to complete) was located at the front of the store, while the other was at the back. Never mind that they were both toys, there are no truly defined "departments" on Black Friday. Since neither were "hot items" and neither were marked down enough to create undue stress, I stood patiently listening to the Black Friday chit chat.

Many people wandered by with one or two items in hand, taken from a mountain before the designated "start" time. A few people grumbled about the obvious lack of regard for the rules and a few tried to circumvent the rules by collecting items at their feet or on shelves next to them without "officially" putting them into their carts.

Suddenly at about 9:20ish we heard a commontion from another area of the store and people began racing by our area with their carts. It seems that someone had decided to start a tad early and once the masses started ripping into the mounds of stuff, the Walmart employees, probably wisely, decided it wasn't worth a big fight to even try to get them "under control." Yet they would have their "revenge" because even with your items in your cart no one could check out until 10:00. Even with that we ended up out of the store by 10:13.

Walmart

Check Out Lines:

Total spent $108.00

Next stop Target Number 1. We arrived in the parking lot a couple of hours early so we tried to nap but ended up chatting and watching the line grow, and grow, and grow. We thought maybe Target was giving away sips from the Fountain of Youth. Wow, there were only TWO items in this store that we were even slightly interested in but hey we were already in the parking lot so we might as well watch the show!

What you can't tell from this picture is that the line actually wraps around the store and I mean COMPLETELY AROUND the store. When the doors actually opened at midnight we assumed people would enter the store. We'd hop in the back of the line and see if anything was left worth looking at. Instead a police officer and Target worker let in 30 people at a time, waiting about 5-10 minutes between round of entry. WOW...at that rate we could be here hours just to enter the store...forget about checking out. We watched for about 30 minutes with no end of the line in sight. People started emerging from the store with big TVs and the line cheered. What I did note though was that most people's carts were actually pretty empty. One or two items but never a heaping cart full of items. We decided to cut our losses (time wise) and head to another Target about 15 minutes away.

Total Spent: $0.00

Target Number 2:

If there was a huge line at this store it was already gone by the time we arrived. We grabbed some PJs and a few movies. The checkout line wrapped around the store but it was very well defined and orderly. Some people stood in line while other members of their group looked at other items and then rejoined them. No one complained about it. It's the nature of Black Friday. We stood in line too long for PJs and movies but our next store didn't open until 5:00 a.m. so we had to hang out somewhere. :)

Total Spent: $20.50

The last bit of turkey and dressing drained from our system as we waited so a bit of breakfast at 3:30a.m. seemed the thing to do. IHop...packed. We waited about 30 minutes for a table, ate breakfast and headed to K-Mart.

Breakfast Total Cost: $33.50

K Mart:

Managed a short nap in KMart parking lot. Line was already wrapping around the building when we arrived so why shiver in the cold. Store opened at 5:00. The KMart "guard" was telling late comers to just wait until the line entered and then they could pass through the doors. However more and more people were running to the end of the line so in the end she snapped at everyone just to go to the end of the line. Frustrating to be told to wait and then to get in line. People were orderly but there were a lot of people for a KMart store at 5:00a.m. Entered the store found our two items quickly and headed to the checkout. The lines were short and it took about 15 minutes to check out. Again people's average purchase: two-three items. We were asked if we wanted to buy "extended warranty" on the video game we purchased. No, I expect it to work long enough to get my money's worth. It's a gamble today though.

Total Cost: $59.89

Gordman's

Words alone can not describe this chaos. Evidently the first 100 or 200 people received smallish shopping bags and they could put whatever they wanted in them and get 25% off. Needless to say, we were not in the first 200. The store was packed and the line chaotic, snaking its way back and forth around the store. Line jumping would be easy in this situation. We wisely decided to depart.

Total Cost: $0.00

Michael's

What can I say? I wanted to pick up a few more Christmas Journals. Ended up getting a gingerbread house kit also. No lines and no crazy crowds.

Total Cost: $13.99

Target Number 1 Revisted:

It was on our way home and my daughter wanted to see if they still had a copy of a couple of DVDs she wanted so we returned to Target Number 1. They did have one of the DVDs and I picked up a nice set of sheets at the "door buster" price, plus a couple other little items.

Total Cost: $18.46

GRAND TOTAL: $254.34 (I'm pretty frugal so I don't consider that small change but it certainly isn't a HUGE amount either, especially considering that $33.50 is actually breakfast out.)

That's it folks, notes from the Black Friday Frontlines. Now for a few observations.

People were NOT buying. Not really. Average 2-3 items per person. Still a lot considering the number of people but nothing like in years past.
People were not friendly nor light hearted. This was SERIOUS business. In years past at least people joked about the craziness. Store workers were also disgruntled. I can understand it. Who wants to leave Thanksgiving to deal with the shopping frenzy. In years past, while not jovial, they have at least attempted to appear friendly.
Doorbusters were not serving their purpose. What I mean by this is they are suppose to lure you into the store and then you stick around shopping and pick up additional items. With the times of the store openings, the crowds, and other factors, No one was doing that. They got their items and left the store. I didn't really see anyone actually "shopping".
While electronics may be "hot items" and the lines at the first Target were crazy, there were still MANY of the items left at the second Target. Tom-toms, two versions of a portable DVD player and X-boxes were plentiful.
While standing in line people often "talk themselves" out of the purchase. You could see "discarded items" all along the checkout line in Target. So as a store my goal would be faster check out lines!
I haven't checked out online sales yet but I'm betting they are slightly better than in store. I plan to shop amazon sometime this weekend, so I'll let you know more details later.

That's it! Thoughts from the Front Lines!

Another Art Journal Page

2011-11-24T18:18:00.001-06:00

I hesitate to share some of my art journal pages. They are so.."elementary like" compared to some of the really awesome ones I see on some blogs. I tend to think of those as "real art" and mine as well, I don't know something less. But the truth is....even though they might look like something a child creates in school, they are still very satisfying to create. Afterall I do them for me, for creative expression and not to display.

So after some thought I'm sharing my first snowfall page. I found the little quotation in a magazine and that spurred the page. I used blue and white paint to create the background and then tore piece of white paper for the snow man and snow flakes.

The quotation: "The first fall of snow is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different." J.B. Priestley

It was fun to be messy with the paint and even though it is rather elementary, I still like it. It taps into that childish joy inside us all about the beauty of snow. It also nudges those childhood memories and the fun of just running wildly in the falling snow!! To me those things are the important things about art journals...not the creation but the things the creative process taps into, unleashes, and celebrates!

I'm going to continue in my art journal in 2012 but I also have another crative challenge I read about on another blog. I will be sharing that with you at the end of December so you can get ready to have some crative FUN also! I hope you'll join me!

Art Journal Word 2010

2011-11-23T16:06:00.000-06:00

This is a page from my art journal. It is featuring my word from 2010: Serendipity....I feel like I need to add something to the pink glitter but for now I'll just leave it as it is....until I come across what I need.....sort of through SERENDIPITY

Journal Christmas Challenge

2011-11-22T22:10:00.002-06:00

So this evening for some reason I pulled my art journal off the shelf. You can see it here beneath the little Christmas book. It's a simple yellow spiral bound book that I bought at Michaels a few years ago. I'm not particularly artistic but I had read about keeping an art journal and I wanted to give it a whirl. I have about 13 pages completed in it....none famous works of art for sure...but looking back I remember how I did enjoy creating them. I miss that creative outlet...no pressure...I'm not making a gift, or creating decor for the home, it can look as crazy and "unartistic" as I want or as it turns out....and it doesn't really matter...:)

I WANT to work on it again....that's the beauty of an art journal....it can be something you WANT to do...not something you HAVE to do...no deadlines nor pressure. I'm going to do a creative challenge here at Ginger's Journey starting in January...but more about that after Christmas.

Anyway, as so often happen, thinking about the art journal made me start thinking about my other journals. I love notebooks, journals, diarys and all sorts of little "writing treasures". I'm not particularly good at keeping them up to date....large gaps of time go by with blank pages. Still I love them. So naturally when I was at Michaels the other day I couldn't resist the cute little Christmas notebook you see in the picture. I actually bought another one with a different cover design too.

A couple nights ago I got out the little Thanksgiving notebook that I "insist" AKA "make" everyone write in on Thanksgiving. We started it in 2006. Everyone writes a brief statement. I thought immediately of the little Christmas books that I had just purchased but the Christmas journals just didn't seem to fit in with everyone writing in them. I do think however they would make a super daily journal for December. I could write one page or many. (I may even stop by Michaels and pick up some more for future years. I love the little size and the covers!) I like th idea of journaling my thoughts about Christmas throughout the month.

I took a Journal Your Christmas online class a few years ago with super prompts and terribly creative people. I managed it for about FIVE days. I still plan to finish that Christmas art/writing journal at some point but this little sized daily writing journal seems more manageable right now. There are so many Christmas thoughts I can think of to write about. So my personal challange is to journal daily in December....I'll let you know how it goes.

PS: I do love blogging but there is something intimate and simple and authentic about actually putting pen to paper. Perhaps I will be creating treasures for future generations to read. Writing is like a glimpse of a person's soul. I will share some of my entries here on Ginger's Journey. I hope you enjoy them.

Blah

2011-11-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

It doesn't happen very often but sometimes I just experience a BLAH....day or so....nothing really wrong....just a vague feeling of blah...

When that happens I try to think of the many positive aspects of my life. Of the people who are part of my journey and how each one plays a special role. Thanks to all who touch my life, whether in person on through cyber friendships.

The Darkness

2011-11-01T20:20:00.000-05:00

It's happening again. That sensation that something is hurtling through the darkness at me and I know not what. I've written about it before here on Ginger's Journey. The extremely odd feeling that something is there...just beyond my grasp. I hypothesized one time that it was another me in a different dimension. That the veil between the two was thin and that the sensation I experienced was a result of the "other me" being so close. I'm not sure I believe in alternative universes but....

When I reflect on it...I can't decide if it is something that is nagging at me. Something I should know but is just there outside the realm of consciousness. Perhaps it is a sense of time speeding past. In one way it is unnerving and in other ways it is not an unpleasant sensation. Just a curious one.

Sometimes it stays with me for days and at other times it is but a fleeting feeling, one easily brushed away. I find myself restless when it happens. Not really bored just restless as if I am waiting for something and I know not what. It is at times like these that I like to shuffle the cards (mostly the faeries oracle). For some reason they have a calming effect.

Perhaps the feeling is a statement of where I am. Perhaps it indicates that I have wandered too far off the path of this journey through life. On the other hand, perhaps it is an indication that I have become lulled into a dull stagnant approach and I need to seek answers in different realms. Perhaps I will ask my old friends the faeries.

Suspended

2011-10-27T17:54:00.000-05:00

Head down

Suspended in pain

Disillusionment whispers

Caressing the heart

With doubt.

Faery magic

No escape

Human folly

Tears gentle wings

Suspended.

Musuems

2011-10-26T06:39:00.000-05:00

Museums….bring to mind several things. Stuffy dust covered relics, oil paintings by the world’s masters, books, and bones. Honestly museums don’t hold for me the allure that often grabs other people. I like old things, antiques…to a certain extent. I don’t adore them. I collect stories not history. How do they differ?

