Carla Hinsey

Posted By Carla on October 31, 2009

A Simple Mind Exercise

As today is Halloween or as the Druid refer to it “November’s Eve,” and Halloween makes me think of spiders and cobwebs, I thought it would be fun to share a mind exercise with you all.  This is an exercise in brain/information recall.  It is thought that the brain is a super computer and if we learned how to use it as such there is no limit to the potential of the power of the human mind.

As I quickly approach the age of 50 years, I sometimes have trouble remembering things.  Years ago I read a book by David St. Clair titled ‘Lessons in Instant ESP’.  What a great book, each chapter was a quick and easy guide to using your brain power.  One of the chapters was on memory re-call.  The following is the lesson in a nutshell.

Imagine yourself walking through a door and when you enter, you are in a room that resembles a post office teller or maybe even a windowed bank teller.  Sitting at a desk behind the partition is a little person, (male or female your choice, after all this is your exercise).  His/her work area is filled with all kinds of file cabinets, baskets and bins.  Go up to the window and ask the little person “what is …..(ask your question here).

Depending on how long the event, the place, or the person is that you are wanting to re-call, that will determine how quickly you receive the answer.  If it’s fairly recent he/she will dig through the baskets and bins on their desk.  If it’s been a few weeks or months he/she may dig through the file cabinets.  If it’s been years, don’t be surprised if he gets up from his desk and exits through the door behind him.  If that is the case then he is going down to the basement to look through the old files down there.

OK, now here’s the hard part.  Once you have asked your question, forget about it.  Don’t keep asking the little person over and over if you don’t get an answer immediately.  Every time you do this, he has to stop searching and come back to the window to see what it is you need.

I have used this technique for years and it has never failed me.  The only down side of the little person’s search for information from years past is it seems he finds the answer at 3 am in the morning.  When he yells out the answer to me I wake up from deep sleep and now I have the answer but the moment for needing the information has past.  Use this exercise often and the answer will come more quickly.

Category: Spiritual Awareness | No Comments »
Tags: brain exercise, brain power

Posted By Carla on October 11, 2009

Finally….I have some new photos of my Angel Trumpets!  For some reason this year I have had a very difficult time getting my Angel Trumpets to grow.  I started three batches this summer and finally got one batch to grow and start making flower pods.  I just hope the weather holds so that they have time to bloom and produce seed pods.

I’m still researching and leaning all I can about this awesome plants.  When

White Angel Trumpet in full bloom

you see one in full bloom you can only then began to appreciate their beauty.

The intoxicating perfume of this plant will make your head spin.  It reminds me of a really expensive perfume.  I’ll have to do some research, but it would be interesting to find out what kind of insects are attracted to the flowers.  I never saw any bugs on them this summer, but something was really eating at the leaves and flower pods.  There was evidence in the mornings with holes in the leaves and the flowers had brown sting marks on them.  The flowers on this white variety would open at night and fill the air with sweet fragrance and when the sun would come out in the morning the flowers would close up again.

Purple Datura flower pod cluster

These are my purple Datura’s, the ones that I had all the trouble getting to grow.  Early in the spring I had purchased some yellow and white Datura’s and they never would grow.  The squirrels kept getting into them and tearing up the dirt.  A couple of times they even up-rooted the small flower plants.  After that the plants struggled the rest of the summer.  The plant would grow a set of leaves then they would fall off; the plants never achieved any height on them.  Somehow they stayed alive though.  I did some research and found out that the Brugmansia’s and the Datura’s need a really good fertilizer.  They need to be fed all summer to encourage plant growth and stimulate bloom production.  I wished I had discovered this earlier in the spring.

Purple Datura flower in full bloom.

After I had started fertilizing on a weekly basis the plants really began to grow.  They need a fertilizer high in Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potash.  I found a generic brand that worked really well for me.  After I started feeding the plants, they really took off; growing several inches a week.  Here is the composition of the fertilizer I used. It contained 24% Nitrogen which is responsible for green coloration and rapid plant growth, 8% Phosphate that helps stimulate root and plant growth and will encourage bloom production, 16% Potash as this will help maintain plant vigor while encouraging rooting and increases plant resistance to disease.

If the weather will hold then maybe I can get some seed pods and with the knowledge and experience I have gained this summer I’m hoping to have a more successful growing season next year.

Some more photos for you to enjoy!

