May Pagan Circle - Page 5

[redveg]

Morning:) 

Yesterday was a beautiful day:)  I got a bunch of things planted in my garden, I still have about 1/2 a days work to get the rest in though.  The one odd thing about living in New England is, for what seems like months after the snow is gone the trees are still bare and everything looks brown, then one morning like today you wake up and it's like magic:)  Everything is green and all the trees have leaves on them, it's amazing:)

Not so many postings, I guess everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather like me.  Get outside when you can!!  I hope everyone has a great day:)

[sweetsunshine85]

Well, it took me this long to figure out that we had a new thread! Jeeze! One of these days I will catch up! For now, HI everyone! Hope you had a good Beltane!

[Valerie.Qc]

I'm having a hard time adjusting to the new routine of working out of the house... The first week was allegedly the worst so I'm looking forward for an easier ride from now.

It's beautiful and sunny outside right now! Finally feels like Spring!

I'm trying to stay connected with nature despite the craziness but I find it hard to honor and worship the Earth while driving on bad forest's roads and feeling endangered by Her wild side. And mad dogs trying to eat me alive are not helping. (I'm so glad that part of the work is over... hope I don't have to go back at those homes!)

I long for time in my kitchen and time for crafting! I miss the spiritual side of slowly making food with intention and I'm ichting to go look for beads for my Prayer Beads!

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by redveg The market is so tough right now.  It's odd, around here if you are selling a house worth 2 million or more it goes with no problems but if your house is 300 thousand or right around there give or take they sit on the market forever, or it seems that way.  On our road alone there are 4 homes for sale.  I hope the market picks up because I would like to move next year.  Have you tried listing it online? Maybe for people who want a vacation home?  I hope you find someone great to help sell your home, someone motivated.  This time of they year maybe things will pick up since school is ready to get out for the summer.

Well, being that my house is only like $140K you'd think someone would bite. Ugh. Trying to check out Angie's list right now.

Originally Posted by singin_angel Maia - I hope you get to meet a good agent to work with you for your house. Glad to hear you and M had some good communication time :)

Thanks. I hope so, too. I want to get it listed possibly this week! M and me...we had WAY more than "good communication time" LOL *wink wink nudge nudge*

Originally Posted by redveg Not so many postings, I guess everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather like me.  Get outside when you can!!  I hope everyone has a great day:)

I'm just trying to recuperate. I am NOT going outside. It's 80-something degrees out there, already!! WAY too hot for me, and WAY too soon in the year.

Yesterday, leaving M's, I got up at 4am with him (he has to work early) but I was running on very little sleep-- I think I had like 5-6 hours, and I need at least 8 or even 9. I got the 6am train, got to the airport around 8:30ish, my plane wasn't till 1pm, got into Charlotte at 3, had a 2-hour drive home, and didn't even get to GO home, because ds had a game at 5:30 and I had to go right there, where I paid the caregiver and she took off.

Then ds and I didn't get home till 8ish. I finally got to bed at 9-9:30...didn't even read. Just hit the light and conked right out. I think I got up to pee once, but can't remember. I know M called around 4am but I don't remember that, either. I remember him saying "Did you have a good sleep?" to which I replied "I'm not done yet" and he thought that was hilarious.

I slept till 7 when the alarm went off, but I could easily have slept another hour or two.

I'm taking it easy today and getting my travel-laundry done. Everything smells like smoke when I come home, cause M smokes in the house till like one day before I get there, when he airs it out and opens windows. He doesn't smoke indoors while I'm there. But one day of open windows doesn't do jack, really-- it's in everything.

I have to go over my budget and see if there's grocery money-- but I don't feel like it at ALL.

Originally Posted by Valerie.Qc I'm trying to stay connected with nature despite the craziness but I find it hard to honor and worship the Earth while driving on bad forest's roads and feeling endangered by Her wild side.

That's what cracks me up-- at least you acknowledge that there IS a wild side. It's so funny to meet Pagans (and there are lots!) who worship Nature but don't recognize that Nature isn't nice. Hardly ever. I think Nature is very random, and not much often nice. It's about respect and Paying Attention.

Went to M's church with him on Sunday! I had a good time. He's such a weird combination of propriety and irreverance, I never know what to do or how to act! So a couple weeks ago I said to him one time "Let us eat lettuce" and now he sings it in this Mass-type voice, with an "Amen" after it...so the priest at church starts to sing "Let us..." and I looked over at M with That Look and said, under my breath, "Don't you DARE", and that cracked him right up

I have to say, though, I'm just conservative enough that it was nice seeing everybody dressed well in there. The lady in front of us had a baby, probably 2-3m old, that had a beautiful white lace dress on with a little baby-sized white cardigan. So cute! I thought she was gettting baptized, but nope. Just a church dress.

