Little Free Library In Oz

Little Free Library in Ozark, MO.

Hey, guys! Happy Chinese New Year! Today's post is all about Ozark's Little Free Library. Apparently it was unveiled near the end of 2013, but I only heard about it yesterday when I was flipping through the 2014 Ozark Chamber Of Commerce Membership Directory. So, this post may come a little late, but for others like me who hadn't heard I thought I should help spread the word.

So, what exactly is a Little Free Library? Well, it all started with Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin. In 2009 he built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher. He attached it to a pole in his front yard and filled it up with books. People in the community loved it so he built a few more and gave them away. The little libraries sported signs that read, "Free Books". 

The very first Little Free Library

The goal that Todd had in mind was to see 2,510 Little Free Libraries built to promote reading for children, literacy for adults and libraries around the world. This goal was reached in August of 2012. By January of 2014, the total number of registered Little Free Libraries in the world is conservatively estimated to be between 10,000 and 12,000, with thousands more being built. For a more detailed history, or info. on how to register your own Little Free Library please visit littlefreelibrary.org. 

Ozark's Little Free Library is on the north side of the square in front of the courthouse.

The idea is pretty simple. Take a book or two and leave a book or two for someone else. No library card required. I first heard mention of the little libraries when I was living in Kansas City in 2010. I thought the idea was fantastic and even wanted to place one in my own yard. Life got busy, as it tends to do and I forgot all about the Little Free Libraries. In 2012 Mark and I relocated to Oz and once again I heard talk about the little libraries. A friend named Holly Graves, who lives in nearby Springfield, posted on her Facebook page that her husband, E.W. Graves, had built a Little Free Library for their yard. It was met with popularity and E.W. has since built four others in Springfield plus a fifth that was sent to Hutchison, KS. as a gift.  As of today Springfield has five Little Free Libraries. 

E.W. and Holly's Little Free Library in Springfield, MO.

Curious if a Little Free Library might be near you? Search the Little Free Library MAP to find out. 

Inside Ozark's Little Free Library

Have some books you no longer need? Why not seek out a Little Free Library and pass them on? Grab something new to read while your at it! I'm so happy that Oz has its first Little Free Library. I hope it's the first of many.

~ Love & Light ~

Inspiring Scents

"At no other time (than Autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost." -Rainer Maria Rilke

I have the nose of a scent hound. This isn't always a good thing, mind you. I often am the only one picking up on a subtle yet terrible smell. On the other hand, because my sense of smell is so strong, I find comfort and inspiration in many scents that I have encountered in the course of my life. Today I want to share just a few of my favorites. 

Super Hit Incense

Many of you have heard of Nag Champa incense but did you know Satya also makes a delicious masala incense stick called Super Hit? It has been my favorite for many years. I love to burn one while meditating or doing yoga. Super Hit is super yummy. 

Scented Wax Burner

One of the gifts we received after getting married this summer is a wax burner from my mom. I really love this thing. It has a light bulb on the inside that heats and melts a scented wax cube that you place in the top (removable) tray. You can find the wax cubes at many stores, but my favorite scents can be found at Nature's Flame Candles. Not only are the scents magical but the melts themselves are beautiful. Skip the plain squares mass produced by large companies and treat yourself to these little works of art. 

Lemongrass and Sage melts by Nature's Flame Candles.

Fairy Blend melts by Nature's Flame Candles.

One of my absolute favorite scents is jasmine. I bought a jasmine plant a few years ago for this very reason. Every time she flowers it is a scent-sational event! 

Lone winter jasmine flower.

Scents hold memories, emotions and feelings about our lives. Women especially are attuned to the world of scent. What scents do you enjoy? The smell of bread baking in the oven? Fresh laundry? Puppy breath? How do you bring scent into your home? Candles? Flowers? What is your intention when you release a scent into the air? Relaxation, warmth, energy or a cooling effect? Experiment with scent and see how it can enhance your environment and bring instant peace to a space. 

"Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it." -Patrick Süskind, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer

~ Love & Light ~

Year Of The Horse

2014 hasn't started off the way I would have hoped. I was sick for the first two weeks of January and since then have been feeling less than motivated. I have an overall feeling of sluggishness and feel like I've been catching up on sleep. Today I read an interesting article about the coming energy shift arriving around January 31st - February 4th, the Chinese New Year. It gave me hope that soon my energy levels will pick up and I will be able to truly start the new year!

