Sin and the Soul

Gluttony is often considered a sin.

Is quality time with the family gluttonously snarfing up fresh hot Krispy Kremes a sin? Well that’s for you to decide for yourself, not for me or anyone else.

I haven’t stood in line at a Krispy Kreme store for hot donuts fresh out of the grease in years. It was worth it! All 45 minutes in line. My mom thought we were crazy until that donut melted in her mouth.

I’ve had a great time here in snowy cold Virginia with my family. I didn’t get to see all of them, but the ones I did helped to grow my soul. Fearsome grew a little too. The family bond, the smiles, the love and the laughter enrich us all. I’m so glad I took the time.

Here they come, fresh out of the grease and through the hot glaze.

Grab yours quick cause this dozen is going to disappear! (L to R …Mom, Dad, Jessica)

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Drayton likes his with sprinkles.

Nephew Wil and I cuttin up.

I love my family. Family, the roots to my soul. Stable roots that help it grow.

Beard of the day

Morning Sunshine Beard

Road Trip

Mom and I are headed to Farmville VA today to shop for a new rug for my kitchen. We are off to Greenfront furniture http://www.greenfront.com .

Greenfront has acres and acres of oriental rugs. In fact every oriental in my home has come from there. It’s less expensive to buy here and ship to California than to buy in California. I have purchased the most amazing rugs at Greenfront and highly reccomend them if you are passing through Virginia.

The snow has been cleared off the roads and it’s a sunny cold day with snow covered mountains surrounding us. So it should be a great road trip to bond with mom and enjoy the beauty.

5′ 3″” x 7′ 9″ Pakistan incredibly knotted from a village that has stopped producing. New for the kitchen floor. Per AM’s request I post the new addition!

Beard of the day

Beardspiration buds.

Beard of the day

Beards Rock!
Beards Are Fearsome!

Ok…This is just not my thing!

Fearsome in the snow.

Last night I flew into Virginia to visit the parental units. The storm over the Carolinas was supposed to stay down there. Not. As we landed there was a light snow and it stopped at 8 this morning. There’s about 4-5 inches of new snow out there. It’s pretty to look at and that’s about it.

I haven’t been in a fresh snow since I left Seatlle 24 years ago. Since I’m with the parental units and they are 32 years older than me, it’s time to get to shoveling. Wish me luck! More later…

Beard of the day

Shadow beard art.

The right move on the wrong day?

Yoga

I do yoga, Fearsome puts up with it. He often is amused at me. He was today. I swear I heard him laugh ( yes beards can laugh at their humans ) when the yoga instructor asked me to use the blocks because I had gone too far into the pose. “Shawn, use your blocks for that forward pose, you are going to hurt your back” I heard from across the room. Then I could hear his masculine little chuckle as I turned red, grabbed my blocks and got myself into a better form, more fitting for a fifty something man.

Now I’m getting ready for bed and have 3 Advil on board, a pillow for my legs and just added a Fexeril to the mix ’cause I went too far and the right lower back is smarting. I’m getting no beard sympathy, he just laughs his little chuckle as if I don’t heard him.

I must remember when I’m in yoga I’m not there to prove anything, especially to myself. I ain’t no ballerina or gymnast and never was. I need to stretch, but only so far. Dammit.

Patience is a virtue with other people and also with ourselves. Life’s lessons, learn them take note and remember them. Especially when it comes to yoga class!

Beard of the day

No! No! Not my beard! Please don’t bite off my beard!

Tonight’s contemplation

As the beard contemplates life’s truths, it grows its soul.

Beard of the day

Eyes love a good beard that compliments them.

The Matrix

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer for Mike Dooley’s Playing The Matrix. Mike is a bestselling author and motivational speaker. I’ve been receiving his Notes From The Universe ( http://www.tut.com/Inspiration/nftu ) for about 9 years. I discovered Mike on a DVD by Rhonda Byrne released in 2006 called The Secret.

As a volunteer I had the resposibilities of greeting, selling books/CDs and registering participants. It was a long but rewarding day. I made a couple friends, met some super people and got to attend the seminar. This was the 3rd time I’ve attended one of his seminars and the first as a volunteer.

Mike has a great message. He is known for his words ” Thoughts become things”. If you think about it, all we enjoy was at first a thought or idea. The great inventors thought it first and then followed it through into reality. This iPad I’m typing on didn’t exist when I was a child, it would have been nothing but crazy far out science fiction back in the sixties and seventies. Now it’s every day reality I enjoy and depend on.

His focus is on manifestation in our lives. It’s simple, we get what we focus on. Playing The Matrix is a matrix or flow chart to help us realize what’s important to focus on and helps us lay out a path to get there.

