Keeping Hands, Heart and Feet Busy

I was raised that you kept your hands, heart and feet busy and in doing so your soul speaks.  I believe that with all that I am and live that each and every day, even when I do really feel like it..  I miss my hard work of caring for my sweet animals but I have been trying to keep myself busy with different tasks and my business to settle my soul and listen to where and what I am to do next.  This is not an easy task but I give it 110% each day and believe that all will be revealed in it's correct time.

 

Have been trying to figure out the flow and dance that I had when creating at my farm - it is amazing to me what a well oiled machine I had created and a routine that was almost effortless...  Colors, textures and creations would just spill out of my hands where now I have to almost plead with them to show up.  Not a comfortable feeling for this gal but they do come as you can see in the pictures.

I am still excited for the fact that I have been able to produce products I am proud of and that my clients seem to appreciate.  So I will continue to keep my Hands, Heart and Feet Busy each day and listen closely to what my soul is saying....

What quite whispers have you been receiving lately???

Overwhelmed or Inspired That is the BIG Q

Those who know me know that I am not the most comfortable with technology and I freely admit it... I also do not like the trend of every one's head bent down and thumbs moving at the speed of light but there seems to be no connection with life as I know it.  I have to share and chuckle as to how the universe and I seem to agree on so many levels and cellphones are one.

I take you back to early February of this year when I left the farm and was bunking at my youngest son's apartment while waiting for my train trip out to Elk Washington.  I thank the universe every day that I had that time with my son because I learned so much and also had  to somewhat decompress from the trauma I had experienced for the past two months as I was dismantling my farm and find homes for my sweet animals...Life as I knew it was over - yep a bit of a drama queen on this one but that is how I felt.   I admit that only my son Conrad could have weathered this storm - he is unflappable. 

It was decided by all that Grace needed a cell phone just in case the train was high jacket or fell into a black hole (Kidding but not really - more to come)  So we decided on a burner phone (I watch TV - Yes, I know what that means) and a pre paid account.  O.K.  Got it back to the apartment and the next morning  Conrad did what was needed to get it up and going and then said just read the instructions - you can do it Mom...  Yep, No problem I said and waved him off to school...  Well the instructions came in every language except for MOM language.  There was two pages of how to put in the battery, how to load the phone with money (time) and then -  I flipped and flipped and flipped the pages and Yes that was it...  CRAP!!!  So clever gal that I am I went to the web site..  Yet nothing was there for the beginner - you know the one who did not even know how to call out.  I was ready to throw it across the room but I instead closed it up and waited for my son and watch several episodes of "The Walking Dead".  Well, he worked nights, had school in the day and spent time at his girlfriends apartment and I pushed buttons and screamed and closed the lid more times then I could count.  Finally Conrad show me how to call out and answer when he called in..  He does not have a land line so when he call several times and I did not answer he almost got worried but he knew I could take care of myself and just thought I had my head stuck somewhere cleaning - instead I did not even know that I had turned the phone off completely.   Yippee...

So now I am ready for my train trip.  I had my lap top with me, my cell phone, my spinning wheel safely packed in my suitcase and ready for my adventure.  Oh did I mention Conrad also gave me a Ipod to listen to music on the way out and I was so excited that I made several trips to the ladies room (boy they are smaller then an airplane bathroom) before we even left the city limits.  I settled down and began to set my sights on the adventure before me...  JUST YOU WAIT IT IS GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE.

As I opened up my laptop and thought what a perfect moment to write down my thoughts and start that book everyone has been bugging me about I realized I was not getting any WIFI service. WHAT!!!   I found one of the folks who walked up and down the isle and asked sheepishly - "Excuse me but I am not able to get my laptop to connect"  She stated that only Smart phones seem to work on this train...  So since I had a Dumb Phone and a Dumb owner operating it there went that idea for keeping Grace entertained for 3 days out the window (that does not open)....

As the hours drug on I got out paper and pen (Old School) and began writing - Life may not work but pen and paper is mighty.  As I started writing I noticed how many folks kept watching me do this - as if I was a stone age throw back.  They were all glued to their tiny little phones but I was more interesting then the latest movie they downloaded, or the new Itunes they paid for.  Before I knew it I was talking and sharing with about a dozen passengers around me about why I was on the train, what I did for a living, what their life's desires are and why they NEVER thought they could do that because it just was not done.  We spoke into the night and into the early morning as I pointed out coyotes in the distance to those who did not even know there was still those types of animals around.  Several folks in the night pulled up my blog and read all about me so when we met up in the dinning car in the morning breakfast they had tons of questions and thoughts about my adventures.  Most were very sad to know that Larkspur Funny Farm was no longer there and that the animals I love and lived with where no longer in my charge.  I had one sweet young man who broke down in tears when he recounted the posting of Kasha's passing.  He stated he never knew someone could be so connected to an animal and that he wished he felt a connections like that to something living.  It was amazing to me how my stories lived outside of me.