History and traditions. People hold onto things tightly in this world. It’s a result of the fast pace and the uncertainty of life. I find nothing wrong in it except for the staleness it evokes. Life shouldn’t be like the dusty room in the museum with ancient relics that have long since lost their usefulness. Life is to be lived, embraced, experienced, challenged, enjoyed, and celebrated. When holding onto something is more important that the concept or ideal it represents then we have surely wandered too far from the path.

Some people make museums of their memories. This is not a bad thing unless the hold that those memories have entombs them just as the ancient pharaohs were entombed. Memories that bind us prevent us from living in the here and now. Bad memories, seep into our bones and cause us to wither before our time. Good memories can evoke a melancholy trance that makes us wish for something that is no longer. As humans we can’t fully escape either however I am certain that God does not plan for us to become entangled in the mistakes or even the glory days of our lives.

God wants us to be part of the song of the universe. Each note of the song adds depth and beauty to this never ending cascade of God’s love. The song of the universe is always playing, there in the back ground. Sometimes it is full and strong and we find ourselves humming along but at other times the notes are so soft, carried as whispers in the air. It is always there though, for those that pause to listen. Each of us plays a part in the song, we are equally as important. And losing a few notes of the song is not an option.

But wait, I have wandered away from museums. I do have that tendency. But then in the wanderings are the discoveries. I said, “I collect stories not history.” There are things to be learned from history, from past mistakes, from great people but there is even more to be harvested from the stories of life. From simple people living the daily journey. For the pioneers of today are those that can follow their hearts when life expects something less. The travelers of the future are those that dare to step outside the ordinary into the extraordinary. And that doesn’t involve finding some cure for a horrid disease, although I pray that we have those pioneers too.

Anyone can be extraordinary, anyone can be “museum quality” with God’s hand. I find myself a pretty “ordinary person” but sometimes I have extraordinary thoughts, sometimes I speak and it changes someone’s thinking (that in itself is pretty extraordinary), sometimes I feel a deep awareness of life slipping by and I realize that I am part of that….part of life…and that in itself is pretty extraordinary. To be a speck in this world, that God has designed.

The thing to fear about museums is that they might steal that from us. That we become so entrapped by tradition that we miss the opportunity to do something extraordinary. We might not even recognize that we can do something extraordinary. That we suffocate from “sameness”. That we cease to grow in the way God intended. That we miss opportunities because we are entombed in the “what ifs” and “I should haves”.

I collect stories not history because stories are the human element, the heart of life, the beating pulse of a world that moves so fast it blurs. Stories don’t gather dust, or mildew, stories inspire and encourage, bring tears or song. The objects in museums (in history)are just that…objects… like the body, some day they will fade to dust…..but stories…stories are the soul and will sing the song of the universe forever.

Our Spooky Game

2011-10-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

As part of the Schenck Girls Autumn adventure.....we will play AtmosFEAR.....a DVD game in which a creepy guy appears and gives you directions....your GOAL is to collect four keys before the other players.....play it in the dark with candle light....lol.

Schenck Girls Autumn-Sleepover

2011-10-01T07:01:00.000-05:00

This is a picture from way back when....hmmm....maybe even the first Schenck Girls weekend...idk. Every spirng and autumn we get together for a Schenck Girls weekend. It's just a fun time to visit and catch up on everyone's life...

This year we talked about going to Hannibal and doing haunted Hannibal but with Athena 8 months pregnant and everyone trying to stay in budget we decided to do a sleepover, scary movie night! Of course before doing that we will do a little shopping and lunch....and at some point dinner!

Schenck Girls is just a nice time for the cousins (and me the aunt) to take some time out of our bust lives and remember family history! I hope it continues for a lot of years...and when I'm in a wheelchair...someone better push me..lol.

Psychic Reading

2011-08-09T07:17:00.000-05:00

So in between "chest pains" during our recent trip to Branson, my two friends and I decided to check out a local psychic. So much of the readings and psychic stuff out there is all hoopla, not real talent but it was a fun little adventure.

I had a card reading and a palm reading. Most of my stuff seemed pretty basic. The good stuff people always want to hear and believe it is true about themselves whether it is or not. Like that I'm strong, independent, take care of others, optimistic etc. Well yes I suppose I am but not very helpful really when you think about a reading. There was one thing she nailed and a couple of more specific things but hmmmm. I can't make up my mind about this reader.

She did say that I have three children which I do and that I will worry about one of them over the next year. Well duh! That's a given. She also said I had something wrong with my blood but that it was treatable. Interesting given the chest pain, my high blood pressure etc. The lady who did my sleep study swears she was referring to oxygen in my blood stream or "lack of oxygen" I should say. But again blood is rather broad in a way, so much of what ails us is related in one way or another to blood. And given my age, weight etc should could have pretty much guesses I'd have something wrong.

All in all, I don't think mine was all that enlightening but I suppose I should count my blessings, she told my friend that she had a dark cloud hanging over her....YIKES!

Jackalope?

2011-07-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

Seriously, I can't even believe I am posting this absolutely ridiculous picture of myself on Ginger's Journey. We are back from our trip to South Dakota, and after the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and Crazy Horse, I end up using this picture for the post about the trip. For the simple reason that it's on my computer and the rest of them are not downloaded yet...lol.

Walls Drug was a interesting little stop and there were lots of fun things to see. We also took in the Corn Palace on our way out and 1880's Town or Cowboy Town on our way home. And yes there are some equally CRAZY pictures from our "dress up" hours in Cowboy Town. Sandwiched in between were some breath taking hours viewing the Badlands. What beauty God creates in nature. Then we viewed the wonder created by men at both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. I still can't really understand how they created those carvings in the sides of mountains. I know for sure I could have never managed it! :)

The summer is awesome but going WAY too fast. We are about to head out to the local fair parade here in a few minutes and then next week we are off to Kansas City to a little four day trip to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun with my daughters and my favorite little red headed boy!

Gossip, Intel and Networking

2011-06-07T22:38:00.000-05:00

Okay the picture's dated but the message is the same. It's funny when I started thinking about blogging on Ginger's Journey tonight my thoughts turned to "being in the know." And since I was just having a conversation today about how much I like to have all the who's who and the what's whats...or as some may call it "gossip." I thought what the heck I have some minutes to waste away writing about the topic.

Seriously though I suppose it's all in how you look at it. I always associate gossip with half truths and lies or information given out to be mean and spiteful. Seriously although there are some people I'd like to be mean and spiteful about.....most of the time I just like to "know things". Maybe I should have been an investigative reporter to fulfill this. I like to call it "intel" as in "intelligence", Surviving in the day to day rat race of the place I work and live....means the more you know the more prepared you are. Prepared for what you ask? Well, you know I"m not exactly sure but it seems to me that "knowing" is more helpful than "not knowing."

Honestly I'm pretty interested in human nature and the reasons things unfold as they do. The behind the scenes working of this thing we call "life." Sometimes I like to "predict" what is going to happen and how people may respond to certain situations. I can honestly say I haven't always been like that. In high school I was pretty quiet, stayed out of trouble and probably didn't really have the nerve to speak up to much of anybody...let alone play "detective."

As I said earlier, I associate "gossip" with hurting someone. I can also honestly say, I can't recall a single instance of my "knowing" something really hurting anyone....oh perhaps on the level of invading someone's privacy but other than that... no. And it's not all that "private" or I wouldn't find out about it. I mean I don't stoop to peeking in people's windows at night. lol

So perhaps it's a survival instinct kicking in or perhaps I don't like being "caught off guard" (sort of like sitting with my back to the wall and facing the door in public places) Or perhaps I'm tired of being lied to and the only way to know the truth is to have as much or more information than the people doing the smoke and mirrors act. Either way, I perfer to call it intel....or networking....but if you insist....you can call it gossip. I'm the only one that knows in my head and heart... my intentions....so talk away....I'm planning to be one step ahead of you anyway. LOL.

Happy Official Start of Summer

2011-05-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

Traditionally Memorial Day weekend is the "start" of summer. The rainy days have made it a bit hard to get in the summer mood but it's here regardless. :)

And here's something to make you smile.....our principal kissing an alpaca at the end of field day on Friday! The kids enjoyed the day and the funny kiss....I'm not sure about Flame, tha alpaca....although he was a sweetie!

Head Shot from the Little Red Head

2011-05-14T23:48:00.000-05:00

So the little red head has been thinking about life again. He knows all about life being a journey but he's been wondering about that map lately. Perhaps it's outdated or has coffe stains on it that's covering the roads and making it difficult to see the direction.

Life comes at us in stages, afterall and sometimes the next stage is thrust upon us whether we are ready or not. Searching in the glove compart of our mind doesn't work too well when life is careening around corners. There are times of the year that especially feel like this....an out of control car .

The little red head says. You don't need brakes. You need a seatbelt! Hold on for the ride and see where you come out. Afterall, there's really not much else to do!

Schenck Girls Weekend-Spring 2011

2011-04-30T06:55:00.000-05:00

Schenck Girls Weekend is a twice a year event that we started in the spring of 2010. We all get together and go somewhere fun for the weekend. Just to laugh, visit, and catch up. Girls Only!!! So in 2010 we went to the Lake of the Ozarks both times for shopping, swimming, and dining out... :)

We decided to try something new...so we are headed to Boonville, a little town west of Columbia Missouri, whose one clain to fame (other than a prison) is the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino! There are resteraunts and other little things to do in the hotel and casino so we are pretty much set for the weekend!

Maybe I'll WIN big....lol.

You Gotta Love Vegas

2011-04-28T17:17:00.000-05:00

You gotta love Vegas. The lights, the action, the strange people, the 24 hour carnival of life! We went to Vegas for Sping Break 2011. It wasn't exactly the Bitches on a Budget Spring Break we took last year but it was a load of fun!

We walked down Las Vegas BLVD and I was about dead by the time we got back to our hotel. I told my friends my foot was hurt and I couldn't really walk...but as usual they ignored me and we trudged on. We ended up stopping at the Numb Bar and having some very large fruity frozen drinks...hmmm there is a reason they call it the Numb Bar.

We stayed at Excalibur....it was older but the room was nice. It was like living in a faery tale castle and at least you could always find your way back with all of those steeples. Its walkways connected with a couple aother casinoes and so we could travel around and try the different spots. My favorite slots were Free Spin Freenzy and Wild Wolf.....ching, ching, ching,....gotta love the sounds of it. However, I came to play so I played back most of my winnings...lol. That's ok, I still ended up bringing money back home!

Cinco De Mayo 2011

2011-04-28T06:36:00.000-05:00

This year we decided to skip the craziness of Cinco de Mayo at a Mexican place and create our own at home. One of my friends is hosting and we are all bringing Mexican food and drinks! I think it will be fun and mych more relaxing.

Soul Musings: Book Introduction

2011-04-24T20:10:00.000-05:00

I'd be interested in your thoughts about the intro to the book I am writing...

Introduction

Soul Musings is my attempt to put into words my thoughts and reflections about the journey through life. It is a journey we all travel. While we all make this journey with family and friends, it is also a solitary quest. Each journey is unique to the individual traveling it and no one’s experience is exactly the same. There are common themes and threads, there are universal “truths” but in the end….my journey is mine and yours is yours. For now though we can travel together for a bit and keep each other company along the paths of life.