  

2014 is the year of the green wood horse. The Chinese zodiac calendar comprises 12 animal signs and the horse is the seventh among all of them. Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animals personality. The Chinese believe the horse is a symbol of nobility, class, speed and perseverance. This will be a rapid year with dynamic movements. Wood is the element associated with growth, spring, something new coming out or breaking through, and creativity. The other elements in Chinese astrology are fire, water, earth, and metal. 

2014 will not see a dull moment. The horse likes adventure and freedom! The energy will be ideal for allowing yourself to be free physically and spiritually. The horse teaches us to trust our instincts and intuition. The horse is about action and not over thinking or procrastinating. The year of the horse will be fast and steady and will not wait for you to over analyze. 

I am looking forward to the year of the wood horse and all that it brings! 

~ Love & Light ~

Theory And Practice Of Therapeutic Massage

I am currently re-reading Theory And Practice Of Therapeutic Massage by Mark F. Beck. This was one of my course books during massage school way back when.

#Massage Therapy #Anatomy #Physiology

~ Love & Light ~

How To Uncover A Mystery: Exploration #23

Exploration #23 from the book, How To Be An Explorer Of The World: Portable Art Life Museum by Keri Smith has been hard for me to get started on. Today is the first day that the weather has been nice enough to be outside for any comfortable length of time and that hasn't been my only road block. Let me give you the task description...


Exploration #23


HOW TO UNCOVER A MYSTERY


1. Let the mystery find you-something that piques your interest and unleashes your rabid curiosity.

2. Research. This could be conducted through a variety of venues (library, internet, dictionary, interviews, etc.). Dig up as much info as you can on the subject/event. Collect clues.

3. Follow all "leads" (pieces of info that cause you to head in new directions). Contact people involved.

4. Get involved directly with the thing you are researching (for example, take a class, write experts, etc.)

5. Conduct a re-creation (of an object or event). Use maps, dioramas, photos, diagrams, etc. Look at the situation from different angles.


So, my assignment is to uncover a mystery. I have been thinking about it for days and think I have finally settled on one. The first step in this task was to let the mystery find you, and thinking back over the last few weeks, I was actually presented a pretty awesome mystery to investigate! If you recall in my December 30th post, Sleeping With Ghosts At Crescent Hotel, I mentioned a ghostly encounter I had one night when I woke to use the bathroom during our stay at the 1886 Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. That night after I had been in bed for some time, I woke to go pee. As soon as I entered the bathroom I smelled cigar smoke. Anyone who has been near cigar smoke knows it has a very distinct smell, even different from cigarettes. I had a distinct feeling that what I was smelling was somehow related to a ghost. Today I plan to uncover the mystery and will log my findings below.

1886 Crescent Hotel 

I found the following paragraph in an article by Tom Uhlenbrock. I did a general search for cigar smoking ghost at the hotel.

"Fugate and Heath came to the Crescent from San Francisco in 1995, and bought a Victorian home near the hotel that once was owned by Dr. C.F. Ellis, who was the staff physician when the Crescent opened. When they got the contract to do the ghost tours, they wanted to open a headquarters in a hotel room that formerly was the doctor's office. When negotiations with the hotel bogged down, they sought help -- from Dr. Ellis, who they said is the cigar-smoking ghost in the stovepipe hat."

A cigar smoking ghost named Dr. Ellis? What else can I find out about this man?

In another article I read that Dr. John Freemont Ellis is sometimes seen on the staircase from the second floor to the lobby. That article also mentioned that people smell his cigar smoke near the elevator.


 We stayed in room 425 so I thought I would see what I could dig up about that room. Here is an interesting fact that came up in my search around the number 425.

- An estimated 425 people died at The Crescent between 1938-1940 when the hotel was owned by Dr. Baker and was a cancer hospital.

Not much came up about room 425 but I read that room 419 is one of the most haunted in the hotel. 419 was on the opposite end of the hall and on the same side of the hall as us.



Smelling the cigar smoke is just one of three encounters that I have had at the hotel. I was more pleased than surprised to find out about Dr. Ellis. I also read about the public bathroom near the lobby being a hot spot for activity in the hotel. In February of 2013 I had my first encounter with one of the Crescent ghosts in that bathroom. I'm glad that I had these encounters with no previous knowledge about the hotel and its history. It lends to the credibility of these ghosts.

Although my research brought up many more ghost stories, what you have here is about all I could uncover concerning a ghost who smokes cigars at The Crescent. I feel like, for me at least, that the mystery is solved. I have little doubt that Dr. Ellis was roaming the hotel on the night I smelled the tobacco.

~ Love & Light ~

What I'm Loving In January

I've been in hibernation mode recently and totally living in my head so I have no local restaurants, businesses or events to talk about. I do have a list of the things I've been loving thus far in 2014.