Take happiness for example. Happiness is a very general term, but in the end it’s what we really desire. Almost all of us do it backwards. We focus on an object, a specific job or a person. These are things we have no control over. When we attach to these and say we will be happy when we get this one thing, we are doing it wrong. When we don’t get it the way we want, when we want, happiness eludes us. When we look at the end result, happiness, and work it backwards we can see a path to get there. Attach to the happiness, not the object, and follow a path of action, then the object or something even better will manifest in our lives. The key is action, The Matrix is a way of planning the action to get us there.

The objects can be a motivator, but should not become attachments as they will then get in the way of the real desire. Focus on the emotion and feelings of the bigger more general end result, make a plan, take action and you will go beyond what you ever thought you could. You can attract great things. Look back at your life and all the good you’ve attracted so far. I bet if you really look you will find more than you realize. Don’t worry or focus on any bad things. Feel gratitude for the good and more will follow.

Fearsome front and center of the crew, Mike Dooley is in the yellow to the right of me in the photo. 2/21/15 Playing The Matrix San Diego

 

Beard of the day

Beautiful beard, handsome stache.

Beard of the day

Gambrinous blogger buddy Eric as a bearded human dog warmer. Dogs love beards!

Fearsome bakes Carrot Cake

It’s that time to post another cake on this here blog thingy.

I love Carrot Cake and this is super easy from scratch! It’s delish!

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F

Cake: 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 4 eggs, 2 cups grated carrots (do not pack into cup), 1 cup raisins ( do not pack into cup).

Hand mix with spoon all dry ingredients then add oil, butter, eggs and vanilla…stir well, then add carrots and raisins…stir well.

Divide into two 9 inch greased & floured (I use bakers secret spray it’s easier) round pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center.

Cool

Creme cheese icing: 4 ounces room temperature creme cheese, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 3 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon Vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt, have just a little milk available to add for consistency.

Place all in bowl except milk, with a power mixer blend together on medium to higher speed…..then….add a few drops of milk at a time until spreadable. Be careful as too much milk will make it too runny and it won’t work…JUST until spreadable. Ice cake!

Iced and ready to go in fridge to hold for my Sunday morning group.

Enjoy!

Beard of the day

Blue eyed trimbeard. 

Beard of the day

The Cajun 1946-2015

Sadly I find out that one of the bloggers that took me under his wing a day or two after Fearsome Beard came online has passed. His blog is over in the Fearsome Buds and is On Transmigration. I take the liberty of copying a few photos from his blog to post here. Without his early encouragement, compliments and kind advice I am not sure Fearsome Beard would be here or at least what it is today.

Thank you dear Cajun. I post you as Beard of the day and promise to spread the love you shared with me that your love may live on through generations to come. Peace be with you dear Cajun. Fat Tuesday was appropriate for your departure. I hope to see you on the other side…but hopefully not for a while yet! Until then I send you a Fearsomely furry hug and kiss.

 

(This photo Courtesy of Ron)

A smile that lights a room!

Cajun’s Gravatar, that Fearsome smile is still there…..keep smiling Cajun!

Quality contemplations

Kindness

the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

synonyms: kindliness, kindheartedness, warmheartedness, affection, warmth, gentleness, concern, care, consideration, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, unselfishness, selflessness, altruism, compassion, sympathy, understanding, big-heartedness, benevolence, benignity, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness, generosity, magnanimity, charitableness

Tonight I’m contemplating quality of kindness.  I think I’m kind, but have the desire to look deeper. To understand better I need to start with the definition and I love the synonyms. I can look at the synonyms and see which of those come easily to me and which ones I need to develope. It’s a challenge to me on the path towards a better self. A challenge to keep improving.

In order to see my blind spots I should look at these antonyms as well:

Animosity, hatred, ill will, hostility, indecency, indifference, intolerance, meanness, mercilessness, selfishness, thoughtlessness, barbarousness, cruelty, harshness

Am I harboring any of these antonyms? Toward anyone or myself? What synonym can I practice or refine to improve?

Beard of the day

HandBeardSome.

All about the Beard

So today I was going to post a very deep spiritual post that brought peace to all of mankind. Then I got distracted and life happened.

One of the distractions was a box out on the porch the post person left. It was my gift from Bluebeards Original ( http://bluebeardsoriginal.com ). Beard products for Fearsome! He is estatic. It’s his gift for our honor of being the Bearded Gentleman Of The Month over at The Society Of Bearded Gentlemen ( http://beardedgents.com ). It’s a  bottle of Bluebeards Original Beard Wash, Wonder Beard Intensive Repair Conditioner and Beard Saver Daily Control. We will be trying these out tomorrow.

Happy Fearsome! He won us the honor of BGOTM!

Then while over on BeardedGents.com thanking them for the gifts he (Fearsome), stumbled upon this video and is making me post it instead of our peace giving, life fulfilling inspirational post. Hopefully he will snap out of his fifteen minutes soon so we can get that important life changing message to you.

In the mean time…Enjoy!

(Thankyou to my bud Satori over at BeardedGents for turning me onto this vid)