The train trip was anything but smooth, the adventures I had in my head was not anything like what had happened it was a MILLION TIMES BETTER.  We got caught in a  rock and snow slide that kept us trapped for 8 hours. They had to bring in equipment to dig us out.  We then broke several of the huge wheels that carried us on the tracks and had to leave behind after 4 hours of no air fans and windows that would not open several of the cars and all move into smaller quarters.  We had police come on at one stop because they had a bomb scare called in and through this all I kept giggling and saying to myself "My Adventures are always arriving and it is WHO I AM"

Needless to say I only made brief calls to my son's to letting them know of the delays, called my friend to let her know that even thou I was going to be very late I was still on my way.  Oh and I found out that I forgot to charge the battery on my Ipod before leaving and so I had music for exactly one hour and then just the clanking of the rails.  I am so glad technology and I have this strange dance because otherwise look what I might have missed.

Fast forword and I am still not understanding my cell phone but I have found it to be the best sleeping aid EVER!!!  Each time I try to read the online instructions I am out like a light so in some respects that is a good thing.  Then I started taking some classes online and the last two days it has been all about social media and online sales.  I must say I am trying to keep up but there was a time last night when I could hear my tiny brain cells screaming and exploding.  I keep saying this will inspire you Grace.  I also said to myself if my 4 year old grandson can turn on the phone and watch a movie surely this gal should be able to understanding why in the heck I can not seem to retrieve messages... I am determined to step forword into this - if I can set a goat's leg with paint stir sticks and duck tape I surely can figure out how to lower the ring tone on my burner phone.

I received the other day a cute email from the young man on the train - he informed me that he has adopted a cute older dog from the pound and he is going to call her Kasha.. He briefly stated this is the first time he feels like he is loved in his 26 years on the planet and thanks me for sharing my loves and losses with him.  He stated he can not wait till I am writing stories again - for that I am inspired....

So who knows I might master "Google Hangout's" and "Web Caming"  You never know what this gal is going to do next....

Hold on to your hats

I think this gal might just be ready to start writing again.  As most know it has been so long since I felt I had the presence of mind to share and if there was anything left inside of me that I care to even share about....

I am still not sure if the changes in my life have any stories to share but maybe for now I might just catch you up on some of the journey that has expired these past months and then we will see where it takes us.  I hope my loyal readers and friends will read and let me know if they still are of any interest.  I will have to reach back some to start the adventure and maybe through those stories I will see where my story telling takes me

Blast from the Past

 

As the temp in the fiber room climbs I offer this picture of the ice covered trees and scrub oak that I cooled my body and mind in for so many years.  This brisk crisp air and slight tingle  to my cheeks will keep this in my mind to remind my over warm hands to cool down and let the fiber draft through my fingers as if it were ice.  Can you feel the chill???  I Can...

Thank You Tiny Worm

Since words have been lost for a bit I thought I would share a blast from the creative past.  This amazing necklace was created with some of my Wild Golden Silk Cocoons and the talented hands of a customer of mine.  This amazing necklace was featured in an International Jewelry Publication, won several awards and loved by thousands.   I have championed these silk marvels for so many many years and I still find such joy in them.  They are more then a simple supply item but a tiny being's home.  I get lost in their complex creation and how to that tiny worm it is it's whole world in the moment.  What does that say to us?? Can we see the tasks we work at so hard each day really be to the end we think?  Can we create a "Home" "Work" or "Life" that lives on beyond our time on this planet and does it even matter??  Can we give our all even when no one notices or appreciates it???  I know a lot to put on you to think about on this fine Friday but just what I have been thinking about as I gather myself..

I want to say "THANK YOU TINY WORM"   I see and appreciate your hard work.  I am thankful for your talent and skill.  Thank you for showing me that even in the small and daily tasks there can be grand things awaiting us.

Can you say "THANK YOU" to something tiny today???   If so, What would it be?

Busy Hands with Small Gems

Wonder what I do in a day to make my customers have the best possible products????  I go through hundreds upon hundreds of tiny cocoons and pull the silk threads off the tiny little housse and make sure that each one does not have a dent, blemish or stain before I even begin the dyeing process.  I grade also by size and shape - just the way I roll...