* Purple. I've always loved purple and it shows up A LOT in my decor, possessions, and wardrobe. But I'm feeling a really strong pull toward this color lately. My sister Sara and I once discussed words that we don't like. I can't stand the word crevice. Less for how it sounds and more because it makes me think about the space between the wrinkles in my brain. Her word is purple. She said that she dislikes the way it sounds. I've thought about it and now I think it sounds like a descriptive for a bodily function...like burp, belch, fart, sneeze. (can you believe she let out a purple right in front of the entire class?). Anyway, I still love the color.

* Olive Oil. I've been using it as a face and body moisturizer, to remove make-up, to nourish and shine hair, lips, cuticles...I've basically been bathing in the stuff. Liquid gold. Here are 50+ ways to use olive oil. No spa membership required.

* Jena Malone. I first really noticed her in 2001 alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko. Then she ended up in many of the type of movies I like. I haven't seen her in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire yet, but I have watched two of her films in January and really liked them both. Saved and In Our Nature. Beside working as an actress, she is also involved in music projects and even created her own instrument. She's artistic, unconventional, and classy.

* Copper Hair. I've been seeing copper hair everywhere lately and I LOVE it. With the rise in redhead popularity, there are a lot more red hair dye shades available now than just a few years ago. Which copper is right for you?

* Tumblr. I've had a crush on Tumblr for a while now, but as my interest in Facebook and other social media fades my love for Tumblr gets stronger. It really speaks to the hedonistic side of humanity. If that doesn't make sense to you then maybe you need to spend more time exploring Tumblr. 

So that's five things I've been into so far this year. I'll stop at five...I've been liking the number five a lot too. What have you guys been up to? Are there any new fads or trends you are loving? Music? Art? I discovered a new artist while watching the series Lilyhammer (awesome show, btw). Her name is Ingrid Olava and she is amazing! I'll end this post with one of her videos. Enjoy! 

~ Love & Light ~

I'm Only Sleeping

  

I woke up late again today. Really late. Like 1:30 in the afternoon late. But, I'm not going to feel guilty about it because I obviously needed it. Did you know that we get our energy from sleep, not food. Food is fuel but it actually takes energy to digest it. Sleep replenishes our energy and most Americans only average 4-6 hours a night. Ideally we should get 8-10 hours a night. And we can't ever really make up for lost sleep either. I often hear people say, "I'll catch up later, I've got too much to do", or "I'll sleep when I'm dead". The truth is, we need to sleep and recharge every night, not just when it's convenient. 

Isn't it sad that our world has become a place that makes us feel guilty for taking an afternoon nap? We are made to think that working 8-10 hour days with short breaks is normal..okay even. We are either on our feet all day or chained to a desk. Eating a fast lunch often on the go and juggling so many different things that we are often up before the sun and go to bed late in the evening. Not everyone has the schedule of a full time job, raising children or deadlines but the majority in the US do. So, sleep goes by the wayside as we try to cram in all of our duties and tasks. 

Sleep deprivation can affect everything from mood, thinking, pain tolerance, accidents, relationships and hormones. If left to go on long enough it can even get serious with affects like high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and more. So, if you don't factor in adequate sleep time in your life, it might be time to start. If you think you may suffer from insomnia, I urge you to see a doctor. 

Some reasons you'll want to hit the hay soon:

~ Improve memory

~ Live Longer

~ Better Sex

~ Curb Inflammation

~ Spur Creativity

~ Sharpen Attention

~ Maintain Healthy Weight

~ Lower Stress

~ Avoid Accidents

~ Steer Clear of Depression

The following is Shakaya Leone's Beauty Bonus regarding Beauty Sleep:

"Sleep is the ultimate beauty nutrient. Nothing seems to hollow out our faces, cause eye bags or accentuate lines and wrinkles like a poor night's rest. Our bodies repair and regenerate when we are sleeping. Insufficient sleep contributes to premature aging and degenerative diseases more than is commonly believed. Proper sleep hygiene leads to regenerative sleep and is truly a secret of beauty, longevity and health." ~ Shakaya Leone

6 Sweet Sleep Solutions:

~ Clear your thoughts meditation, prayer or journaling.

~ Essential oils chamomile, lavender, jasmine, neroli, rose, ylang ylang.

~ Exercise at least 4 hours before bed; light stretching can be relaxing.

~ Use ear plugs

~ Relaxation calming music, sauna, hot tub, stretching, or massage. 

~ Herbal teas chamomile, hops, scultaleria, valerian.

The next time you feel tired, skip the coffee or tea and take a cat nap. Gift yourself this life luxury. You are worth it. 

