Thursday, March 24, 2022

Drawing Challenge!


Our drawing challenge this week!!! These are so much fun! Everyone in the group is having a blast creating their stories. So, here's mine:
So much fun!! Happy Thursday!! A new drawing challenge will start tomorrow. If you would like to join us, here's the group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/youcandrawit

Seize the day! Love and peace always ~ Kathy

A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.
― Salvador Dali

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Living in Wildness...

 
It's that magical time of year! Time when all of the Spring Wildflowers start waking up from their Winter naps. Yesterday we found this gorgeous "Yellowroot", sprouting up along the banks of the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest. Besides being beautiful, it's medicinal properties are amazing! "Yellowroot is an anti-inflammatory and a natural antibiotic. This plant can help in the treatment of sinus infections, bladder issues, cold/flu symptoms, sore throat, laryngitis, mouth sores, colitis, gastritis, congestion of the chest, and even earaches. Yellowroot is also uterine tonic and a digestive aid. It is an excellent liver stimulant and is useful in soothing the mucus membranes. Its’ cooling astringent qualities allow it to reduce any phlegm. Its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of different ways. Some of which include, as a mouthwash, tea, tinctures, eyewashes, salves, douches, and even ear drops. Can also be used to treat female health conditions including PMS and yeast infections. It has also been found that it can be helpful in lowering blood pressure."
And even though the water is still freezing cold, it warmed my soul, just standing in it and seeing all of the beautiful rocks and clean, clear water. Made me feel so grateful. As I was walking around, my eye caught something and, upon looking a little closer, it was a beautiful little Eastern Garter Snake! My first Snake medicine encounter of the year!! I was so happy!

You can be in the worst funk ever and spend just an hour in nature and your whole outlook will change! Try it! It's so healing and good for your heart and soul! 

Happy Spring!!!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~ Margaret Atwood

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Your Life's Work!

 
My version of "Legs Up the Wall" Yoga Pose!

So this year I'll be 61 years old! I've been thinking a lot about "what" my life's work actually is? Sometimes I think was it my job when I was working at a Life Insurance Company for 20+ years, a group of Financial Advisors for 5+ years, a CPA for several years, or is it what I did outside of my "job" that would be considered my "life's work". But, in reality, I think my "life's work" has nothing to actually do with work itself. It's the "time" I spend working on myself and doing what I love to do that has become my "life's work". And then I read an article from a website I follow "Daily Om" and this is what it said about your "life's work" and I thought, YES, that's exactly it!!!

"Sometimes it takes us the better part of a lifetime to discover our life's work, even though we may have been doing it our whole lives without necessarily realizing it. Our life's work is not always what we do to make money, although we often think it should be, and sometimes this way of thinking prevents us from seeing clearly what it is. It may be the work of having children, caring for them, and running a household. The way we know our life's work is by how we feel when we are doing it.

When we are doing our life's work, we feel an uncanny sense of ease and alignment. This doesn't mean that the work is always easy, and it doesn't mean that it's the only work we have to do; it just means that there is a conviction deep inside us that tells us we are in tune with our innermost self. When we are engaged in our life's work, our bodies feel more alive, because our energy is devoted to a cause that, in turn, feeds us. We may be tired after engaging in our life's work, but we are almost never depleted. We feel grounded in the world, knowing that we belong here and have something important to offer. 

When we are deeply unhappy, depressed, or subject to one illness after another, this may be due to a sense of disconnection from our life's work. At times like these, finding the work we are meant to do is an essential act of healing. Most of us remember a time when we felt fully engaged in some act of work, service or creativity, and it is here that we may rediscover the work we are meant to do now. On the other hand, it may be time to explore what inspires us through volunteering, taking a class, going back to school, or just doing whatever it is we long to try. We all have callings, and when we find them, we owe it to ourselves to nurture and protect them, because while they may or may not be our livelihood, they are the keys to our wellbeing."

So now I truly believe my "life's work" is discovery! Being a steward of our land, it has been very important to me to learn as much as I can about "who" lives here and "what" grows here. It is truly fascinating to find rare plants, lichens, wildflowers and mushrooms that might only grow in the Appalachians! My motto now is "never stop learning" And today I did some forest yoga, while talking to my "tree therapist"...that tree knows a lot about me!

I hope you have discovered your "life's worth", but, if not, there is plenty of time...just think about it! In the meantime, enjoy this adorable little Bobcat that visited one of our ponds!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Your most important work in this lifetime may not be your job. It's a conviction within your soul, recognizable if you allow it to shine." --- the Daily Om

Friday, March 4, 2022

You Can Draw it!

Last week I had my Son and his partner in town to go see the "Van Gogh Immersive experience" at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville! I have to say, it was quite amazing!

The floor was even moving!

The whole experience lit a fire in all of us, so it's time to start drawing again! Please join our drawing group "You can Draw it" on facebook, if you're not already a member. I can't wait to see what you create! 

 Ready to start drawing!!! It's all about the journey!! 

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one every comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke." ~ Vincent Van Gogh