Showing posts with label what. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what. Show all posts
What You Think You Become
What You Think You Become
Im not certain of the exact origin of this quote, but I think it
speaks the truth...
what do you think?
What You Think You Become
Be Fearless In The Pursuit Of What Sets Your Soul On Fire
Be Fearless In The Pursuit Of What Sets Your Soul On Fire
What do you think?
Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!
Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
Be Fearless In The Pursuit Of What Sets Your Soul On Fire
What To Do
What To Do
I am in a quandry this morning. Do I murder a plant that got out of control or leave it and see if there is any way to make it look pretty again. Daisies are the problem in this equation. I love them but they can be so unruly. This one was not supposed to flop. Yeah, right.
Not only did it flop, there are 5 of them in the island bed and they all flopped. We have had some uncharacteristic heavy rain for the last two weeks in this part of Idaho. Although I am thankful for the precipitation, I am furious with the these dang flowers. Stupid flowers. There, I feel better. I actually planted these pencil sized starts last fall and look what they did. They grew like they were on something. I think they like the soil here and the rain. But now they are all laying down and squashing some plants next to them. I just dont know what to do, so for today I will leave them. It is supposed to be 81 degrees today and we will see if they perk up at all. I am not, I repeat, not.... holding my breath. I may yard them out of here this weekend.
This bee balm is new to me too! Same thing, I ordered them as pencil sized starts on ebay and they really took off. Which really is amazing as I planted them in the heat of the summer. Silly me. It was cold this morning so everything is heavy with dew. This plant is 3+ ft. tall already and so far it doesnt look like it is slowing down yet. I cant wait to see what color it is. I ordered some double bloom varieties and I hope those survived. It will be another nice surprise.
This is yard art in my flower bed. This chair was being thrown out and I "borrowed" it out if the dump pile. I think it turned out to be the perfect thing to add some whimsy to this bed. The flowers in the pot loved the rain too!
As you can see the final cuff has been taken out of the potato bags and each pot is now full to the brim with compost. These things are growing like weeds. OK, like daisies, but who minces words this early in the morning? They are really going crazy and I sure hope (fingers crossed, here) that the cloth pots are chalk full of baby potatoes. I have a funny way of growing great greenery with no reward, so we will have to wait and see.
What To Do
My Second Chance As A Writer What Would You Do With A Second Chance
My Second Chance As A Writer What Would You Do With A Second Chance
Hi friends! Have you heard about SECOND CHANCE? SECOND CHANCE is an exciting series on FOX about a disgraced sheriff who gets a second chance at life through dangerous, experimental technology that was secretly created by billionaire tech geniuses. Last week I had the opportunity to preview the pilot episode of SECOND CHANCE on FOX and it got me thinking about a time in my own life when I had a second chance. While most people think about second chances, I think they usually think about having an opportunity to right a wrong. My own second chance was at a writing career, and the story begins quite a few years back. I was always making some kind of art in college and throughout high school. I made jewelry and experimented with all different kinds of crafts; drawing, painting, stained glass, enameling, I even dabbled in quilting.
After a while I focused in on stained glass and jewelry, selling my work locally and then online on my own website. In any case, the time came for college and though I was basically doing art every single day – even if I wasnt realizing it sometimes – I was always set on a vision of myself as a writer. I was good at it. I love reading and writing so when it was time to pick a major I chose what I naturally gravitated towards, which was English, books, and writing. I thought briefly about an art degree but I remember thinking to myself, I already do art. I dont need to go to school for a degree in art, to make art! A few years later I had earned my Bachelor’s Degree in English, Professional Writing from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
The funny thing is, throughout my years in college, aside from loving school and studying hard, the only other thing I really did was make jewelry and sell it. I did this not only because I enjoyed it, but because I had success with my sales. All of a sudden my jewelry was in demand. Even though I only sold it in small batches online, it always sold quickly, and so I did what any person would do, I kept making jewelry. It helped pay my way through college. I married soon after college, and had two children within the following couple years. I kept making jewelry. I was a full-time mom, so I wasnt able to go out and get a writing job, but I kept a daily journal and I enjoyed writing out the descriptions for my jewelry on my website, and any other type of writing that was related to my small but growing jewelry business. Fast forward a few years and there I was, creating my jewelry, happy with where I was in my life, but sitting on a writing degree that I had never used. Then one day, everything changed.