Soul Musings, like me, is eclectic. In seeking understanding, in traversing the landscape of life, in connecting with my soul, I refuse to be limited by one philosophy, one religion, or one culture. I have a strong belief in God, and it is not diminished by reading, listening, and seeking guidance from other belief systems or from my own imagination. No matter what your spirituality is based on, I invite you to broaden it through this experience. As I examine each concept, belief, or idea, I find that many are similar and often provide new insights and a deeper level of “being”.

Soul Musings is designed to be used weekly. One topic per week for meditation, reflection, thought, journaling, or discussion. Over the course of a year, you will explore beliefs and ideas that highlight the soul, a concept that is elusive and yet interwoven into so many aspects of our lives. At the end of each topic, you will discover a question or a reflection designed to take you deeper into this journey.

With deepest respect for the human spirit and your own personal knowledge, I invite you to partake of my humble Soul Musings and use them to gain a deeper personal connection to yourself and your spirituality.

Copyright 2010/2011 Ginger Schenck, No reprinting without permission of author.

The Lessons of Easter

2011-04-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

The lessons of Easter are in my opinion even more profound then those of Christmas.

Friends can and do betray you.
Hanging on the cross, Jesus still "honored" the thieves with the knowledge of life after death.
In the darkness of death, there is life.
Grief is a universal human experience.
Some things can not be avoided, no matter how much we pray they pass us by.
When we let our friends down, there is agony in our heart.
After the darkness comes the dawn..
Nothing is as sweet as the empty tomb.
Blessings burst forth from God at unexpected times.

May you have a blessed and joyous Easter.

Life and Voodoo Dolls

2011-03-06T08:18:00.000-06:00

Life moves in mysterious ways...this is a pretty common expression. Have you ever wondered about the mystery of life? The whys and hows and what ifs? Of course you have...everyone has. As I have said many times before I believe that life is a journey and the universe often gives us subtle hints (or even SHOUTS in our ears) about paths to explore, ways to live life, adventures to take (and ones to avoid). So it didn't surprise me the other day to discover the idea of a voodoo doll being stuck with pins in my mind. This time of year in a school setting is always full of surprises and pinpricks.

When I voiced this little analogy, we laughed and I was reminded that change sometimes takes a little prodding. And while I do agree with that, I am also reminded that when we try to nudge things in certain directions sometimes we discover traps and snares, quicksand and dragons, mazes and riddles to solve. I'm not saying those pinpricks aren't necessary or productive. I'm just thinking...hold on to your voodoo doll.....because when you start exploring the vulnerable parts of people, when you start challenging engrained thinking, when you attempt to point out the logical....that's when the illogical raises it's ugy head.

I'll be honest with you, I'm not always logical. I have my own engrained and perhaps even outdated ideas. Sometimes I become passionate about something beyond reason. Hmmm....that's something I need to reflect on....that's certainly an area for self discovery. Most of the time, however, after I have a bit of time to cool down, reflect, acknowledge or ponder a situation I can at the very least see both sides of it. That must be the Libra in me, striving for balance. Honestly, there have been very few times, if any, in life that I have held a grudge. Now there may be people I decided not to be around or things I avoid and certainly things I don't agree with but as far as going out of my way to seek revenge or hold a grudge....No life is too short for that. Every minute I would be plotting revenge or holding a grudge would be a minute less to fully enjoy this journey through life!

And yet those voodoo yielding people need to be aware of the dangers inherent in challenging thinking. It's not an easy job and the responses are frequently not logical, not what we hoped for. That's not to say it shouldn't be done. That's not to say that positive growth can't occur. It can and should or we become stagnant in our life's journey. It's just a reminder that when the pins have been stuck, hold on, because somewhere, usually from a corner where you least expect it...will come ...well....something will happen...whether its a full out frontal attack by a sleeping dragon or whether it is the equally disturbing stab in the back...or maybe something just as small as gossip (which can feel like being stuck in quicksand!)...there will be responses. The best one can hope for is to hold on and wait for the wave to pass. Then only then can one judge if the efforts have helped us discover the hidden treasure chest filled with the gold and rubies of positive change.

Are You Ready for Some Ghost Hunting?

2011-03-06T07:47:00.000-06:00

The wind is blustery today but spring is just around the corner. Are you ready for some ghost hunting adventures? I am and I need to get those hunts organized for the winners of the hunts from the charity auctions. There's work to be done! First charting out the places we will visit that night. I have several in mind but we want to get as spooky as possible and increase our chances of a ghostly encounter. Here are my thoughts for now:

1. Zion Cemetery: This location has be "hot" for ghost activity on more than one occassion. From the shadowy figure that walks in the oldest part to the banging on the shed...to being chased form the cemetery by the figure in the dark cape...
2. Bluff Road: Home of satan worshippers, the hounds of hell and other ghostly characters. I think a walk along this road with flash lights might be in order.
3. Indian Burial Road: It's dark, it's spooky and the ghost of the Indian whose grave was disturbed is said to walk along the creek bed. I hope to spend a little time jusat lingering on the creek bed waiting and listening.
4. Another cemetery...not sure which one yet but the one with the orbs in the photos might be a good choice or perhaps more than one cemetery.
5. At one point we need to stop by what we have come to call the KKK bridge...a young boy drown near this location years and years ago and some say he can be seen walking along the river or heard laughing in the woods.

There might be a couple other locations too.....so much to think about and decide. I also want to get the folklore collected so I can give a history of each place!

Faery Dust

2011-01-29T10:54:00.000-06:00

I think all I need is a "little faery dust". Yep blown into the wind with a wish and things start to change. Wouldn't it be marvelous?

The house...cleaned.
Money in the bank.
Harmony in life.

Oh yes...a little faery dust would go a long way. But then again...faery wishes are tricky things. Just when you get the very thing you wish for....nip....it bites you. If you obtain something too easily....by simply blowing the faery dust into the wind....you miss out on the experiences that occur when you achieve it yourself.

Along the road of life, sometimes we get the things we want/work for and sometimes we don't but even when they are unobtainable...we gain something from the experience itself. We learn little lessons, we gather endurance, we shift our mind set, we learn that everything that glitters is not gold (or faery dust either).

For the journey through life is about just that...gathering more inner wisdom than jewels or riches. Oh would I turn down a lottery win? No but am I going to believe my life is less because of not winning. No.

So if a little faery dust arrives in my life, I'll enjoy the adventure it brings....but if it stays hidden in the faery realm, I'll still have fun!

Something...

2011-01-25T22:10:00.000-06:00

Today I've had this nagging sensation that something is just not as it should be. Perhaps it's just a bit of post Christmas blues or winter doldrums. I'm not sure...just a sense of uneasiness, a twinge of sadness, and a feeling that something needs "fixing" but what?

Have you ever wondered about moods and how they seem to slip into our lives and upset the balance that we try to achieve. Once I wrote about feeling like something was hurtling at me through the darkness, just outside the range of my consciousness....I proposed that thing was another me...in another dimension....coming dangerously close to colliding with the me in this dimension. Well.....it seemed like a good explanation at the time. lol

This doesn't feel like that. This is different. A frustration that I can't "fix things" for all the people I love and care about. You know...make their worlds perfect for them or at least better. A sense of emptiness at the many sad things that happen in the world today. A realization that they can happen to anyone at any time....and this in turn creating a sense of fear. Most of the time I can shield myself from such thoughts but at times they seep into my veins and course through me creating a not very pleasant feeling. It leads to a sense of humble feebleness....a dawning of the truth....I am not really in control here....life ebbs and flows and rumbles along at it's own pace and with its own direction.

I need to go to bed, to sleep away the fears, the sense that I am but a speck in a never ending universe of life.....to drift into the darkness of my dreams where all things are possible. To let my mind relax into the soft cushion of possibilities.

For the quest continues....even when one is weary and thinks the course too rough and too long. Anything we do is not without dangers....and set backs...and most of all questions....the hows and whys and whens of life rest quiet nicely with the whats and wheres. Nestled together in the nest of life...they wait.

So dear readers....I leave you ....perhaps tomorrow I shall be more enlightening....for tonight the riddles lay thick upon my mind like the morning dew that drenches the grass.

Spring Break

2011-01-24T17:02:00.000-06:00

So last year a couple friends and I did Spring Break on a budget and my total cost for a trip to Hot Springs Arkansas was right at $300. That included gas, room, food, and entertainment! We are attempting to put together another little trip and as I told them....they are already putting me over my budget from last year.

So we are looking at a little Vegas package that includes hmmm....I think four days three nights, and airfare. Also included are tickets to a show. Coming in at $380 that's already over budget from last year and I have to eat while I'm there. I'm gonna make a guesstimate of $500 for this trip but I'll let you know the grand total if we actually go!

So off to count my pennies and see if I can pull off a little Spring Break adventure!!

The Quest

2011-01-23T21:24:00.000-06:00

So dear readers.....it's been awhile but I have been busy...such is the journey through life full of things to do when one would much rather be blogging.....I hope your new year is off to a great start. My word for 2011 is QUEST.....and as I started the year I had a rather foggy idea of what the word might mean in my own life and how I might live it in 2011. As January comes to a close, I have a better more clearly developed vision of the Quest.... but it is still unfolding each day.

As I started the year I decided that throughout the year I would search for or be on the lookout for Quest clues....things that present themselves to me that seem to have "some meaning" and that might guide me on this quest of 2011. Let me share the "quest clues" I have collected so far.

On the very first day of 2011 my friends took me on a mystery "quest" which was a lot of fun. On that day one of my friends was reading from a book, and this "lesson" was presented..."Live in the Moment" Oh yes, it rang in my head and I thought....quest clue. And so I filed it away to see what else might unfold or point me in the right direction. Live in the Moment...is hard in today's world. As one stumbles along with so many things to grab our attention, it's a wonder anyone ever just "lives". This is important to me because each second that ticks by is a second of the journey that is over with, never to be recaptured again. I do not say this in the sense to make it a bad thing or a sad thing....but simply to say...Live in the Moment! For it shall not come again!

Then a couple days later we had a speaker at our school. The thing that immediately grabbed me was one word....Possibilities.....just that word and I said (to myself of course)...Quest clue....the word just seemed to roll around in my head and it spoke to me on some level beyond or different than I am sure the speaker meant. Possibilities are all around us, whether we notice them or not is up to us.

Then about a week later I was faced with a challenge. One of those situations where it really seems that no matter what you do it will be the "wrong" choice, at least for someone. And it came to me that so much of life is like that. Challenges drift in and out of our lives every day. Some are so small as to hardly matter at all while others seem to be as important as the air we breath. And in my head I heard....Accept the Challenge (quest clue #3)

Then I started reading about some very strange events....birds falling from the sky, fish dead, and then cows also falling dead for unexplained reasons. Eventually I hope some will be explained but odd none the less. And everyone just seemed to be going about their merry (and not so merry) lives. These events didn't even appear to create a blimp on the radar of their lives. And when one questioned them...why they would always say, "well they say it happens all the time." OR "they say it was fireworks" or what ever the current news story was. And I pondered this for a bit and then this word popped into my head...it just seemed to present itself as so often quest clues do....and the single word....just like the earlier "possibilities" presented so much to ponder....so much to learn....so much to glean....and the word was ...Question. As if an invitation or perhaps a reinforcement of the idea that it is OK to question....we do not have to accept everything at face value.