Purple Datura

Purple Datura

Purple Datura

White Brugmansia

Category: Plants & Gardening | No Comments »
Tags: Angel Trumpets, Brugmansia, Datura, plant care, propagating plants

Posted By Carla on September 24, 2009

Now that fall is officially here the weather will soon be changing.  Before long it will begin to turn cold and the Flu Season is just around the corner.  With the onset of the Swine Flu showing up here in Tennessee I just wanted to post some things I have been reading on the best ways to help combat this most serious strain of flu.

Individuals MUST take responsibility for their own safety.  Learn all you can about ways to help you and your families avoid this years flu.  There are several things you can do personally to help detour the spread of the virus.  These things are simple and they should go a long way in helping you stay healthy.

Wash you hands with soap and warm water frequently.  Also get in the habit of carrying the hand sanitizers, the gels or the wipes work pretty well.  If your not already taking a daily multi-vitamin now would be a good time to start.  Vitamin C is also very important.  I have just recently read that it has been discovered that vitamin D is having a huge affect on the Swine Flu Virus.  Vitamin D is one of the vitamins that a lot of people are deficient in.  It doesn’t occur naturally in many different foods, but it is abundant in fish.  The body doesn’t assimilate it well without sunlight.

If your not a big fish eater, then start taking the fish oil supplements.  The Omega 3 and Omega 6 are high in Vitamin D.  The Omega’s also have other benefits for your overall health, such as it helps to lower your cholesterol, clean plaque out of your arteries, and lubricates your joints.

As I find out more information I will post here to help us all to stay as healthy as we can during this up coming flu season.  Remember, please do all of us a favor, if your sick STAY HOME.

Category: Recently in the News | No Comments »
Tags: avoiding the flu, flu season, new outbreaks, swine flu

Posted By Carla on September 17, 2009

This is a funny story about a dog named Neko, a chow-pit mix.  He was my son’s dog but at one stage I wound up with him.  I was living in my RV at the time and there wasn’t much room, but Neko and I managed just fine.

One day I was sitting on the couch and he was laying next to me;  I was scratching him.  While doing so I discovered a tick on his side.  After a bit I was able to remove it and all was fine.

I wanted to make sure he stayed tick free, so every couple of days I would check him over just to make sure.  I feel really bad for animals that are eaten up with ticks or fleas.  I can only imagine how horrible that would be.

All and all, Neko was a really good dog, and VERY smart.  He usually minded well, except on those rare occasions  when he pretended not to hear me( I think all dogs do that from time to time).

One night while I was watching TV, Neko came and jumped up on the couch with me so I could scratch his belly while I watched the tube.  I was rubbing his stomach when I felt something.  I got to looking at his belly, and there it was. A tick.  The one from the other day was easy to remove; I just got a hold of it down around it’s head and was able to pull it out, no problem.  I figured this one wouldn’t be a match for me either.  I was wrong.

I got a hold of it like before and tried to yank it out.  It slipped from my fingers and held fast to Neko’s tummy.  I tried it a couple of more times with the same results.  Neko squirmed a couple of times but didn’t try to jump off the couch.  This little booger meant business, seems he wasn’t going to let loose.

I got up to go get my tweezers and returned to the couch.  Neko looked at me kind of funny but didn’t get down.  This time I got a good hold on it with the tweezers and I intended to pull it out.  I gave it a hard yank and dang it, it slipped loose from the tweezers.  Neko squirmed and tried to jump of the couch.  I scolded him and told him to lay still; don’t be a bad dog!  I latched hold of it again, and this time it was coming out!

I was able to get it squeezed tight with the tweezers, next to the skin.  I clamped down on it hard and gave it a swift yank.  Just as I yanked it, it dawned on me.  “That’s not a Tick….it’s a Tit!”  Neko yelped and jumped down from the couch and ran into the bedroom.  After a couple of seconds he came back to the doorway and sat down staring at me.  Oh, I felt horrible, that poor dog!  He was looking at me as if to say ” Damn, mom, that hurt!”

Needless to say, Neko got three treats that night instead of his usual one.

Category: Animals and our Pets | No Comments »
Tags: Dog stories, funny dog stories, ticks on dogs

Posted By Carla on September 13, 2009

Well…you learn something new everyday!  That was the case for my husband and I the other day.  We were out in the yard picking up one of my house plants that had fallen from it’s hanging place.  It was a beautiful Pothos Ivy.

During the summer months I take my house plants outside.   They seem to really flourish out there.  As with most house plants they can’t tolerate direct sunlight so I found a place in the shade for them.

