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Archive for the ‘Inspirations’ Category

Inspiration Friday – Music

Posted in In The Soap Shop, Inspirations, tagged , , on September 9, 2011| 6 Comments »

I really am grateful for inspirations.

I find they come in spurts…almost daily, and at times not for a week.

Recently inspiration has come to me through music, specifically bluegrass music, especially instrumentals.

I listen to each and every instrument, almost as if I divide the music up into sections, paying special attention to the clear and beautiful notes of the mandolin.

I feel happiness, renewal, peace and even a sense of Annie’s Goat Hill, where it belongs…what it is about.

I am a transplanted city girl, living on a farm, milking goats, making the fragrant soap that I always adored.  When I make soap I always think about who is going to use the soap.  I hope that they find happiness, even if just a moment, from a simple product as a bar of soap.  Pleasant thoughts flow as the young batch of soap in the pot begins to trace and as the beautiful music fills my heart.

Life is good.

More inspirations on the way next Friday.  And by then, hopefully, I will be able to add video to the blog!

A link to a beautiful lively blend of violin, mandolin, and banjo.  Bluegrass instrumental.  Almost sounds Irish to me.  Beautiful, clear, crisp.

I could sit on the porch and listen forever.

Have you had any inspirations today? This week?

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness

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Looking Into The Curve

Posted in AGH Business News, General Reflections, Inspirations, tagged , , on July 20, 2011| 5 Comments »

Recently, as I was enjoying a ride, I thought about how some of the basic instructions we received in motorcycle safety class last summer does reflect life itself.

One such instruction was “look into the curve.”

In life, especially when faced with challenges, if we look into the curve, look where we plan to exit the curve, we steer ourselves in the right direction.  We come out of the curve, the difficult maneuver, exactly where we set our eyes to bring us out.

While working through the twist in the road when we do not look left, right, or down.  We hold our posture, looking ahead, at the end result.  We focus.

It really does work.

Have you faced any challenges lately where looking into the curve might help?

I have.  One is HR 2359, a bill that could be devastating to you (as a consumer and friend), me – a small business owner, and the country in general, as we might lose more of our freedom.  Where do I stand? I am against the bill, but I am looking into the curve, with my eyes focused on the end result.  I may need to adjust.  I may need to make changes.  But I am focused.  And I will survive, stronger than ever.  I hope you find that type of resolve to your conflicts as well!

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Constant and Consistent

Posted in All In A Day's Time, General Reflections, Goat Care (and General Farm), Health, Inspirations, tagged , , , , on June 16, 2011| 13 Comments »

My alone time with the goats normally comes to light in the early morning hours as I am milking one of them.  The barn, where the milk room is located, is normally quiet and abandoned as most of the herd is outside grazing or rummaging through the hay I just placed in their feeders.

This morning as I enjoyed a peaceful moment with one of the milkers my thoughts turned to the goat.

She isn’t the prettiest goat in the world.  She looks rather thin.  She is very healthy.  Her scraggly winter coat has been shed.  What is left is her glossy “summer-do.”  She comes to the milk room to do a job for me.  She puts every ounce of her body into her milk.  She puts on no airs.  She does her job well.  She provides the amount of quality milk that no other doe provides.  She does not complain.  She requires no special care.

Isn’t that how we (as humans) should be? We produce without complaints because we are given the daily opportunity to do so? We do not need to be beautiful, because we are a special and unique begin to begin with.  If we do what is needed, consistently, we will provide for ourselves (and others) so much more than what is needed…calmly, on a daily basis.

Why rush? Why hurry? Why try to be someone we are not? We simply put our best foot forward and give in to what does come naturally, and happily.

Thank you to the not-so-pretty, un-named goat.  You not only provide beautiful milk for our lotions and soaps, you provide a lesson in life.

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Inspiring Wise Words

Posted in General Reflections, Inspirations, tagged , , on June 3, 2011| 9 Comments »

I love it when a simple event turns into more than one might expect.

In this case it was a flat tire.

As they pulled our truck onto the lift I walked out the service bay door.  An elderly woman was standing on the sidewalk.  I noticed her bright and beautiful eyes immediately.  We struck up a conversation that flowed like we had known each other all of our lives.  It did not take long for her to tell me that she was 87 years old.

Mrs. Reed and her husband owned the service station.  50-something years ago she pumped the gas, and she also included an oil level check, tire pressure check, and windshield washer fluid top-off with gasoline fill-up’s.   Do you also remember those days?

Our conversation led me to think about small business, and how relationships with our clients, our customers, and our business comrades are all so important.  We want to provide service to the best of our ability, in a friendly human manner, just like the full-service stations did many years ago.  Our conversation also led me to think about life in general.  How it isn’t about our every-day grind, nor a “me, me, me” world, it really is all about our relationships with people.

Mrs. Reed went on to tell me about her 35 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the various remarkable professions and lives that they live.

All of this time I kept thinking, “How does she do it?”  She is so full of life.  So bright, seemingly without a care in the world.