So there you have the first four quest clues of 2011 and I have a better understanding of the Quest and where it is going. I will share that in another post, as well as, share with you a Faery reading that an online friend did in which I asked for guidance or enlightenment related to my Quest of 2011. It all ties together nicely with the quest clues.

So Ginger's Journey readers, I hope to post more often....until next time...Take Care & Be Kind.

Welcome 2011

2010-12-27T08:53:00.000-06:00

Yes yes...I know Christmas has just ended....I LOVE Christmas....I do not however LOVE winter....therefore as soon as Christmas is over...I start dreaming of Summer....

I hope all of you Ginger's Journey readers had a fabulous Christmas full of love and laughter. Ours was wonderful, almost everything went smoothly and we enjoyed time with friends and family, and lots of good food!

I always look forward to the fresh pages of the calendar for the new year and this year is no different. Blank pages to fill with dreams, adventures, wishes, and yes those mundane tasks of everyday life. Living life to the fullest on this journey is my quest....for a life well lived is the best celebration of life ever!

May your 2011 be a true celebration of life!

Santa's Sleigh

2010-12-13T09:43:00.000-06:00

I feel like I have been truly blessed this year. Working on a cash only basis I am almost finished with not only shopping but the baking and grocery supplies I need for the holiday season. The Lord is good.

Again this year I managed to send two boxes of gifts to some children in Mexico that are nieces and nephews of a friend of ours. It feels good to touch the hearts of little ones during this most holy of holidays. I am still praying that they arrived safely because I haven't heard yet.

In addition, I participated in the local silent auction to raise money to buy coats and other things for some local children. The weather is frightful right now and so winter gear is a big need. I donated the ghost hunts which I am pleased brought some funds into the cause and I also did my share by purchasing another item.

Then today I was reminded of Santa's Sleigh....which is organized and managed by Jeff at the Merry Network, of which my very own Magical Holiday Home is part of. So I decided to make a donation there also. I'd like to do more so hopefully this month's budget will allow me to make another donation.

I urge you to check out the Santa's Sleigh project, because unlike other internet charities, I know personally that the funds generated from this effort go to help a family in need. So if you have even just 20 to spare, please consider donating to this special effort.

You can check it out at Santa's Sleigh.org

MERRY CHRISTMAS ...Ginger's Journey readers!

Ghost Hunt Basket

2010-12-10T17:23:00.000-06:00

Here's a view of the ghost hunt basket. It's hard to see the contents. So I'll list them

Bottle of wine...Ghosts in the Night
Whistle
Flashlight
Batteries for flashlight
Cross
Small bag with sage and magnet on a string
Ghost Stories of Missouri book
Certificate for a ghost hunt (good for four) Included in this is breakfast after the hunt, 4 DVDs with photos from the hunt set to music, 4 picture CDs from hunt, preparation ceremony, the hunt itself, cleansing ceremony, and lots of FUN!

Since you couldn't really see the wine in the basket...I'll tell you it is a red wine that I took the label off of and put this lable on it!

I love how the wine label, ghost certificate, ghost kit page, and business card all have the same picture...the spooky tree with birds and moon! These were a lot of fun to make! SO I hope we make a lot of money for needy children and have some fun at the same time!! I'll let you know how the bidding goes!

Ghost Hunt for the Silent Auction

2010-12-06T22:16:00.000-06:00

If you have read much here you know about the infamous ghost hunts. Well, I got talked into putting together a ghost hunt basket for the silent auction that we are having to raise money for a charity for Christmas. The basket will contain several items including a ghost hunt led by yours truly. I'm a bit nervous. For no other reason than I want the hunt to be fun and people to find the places and the local folklore interesting.

Well. I can't very well snap my fingers and presto a ghost....lol. We have encountered some interesting things so perhaps the spirits will cooperate the night of the hunt! The picture above is of a house behind the trees. It's hard to see in this photo but on the camera and enlarged pictures there appears to be a man in a hat standing hidden behind one of the trees. Was he there? I don't know but what I find is the photos we take after the hunt are quite interesting.

So wish me luck with the silent auction (I hope someone bids on it) and I'll let you know the winners and how things go.

The Journey to Christmas

2010-12-05T09:05:00.000-06:00

It's that time of the year. The time where I ponder the journey to Christmas. Not the holiday prep, nor trips to see Santa, and not even the wonderful drives to see the beautiful lights. No, those are just simply parts of the Christmas season. My trip is much more personal in nature. It is the trip to "see" to "feel" the peace and love of the season. The hope and faith in the silence rarely experienced during this most holy and beautiful of all seasons. Seldom in today's hectic world do we really allow ourselves to STOP and feel. We are so caught up in the busy, hectic events of life that at times we miss out on life altogether.

When you read my blog, you come to realize that I am interested in many things and some appear to be in conflict with each other. I do not agree. I do not think that considering or thinking about other practices or beliefs "corrupts" one. A narrowly defined view of life creates a narrowly defined life. I want a broad life, a life that encompasses LIVING....not just existing. As such, I love to explore other belief systems, other cultures, other viewpoints. Honestly, along that journey I have found some gems to keep. They are not in conflict with my belief in God and Jesus. Rather I find that they enrich my understanding, deepen my awareness of the human experience and bring me joy.

Ok, back to the journey to Christmas. It is an individual journey. I have written before that I doubt I could have been as brave as the shepherds and left all that I knew to follow a star. Not questioning...just in wonder. Nor, even though I am generous, would I have been moved to bring the expensive offerings the wisemen offered? These are questions that will never be answered. However here on this journey to Christmas I let these thoughts guide me.

Somebody once wrote a heartfelt letter to me and said that I give to others without expecting anything in return. I do not say that to praise myself but to point out that his comment was worth more to me than "expecting" anything in return. That comment let me know that I had touched someone's life in a good way, a positive way, that in and of itself, is better than expecting anything in return. It is as close to the feelings of the wisemen that I might ever get.

So as you journey to Christmas this year. Try to expand your view. Try to let yourself "feel" the season. Let your heart guide you. You can't do everything. You can't change the world but you can change "your" world.

Merry Christmas from Ginger's Journey!!

Quests, & Dragons & Unicorns!

2010-11-25T18:43:00.000-06:00

If you have been reading Ginger's Journey for very long...you know I love the idea of a journey and can tie it into almost anything....you also know that each year I pick a word to live...I have been pondering the word for 2011. In the past I have used simplify, action, believe, serendipty...to name a few. For 2011 I have settled on the word Quest.

Why quest you may ask....isn't it like a journey? Why YES it is...don't you just love that? But it is more than an ordinary journey.....A quest is the act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something; a search, An expedition undertaken in medieval romance by a knight in order to perform a prescribed task. You have to just LOVE how it falls into place with my little saying about heroes taking journeys...I mean a knight is a hero! And isn't the journey that we all travel through life really a quest...a quest searching for self, understanding, a higher power, etc.

I am seeing 2011 as a quest....or maybe more accurately a series of quests where I ponder things of meaning to me..both big and small....where I live my life as a quest...as I travel through the year...searching for many things...as of yet I can not put all of those into words....the year will unfold as it does and I will know....as the year goes by....it will be a natural. I found the following quotation which is in line with my thinking.

"Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go unrescued for a long time, but not forever; a happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.” Peter Beagle, The Last Unicorn

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T05:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving all you Ginger's Journey readers. As we are moving into the "most wondeful time of the year" I am reminded that it is NOT what's on our Christmas list that makes us happy but what's in our hearts! Take a minute to reflect on all of the things you appreciate....the love of family and friends, the support of co-workers, home, food, health, adventures (big & small), a good book, a hot cup of chocolate, sleeping in, and pies baking....whatever it is that makes you smile...BE THANKFUL that you have it in your life!

The thing I am the most thankful for in my life ....people....I am so thankful for both internet and "real life" friends....they enrich this journey through life in so many ways. I love the insight they give me into life, love, family etc. As a collector of stories, I am so honored when someone shares their "story" with me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2010-11-19T06:24:00.000-06:00

Everywhere I go......oh for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

The Christmas season "officially" starts next week AFTER Thanksgiving. I'm still shopping but plan to be DONE by December 10th. I don't mind the shopping but the hustle and bustle of the holiday season just isn't what it's made out to be.

This weekend I think I will put the Mexico Tree up...yes yes I know...Thanksgiving! But this year my sister in law is hosting the dinner which gives me a bit more leeway on ealry decorating. It's a three foot tree and will be on top of the fridge...so it will be easy to put it together and then pop it up there! I have to play around a bit with the ornaments etc but I think it will be cute!

I also have an aluminum tree (sort of retro) that is going in the kitchen too....I think I have a tree addiction! But over all I plan on putting out fewer display items this year...SIMPLIFY! Remember how I harp on that word...well I am trying to live it for Christmas 2010.

I hope to be back later in the weekend with a few tree pictures....see ya then!

Halloween Feet

2010-10-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

So here are some Halloween Feet from The Witch's Ball. As my daughter Kelsey likes to point out....I got this idea from her...taking pictures of feet...I mean. These are some witches that attended the ball....and we stopped casting spells long enough to get this picture taken!

Double Double, Toil and Trouble
Which witch has the cutest feet
Tell me and I'll spare your fate!
Deny me and you'll learn too late!

Just Happy to Be Me!

2010-10-30T20:34:00.000-05:00

Just a quick hello...Ginger's Journey readers....once I have pics...I'll be back to blog about the Witch's Ball. Posts are sooo much more fun with some pictures. In the meantime....just happy to be me...Headed to Kimmswick tomorrow to look through the shops at crafts and some antiques! A nice little lunch and then more shopping before heading home so Katie can take Evan to trick or treating!!

Skulls Anyone?

2010-10-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

Here's a little skull display I put together in the kitchen for Halloween and our party....The Witch's Ball....kinda spooky yet fun! I like the way the two skulls look under the glass domed cheese tray. I liked it even better to see the shocked expression on the poor old lady's face at the resale shop when she said this will work great for cheese and I said I really want it for bones...LOL

The Door That Opened

2010-10-27T23:23:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I wrote about the Haunted Farm and growing up among some things that are not easily explained. I've often wondered if the events that transpired there on that random piece of land have any meaning? Would they have happened regardless of who lived there or were they somehow linked to my family? There's really no way to piece together the incidents and make a rational "whole". As I have proposed in the past, they seemed "other worldly" but if you indeed can come up with another theory, I'll certainly consider it. Someone once proposed that they were not "hauntings" but rather an alternate time period or universe colliding with our own. Events happening in other dimensions but bleeding over into this one. That sounds just as "crazy" as what I propose but I can't rule it out...so it sits there as another explanation.

Even now in the dead of the night, when the lights are out and the room is coated in blackness, sometimes my mind starts to wander there to the farm, to the oddities. Now I realize just how crazy it all seems but as a young child they seem rather "ordinary". It just brings to mind how we live the life we are given and seldom pause to question how the rest of the world lives. Even as a young child, however, I sensed that something was amiss with the door that opened and no one was there.

Frequently in the darkness of the house, as it rested, sighing after a busy day, I would lay in my bed and listen to the inky blackness. Listen to the small creaking sounds as the house settled and I wondered. I wondered if the door into our home, the door that opened into the livingroom, directly across the room from my bedroom door...that door. Tonight would it open?