 

The amazing golden cocoons are wild and the moth has left it's home - the gold color is NATURAL

 

 

What a Difference in the way I receive them (top photo) and the way I sent them out to customers.. (lower photo)

 

I do the same slow process with my golden wild silk cocoons.  I take each one and open it up, check to make sure it is whole, no rips, stains and then I trim off any waste that might be hanging on.  I tell you these little buggers take so much time to do this process but there are many who just don't make the grade.  I opened around 1000 the other night and my finger tips sure told me about it. But well worth the effort don't you think?

Last but never least are the silk rods - another thousand or so that I go through and individually inspect , open, trim and grade.  All this work is why I have 7 years of loyal customers who return to purchase my silk items.  I can not wait to get started on the dyeing process once my drying racks get here....

WHAT COLORS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND PURCHASE???

On the wheel this morning

Super Soft Merino Lambs wool dyed Southwestern colors caught my creative spirit and I am now spinning singles with a bit of extra twist so I might add turquoise beads or metallic threads or who knows where the fiber gods will point me... Hope you are doing something that feeds your soul today....

Ghosts of a Past Life

There has been so many changes in my life in the last year I feel like a Ghost in the corner of a room who does not know they are gone. I have been so blessed to have a new adventure before me but the old habits and life creeps back in my thoughts.  Small events pinch me and I think "Your being silly Grace - You have been through worse so get a grip"

The last 48 hours represents such an event.  Monday morning as I worked in my fiber room on the second floor trying to put into place a routine that would work in my new surroundings I looked out the window toward the barn and counted the 6 sheep and watched them like I always did for my own furry babies.  I have not up till that morning gone in with them because there was too much to do and they are very skittish...  I did my old behavior of walking past a window and checking on the animals with a quick glance. Since the landscape is not what my eyes are use to I admit I have not connected to my surroundings yet.  After an hour one sheep was still in the same spot so I made note to keep him in my view. I went back to work and wondered "Is that normal?" It had been raining through the night hard and on and off that morning so I was not sure if that is what sheep do in rain - we get so little in Colorado.   Another hour went by and still he was in the same spot.  Not knowing these animals I was wondering "WHY would he just stay out in the rain but then they all were?"  When I went downstairs I told Sheri that I wondered if that was normal.  She went out to check and found that the animal had passed...  It was her favorite and so my past was back.  I went into action of moving the animal and then searching for answers.  More times then I can count or wish to remember I had done this task and now I was doing it here.  With frightened animals running away from me I also felt the loss of the love, trust and understanding I had with my animals.  I knew their ever twitch and they would run to me for care, comfort and attention.  This is NOT what I was dealing with at this place...  I moved the body, secured it for further examination and then went back into the pasture to "Work" the animals.  I have dealt with and trained many animals with all sorts of issues and the 5 sheep left are going to be some work but they are smart and that is half the battle.  Today  I checked again for signs of what ended this animals life - not living in this state I will have to research plants, insects and such but all the time reminding myself that the animals are not mine and that their owner has the responsibility to make care decissions.  My heart broke for Sheri because I have lived those losses and know the pain.

As I worked the sheep today I must admit the Ghosts of my past Life crept in.  I felt all the "I Can Not's" that have been shadowing me since I left the farm.  Such as, I can't walk outside and hug one of my sweet fur babies when the mood demands it or when they ask for my touch..  I can't hear the comforting bark of my three Great Pry's in the night telling me they got my back.  I can't walk outside and into the forest when sleep can't seem to find me and listen to the big owl tell me bedtime stories.  I can't just start work on a product when the creative mood hits me.  If I allow myself this pitty party I can get lost in all the CAN NOT'S

But then I remind myself I am creating a new adventure in a new place with new challenges and the Ghosts that creep in are just that and it has not been that long since the death of my past life.  I am thankful to be of assistance during a difficult time and look foreword to gaining the trust of 5 skittish sheep.  I am hearing new creative thoughts in my head and soon will have a space to start the dye pots.  I walked with Sheri today to see where I can start my compost bin, where the overgrown plants and trees are in need of cutting back and what state the outbuilding are in - all projects I am excited to get started on and complete.  I miss the hum of my well oiled life (not that is was that in the last year but that life I had for at least 16 years)   Each day I am chasing the GHOSTS away as they creep in and turn toward the light I see ahead of me...

What Ghost are you working on?