2020 Vision

Happy New Year!

I hope this finds you looking forward with enthusiasm and, if you have to look back, with gratitude.

I just reread the last post and it seemed more appropriate for a new year, but I do still have things to add because I really want you all to thrive this year - and beyond!  I have some ideas to share that have helped me and they might work for you too.

1)  Be responsible for yourself, i.e; accountable.  This is your life (possibly the only one) that you'll be having this earthbound experience.  You have one body to care for (first anyway, maybe family but they're second).  There are a lot of things to do to keep it healthy;  physically, mentally, spiritually.

2)  Eat healthy.  I can't recommend this enough.  Drop the processed food, processed sugars, GMO's, flour and wheat if you really want to eat clean.  Drop red meat, eat organic vegetables, drink pure water.  Drop the carbonated beverages, alcohol, smoking, etc.

Are you annoyed yet?  There's more.  Get outside and walk, at least 20 minutes to get your heart rate up, as often as you can.  I think the recommendation is daily to at least three times a week.  Breathe, get fresh air, stretch, dance, move your body.  I do QiGong and dance as well as walking and bike riding in good weather.

3)  Get a hobby, anything you enjoy, joy is healthy.  Or socialize with uplifting people.  Work puzzles, read books, redecorate the house, sew, knit, you get the picture.

4)  Make plans, make lists, take classes or join groups.  If you live in the boonies like I do, take on-line classes.  I do at least one every winter, this year I'm going to learn Homeopathy.

5)  Meditate.  It's one of the healthiest things you can do.  I started over ten years ago while healing from back issues - it was very convenient as I was already laying around on the floor, lol.  It really worked for me, enhanced my quality of life!  

6)  Trust yourself.  Your intuition is real, it is reliable, once you begin to truly trust it.  It's your built in radar for anything you may encounter, in all things.  This will become easier as you meditate.

I think 2020 is a great year to have that 20-20 vision for a better life.  We're all aging (physically anyway) so we might as well enjoy it! 

Do you have any ideas to share to add to this list?  Leave them in the comments. 

I have some great ideas for Huckleberry Hollow that I'll be sharing in coming posts!

Happy New Year!

OMG, it's 2019!  Where has the time gone?  Has it flown by for you as well?

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have been blessed with minimal weather systems, just a lot of rain really and no snow!  Knock on wood.  I'm pretty sure we already have enough water up in the mountains for next summer.

It's been really quiet here with the bird feeders down.  I miss my birds, but not the mice or squirrels.  I do see some interesting wildlife from time to time still, such as the illusive Hermit thrush, who comes out and dances around the water hole, singing.  I'm not sure what that's about, but it's entertaining.

A deer came through the other day and grazed the lawn until I was spotted in the kitchen!

I honestly haven't done anything new with the house in months.  I know you all have enjoyed my many handy-gal upgrades on a budget, but things have come to a bit of a standstill.

I have applied for a weatherization program that is for senior citizens and the low income.  I am very excited about this opportunity, if it happens, so I have put all projects on hold for now.

If accepted, I could have additional insulation added to my walls and floors!  They also seal the windows and doors.  It's a very exciting prospect to think I could actually be warm next winter!

The process of qualifying could take a while and the work won't begin for months, so I'm ready to wait.  After they complete the work I may have some finish work to do.  After that I hope to repaint the kitchen and go from there.

I'd also like to install a propane fireplace stove and remove the wood stove, this year or next.  While I love a wood fire, it's only me here to do the work.  I get the wood split and delivered, but I stack it, haul it, clean the chimney and stove myself.  I don't really want to get on the roof in my 70's, so I'm planning ahead.

In my creative life I am leaving behind the metal jewelry work.  It was a fun and amazing five years learning and creating, but online sales were down last year and I don't seem to have enough time to get out to galleries.

So I'm taking up photography again!  Returning to my roots in black and white.  I may have mentioned this in my last post after my trip out to the coast was such a success.  Looking forward to returning!

So it's winter in the mountains and things have slowed way down.  I hope this finds you all enjoying your own creative paths. 

Here's one from my most recent photo shoot at the nearby lake.

copyright JG Photography 2019 - All Rights Reserved

2018 Resolutions: Keep It Simple!

 

2017 was rough!  It was a hard year for all of us;  politically, environmentally, globally.  This coming year I plan to keep it simple.

2018 will have all of its own ups and downs, things out of our control and unforeseen tragedies, that's just the law of life.  All we have control over is ourselves, our immediate environment and our responsibilities.  

The Winter Solstice is my New Year so to speak, so I have already done my journaling and resolutions for 2018.  

First, I processed 2017 and all its craziness to figure out what is really important to me.  Basically, it boils down to my work, my creative endeavors and what I do for fun.  I also included one new thing I want to achieve.

So it's pretty simple.  Improve some work conditions, rev up the creative businesses a little and add a new skill to my main business.

For fun and enjoyment I have some new camera equipment to play with, and with a resolution to spend less on day to day stuff and save more, I hope to make a couple of short trips.

I am sure that keeping it simple will help make it attainable and keeping the goals small will result in less stress to achieve them.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and Blog-a-versary!

I'm about to celebrate three years with this blog, started on January 16th, 2011.  Wow, where does the time go?  Happy anniversary to me!

Welcome 2014!  This blog has taken you on my journey of remodeling this old mobile home, as well as my own personal self discovery and reinvention.

As I look back over the posts these past three years, it's obvious how much you all enjoyed the building and remodeling projects.

New Pioneers Wood Shed is the most popular post to date with over 1200 views.  Not far behind are others, including painting projects, before and after photos, windows and doors, and the addition.  It's clear that there are many folks out there working on their places and applying their spin on DIY.

So thank you readers!  Also a big thanks to my loyal followers who have been with me through all of the posts - from whimsical to gardening to hairy winter storms!

So to start off 2014, I have cleaned up the blog layout and cleared the clutter.  The additional photos are gone, but you can still purchase garden art images on my website at www.jenigray.com .

This year I picked up the craft of metalsmithing for jewelry, and converted my back bedroom into a full art studio!  It took months to get it just right.  You can learn more about it and my jewelry on that blog at www.jenigraydesigns.com .  I am also selling the new pieces in a shop at Etsy  .

I'm not exactly sure what projects I'll start here this year.  I'm thinking about a slider in the dining room that would open out onto the privacy deck.  This is a south facing wall, so would let in more light.  That will require some assistance.

I may do some gardening again, but on a much smaller scale than in previous years.

Who knows, I'll just let the inspiration arise on its own.

Happy New Year fans and readers!  Thanks for all your comments and support over the years!!

Now for a little photo recap....