The opening door was a frequent occurance. I tried once to pinpoint exactly when I was aware of it happening but it was like the little man in the attic...a part of life on the farm for as far back as I could remember. We didn't speak of it much, at least not in the early years.

On nights when I managed to doze off waiting for it to happen, I would often awaken to my father quietly moving down the hallway to the livingroom. Always in the dark and always quietly. That is when I would know that the door had opened. Sometimes in later years after we got a small dog, I would hear it barking and jumping up on something in the livingroom. But no matter how quietly, no matter how quickly, my father managed to get into the livingroom...the room just sat there...silent and mysterious.

Some nights I would be in bed, awake and the door would creak open. I would stay put... dreading what might be in the livingroom. Sometimes the dog would bark, and jump, and scratch. Sometimes my dad just gave up and stayed in bed or he was working late and it was just my mom and me. On those nights it felt suffocating. I think it was just my fright. Nothing barreled at me through the darkness. Nothing stood in my doorway. Yet even as a very young child I knew the door that opened...did not make sense.

Wind and drafts and other natural explanations could not explain it. Nor could they explain the sound of the dog's paws jumping up on something and then clattering to the floor. Over and over again. On certain nights the dog would simply give up and whine, returning to the bedroom. At other times it went on for what seemed like hours. Afraid to look and afraid to go to sleep, huddled in the suffocating darkness of the bedroom. Trapped in a situation that defied explanation. I don't remember exactly when the phenomenum lessed but it did over the years. Even after I left home though Mom would report an occasional night when the door opened but no one was there!

Kissing the 50

2010-10-27T22:43:00.000-05:00

Kelsey loved Mizzou Homecoming!! What a great game as the Tigers defeated long time rival Oklahoma! Rushing the field, kissing the 50, and carrying the goal post downtown....she thought it was AMAZING!! So good to make great memories and enjoy life....

The Witch's Ball

2010-10-27T06:24:00.000-05:00

The Witch's Ball is coming up FRIDAY.....Hope all these gruesome creatures are on the way! Lot's to blog...pumpkin patch, birthday bash, and then the Witch's Ball.....I simply can not keep up with all the good stuff!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-10-15T06:28:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to me on this wonderful Friday in October.

Thinking about a Little of Nothing Much

2010-10-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

I'm just thinking about a little of nothing much. Haven't been writing much lately and not sure why. Doing other projects and watching TV now that some of my fave shows are started their new seasons. Nothing wrong with that,,,,the ebb and flow of life.

I've been feeling out of sync with life in general. Unfocused and lost. Nothing major wrong just a vague feeling of wandering along with out a sense of purpose. Quite awhile back I wrote about sensing something...like something rushing at me through the darkness and I purposed that it was another me in an alternate universe, just on the fringe of consciousness. This FEELS different, like s sailboat adrift at sea....gently thrown off course by the lapping waves and the bright sunshine casting a glare on the horizon. No real hurry to right the course but a timid nagging that something is amiss.

Many things have been making me smile....the work I am doing on my bedroom is coming together and the lovely clean organized simple setup of the room makes me smile. There are still a couple big things to do and lots of "finishing touches." but overall a project that I have been wanting to do for some time is "coming together." The lovely autumn weather is also making me sigh with relaxation. This weekend we are headed to the pumpkin patch so I'm crossing my fingers for more lovely weather! October is half over (my favorite month) so perhaps that is what is making me a bit melacholy.

Well, bed is beckoning and I need to sleep. So Ginger's Journey readers, I sign off for now...

The Witch's Ball

2010-10-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

This year we are hosting a Witch's Ball as our Halloween Boo Bash.....I'm hoping for clear weather so we can build a fire outside......I am still working on my costume.....trying to figure out exactly WHAT to wear...I have lots of decorations gathered....now I just need to get ORGANIZED!!!

Schenck Girls-Autumn Adventure

2010-10-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

We started a new tradition this year....2010....We (my daughters, me, and a couple cousins) traveled to the Lake in the spring for shopping and a little weekend get away. We had so much fun we decided to repeat it in the autumn. So this weekend we head back to the Lake for shopping, laughing, and eating out!!

We are already excited about our spring adventure....we will go to the Isle of Capri....casino....for some fun in the spring....Kelsey will be 21 by then so all of us can have a little (darn little in way of $) with the slot machines, eat in there and stay at the lovely hotel!

Such simple fun....split the cost of a room, swim in the indoor pool, and do a wee bit of shopping and exploring!! Looking forward to it!

Now I Understand

2010-08-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

Last year for quite a few months I followed the full moon and made notations of how it seemed to influence people. Folklore abounds with many stories and tales of the mysterious powers of a full moon...or just the moon in general.

As so often happens things got busy and I stopped my full moon reflections. I have so many varied interests that it's often impossible to do all of them justice! But as also often happens....life brough it right back into my vision! I noticed the full moon or the near full moon and then I kept meaning to check to SEE the exact date of the August Full Moon....tonight I checked..... August 24th...

Now I understand the almost manic start of the school year...the ebb and flow that just seemed to spin in circles. The energy I felt that was electrical but not necessarily in a good energy way....Now I understand the high emotions, the crazy mishaps and the tension!

The August Full Moon is called the Sturgeon Moon based on the fact that sturgeon were readily caught during this time by fishing tribes. Other farming tribes called it the Grain Moon. It was also called Full Red Moon by some tribes. This is because in August the moon is often a reddish haze.

The abundance of fish and grain contributing to the first two names but what about the Full Red Moon....I know where the name comes from but to me this name more accurately describes the essence of this moon to me, in current time, and also based on how it "felt".

Full Red Moon....the moon in the sky tinted red by the atmosphere or by the energy displayed in the sky. It FELT like a Full Red Moon....hazy, confusing, something a little off balance. Something that should be simple like a full moon....entangled in something out of the ordinary...the red color! No the full moon wasn't red here but it felt like it!

Autumn

2010-08-22T08:58:00.000-05:00

Autumn is my favorite season. I'm not sure when I decided that. I'm sure when I was younger it was summer because of the wondeful freedom the break from school offered. But somewhere along the line...it changed to autumn. The crisp cool mornings, football, colors that I love everywhere, my birthday, Halloween, and the fresh start of a "new year" (in school terms) just seem to appeal to me. Add to that...that my energy level seems higher in the fall and it all adds up to a great season!

This fall we are doing Schenck Girls at the Lake-Autumn on the weekend of October 2nd! Yippee! It will be dull by some people's standards BUT we make our own fun! Add to that our annual Halloween party....the Witches' Ball this year...pumpkin patch trip with Evan....and possibly a trip to Kimmswick for Applebutter Festival ....and we are sure to have an event filled autumn.

While all that fun is happening I will be hard at work here at home, decluttering continues, as well as general cleaning. I'm doing some Trash to Treasures projects too....so all is good.

I hope you are looking forward to autumn and fun things. Life is too short NOT to. I always try to have a couple things in the planning stages...just to keep life...interesting. Take Care Ginger's Journey readers and Be Kind!

August Shout Outs

2010-08-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

I think life is about connecting with people...online, at work, in life, and across cultures....here are my August Shout Outs...

A shout out to all my school work friends...Missy, Cresia, Barb, Christy, Aaron, ....who are headed back into the trenches with me!!
A shout out to Natasha at Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive 365....she's dreaming of a white Christmas!!
A shout out to my daughter Kelsey who just had knee surgery...and is recovering nicely!
A shout out to Kim Loves Snow over at Magical Holiday Home forums...she's such a great help on the boards!
A shout out to Christy for helping me drive to Houston....couldn't have done it without you.
A shout out to James over at RudolphDay.com....great new site
A shout out to my favorite little red headed boy...who won't be reading this blog since he's only three...but I love him!!

So Ginger's Journey readers...there's so much to blog about....I need to do some Head Shots and more Cozumel!

Summer Reading

2010-08-11T07:42:00.000-05:00

I didn't end up reading as much this summer as I would have liked. I guess when you take as many trips as I did you just don't have the time to sit down and read...lol. I took three books on the trip to Mexico and ended up reading all three of them on the flights. Not much else to do but stress about the bumping flight and crazy landings! But to tell you the truth, I can't even rememer the titles...oh yeah...One was Concrete Blonde (and there was another murder mystery one) and then I can't remember the title of the thrid one but it was about ghost lights...sort of. It was a novel but not particularly well written.

I also started reading Enrique's Journey but it was depressing so I didn't finish it. If I'm going to read I want an escape not something depressing! I'm sure I read a few more books also but for the life of me...I can't remember what!!

I read the Christmas Cookie Club as part of Christmas in July over at Magical Holiday Home. It was interesting. It told the stories of several friends that all do this cookie swap each year. Sad at times but always with the message that life moves forward.

Now I am getting ready to read: 7th Heaven by James Patterson. It's one of the women's murder club mysteries. I like his other books better but these aren't a bad read! I'll let you know what I think when I finish it!

Do You Believe There Are Angels Among Us?

2010-08-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

"I believe there are angels among us. Sent down to us from somewhere up above. They come to you and me in our darkest hours. To show us how to live, To teach us how to give, To guide us with the light of love."

Although life has given me some hard times, though it is always a challenge, though some days I wonder just what else might happen....I believe there are angels among us....some in the shape of true spiritual guides and some in the shape of people who come into our lives and change us in unexpected ways.

Working, Blogging, and Living Life

2010-08-09T07:09:00.000-05:00

Summer is such a blessing to me because in "my life" summer means ....days off from work! Today as I journey back to work, I am reminded that life doesn't STOP in August. I can sit here feeling disappointed and upset that summer is GONE.....or I can start planning the NEXT adventure. This isn't my first day back...I've already been in four days...but this is IT....this is the week...when days off are a distant memory.

I already have a few plans in place: the zoo (coming up August 29th if it's not too hot) Bennett Springs with Barb and Cresia Labor Day weekend, Schenck Girls at the Lake-Autumn (Sept. or Oct.) A day trip to Kimswick with friends, and my annual Boo Bash (this year it's a Witches' Ball). Wow....the fun just goes on and on....I have to plan fun in my life or it becomes dull and boring...and no one else is planning it...so I might as well just take charge and do it!

Well....blogging time is up...time to shower and head into work to see what surpirses may await me there!

Houston....Last trip of Summer 2010

2010-08-07T08:13:00.000-05:00

We took a short trip to Houston to see our amigo Jorge. We drove 14 hours through the night and arrived in Houston right on schedule 1:00 in the afternoon.....hmmmm...that is before we missed our exit and ended up in downtown Houston right next to Minute Maid stadium. We had to miss the exit because we were in the right lane and the exit was to the left...across SIX lanes of traffic. But that's okay....with a little help from the GPS (we decided it was time to plug that baby in!) we reached our destination! We have SOOOO many stories to tell and all of them make us laugh. We have some great memories to keep us company until we see our friend again!

On our last day we drove into Galveston Texas which is hmmm 50-60 minutes away from Houston. We enjoyed the beautiful day and the ocean! We have tons of pictures. We laughed even though we were sad to be going home so soon! But we know we will all get together again. The road may be long and the trip tiring but in the end it is all worth it. We had some great Mexican food....and we even had some Chinese food (lol). We went to a funeral museum, an aquarium, went swimming, and saw the ocean....What a great trip! But most of all we got to see our friend that we said goodbye to last July. One year!