After rescuing the plant and hanging it back up, we were checking it out to see if there was any damage.  My husband brushed back on some of it’s leaves and all of a sudden he hollered, “Damn, what the heck was that?”  I asked him what and all he could do was curse and hold his hand with the other hand.

I was really concerned as he seemed to be in great pain.  I asked him what it was and he didn’t know.  I was looking at the plant and noticed something hanging out of the underside of one of the leaves.  I turned the leaf over and discovered the strangest looking caterpillar I had ever seen.

Neither of us had ever seen one that looked like this one did.  Bob continued to express his feelings about the stinging and I was getting concerned about it.  I had never known of there being such a thing as a stinging caterpillar, but something had happened and the only thing that was abnormal was the presence of this critter.

We came inside and immediately wet some tobacco and made a paste to apply to the sting.  Bob said the pain continued to increase and was now shooting up his arm.  We wrapped his finger in the tobacco paste to allow the tobacco to pull the venom out.  Bob told me the sting was like getting hit at the same time and in the same  place from a Red Wasp, Scorpion, and a Bumble Bee.  I can only imagine.

I went back outside and captured the critter just in case we needed it for identification.  We weren’t sure how serious this sting was.  Bob decided to look it up on the net and found out all about this nasty little bug.  What he found is called a Saddleback Caterpillar (Sibine Stimulea).  I’m going to post some pictures we found of it so that anyone can see.  If you see one, please, don’t touch it or you will wind up with a very nasty sting!

Oh, and by the way the tobacco paste works great on all kinds of stings. It will draw the poison out and help reduce swelling and pain.  Just wanted to add that for those of you that didn’t know.

A brown and green one(the kind that stung Bob)

Another view of a brown and green

An orange and green one

The moth (this is a female)

Category: Plants & Gardening | No Comments »
Tags: Saddleback Caterpillar, stinging caterpillars

Posted By Carla on September 3, 2009

The last chapters of  our book on “The Book Project” are being written as I write this.  We are way ahead of schedule.  We are hoping to get as many of the authors to contribute on the last chapter.  Some have not written and have contributed on the project with proof reading and editing.  All phases of the project have been very important, just as the actual writing.  So, hopefully soon we we will announcing that all the writing is finished!

Category: I am a writer | No Comments »
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Posted By Carla on August 13, 2009

OK, I’m back now.  I haven’t posted anything on my site for almost 2 months now.  Shame on me.  A friend of mine from work told me about this game on facebook and I went and checked it out.  That was a big mistake!  I have been consumed with it and have all but neglected my writing.

This week I have returned to working on my novel and have completed the chapter I was working on and have started the next one.  The book project is on its last couple of chapters, and soon will be ready for a full read though.  We are right on schedule and things are looking good.

Category: Plants & Gardening, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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Posted By Carla on June 9, 2009

How’s your spiritual endurance these days?  Mine is struggling.  I have been bombarded almost daily now with negative energy.  I do believe this is happening to many people across the globe.  It is up to each of us individually to deal with this as best we can.  Those of us that are light workers MUST continue to HOLD the LIGHT.

How do we do this?  A good question considering getting through each day is a struggle at best.  That’s for each of us to figure out.  Sometimes the best way to try and figure this out is to just get centered.  If we slow down and become quiet then we can concentrate on being still.  I have found that it is impossible to hold the light if  I am not centered.

This past week has been quite difficult for me.  There has been several situations that challenged my ego and I did succumb to it, temporally.  I allowed it to control me and get the better of me.  It’s been tough as I know better than this.  I took this weekend to reflect on this and got control over myself.

The illusional world that we live in is very good at maintaining its purpose in our lives; keeping us confused and off balance.  The hard part is staying connected and focused.  As light workers we must be diligent and hold the light.  Without our constant endurance the illusion would certainly run a muck.

The old ways of doing things and living will soon be coming to an end as we move into another way of life.  These times are going to be very difficult and they will challenge us to our core.  The global financial crisis, job loss, mortgage crisis, and a possible pandemic event are all necessary for the changes that need to happen.  We must stay focused and maintain our connection to the source of the ONE, where all things are possible.

Category: Spiritual Awareness | No Comments »
Tags: holding the light, Spiritual Awareness, spiritual endurance

Posted By Carla on May 30, 2009

Dylon and Carlie sitting out

Living with an African Grey does have it’s up and downs.  The most negative trait they have is that they can be really loud at times.  They also tend to be one person orientated.  They usually choose one person in the family that they prefer.  That doesn’t mean that they won’t except others in the family, they just choose the one they would rather be with.  I know it sounds kind of strange but it is a fact.  Carlie our female is definitely my husband’s bird and Dylon our male is definitely my bird.  Both birds show love and affection to each of us, but the true connection to either one of us is obvious from the bird’s individual choices.