I never had to ask her that question, she volunteered a simple answer, “You never stop.”

You never stop.  You do not listen to the voice that says you cannot do it.  You do it.  You make it happen.  When you stop you accept defeat, both physically and mentally.

Our conversation was lengthy, the details are not included here (for your sake), but I must say, as we parted ways I told her, “You have inspired me!” She held those tiny beautiful wrinkled hands behind her head, wriggled her fingers, as if to say, “Phooey!” But the grin and eyes told me differently, they were encouraging.

We can learn a lot from our elders.

I will always remember those words, “You never stop.”  You rest momentarily.  Then you get back up and make your world what you intend it to be.

I guess I am not so nuts when I tell my husband, and other people, that I intend to be milking goats, actively, when I am 80 years old.  When someone says to me (they already do), “I do not know how you do it,” I say, “I just do it.  All of it.  It is what I want to do!”

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Keeping Your Eyes On The Horizon

Posted in All In A Day's Time, General Reflections, Health, Inspirations, tagged , , on March 31, 2011| 12 Comments »

About 6 weeks ago my husband and I started a weight loss program. 

I will not bore you with all of the details of our weight loss plan, but I will tell you we integrated less calories (no seconds at meals) with a focus on whole grains, little (to no) white flour/potatoes/sugar, and a diet loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables.  Is it working? Yes.  Is it difficult? One huge YES!!!!

My slips and slides, spikes of insulin, have lessened, but now the cravings have returned.  It has brought me to comparing the weight loss endeavor to life itself.

How do we stick with a plan? We focus on the horizon.

Small business owners go through ups and downs while growing their businesses.  Is their product what they want it to be? Are their customers really happy? One day it feels right, the next day it feels all wrong.  It is a natural part of doing business, but, without an eye on the horizon, without the steadfast walk towards the goal, it could be a matter of crash and burn.

Weight loss is no different.  Like the carrot dangling in front of the rabbit in the race, if the picture that we want to create of ourselves (a healthier body, or a smaller size) is not retained as a goal, we will eventually give in to our cravings and weight loss will be thrown to the way-side.

Life is full of frustrations, side-tracks, and little lies that tell us that doing what is right is just too difficult.  Na-da!

Keep your eye on the horizon.  Keep your eye on the goal.  Don’t look to the right, nor to the left.  Look where you want to go. 

I believe, do you?

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Dropping The Fear

Posted in All In A Day's Time, General Reflections, Inspirations, tagged , , on December 23, 2010| 10 Comments »

Have you had experiences in life when you have had to tell yourself to “drop the fear”?

Recently I climbed a ladder, which was more than twice as tall as I am.

As my husband stood outside of (what will be) our new soap studio on his ladder, I climbed my own ladder inside.  Together we tugged on the huge electrical wiring until we got it fed through the much-smaller conduit.

As I climbed the ladder my heart began to thud.  I thought I was not going to make it.  I repeated the old saying, because that was all that I could think to do for myself at the moment, “Don’t look down.”

Then I remembered what I did last summer, something that made me realize I could climb ladders as long as I put the fear aside.  I remembered something as simple as the motorcycle safety class. I had to put my fear away to pass the course. I nearly allowed fear to change the outcome!

Suddenly the fear of being up in the air, high up on the ladder, went away.

Facing the fear came as clear to me as life itself.

Next time you are facing something that seems enormous, something that you feel you cannot accomplish (that you could easily say “no” to) and allow someone else to do, remember to believe in yourself.  Have faith. Claim the ownership.

Beat the fear…drop it like a hot potato…what you can achieve by doing so can really help you climb ladders – even those that seem to reach up into the clouds – hands down. Goodbye obstacle!

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It Is The Small Things

Posted in General Reflections, Inspirations, tagged , , on September 9, 2010| 8 Comments »

Have you reached a point in your life where you realize how much you appreciate the small things?

We all have days when nothing seems to feel right.  How about the times when the normal feels mundane? Then there are the days when the ordinary comes with newness. 

One  morning I was distributing hay.  The morning was routine.  I always watch for behaviour, to ensure each goat is well, but I am sure there are times when I stop noticing much of their common actions.  That particular morning I heard their hooves as they approached.   I heard an excited rumble of hoofbeats.  I was filled with gratefulness.  Such a small thing, the sound of hooves, but such a joyous thing to be able to notice and enjoy.

As we fall into the day-in and day-out patterns of our lives, I hope each of us notices something small to enrich the time we have here.  The smallest of things can be a blessing.

Promise me, please.  Enjoy!

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One Woman’s Business – Discovering Her Ministry

Posted in Inspirations, tagged , , , on August 13, 2010| 7 Comments »

Today, as I sat across the desk from a small business owner, my heart and eyes were opened to a new level.  It was truly an inspirational meeting.

The business owner relies solely upon sales of used manufactured homes to make a living. 

Many years ago, when she decided to begin her business, she was blessed with a banker that took her down-payment, yet had enough faith in her to give the money back so she could purchase homes in which to start.