Jorge is our amigo...I know not why.... but we are really close friends. Even though a year passed and miles seperated us, it seemed like we had never been apart. There are some people that God brings into your life that just seem to have a special place. It's better not to wonder why but to accept that it was meant to be.

I also think that some days are just meant to be...."Life is Good Today". Don't question it or worry about what a few hours will bring (goodbyes) just laugh and smile and enjoy the day God has given you!!

Not sure when we will be together again but we will!

Gypsy Caravan and Rain

2010-07-31T07:57:00.000-05:00

Circle of Death

A fun little game.....Gypsy or no?

It was Barb's birthday....the cake says.....Grasshopper say...Happy Birthday Barb! with little grasshoppers on it! It was in reference to our day at Coconuts in Mexico!!!

Well after all the work on the back yard about twenty minutes into the party dark clouds were rolling in ....so we grabbed all the stuff that would get ruined by the rain and headed inside. It was sort of a bummer! But we didn't allow it to ruin our fun....We consoled outselves with some drunk gummy bears and drunk gummy worms! And jello shots too!

Gypsy Caravan Bash

2010-07-22T12:06:00.001-05:00

I know I still need to blog the rest of the Cozumel Adventure...but wanted to post a bit about our backyard bash...It's Saturday and the theme is Gypsy Caravan....Found the pciture above...love the wonderful skirts and outfits....not sure ours will be quite as wonderful....but we shall try...

Every year we host a backyard bash...usually the second half of July...and every year we have a different theme. Part of the fun of the party is finding the decor and food and drinks. This year with all my trips I feel a little unprepared but then I felt that way last year for the HillBilly Hoedown and it turned out great!

I am watching the weather for Saturday and they are calling for rain but who knows. Every day that it has called for rain it has been earlier in the day and then cleared off. Won't really be able to know until that day I guess. If it rains I suppose we will move the event inside....it won't be quite the same and will be a bit crowded....but we shall make do!

I'll be back later Ginger's Journey readers to post about the party and add another Cozumel day! Until then ...take care and enjoy this last brilliant (and hot) part of summer!

Cozumel Day Dos

2010-07-17T10:04:00.001-05:00

Quite a lot happened on Day 2....got a couple rain showers but mostly a good day...the weather was at least looking better!

First the four adults, loaded in Barb's rental car with the intention of going with her on a timeshare excursion. She rented the car super cheap with the promise to go on this tour. When we arrived in Cozumel downtown to take the ferry, she discovered that only two adults could go. So after some discussion, Cresia and Barb headed over to the mainland while Donna and I did a bit of shopping and looking around.

At a jewelry shop. I haggled with the owner over a ring, which I did end up buying AFTER he came WAY down on the price and we had a shot of tequila together. Later I was like...now I would have killed the kids if they had taken a tequila shot with some strange guy...I mean what if it had drugs in it or something...But none the less, I love my ring! And every vendor after that asked about my ring...hehehehe.

We headed back to the resort to check on the kids and they were enjoying the hot tub and relaxing. After we had lunch we took them back into town for shopping where they enjoyed the market place and trying to get good prices. In the pciture above a street vendor is creating a bracelet for Kelsey. He was amazing. He used the string in assorted colors and created a bracelet with her name on it! She really liked it. We waited through a couple ferries and then decided Barb and Cresia weren't showing up on time so we ended up back at the resort.

Went back into the ferry again but then as we were headed out one more time, Barb and Cresia showed up at the resort. They had taken a taxi since weren't there. We were glad to all be together again and discovered they had a great adventure at a FIVE DIAMOND resort place!

Dinner, drinks, and then in for an early night....except the kids....they went to the club on the resort and danced and had a great time!

Summer Updates

2010-07-16T17:59:00.000-05:00

Just got back this afternoon from our camping trip. Adventures have taken up most of my summer....and there's a couple more to go. Our annual summer bash...Gypsy Caravan is scheduled for Saturday the 24th of July and then a trip to Houston, Texas, right before I'm going back to work. This has been an awesome summer but not one I could repeat every year! Lol.

I still need to finish bloggin Cozumel...Day Two....and some other news worthy stuff....but I am tired so just wanted to post a quick update...:)

Iguana Nightmares

2010-07-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

This is what I'm talking about. They were everywhere....lurking around the pool, under porches, and on sidewalks. Some were little and some were huge. I don't care what the others say....one of these things was in my room!!!!

Day One Cozumel

2010-07-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

Wow....we started out bright and early for the airport....3:15a.m. We were all a little nervous because the night before we had discovered that a tropical storm was headed right for Cozumel and the forecast was rain ALL week. That was a sobering thought for a tropical vacation. Not only that but who really WANTS to fly into a tropical storm...scary. When we woke up we felt a tiny bit better because the storm had shifted away from the island.....so we headed out!

Our flight took off right on time and in no time at all we landed in Dallas where we grabbed a quick breafast and then loaded another plane for Cozumel. When we got close to landing we could see the storm clouds and when the plane landed on the rainy runway....it felt like we hydroplaned a little but finally after a couple anxious moments we came to a stop.

They delayed us getting off the plane a bit because we descended right off the plane onto the runway...no nice covered hallway to take into the airport. Since it was raining, they didn't want us to have to be in the rain while waiting. After a little bit of a wait to get through customs and a bit of paperwork (all in Spanish) we were on our way. Since Kelsey, Larissa, and I were with Apple vacations we had a voucher for a taxi and a greeter was waiting for us. The time share people tried to grab us but we ignored them and soon we were driving along the ocean headed to the Allegro Cozumel. It was all so different....it made my head spin. We were in a taxi van with quite a few other people. We stopped at two other resorts before we arrived at ours.

We checked in and our bags were waiting to be taken to our room...when the rest of the party arrived. There was a mix up with Barb's reservation but she got it straightened out fairly quickly. We ate a quick lunch and then looked around the resort a bit. It was raining but we were optimistic that things would improve! We ended up drinking quite a few drinks. It was new and exciting to try different ones that we had never heard of. We went swimming in the ocean in the rain and enjoyed more drinks at the beach bar. Later we had dinner in the dining hall and tried to catch our breath from a whirlwind day!

Our group of three was in a second floor room. The roof was vaulted and made from like thatched grass. There was also a loft or alcove like place that was dark and gloomy. When we went to bed I started worrying that someone was up there so I turned on the lights and Kelsey climbed up there to check. There were blankets and bottles up there but no person...thank goodness. The room seemed a little gloomy because of the vaulted thatched ceiling.

The night seemed long and noisy. There were frogs going crazy all night long and the room was not very sound proof. Later in the night the people in the room behind ours came in and started fighting. It was just like they were in the same room with us. It went on for an hour or more! Then just when I drifted off to sleep, I heard a weird noise...right by my ear. I freaked out...it was sooo close. I jumped up on the bed in the dark and yelled...:"What was that?" I knew there was something in the room but I couldn't even remember where the light switch was. Larissa laughed at me but Kelsey never even woke up. Finally I gave up and went back to sleep.

The next day another couple was telling us how they had woke up to find an iguana in their room. It had gotten in through the thatched roof. No one wanted to believe me but I am telling you there was something in my room! I went to the front desk and asked to be changed because of the fighting and was REALLY glad when they put us in a groundlevel room right over by our friends. That room was light and airy and so nice and quiet.

What Happens in Mexico

2010-07-04T10:05:00.000-05:00

Stays in Mexico......well...there are some photo shots that will NEVER see the internet but here are some famous quotations to get you thinking...I'll blog the adventure...but for today... just a few quotes...

1. "Grasshopper says...."

2. "I had Sex at Coconuts all afternoon."

3. "WWF and Fishin...bitches"

4. "Too much tequila"

5. "Do you need a wheelchair?"

6. "My co-pilot did that landing..."

7. "Uno mas"

8. "What! Something's in the room" (said while standing on the bed in the dark room in the middle of the night)

9. "I'm Mexican."

There's plenty more...but I have to get ready to celebrate the 4th of July

Cozumel

2010-06-25T06:28:00.000-05:00

We head out bright and early tomorrow...and I mean EARLY for Cozumel. This is a picture of one of the pools at our resort. You can see the ocean in the background. It is the Alegro Cozumel. It is fashioned after a Polynesian village. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Will feel better after I check bags and am on the plane. Airports make me crazy!

I've never been on an all-inclusive sot this should be an interesting experience. I hope to be traveling more in the coming years so what a great way to jump start my travel agenda. I still have a little packing to do today. Nothing major but I also have some last minute errands and stuff to do before leaviong since we will be gone a week!

Happy Birthday Dear Katie

2010-06-24T06:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday...daughter...Katie.

Today is the day that I had a ten pound one ounce baby girl. She was always on the move from day one. And with her curly hair...it didn't take her long to get people wrapped around her little finger. She was a good baby, sleeping a lot more than her brother Justin did.

Today is the day that we discovered the meaning of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice. Well, okay...not everything ....lol. But still baby girls are wrapped up in their own blanket of wonder. I am so proud of my daughter because she has worked hard and is raising my precious grandson to be a wonderful little boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Shout Outs

2010-06-22T09:52:00.000-05:00

Just a few quick Shout Outs before I head forth into laundry and other stuff......

A SHOUT OUT to: Blogger: Becky Kazana...over at The Fab Miss B. I just discovered her blog a week or so ago and she has a bit of everything...really fun to read!

A SHOUT OUT to: Real life friends...Aaron, Missy and Sherry....are you reading Ginger's Journey? If not...how are you keeping up with life?

A SHOUT OUT to: Lisa (blogger & MHH member)...Check out her blog: My Little Corner of the World. Cute stuff!

A SHOUT OUT to: All my friends going to Cozumel with me!

A SHOUT OUT to: Mel over at Mel's Backyard....fun blog to read...

A SHOUT OUT to: Daughter Katie who has a birthday Thursday June 24th!! Happy Birthday early!!!

Okay off to ....do housework.....boo hiss....LOL

Head-Shot: Life is a Journey

2010-06-21T19:41:00.000-05:00

So the little red head has been thinking a lot about life lately. When you're a head you don't have a lot to do except think...so he was pondering life as he rolled along and then he came across this sign which he thought put his idea about life into the perfect words!

"Life is a journey and you hold the map."

The red head and I get along perfectly because we think so much alike. I've been rambling on for years here at Ginger's Journey about ....well.....about life being a journey. The red head was telling me how we all hold our own maps...and where we go is certainly up to us. We sometimes get pushed around a bit but in the end...the destinations are ours to choose.

I know sometimes it doesn't feel like that. Sometimes it feels as if we have no choices at all....but the red head says...WE DO....so as you travel along this week...make sure and pause long enough to think of where you are going and decide is that is where you really want to go.

Barb's Back Roadtrip June 2010

2010-06-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

If life gives you lemons......make lemon drops!

On the roadtrip we thought it's be fun to check out the view through the sunroof. It was fun....Our pre-Afghanistan roadtrip lasted twelve hours.....only managed ten this go around!

Oh what you will find along the country roads. We found the Schwan truck and stopped to buy some icecream. Here Barb is posing with Pat the driver! We also handed out icecream to some random man named Bob.

The loca four.....we looked for some place to stop and take pictures. We stopped several times.

This is a pre-roadtrip picture at Buffalo Wild Wings...with the SAME waitress we had back on January 1st! Barb's word for 2010 is BELIEVE....so we brought along the sign!