They are just now, at the age of 10 years, reaching full adult maturity, breeding age.  It does depend on the individual birds, but somewhere in the 10-12 year old range they will start to show signs of mating.  It is the female that chooses the male as her mate.

They can be quite messy eaters and they give off quite a bit of dander.  We have to dust often, because a fine layer of white dust covers just about everything.  Carlie seems to put out much more fine white dust and Dylon puts out dust and white feathery floaty things.  They also need added humidity.  We keep humidifiers and air cleaners for them it helps with the dust.

Dylon is a biter, I don’t know if a lot of them are, but from what I have heard from others, it seems to be more of a male thing.  One other thing I must add here on their negative side is they are really big chickens.  They don’t do change very easily.  Adding new things to their environment can takes days or longer before they accept it.  They are sensitive and emotional, so please treat them with respect.

And the last thing I want to add here is what my husband and I refer to is the “Morning Elephant Dump.”  I don’t know what happens over night, but the first thing they do after being uncovered is take a poop of unbelievable proportions.  Make sure they take their morning dump before you get them out or you will have a huge mess to clean up.

On their positive side, WOW!  What can I say?  The ability of affection and love we receive from them is really hard to put into words.  They are funny and witty and Dylon talks non-stop.  They love music and to dance;  they sing and laugh.

Come and get me!

They give hugs and kisses and all they want to do is be with you and on you.  They can sit for hours, fluffed up like a grey football with a beak not doing anything but being in your company.  They tell you things and strive to make you happy.  They are charming with their class clowns antics, especially when you are down.  They go to great lengths to cheer you up when you’re having a bad day.

They are always happy to see you, and always sad when you leave.  The only thing I can really say, you have to live with one to truly understand the depth of their feelings and affections.  They are like little people in bird suites.  They love to play and for you to play with them.  I guess I could go on and on about them, but I think you get the picture.  They truly are special and unique, and bring to your home and life something that is hard to describe.  Too live with one is to know one, is all I can say.

Carlie is the sweetest bird I have ever known

For more information about living with African Greys, their care and feeding, feel free to visit our African Grey website.

Category: Animals and our Pets | 3 Comments »
Tags: African Birds, african grey parrot, grey birds, pet birds, pets

Posted By Carla on May 26, 2009

These times that we are living in today are very difficult.  So many jobs are being lost and families are struggling just to keep afloat.  It’s hard to see a bigger picture when you stay locked into old habits and ideals.  The bottom line is, the old way of dealing with situations in our daily lives are no longer working for us.  We must find a new way to cope with our ever changing worlds.

Greed, material possessions, egos, and perceived power over others HAS got to go.  It is time to connect to your spiritual awareness and see that all things are possible when we connect to the source of the ONE.  We are nearing the end of an age, we are leaving the age of Taurus and are about to enter the age of Aquarius.  This cycle will conclude a 25,800 year span on Earth.  If you have ever wondered how long an age is, well, now you know.

We are on the dawn of a new beginning and we can either except it and be willing to change old habits or we can go screaming and kicking.  The choice is up to us, because either way, change is coming.

I’m going to leave this post with a visual impression as maybe it will help to view things in a different manner.

You fall into a deep and swift moving  river.  Making your way to the bank, you reach up and grasp  hold of over-hanging branches.  Hanging on for dear life. you struggle to pull yourself out of the river.  The weight of your own body along with the raging current of the river quickly depletes your energy reserves.  You feel the energy being sucked out of your body as you struggle against the current.  Before long you can do nothing as you feel the strength leaving your body.  Now you can no longer hang on to the branch you sought as your savior and you lose your grip.  With your strength gone you slowly sink to the bottom of the river, drowning.

Your struggle with the river current had incapacitated you and you didn’t see the bigger picture.  For had you expanded your awareness, you would have seen that just around the bend in the river the flow smoothed out.  The river widened and slowed down.  There it was only knee deep and you could have waded out.  Instead, you clung to an old idea not trusting that change is a good thing.  Your refusal to let go was your own undoing.

My advice in these struggling times….Let go and let the current take you to another place.  Things will improve, but you MUST let go of the things that are not working.  One door must close for another one to open.

Category: Spiritual Awareness | 5 Comments »
Tags: new ideas, Spiritual Awareness