I don't think about the noble prize. I may give it a seconds thought, when I hear someone has won. Nor am I one to discuss politics at length, because I don't follow the political road close enough to form a strong accurate opinion. Plus it's a subject that usually ends in a heated debate, which I try to avoid.
However I am curious as to what others think about the President's recent winning of the Noble Prize for Peace. It has caused quite a commotion around the world and I'm wondering what and if it caused any commotion close to home.
If you would like, please leave your anonymous thoughts on the subject here.
I will follow up with my thoughts in a couple of days.
If you are one that needs to vent, please keep your comments G Rated:)
Thank-you
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Choices
Choices, they can go one way or another. By this, I mean, sometimes our choices tell us —how— we will live our life. Other times—our life— delegates which choices to make.
I made a choice.
One year ago, October 11th 2008, Herbs & Things & I were married and we opened our doors to who would choose to walk through them.
The first year has gone quickly. When I am inside Herbs & Things paneled cedar walls I often ponder over this first year. With questions such as, what were we one year ago. Where are we today? Have we’ve grown? Have I made right choices? Is this marriage compatible?
I then smile as I remember stocking Herbs & Things shelves for the first time. The excitement I felt putting everything, I had on the shelves, trying to make it’s small interior look full. It was a few weeks later, I had to remove some of those items and add two more shelves to make room. Then a couple of months after that, I squeezed more ‘Things’ together, added 3 more shelves and a cabinet area with doors for the spices. It didn’t dawn on me, this was us growing.
Feb 2009, a new Herbs & Things idea emerged. A weekly emailing to keep everyone informed of what’s new, upcoming and future intentions. In my dreams, I did not expect the loving reception of those emails. Thus, I worried, feeling the pressure was on to keep them enjoyable. A little voice intervened, untangling my worried thoughts and told me “write from the heart and you will do just that.”
The first part of June 2009, came the small wine cooler, keeping Herbs & Things organic chocolates cool on warm summer days. Also in June, I added hours to Herbs & Things by attending the Holland Farmers Market on Sundays 8:30-1. Then, added more miles and hours by attending certain Saturday events, leading me down a new path. This in my mind was not only a good business move, but led me to meet some wonderful new people. Which makes packing the numerous boxes, then unpacking them, so worth it.
So, it’s a yes to my questions. This marriage feels, as if it is exactly as it should be.
Herbs & Things little home is bursting at the seams and soon, it will be time to expand its cedar walls. However I’d be lying if I said everything as gone according to plan. It hasn’t. Such as my plan of selling my fresh garden vegetables, that…became impossible, due to the bad growing season. The soy berry wax melts I ordered weren’t a good choice, they are too different. The flavored, Mud Pie Coffee was not a good choice. The Hazel Nut Dream was.
The Raspberry Pretzel dip…well that was definitely a VERY GOOD idea.
I guess now is the time I must admit to one HUGE mistake. The choice of quitting my job to open my home based business. No— the mistake wasn’t quitting my job, nor that I knew money would be tighter. I wasn’t mistaken either about the hours it takes to make the business grow. I am use to working many hours, so the hours needed doesn’t bother me. My mistake was, when I thought, because I would no longer need to travel back and forth to work, I would have extra time.
I remember telling my husband “if I do this I will have more time to do things around the property, house and barn.”
One year ago, if I were someone else looking at me, I would think too, wow she works from home that has to be nice and add, it must give her more time.
It is nice and I love it. But that extra time— never happened.
I put more hours in this little home based business than I ever did working outside the home or the hours I traveled giving riding lessons. Moreover, when I left work before, it was behind me. Now work is with me everyday. With my personality the way it is, I have a hard time shutting off when the doors of Herbs & Things are closed. The mind is always reeling, with things that need doing that I can only concentrate on when Herbs & Things is closed. such as this blog, ordering products, my writing, and Herbs & Things emails. Which none of can be done late at night either, I’m usually too tired to concentrate, hence still the early mornings 3:30-4 am.
Going back to my mistakes, I must make a retraction of the statement "I knew about hours it would take to make Herbs & Thing grow." I was wrong, I did underestimate the amount of time. I am still figuring how to fit that time comfortably in between, barn chores, canning, shopping, mowing, brushogging, gardening, laundry, housework, wash, ordering, gift baskets, stocking, packing and unpacking for special events.
Inhale deep.
The farmers market, maintaining the website, Pay Pal, my writing, photography, doing the books, spending time with the dogs, anything else keeping the place running entails and accepting that IT IS OK to take some time off to relax and re-energize. Hmm… I feel like I am leaving something out…Oh yes spending time with my husband who has given nothing but support for this endeavor.
Income wise, well I’m not getting rich, and more would nice. I do want to make money at this; however, during this first year, (anything I make goes back in to ordering for Herbs & Things) I found something important. My inner voice and instincts are more fine-tuned. My heart has a certain comfort, knowing there is something bigger going on here. I am not exactly sure what the bigger is yet, that info is down the road of this journey. Nevertheless, that little voice, the one I first listened to, a year ago, tells me if I believe and keep working hard, the money and comfort will eventually come along with so much more.
This first year has been wonderful. I’ve learned many things. Received education in different areas, made a few mistakes, met many new people and found a job I love.
One of my biggest joys is when I am alone inside the cozy walls of Herbs & Things little home, and I experience an unexplained peace inside of me. It comes from knowing I’ve worked around the mistakes, I’ve done was I was told,( Build it….and soon they will come,) that I am still here and looking forward to reflecting again, one year from now, Oct 11th, 2010.