There's lots more pictures and lots more story....so I'll try to get more up later. Oh the fun one can having doing...really nothing at all....and we certainly brightened the Schwan man's day....he said we were the best thing that happened to him that day...LOL

Head-Shot: Thoughts from the Red Head

2010-06-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

As promised....Head-Shots....a new feature here at Ginger's Journey....and it all started with this little red head that my friend Missy gave me. Actually it's not a head...it's called a Seed of Happiness...and you can buy your own little seed (in all colors and sizes) at My Seeds of Happiness. Some are speckled and some are solid colors...but anyway...I thought it looked like a little head....and then I thought....hey I could blog about this....and then I thought...hey it could be a weekly feature....and then the name and such all fell into place. Made even sweeter by the fact that I'm a red-head...it was just meant to be...lol

So each week...the little red head will have a picture....or at least a commentary about something to share with you here at Ginger's Journey...sometimes the head may be joined by some of his friends....I look forward to blogging Head-Shots and hope you will enjoy reading them...Just remember all views are the head's and not necessarily the views of this blog author. LOL

Head Shots

2010-06-18T11:55:00.000-05:00

Okay...you notice the tab at the top called Head Shots???.....this is going to be a fun quirky little feature here at Ginger's Journey....I have some photos...and more information but I don't have the photos downloaded and I haven't time to properly explain....but you know me...always something a little wild and zany...so I'll be back tomorrow or Sunday to give more explanation!!!

I Love Summer 2010

2010-06-17T09:31:00.000-05:00

Well, it goes without saying...I love summer. Honestly, some summers are better than others. It just depends of life events and any number of twists and turns. That's ok...each are a small piece of colored glass in the kaleiscope of life. Blending together to make a mosaic of life. Each summer has it's own personality. This summer is turning out to be a one of firsts, one of adventure, one of spontanoeus events, one which is a blend of the practical (chores) and the exciting. One of travel and home all mixed together in an array of color and warmth!

But my love of summer goes beyond the "events" that happening. It is a love of lazy days. A love of staying up late and sleeping in. A love of warm sunshine and fresh air, and flowers that bloom in colorful tangles. A love of green grass and blue skies. A love of the sense of minutes trinkling by without the feeling of dread. I know that people who work year round do not usually experience what I am talking about. It is in essence, the feeling that we used to get as kids when school let out for summer and we felt free, free, free. I am lucky. I know that. I get to experience that feeling every year. Others are not as blessed.

So today I am grateful for summer. For time, for adventures that make memories, for stories to tell and stories to make, for laughter and conversations, for a chance to blog, for the beauty of a good book and a glass of tea. For the chance to get a little more done around this place we call home, for the ability to "put things off" if need be to enjoy time with others, and for this opportunity to share my thoughts with you Ginger's Journey readers. Thanks for sharing a bit of your summer time with me!

Being Spontaneous

2010-06-16T18:46:00.000-05:00

Wow this is the week for spontaneous.....luckily I cleaned some on the basement today so I feel at least a little bit of accomplishment....

So tomorrow I am going to see Wicked in St. Louis....hmmm....I think at the Fox Theatre...mu niece Cindy has like second row seats and she called today to see if I could go...so I thought for a brief moment and then said YES....of course I had planned to clean more tomorrow but what the heck!

Then my young friend texted earlier to see if I Kelsey and I wanted to go out to grab a bite to eat and since I hadn't even started cooking dinner yet...I said YES....okay I'm spending money like crazy right before my Cozumel trip but I am confident it will ALL work out fine!

Then tomorrow evening after the Wicked performance, we will have our regular MT night with friends! Just a bit of chit chat and some drinks and food. But it's always FUN!!

Friday....I'm off on another adventure....a celebration lunch and afternoon with my friend Barb who got back from Afghanistan about two weeks ago!!

I don't know....being spontaneous....this house may never get cleaned...I suppose I should try to do more with it during the dreary school/work months and then I'd be free as a bird during summer!! Well it's a thought....but anyway...for right now...it is....what it is....And I'm having a good time.....

Platform 9 and 3/4s

2010-06-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

Here's the picture of me...on platform 9 and 3/4......from the Harry Potter books. This is a mural on the wall at Union Station in St Louis but it looks three dimensional. I thought it was cute...we all wanted our pictures by it...used a bit of time while we were waiting for our very late train!

A Quick Hello

2010-06-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

A quick hello to all the Ginger's Journey readers....I have spent way too much time blogging this morning and it is time to get moving. There's a bunch of stuff that must get done today....and so I'm off to do it.

If I am REALLY good and accomplish some chores and mundane things...I'll be back this afternoon with my Harry Potter picture.....I love it!!

Chicago Trip

2010-06-15T14:43:00.001-05:00

Got a nice picture of the arch as we were leaving downtown St Louis on Thursday June 10th via Amtrack. We had sort of a bad start because our train was delayed four hours due to flooded tracks in Texas. While we waited we went over to Union Station and feed the fish and turtles. I also got a neat picture of the Harry Potter station. I'll share that picture a bit later! But as we rolled out of St Louis....there was the arch in all of its beauty!

We went to Navy Pier. I decided to pose with the city in the background. Chicago is a busy busy place. Evan enjoyed riding the Merry Go Round. Katie and Kelsey rode a giant ferris wheel and got some cool pcitures up above the city. We stayed at the Wyndam Hotel, which was a great location because we could walk to almost everything except Shedd's Aquarium. We took a bus there.
I love this picture of Evan in the Children's Muesum. There were tons of things to do and he had a blast. Here is putting out a fire! There's also a water room where he wore a little green overcoat and played with boats!
Here's a group shot after we ate at the Rainforest Cafe. Evan freaked out when we first walked in because there was a huge snake hanging from the ceiling and he thought it was real. Well, it was moving. We enjoyed a very nice meal in a great atmosphere!
Here's another great spot...Gino's East....serving Chicago style pizza.....man it is filling!! Lots of crust and cheese! Also we all wrote on the wall and then posed for a picture together!!

Have a lot more pictures...so hopefully...I'll share a few more before moving on to the next adventure!! In Chicago, we basically got to do all the things we had planned to do....so a VERY successful trip.

Summer Begins

2010-06-05T08:21:00.000-05:00

Summer doesn't begin that third week of June when the calendar porclaims it. No. Summer begins with that first glorious day of freedom from work.....okay I know not everyone works in a school setting and gets to experience that rush of freedom that surges through your blood when the time arrives. But let me say, I love it! I'm four years from retirement and I never cease to get the best feeling....when summer arrives.

This summer, like many others before it, will slip by in the blink of an eye. I have had busy summers with lots of plans or projects. I've had slow lazy summers without any thing much to do. I've had summers that have went astray and no matter what I attempted I couldn't get them back on track. I've had summers of adventure and summers of boredom. Regardless, they have all slipped by quickly. This one will be no different.

As I move into summer mode, I am trying to be very organized because there are several trips, our annual backyard bash and some other day excursions. I also have a few home projects to accomplish. All in basically two months. I have always noted that the more organized one becomes the more aware one is of the passage of time. Two months seem like nothing when the little dates are filling in. But the alternative is to NOT be organized and let the days slip by unnoticed. The problem with that .....summer still comes to an end and then you look back and feel as if you have wasted time.

So I have my calendar and I have my plans and two months of glorious time.

The Week Begins

2010-05-23T21:03:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered where time goes? Does it just evaporate into the air of life leaving us gasping for more?

I know where the saying, "I live for the weekend." comes from. Here it is Sunday evening and tomorrow is back to school. It is the last week before Summer Break so I should be delighted....and I am. Yet I know at the same time that summer will disappear just as quickly.

I can't just sit here fretting about it however. So let me tell you some other tidbits.

We are getting another new principal at our building. They will be interviewing Tuesday and we may very well know the following day. It's another indicator that education is changing and that the difficuties experienced in society in general are also visited on schools. Schools used to be little small communities contained within the larger community. Now they are simply stopping points for people.

I worked on the front flower beds today. It was sunny and VERY got. We went from gloomy chilly days to a day filled with humidty....it was miserable...but none the less NICE to see sunshine! Not sure how long it will last!

We are gearing up for our train trip to Chicago. We leave June 10th. It will be my two daughters, my grandson, and myself ....off ona four day journey. we would like to visit the Children's Museum, Shedd's Aquarium, and Navy Pier. We have a couple restaurants we want to go to. One being The Rainforest Cafe, where we ate last time we were in Chicago.

Well that's all for today dear readers....I'll check in again soon with more details of life in this crazy world...

Fairy Day

2010-05-22T20:07:00.001-05:00

Don't forget Fairy Day is coming soon. June 24th. I thought this was a cute little fairy in a jar. I have been meaning to make a fairy in a jar for sooooo long and haven't manged to pull it off. Perhaps I will for Fairy Day 2010.

Evan and I worked on the flower beds today and managed to set up a cute little circular fairy garden scene. It is using one of the stone houses I got a couple years ago at the flea market. We sprayed it will clear protective spray becuase it was startting to get a little weathered looking. We made a path with some blue glass marbles and added a toadstool and a little gnome. He enjoyed putting it together which is the most important part of a fairy garden....enjoyment.

And So It Begins

2010-05-22T08:51:00.000-05:00

The retirement dinner was very nice last night. It does make me a bit melancholy because even as I look forward to my own retirement in four years, it also marks a different stage in life and brings back memories of fun times with colleagues.

I have several things to take care of today. Grocery shopping for one and then I'd like to get back to work on cleaning the garage so hopefully I can get in a couple hours out there...need to haul a couple things to AGAPE (our Goodwill store).

On a brighter note....the sun is shining....I am so tired of rain. I hope the sunshine lasts for the WHOLE day....but one never knows. Living in Missouri...one takes what they get. But I must say the abundance of rain this year has been way MORE that normal.

Thinking about the Renaissance Fair for tomorrow but I really wanted to get a coupon for discounted tickets and have yet to get one. So I'm not sure and then it will also depend on the weather.

Well, dear readers, I'm off to do chores ....perhaps I'll pop back in later. Take Care and Enjoy the Weekend!

Summer Living

2010-05-20T20:21:00.000-05:00

So we are one week out from the last day of school for kids and two weeks before I finish my extended contract and have some days off....Summer Bliss. My summer is choked full of things to do and trips to take but never the less I am looking forward to it.

I've created a reminder list and it's filled out through most of the summer into the fall. It list important events, as well as, reminding me about some projects that I want to accomplish. It's more than a to do list...it's also a framework for getting things accomplished AND enjoying all the fun activities I want to do.

My two main house projects for the summer are the garage and the bedroom. In addition to this yard work looms. All this rain is making me crazy! I also have planned a trip to Chicago, a week in Cozumel, a week at the camper with my favorite red headed grandson, perhaps a haunted hotel stay, and maybe just maybe if we can squeeze it in...a trip to Houston to visit a good friend.

For some reason even with all of those plans I feel focused and organized. I feel like perhaps I will actually accomplish more because I know I only have certain days to do it...rather than always putting it off when the summer stretches ahead with empty days.

