I've been asked to post this email (Who Inspires you) from Nov. 16th 2011

Hello From Herbs & Things :)


After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on - have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear - what remains? Nature remains.
Walt Whitman

Inspire or give Inspiration...1 : to move or guide by divine influence 2 a : to stimulate to greater or higher activity : make spirited b : to cause to have a particular thought or feeling.

We've all had or have people in our lives who made or make us inspire, give us inspiration's to be a better person, or give us a push in life to do something we may not have done with out their influence. I've been fortunate to have quite a few people through my life who've inspired, taught and made me see better. Whether it be through a friendship, relationship, a riding, writing, skiing, etiquette or one of those life lessons. But for this week, I'd like to focus on two people who are an inspiration to me.

My sister Madeline Cranston...
through my life has been source of inspiration, but more so today. 
Kathy Crone,
who has inspired me from my pre- teen years and still is..
For me, these two remarkable women, are the epitomey of the will to live and of living life every day to the fullest.

Madeline, had to fight from the very beginning to live this life, but even then as a baby, her will to live was beyond most and though as a child she was faced with health difficulties and things she learned to live with she moved on and upward and did not let anything stop her, or even slow her down not even looking death eye to eye.
She loves life and is an inspiration, that though sometimes there are clouds, the sunshine is just a breeze behind them, and if I should ever be faced with what she's endured in the past seven years fighting her battle and still holding the line against stage four colon and liver cancer, that I do it with even a small amount of the grace, dignity and gratitude towards life she has.
Still now, though the doctors had to implant a drain in her liver to remove the bile from her body she remains vigilant of her out look on life and eagerly awaits the day they put the shunt in, and "get it done so she can move on better, there are things to do". The day after she was released from the hospital, her priority, was she had to make a birthday card and attend her great grandsons 6th birthday party, her first goal of getting out of the hospital. She's inspired me, to have...goals, to never give up on anything no matter what someone tells you, that what the statistics say does not make it so. She's taught me, fearing the unknown is ok, but not to be afraid to go in to uncharted territory, because the unknown could save your life or make your life better. I do believe she's a rarity in that she's inspired her doctors, in more ways than I can vouch for them and I'm not sure if even they can explain this to themselves...yet:)

Kathy, I've known since I was a child of about seven, and Saturday Nov. 12th, I was honored to be part of a celebration of her 70 years of life on this earth. She is an inspiration that no matter your age, the secret to living young is staying young in your heart, accessing that inner child, no matter what the calender year or you body tells you. She, who's looked death straight in the eye too and said, you sir can go %/?%/**?/ home, I am not ready to leave this party, this party of life. Her saying on living life...go for it...live it...love it while you are in it...say what you need to say..and shake that booty. Throw out the attitude and saying, I don't count birthdays any more, but instead embrace each birthday as if it was your first, and throw a birthday party, to celebrate and tell the world, I am 70 and I've only just begun! Then invite as many people as you can, dance the wood off the floor, wear neon lit necklaces, party hats, eat M & M's, Hug everyone and cry from happiness,...LIVE LIFE!

To these two woman...I want to say thank you...because I love their one motto..."No matter how you feel, physically or emotionally, if you can get up, get up, get dressed, put some make up and get moving...that's what keeps you living. "
They trust, that if you listen, to You...You know what is best for you, so follow your intuition and or gut feeling...its there for a reason...your preservation.
I thank them for making me want to be a better person to those around me. To know, it's ok to think of ME and what's good for me once in a while. That what others say or think about me especially those without the best intentions, is something I should not concern myself with, because people will think what they want no matter what I say. That if I am living life the best I know how, stay humble and honest, tell the truth and treat others well and not judge, what God and I decide is best for me, what I believe, and how I live my life, is only between me and God, but in return, I should not judge others and how they live their lives, but embrace their differences.
They know, life has glitches, they are what make us grow and these too should be cherished. They know too, sometimes it's ok to agree on disagreeing which doesn't mean you don't still love. That it's important to do for others, and that life...the only way to live it....is to live it, love it, share it and above all, embrace it...every bit of it !
Love you both...
Now....your turn...think of just one person who has inspired you, take the time to think of them, thank them and maybe give them a call, send them a card, or shoot them an email...and tell them...They have INSPIRED!

Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
+
Herbs & Things

Email Ramblings from Herbs & Things from Dec 22 2011

Flowers do not force their way with great strife. Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun. . . .Don't be in a hurry about spiritual matters. Go step by step, and be very sure.
White Eagle


I find it amusing in a way, because of our December weather this year, that the Native Americans refer to this time of the year as the time of the Popping Trees, because usually its so cold...the trees pop... but there was no popping of the trees this night.
The night of our Solstice Celebration.

It was very very dark. It was very wet. It was windy, and the small creek, the tween place, sounded like a river running. But....just for us... the rains were stopped long enough for the brave souls, counting about 15 or so, to make our trek to the Wheel.

As soon as we walked over the bridge and stepped in to the meditation garden, I felt it. I knew it, the energy, would overwhelm or maybe frighten some. Especially when I heard, murmuring behind me, "Oh man did you feel that? What IS that?" " Oh... it is so tingly" " I am buzzing." "Holy Crap":)

There was a mix of excitement, restlessness and oh no what am I doing here, and rightly so with feelings. Feelings, I understand totally.
I asked the energy to tone down a little and we were instructed to stand there in the meditation garden for a while and allow those who were new to this particular piece of land to adjust to the energy. We then proceeded to the Wheel, hearing nothing but the creek raging, the winds blowing and our footsteps in the water. Yet, even those who'd never visited before, even in the not so idyllic weather, they heard it....and said...
"It's as if the winds are speaking to us."
I said simply, "They are."

We walked the south spoke to the circle of the Wheel, where each individual walked to certain areas of the circle and spent a couple minutes with the Wheel. We then gathered in the center of the cirlce, smudged, said of Prayer of Thanks to Nature, Mother Earth and Creator.

Because we could not see around us, but only feel the energy of the Wheel, there in the darkness on a warm/cool rainy night, we celebrated the Winder Solstice. We had written our hearts on our sleeves on small sheets of paper for God/Creator, the best we could, and then under a not so idyllic weather situation, we burned our intentions, wishes and prayers and watched as the flames burned bright, in side the small smudge pot we used because of the winds. When we were done, and it seemed the papers with our wishes and prayers were done burning, I picked up the pot and we started back to the house.

It was then, with my first step heading back to the house, with an indication the Wheel had other ideas of where our wishes, prayers and intentions should be, a gust of wind hit me and the pot holding those prayers with such force that it made me step back, and like a wave of a huge hand, reached in and picked up the remaining embers out of the pot and spread them high and far over the Wheel.

We stood there in awe and delight as we watched those glowing embers, brightened by the darkness, float over and settle in various spots in the Wheel, where in spite of the wet, they burned for a few seconds. They looked like thousand of fireflies in the night, glowing then landing....it was an amazing thing to watch and as we watched, we could not only see, but we could feel the significance of those prayers settling in the Wheel. Its like we knew, all of the wishes, prayers and intentions, were considered, embraced and received, to do with them what should be done.

When I asked why, this year we had to celebrate the solstice under such darkness and so different than last year, which was lighted by snows and the moon. I heard "this year, there was those that needed to feel the energy of the Wheel and Nature, and not be distracted by their sight. This night, they had no alternative, but to feel and 'see'without their eyes and learn about the energy of Nature and ME, and that I AM here."

So a dark, wet, windy night...turned in to a night...of clear vision and insight
and I was worried because of the weather. Silly me:)

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Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
+
Herbs & Things