See you then.
My Field of Dreams…About taking a chance on a dream
http://coldensherbsandthings.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-field-of-dreams.html
Passion Real Or Imagined…My thoughts on what inspired me to open Herbs & Things
http://coldensherbsandthings.blogspot.com/2008/10/passion-real-or-imagined.html
I made a choice.
One year ago, October 11th 2008, Herbs & Things & I were married and we opened our doors to who would choose to walk through them.
The first year has gone quickly. When I am inside Herbs & Things paneled cedar walls I often ponder over this first year. With questions such as, what were we one year ago. Where are we today? Have we’ve grown? Have I made right choices? Is this marriage compatible?
I then smile as I remember stocking Herbs & Things shelves for the first time. The excitement I felt putting everything, I had on the shelves, trying to make it’s small interior look full. It was a few weeks later, I had to remove some of those items and add two more shelves to make room. Then a couple of months after that, I squeezed more ‘Things’ together, added 3 more shelves and a cabinet area with doors for the spices. It didn’t dawn on me, this was us growing.
Feb 2009, a new Herbs & Things idea emerged. A weekly emailing to keep everyone informed of what’s new, upcoming and future intentions. In my dreams, I did not expect the loving reception of those emails. Thus, I worried, feeling the pressure was on to keep them enjoyable. A little voice intervened, untangling my worried thoughts and told me “write from the heart and you will do just that.”
The first part of June 2009, came the small wine cooler, keeping Herbs & Things organic chocolates cool on warm summer days. Also in June, I added hours to Herbs & Things by attending the Holland Farmers Market on Sundays 8:30-1. Then, added more miles and hours by attending certain Saturday events, leading me down a new path. This in my mind was not only a good business move, but led me to meet some wonderful new people. Which makes packing the numerous boxes, then unpacking them, so worth it.
So, it’s a yes to my questions. This marriage feels, as if it is exactly as it should be.
Herbs & Things little home is bursting at the seams and soon, it will be time to expand its cedar walls. However I’d be lying if I said everything as gone according to plan. It hasn’t. Such as my plan of selling my fresh garden vegetables, that…became impossible, due to the bad growing season. The soy berry wax melts I ordered weren’t a good choice, they are too different. The flavored, Mud Pie Coffee was not a good choice. The Hazel Nut Dream was.
The Raspberry Pretzel dip…well that was definitely a VERY GOOD idea.
I guess now is the time I must admit to one HUGE mistake. The choice of quitting my job to open my home based business. No— the mistake wasn’t quitting my job, nor that I knew money would be tighter. I wasn’t mistaken either about the hours it takes to make the business grow. I am use to working many hours, so the hours needed doesn’t bother me. My mistake was, when I thought, because I would no longer need to travel back and forth to work, I would have extra time.
I remember telling my husband “if I do this I will have more time to do things around the property, house and barn.”
One year ago, if I were someone else looking at me, I would think too, wow she works from home that has to be nice and add, it must give her more time.
It is nice and I love it. But that extra time— never happened.
I put more hours in this little home based business than I ever did working outside the home or the hours I traveled giving riding lessons. Moreover, when I left work before, it was behind me. Now work is with me everyday. With my personality the way it is, I have a hard time shutting off when the doors of Herbs & Things are closed. The mind is always reeling, with things that need doing that I can only concentrate on when Herbs & Things is closed. such as this blog, ordering products, my writing, and Herbs & Things emails. Which none of can be done late at night either, I’m usually too tired to concentrate, hence still the early mornings 3:30-4 am.
Going back to my mistakes, I must make a retraction of the statement "I knew about hours it would take to make Herbs & Thing grow." I was wrong, I did underestimate the amount of time. I am still figuring how to fit that time comfortably in between, barn chores, canning, shopping, mowing, brushogging, gardening, laundry, housework, wash, ordering, gift baskets, stocking, packing and unpacking for special events.
Inhale deep.
The farmers market, maintaining the website, Pay Pal, my writing, photography, doing the books, spending time with the dogs, anything else keeping the place running entails and accepting that IT IS OK to take some time off to relax and re-energize. Hmm… I feel like I am leaving something out…Oh yes spending time with my husband who has given nothing but support for this endeavor.
Income wise, well I’m not getting rich, and more would nice. I do want to make money at this; however, during this first year, (anything I make goes back in to ordering for Herbs & Things) I found something important. My inner voice and instincts are more fine-tuned. My heart has a certain comfort, knowing there is something bigger going on here. I am not exactly sure what the bigger is yet, that info is down the road of this journey. Nevertheless, that little voice, the one I first listened to, a year ago, tells me if I believe and keep working hard, the money and comfort will eventually come along with so much more.
This first year has been wonderful. I’ve learned many things. Received education in different areas, made a few mistakes, met many new people and found a job I love.
One of my biggest joys is when I am alone inside the cozy walls of Herbs & Things little home, and I experience an unexplained peace inside of me. It comes from knowing I’ve worked around the mistakes, I’ve done was I was told,( Build it….and soon they will come,) that I am still here and looking forward to reflecting again, one year from now, Oct 11th, 2010.
See you then.
My Field of Dreams…About taking a chance on a dream
http://coldensherbsandthings.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-field-of-dreams.html
Passion Real Or Imagined…My thoughts on what inspired me to open Herbs & Things
http://coldensherbsandthings.blogspot.com/2008/10/passion-real-or-imagined.html