Touching Tomorrow

2010-05-16T22:28:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a lot lately about living in the here and now. Some call it "mindful living". seems simple..right? Well think again. Mindful living....being present in the moment is proving to be more difficult than I imaged. My mind is constantly going ...dwelling on something from the past or at least seeing the connections to it....or springing ahead to take note of what tomorrow might bring...or what is needed this afternoon....when it is only morning.

This might be totally understandable in the work place where there are things to juggle, phones to answer and lists to complete. But for many people this has become a way of life. A constant struggle with what might have been (the past) or what will be (the future). Nobody's living for today. I'm not talking about your calendar and keeping track of events. That's one thing and most likely a smart concept. I'm simply talking about the fact that even as we are enjoying a meal or a conversation, minds are constantly reeving up for the next race.

This adds to stress levels, makes us seem disconnected to others, and keeps us from living life. Being 100% present in the moment will add more satisfaction and enrich your life in ways that provide you with REAL memories....not ones that are only surface deep.

So this week....the challenge is mindful living....multi-task and multi-think NO MORE....keep your mind and yourself in the here and now.

Soul Musings Update

2010-04-26T20:21:00.000-05:00

Over the last couple of days I have managed to work on my book...Soul Musings. I am constantly delighted by the connections and deeper understanding I gain through writing.

This evening I wrote the Introduction and strived to put into words what Soul Musings are to me. I also attempted to explain that this endeavor is going to be eclectic. It will draw from a wide range of cultures, belief systems, literature and philosophies. Woven in with that will be my own interpretation and reflections on different concepts, as well as my own personal ideas and ways of looking at life and our journey here on earth. Sometimes the ideas are simply something that presented themselves to me and well...they just seemed to make sense....For example one such theory/thought I call Snowflake Philosophy...

I am enjoying creating 52 different essays or inspirational writings....each one is like a portrait of life. It is coming along quite well, but time is always the writers enemy. I hope when I share it with you that you will enjoy the journey through the year and weave the Soul Musings into your life in ways that help you make deeper connections to self.

Spring Break on a Shoestring Part Two

2010-04-24T23:09:00.000-05:00

Yes....you see I haven't forgotten about blogging more about Spring Break....It's the best day EVER....Thursday....Ladies day at the casino....BUT first...the races....

We went to Oaklawn racetrack....it was like two dollars to get in and there were ten races....for a bit of fun and sport....I bet a couple bucks on each race....Three of the races...my horse WON...so I won a like 13 dollars and something total...so ten races at two bucks....minus the 13 I won=7 dollars for a WHOLE afternoon of entertainment. We grabbed a quick hotdog and drink at the tracks to get us through until out buffet at the casino!! So that was another 7....plus icecream 3.

But least you think I actually spent a whole 17 dollars....THINK AGAIN.....cause at the racetrack we got a coupon for ten bucks at the casino. After the last race we headed into the casino...stood in line for like ten minutes....and walked away with our Oaklawn casino pass card AND TEN dollars CASH....headed to the buffet line...(it was Ladies Night).....so the buffet was 7.77 and margaritas and daiquirs were .77 cents....YES 7s were lucky!! ....So let's see

Racetrack Total =19 dollars but we got a ten dollar coupon.
Casino Total= 11.62-our ten dollars cash=1.62
Spent a few bucks on the quarter slot machines and headed back to the hotel...So a WHOLE DAY AND NIGHT of FUN....for around 25 dollars.....YOU GOTTA LOVE FREE!!!

Fun at Christy's House

2010-03-21T10:27:00.000-05:00

Kelsey and Katie, posing on Christy's bed in her new bedroom!! We had fun running all over the house being silly before settling down for conversation and dominoes!

Christy and I decided to pose in the new deep deep tub....isn't it great!!

I'll be back later to post Part Two of Spring Break but I wanted to play catch up and write about MT at Christy's new house. Feb. 11th Christy hosted MT and we played some Mexican Train dominoes after taking a tour of the house and snappin lots of zany pictures. We had a lot of laughs and look forward to more fun at the new Troy place!!!

Spring Break on a Shoestring Budget Part 1

2010-03-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

I should have known this was going to be Spring Break on a Budget Success....because before we even left Warrenton....while we were at a gas station....Sherry said to the beer guy...."can we have a sample?" and he handed us this sweet little 12 pack...of Bud Light Lime...gotta LOVE FREE.

Let me explain the adventure here in part one so you know the parameters and the game plan. We wanted to do a Spring Break trip....but none of us had bunches of money so we started thinking of places to go close by and picked Hot Springs Arkansas....there's actually lots to do there....the weather wasn't as warm as we would have hoped but then again our school has spring break VERY early...

My friend, Sherry called around and found a hotel that had a stay two nights and get the third night FREE...remember...gotta LOVE FREE....so we grabbed that right up...total cost with taxes etc....$75.00 each!!! Well. right before we arrived about three or so miles out....a horrid thunderstorm struck with hail....yikes...there was even a tornado touch down...a few miles away. We pulled into a gas station to get our bearings and Sherry asked about the Comfort Inn....now we had the address but you know it can get tricky in a new place. So he directed us to Comfort Inn and Suites but then ran out to tell us there's also a Comfort Inn...a block over the other direction...

We head to that Comfort Inn...wrong address but Sherry pops in to ask about the other location...then back in the car for a block in the other direction....still wrong address.... but in Sherry goes. "No we do not have a reservation for you...are you sure you aren't at the other Comfort Inn?" No we just checked there..."Hmmm....let me see your confirmation page...hmmm that says Country Inn and Suites." How embarrassing for Sherry....lol...I didn't go in....So down the road we go to the Country Inn and Suites. It's VERY nice and we have a great location...first floor with a outside door right on the end of the hallway where we are...plus just two doors down the exercise room and pool....along with the ice machine...LOVE IT!!!

Now the BEST part is that they served a FABULOUS FREE...breakfast every morning...so chang ching....three free breakfasts every morning..Thursday, Friday, Saturday...Total Cost....$0.

More Fun and Games and FREE...coming up in part 2.

I'm BACK

2010-03-13T22:19:00.000-06:00

Back from my Spring Break on a Budget....it was tons of fun....for a LOW LOW price....I'm looking forward to giving you a blow by blow details of the whole event...complete with money totals....you will be AMAZED at how much fun three ladies can have on just a little cash....

Right now I'm tired and headed for some sleep in my own bed...and tomorrow I have to catch up with family...particularly my little boo bear...Evan....but I hope to have some blog posts up late tomorrow....and maybe a few pictures....

Heading to Hot Springs

2010-03-09T18:42:00.000-06:00

It's Spring Break this week at our school...even though technically it's still winter. So this year I decided to go on a little get away with one of my teacher friends and another friend of ours. We wanted to think CHEAP.....plus someone who shall not be named ....didn't have her passport so we couldn't go out of the country. So I'm thinking like the new book...Bitches on a Budget....(by the way if you haven't checked them out on Facebook and their blog...you should...lots of fun fun fun).

Anyway Sherry managed to find us a hotel that was buy two nights get the third night free so that saved us some bucks. The hotel has a breakfast included so that's even a better bargain. Then we will try the racetrack/casino on Thursday...which is ladies night..half price!! We are not staying at the Arlington but we are going to have drinks in the bar and check it out for both historical and haunted reasons. The main thing is to just get away for a few days and do something a little different. I'm pretty sure we can manage to have fun regardless of what we end up doing!

So no blog posts for a few days. I'll try to pop back in on Sunday and give a low down of the trip!!

Summer 2010 is Going to Be Awesome

2010-03-07T19:00:00.000-06:00

It looks like summmer 2010 is going to be one busy blur of FUN FUN FUN...

The second weekend of June, my daughters, grandson Evan, and I are taking the Amtrack to Chicago. We will be gone four days and want to see Shedd's Aquarium and eat at the Rainforest Cafe again. Evan is looking forward to the train trip.
End of June...June 26th...a group of friends, Kelsey, and I are flying out of St. Louis to Cozumel, Mexico....for a eight day, seven nights trip...Plan to see the Mayan ruins, swim, snorkle. and other stuff...mostly at the resort because it is an all inclusive trip!!
July...Camping at Bennet Springs and a trip to Silver Dollar City....
July...end of the month or first part of August....not sure because of school start date... Some of us are going to Eureka Springs Arkansas to stay at the haunted Basin Hotel and Crescent Hotel...a night at each complete with a two hour ghost tour...both nights...one of the Basin and one of the Crescent...
There may be one other trip to visit a friend....during the summer too.....but too early to know for sure on that one!! :)

Those are the main TRIPS....although we have some day things planned too plus of course our big annual Backyard Bash!!!

Chinese New Year's Eve Party

2010-03-07T08:50:00.000-06:00

Finally getting around to blogging about our Chinese New Year's Eve party. We ushered in the Year of the Tiger...and had a lot of laughs doing it. We had plenty of excellent Chinese Food and some of us wore Mizzou stuff (tiger...get it?).

We used our new video camera to capture a lot of the party and made a dvd to send to our friend Barb who is in Afghanistan. I have to say we also captured a lot of the floor, ceiling, and table also....AND we were really loud....didn't realize the camera picked up sound .....so good.

We have BIG plans for next year's Chinese New Year's Eve party......we will be ushering in the Year of the Rabbit (that's Barb's year)....so we are goning to have tons and tons of rabbits sitting EVERYWHERE.....and WE are going to be Playboy Bunnies....LOL.....get it Bunnies...rabbits. Dale will wear a robe (smoking jacket) and be Hugh...So much fun to plan ahead!!!!

Miz-zou

2010-03-06T19:31:00.000-06:00

Kelsey took Evan to spend the night with her in Columbia and they wandered around campus for a while. You can tell from the picture that he really thinks he's a big shot!!

In the background you see the columns where freshman walk through on the start of their education at the University of Missouri Columbia and then when they graduate they walk through in another ceremony going the opposite direction.

It only seems like yesterday when I was a student and the whole crazy journey of life lay ahead of me. Whoever said time goes by fast really knew what they were talking about. In a blink of an eye...years pass. Me....I'm still just wandering alonmg the path of life as if I have all the time in the world...

This week is Sping break at my school...so I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit. Then on Wednesday I will head to Hot Springs Arkansas with a couple of friends...we may take in a race and visit Bath house row....and of course we will ahve to go to the Arlington Hotel which was built in the early 1800's and some say is haunted....I've been reading some interesting stories about the bar there so......we will certainly venture in!!

Just Some Ramblings

2010-01-31T18:48:00.000-06:00

I don't want all of Ginger's Journey to be consumed with the 52 Weeks of Life Makeover so I decided to pop in and give some undates on life in general and some of my areas of interest specifically.

Blogging: Most of you have noticed I haven't been blogging as much lately. You know sometimes on this journey through life things get off kilter and such has been the last few months. Nothing major....just time consuming and hard to find the time and inspiration to write. Never fear...things are righting themselves and I look forward to sharing many adventures with you in 2010.

Ghost Hunting: One word on this one: WEATHER....just not much fun to be out ghosting in freezing weather....I know the ghosts don't care but I do. We have several new sites to check out as soon as warmer weather heads out way.

Entertaining: The next big event on our agenda is a Chinese New Years Eve party on Saturday February 13th....

Work: Oh the things I could write and the places I could go with this topic but .....(sigh)....it is impossible.

Well, I'm going head to another blog and update it a bit...so take care and be kind...I'll be back here again this week with some more updates!!