In what seemed like a blink of an eye she refurbished several homes and was making sales.  She also was able to hire a man who had hit rock bottom, who needed work in the worst sort of way.  He became her right arm, very dedicated and loyal.

As our conversation carried forward, she began to tell me about her customers.  She said each one comes in with a different story.  Many of the customers are on a bumpy road.  Some have recently lost loved ones, some are ill, and some have had financial difficulties due to the economy.  My heart went out as she recited a hand-full of hard luck stories.  I could see the passion in her eyes. 

She then told me about her revelation, after being in business for several years, “It is my ministry!”  Her statement touched me to the extent that I jumped up and grabbed a tissue out of the box on her desk.  As I quickly pulled the tissue from the box the last one came flying out into the empty chair across from me.  I sobbed and laughed at the same time, as I stuffed the last tissue back into the box (realizing mine was probably not the first heart that she had touched.)  I smiled as I dabbed my eyes,  “You are going to have to buy more tissues!” She replied, ” Oh, don’t you worry, I have a LOT of them in the closet.”  I bet she does.

She went on to further explain her “ministry.”  She listens.  She helps people find a home, their home, the one that suits their needs.  She also helps others by providing jobs. 

She finds it very satisfying. 

It isn’t about sales.  And a lot of it is squarely rooted in faith.  She is so subtle about it.  I am in awe, and I did not hesitate to tell her so!

“Build it and they will come,” really does ring a bell here.  It isn’t about hoards of people knocking at your store door, wanting to spend their money on your product.  It isn’t about how many times you have appeared on Twitter, or Facebook, in the local newspaper, or whether there have been rave reviews of your product.  Yes, those things are important, to one degree…in another light.  The true reflection, however, is your inner-self.  The solid structure that you have “built” reflects your design in life, who you work for-who you serve, and what you serve.  It really is that simple. 

I am inspired!

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The Things We Could Learn

Posted in All In A Day's Time, Goat Care (and General Farm), Inspirations, tagged , , on August 4, 2010| 6 Comments »

Kitten Little, Psycho as my husband calls her, reminds me to think about human life from time to time.

She is curious, alive, frisky, with something to learn from the world.  Yet, when it is time to rest, she renews her soul and body cells with the slumber that is needed.

We were probably designed to be the same way.  We should remain curious, like a youngster, eager to learn new things, nearly always ready to look at our world, the gift of life, with a fresh set of eyes.

Then, when it is time to rest, we should enable our minds to shut it all off, and truly slip away with little effort. 

Thank you, Kitten Little, for your company, your subtle reminders.  We have a lot to learn from you and others like you!

-Kitten Little is 9 weeks old.  She hasn’t had a bottle since her 5th week in life.  She had her 2nd vet visit today, came out with flying colors.  Now she is resting, recovering from a busy morning traveling in the pet carrier (meowing her pleas to be let out), and forgetting about her unpleasant shots.-

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Humble Lessons In Learning

Posted in General Reflections, Inspirations, tagged , , on July 18, 2010| 7 Comments »

 

Patience is definitely a necessity when learning new skills in life. 

Our learning abilities are affected by certain things such as fear, natural talents, and even bad habits.

In my own life, for example, I found soaping to be rather simple.  I did not learn to make soap the “chemistry” way, I learned it by trial and error.  I used no special tools or calculators to develop formulas.  Learning soap required patience, with no frustration involved.

I am self-taught in goats, by studying everything I could get my hands on.  I do believe any animal keeper encounters new and frustrating situations, raising animals is not an exact science.  Nature involves living things.

I am learning how to ride a motorcycle.  It is difficult for me.  I am learning in baby steps.  Each hour of learning varies.  One hour feels like I move forward, the next feels like a step backwards.  But when I sit back and think about what progress I am making I realize that even the failures are not exactly that.  Being able to recognize where I make mistakes, where I go wrong, is progress in itself. 

Making natural perfume falls into the learning curve as well.  Loving fragrance does not mean that I can whip up a concoction that smells like something a person would enjoy wearing on their skin.  Patience is required with perfuming because the end result, a matured blend that fails or passes, isn’t ready for many weeks.  I purchased natural perfume samples from others, thinking I was way off-base with my own creations, something I hesitate doing – comparing my work to others.  I did not like the samples.  It nearly prompted me to quit.  I didn’t, I decided to give it more time. 

I have my moments, we all do.  We can easily say, “I quit, I give up. I was not meant to do this!” But where would that get us? Would we stop chasing (and accomplishing) our dreams if we did not work at them? Myself, I could easily say, “I will make soap and focus on nothing else, because I know how to make it!” Who said, however, good things come without work, without disappointment from time to time?

Instead, in humble honesty, shouldn’t we admit to ourselves and others, our efforts will take time? More often than not, the end result takes more time to accomplish than what we first thought it would.  Can you think of many pursuits where time and patience were not worth the effort?

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed. – Proverbs 12:24

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