I received an email from a woman who worked for a publisher. She was an editor, and she explained that she had come across my jewelry in my online shop, shared it with some coworkers who also loved it, and then proceeded to ask me if I had ever written a book about my jewelry and if not, if I would be interested in writing one?
I was in shock. This couldnt be real. Editors dont usually seek authors to write books. Its the other way around! Especially in the craft industry, where everyone is trying to create something new and different and then pitch it to a publisher hoping to get a contract. I was thrilled. Ill never forget how I responded to her email; "...as a matter of fact, I happen to have a writing degree." I had come full circle.
Not only did I have a second chance as a writer, but I was using my degree to write a book about my jewelry. If it werent for technology, my online shop and this editors ability to find my work online and then email me, I wouldve never had this same opportunity. Who knows, I may have never had a second chance at a writing career. Science and technology can indeed change life as we know it. In FOXs series SECOND CHANCE, technology also plays a specific role in the show, it really made me think about how technology may help give people second chances at things in their lives in the future.
I received an email from a woman who worked for a publisher. She was an editor, and she explained that she had come across my jewelry in my online shop, shared it with some coworkers who also loved it, and then proceeded to ask me if I had ever written a book about my jewelry and if not, if I would be interested in writing one?
I was in shock. This couldnt be real. Editors dont usually seek authors to write books. Its the other way around! Especially in the craft industry, where everyone is trying to create something new and different and then pitch it to a publisher hoping to get a contract. I was thrilled. Ill never forget how I responded to her email; "...as a matter of fact, I happen to have a writing degree." I had come full circle.
Not only did I have a second chance as a writer, but I was using my degree to write a book about my jewelry. If it werent for technology, my online shop and this editors ability to find my work online and then email me, I wouldve never had this same opportunity. Who knows, I may have never had a second chance at a writing career. Science and technology can indeed change life as we know it. In FOXs series SECOND CHANCE, technology also plays a specific role in the show, it really made me think about how technology may help give people second chances at things in their lives in the future.
What would you do with your own second chance?
Read more about SECOND CHANCE, which FOX describes as,
”A thrilling new action-drama about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god in the quest to save one of their own lives.
”A thrilling new action-drama about a man brought back to life by two scientists playing god in the quest to save one of their own lives.
Seventy-five-year-old JIMMY PRITCHARD (guest star Philip Baker Hall, “Modern Family,” “Magnolia”) is a shell of his former self. A drinker, a womanizer and a father who always put work before family, Pritchard was forced to resign as L.A. County Sheriff for corrupt conduct more than a decade ago. Now, some 15 unkind years later, he is killed when he stumbles upon a robbery at the home of FBI Agent DUVAL PRITCHARD (Tim DeKay, “White Collar”), one of his two children. But death is surprisingly short for Jimmy, who is brought back to life by billionaire tech-genius twins MARY GOODWIN (Dilshad Vadsaria, “Revenge”) and her brother, OTTO (Adhir Kalyan, “Rules of Engagement”), founders of the social networking empire, Lookinglass.
Resurrected as a younger, better version of himself, with physical abilities of which he never dreamed, a re-animated Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky, “True Blood”) is given a second chance at life. What will he do with it? Will he try to repair the damage he did to his family? Will he embrace a new sense of purpose or fall prey to old temptations.”
Be sure to tune-in to SECOND CHANCE on FOX on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 9/8c!
My Second Chance As A Writer What Would You Do With A Second Chance
Use What Talents You Possess
Use What Talents You Possess
(image source)
Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if
no birds sang except those that sang best.