~ Love & Light ~

Dreaming About The Big Island

Lava flow spilling into the ocean

I think I finally may have kicked the stubborn cold that I have been battling for nearly two weeks. It has been an unfortunate way to start 2014 but I am not going to let it set the tone for the rest of January. Onward and upward. 

Today in Oz it is around 3º outside. I wanted to work on my next exploration project but it is involved and I'll need to be outside. I just have to be patient and wait for it to warm up. Meanwhile, I have been entertaining the idea of moving someplace warm like Hawaii or Costa Rica. Mostly Hawaii. The Big Island. I am taking my fantasy as far as looking at properties on Craigslist and watching videos on Youtube. I've never even been to Hawaii but I am having a fun time dreaming about it. 

Maybe the weather is just getting to me. Cabin fever. The idea of warm beaches and sitting outside to write everyday is so enticing. Words like Gecko, Avocado, Volcano, Hilo...I am enjoying toying with the thought of these things. I mean, could you imagine how many beautiful things you could see if you lived there full time? I think a visit is in order soon. 

I decided I needed to do something other than read/watch movies about/look at pictures of Hawaii today, so I am passively watching a documentary film about Francesca Woodman. Her photography is inspirational to say the least. It doesn't take a trained eye to detect the magnitude of her brilliance. The film is called The Woodmans and you can stream it on Netflix. 

Photo by Francesca Woodman

Photo by Francesca Woodman

Photo by Francesca Woodman

I hope to be getting back into a regular routine again by next week. All these days of being sick have led to me sleeping in later an later. I needed the rest, of course, but I was doing so well at getting up at seven every morning. Time to start enjoying the sunrise again. Last of all I will mention that the river is frozen all the way through. It is really beautiful. As much as I dislike the cold temperatures and dry air I cannot ignore the beauty of the river in the winter. I took the short video clip and photos below yesterday before the water froze. I was having fun watching the geese and listening to them honk at each other. 

If you look near the bank you will see a few of the babies.

ALOHA!

~ Love & Light ~

Clearing The New Year

Clearing the home with sage

The hubs and I have been fighting some long lasting cold for a little over a week now. It has me feeling sluggish and less than motivated to kick-start 2014 in high gear. I can tell we are at the tail-end of this sickness and today I plan to give it a final shove out the door. 

As soon as this blog is published, I am going to clear Chigger Chalet of any impurities, negativity, or lingering illness with a good saging. See, Native Americans have long known that sage is a powerful and magical herb. It has many uses and clearing (cleansing/smudging) is probably one of the most well known. As a culinary herb, sage is great to keep in the kitchen garden for use in cooking and spiritual/magical purposes. Growing, drying, and binding your own sage lends to the connection you have with the plant and can strengthen its abilities. After all, if you breathe the same air, drink the same water and have your home on the same soil as a plant you grow yourself, it helps match-up your overall vibrations. Working with local herbs and plants is always the best way. Of course, you may not want to wait until harvest to have sage to work with. It is widely available at health food stores, herb and tea shops, spiritual bookstores, and online. There are several types of sage (my favorite is White Sage) and they  each contain unique qualities. Have fun experimenting until you find your favorite. 

Beautiful sage bundles

Smudging/clearing your home (or self, pet, jewelry/object) with sage is simple. You'll need a wand of sage, a lighter or match, a fire-safe plate or bowl and maybe a fan, feather or something to spread the smoke about. After lighting the wand and getting it smoldering nicely, hold it over the plate and walk through your house or the place you intend to clear. Waft the smoke about in corners, around windows and doors, and near places that store a lot of energy like the kitchen table or the bed. You may wish to set your intention with a simple chant:

"All negativity now disperse. May this house be cleansed, free of all bad forces, thoughts and energies. May it remain so."

After you're done make sure to snuff out the sage wand completely and let it cool on the plate before putting it away. 

After Chigger Chalet has been cleared, it's my turn. Most of you know the health benefits of epsom salt. Used by athletes to soothe sore muscles, epsom salts are also great for pulling toxins from the body and can help speed recovery from cold and flu. You can find epsom salt at any good supermarket or drug store.

Epsom Salt

The following is the recipe for the bath I'll be taking today.

Leanne's Healing Soak

Add to a hot bath:

1 cup Epsom Salt

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

1/2 cup Baking Soda

Soak in this bath for at least 20 minutes to draw out toxins, lower stress-related hormones, and balance your pH levels. Light some candles, toss flowers in the water and play soothing music. Make the time to love and care for yourself. I'm off to do just that! 

~ Love & Light ~