- Henry VanDyke
The world would be a very quiet place if only the best of the birds sang. Imagine what it
would be like if only the best musician played and only the best artist created art. Everyone
in the world has a talent, Something that they can contribute to the world, even if they are
not the best at it. What is important is the contribution! The main point of this quote is to
share what you can do and not hide your ability just because you might not be the best at
that particular thing. No matter what it is, we can always practice, learn, do our best, and
then share what we know with others, and that is what is important!
Everyone on earth has something to share.
What can you share with the world?
Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!
Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
Use What Talents You Possess
Exactly What is Congress Organic Standards
Exactly What is Congress Organic Standards
The word “organic” seems simple enough but can be confusing for consumers. Here is an inside look at the standards and laws governing this important group of products, particularly tea.
What exactly determines if a product is grown organically?
In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national organic standards. The National Organic Program (NOP) and OFPA developed regulations requiring products labeled “organic” originate from farms, or handling facilities, that are certified by either State or private agencies that have been accredited by the USDA.
The regulations further state that farms, or handling facilities may not use any of the following in production or handling;
•Genetic Engineering
•Ionizing Radiation
•Sewage Sludge
Organic crops must be grown without the use of;
•Most conventional pesticides
•Petroleum based fertilizers
•Sewage sludge-based fertilizers
How are imported organic products regulated?
•The USDA is required by OFPA to review the certification programs under which imported organic products are produced.
•Certifying agents in foreign countries must apply for USDA certification.
•In lieu of USDA certification, foreign governments can assess and accredit certifying agents, under NOP requirements, with USDA approval.
•An equivalency agreement negotiated between the US and a country’s government may also be used in lieu of certification.
What are “organic” labeling standards?
Organic labeling is the simplest part of the certification process and the aspect that is most confusing for consumers. While many times “organic” on a label means you pay more, what is the meaning behind the label? The standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product, and by law must be identified like this;
•Products labeled “100 % organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients.
•Products labeled “organic” must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
•Both may display the USDA Organic Seal.
•Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can only use the phrase “made with organic ingredients”.
•Processed products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” other than to identify the specific ingredients, on the ingredients list, that are organically produced.
So what does all this mean to US tea consumers? Since tea is grown outside of the US certification is almost always done by foreign agents. It has become increasingly important for consumers concerned about how their teas are grown to be comfortable with their tea supplier. Bio terrorism laws have impacted tea importation by looking more closely overall at what and who are importing products into this country, particularly food products. While these laws can sometimes impede the smooth flow of tea to us from overseas it may be beneficial overall to consumers due to the “closer look” of the FDA.
Converting gardens and estates to organic farming is a costly and lengthy process and sometimes not even a consideration for small farmers. In some cases farmers are already doing a lot right, but lack the knowledge or funding necessary to become certified. There is an effort by the US tea industry to educate growers on the benefit both economically and ecologically for growing teas organically.
Quality, from a taste perspective, has been an issue with organic teas. Gardens converting to organic farming have challenges, short and long term, producing teas that taste as good. As processes continue to improve an d farmers gain more experience, quality and taste are improving.
As an importer and supplier of premium teas one of our major responsibilities is knowing the production standards and philosophies of the gardens we work with. Securing quality, organic teas with outstanding taste characteristics can be challenging but more become available each season.
photo by Bernt Rostad
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Exactly What is Congress Organic Standards
A Peek At What Im Working On Right Now
A Peek At What Im Working On Right Now
More broken china jewelry!
I just finished all the metalwork on these last night and this morning I
polished them all up, added the chains and clasps and bails, and am now
working on the final photos...I will post them once they are finished, but I
have to say, they turned out beautifully! I especially love the square one
with the large pink rose and brown edge...wait till you see!
the finished result....
What do you think?
Want to make your own jewelry from old broken china?
Then you should check out my new book!
Learn to make broken china jewelry with my new book!
A Peek At What Im Working On Right Now