[wombatclay]

I think it's the handsoap in the bathroom... Dh brought home a new Method bathroom hand soap and one of the ingredients is, apparently, a potential photosensitizer.  It would explain some of the oddness, like why Tor is unaffected (he doesn't use the toilet/doesn't wash hands in the bathroom) and why Ro is more affected/had the smudge on her cheek (she is home more than Laia, and  she likes bubbles and uses a LOT of handsoap which she doesn't rinse off very well).  And we've only been using this particular soap for about a month, and only out in the sun for significant periods of time in the past few weeks.  It's not a 100% sure thing, but it's a pretty good smoking gun!

So, um, if you find yourself getting funky sunburns, check your soaps!  LOL

The chickens are getting big and I'm sooooo ready for them to move outside!  They wont be old enough to go out full time for another 2-3 weeks, but the whole house stinks of chicken poop.  Well, we clean them twice a day so it's less chicken poop and more... I dunno, kind of like standing next to some really nasty over-ripe veggies or something like that.  A sort of organic rot/sick sweet smell.  And with preggo nose?  My head aches and my throat hurts and it's making me even more quesy than normal.  So these chickies need to harden up fast 'cause they are NOT staying in this house much longer.  :)  We need to expand on the Baba Yaga chicken hut that is still roaming the woods and move it over to the "new" enclosure.  We'll introduce both sets of hens to the expanded coop at the same time (neutral territory) and hopefully during the "hardening off" weeks (about 1-2 weeks of the chicks being outside in a sheltered lean-to next to the adult enclosure) the two groups will get to know each other a bit.  The older ladies are molting right now and look pretty horrible in spots so this should be interesting!

Nature and nice- I think it's one of those image things.  So many people left religious paths that they felt were disrespectful of nature/things natural and they ran to the other extreme with religious paths in which nature is all good/giving.  It's sort of like the quote in Terry Pratchett about how just because something isn't nice, it doesn't mean it's not a miracle... nature is an amazing force, but it's not good or bad.  It just is.  Hmmm... now I'm remembering a song by Dar Williams (The Ocean) in which the Ocean asks the woman who has come to dream over the waves "What are you trying to find?  I don't care, I'm not kind.... it's ashes to ashes but always the Ocean."

And there's a nice repeated theme in the books of the Immortal War about how people/animals/creatures are true to their natures and it's not right to hate a wolf for eating a deer (even if you happen to really like deer) because it is simply a part of the wolf's nature to hunt/kill.  There are a few places where the moral gets a touch heavy handed, but overall it's a fairly well hidden but often repeated truism in the books... that hating someone or something simply because that other is being true to their nature and their nature is not like your nature is wrong.  I think it's often easier for people to connect with or sympathize with persons/places/beings that share their own nature... and so if they suddenly find that they are "in love" with an earth based or nature based tradition they kind of overlook anything that doesn't mesh with their own convictions/nature and ignore that Nature is it's own "person" with it's own set of interests and priorities.  Kind of like assuming that the warm fuzzy happy fairies in the midsummer gloaming are "all there is to know" about the Fair Folk... ignoring generations of lore from cultures all around the world that pretty clearly point out that the Good Neighbors can be anything but.

LOL... now I'm totally going off on a Pratchett tangent (the Tiffany Aching books, Lords and Ladies, and anything with Rincewind for starts)!  And G'kar's description of the Old Ones ("we" are like ants, and if an ant crawls onto the arm of an Old One and is set back down on the ground instead of simply crushed, how can that ant ever know what really happened or explain it's experience to another ant?  How could "we" ever assume to know the thoughts of the Old Ones, or think that our own actions in the ant hill could be of interest to any but a few eccentric Old Ones?).  And... I could be at this all day!  Squee!!!!  :)

[Aeress]

I am reading Wyrd Sisters right now and the Duke kills the King and the world, the forest, the place reacts- there is a trembling, the trees seemed to move, the animals make a visit to Granny. The imagery really seemed to hit home to me, our world is telling us something, we just need to listen.

No new news from my friend, I am going to call her today.

[Valerie.Qc]

Originally Posted by Maiasaura 

That's what cracks me up-- at least you acknowledge that there IS a wild side. It's so funny to meet Pagans (and there are lots!) who worship Nature but don't recognize that Nature isn't nice. Hardly ever. I think Nature is very random, and not much often nice. It's about respect and Paying Attention.

I've always had respect, even admiration for Earth's wildess expression but I usually try to stay our of Her way, plan my day according to Her mood; this week, it was impossible to do so I felt very vulnerable and out of sync with Her rhythm. 

My difficulty to connect where amplified by frustration, stress and anger generated by this temp work I'm doing... They are experimenting a new way of doing things and I'm not enjoying being part of experimentation... Hopefully, all the extra work we're doing will really help the crew that will work at this next time... (or not, they might decide to try a new system again...)

[witchygrrl]

Valerie, stress really just blows the ability to connect with Mother Earth, doesn't it? I hope that passes soon for you.

And me too. This morning, I noticed a hive (yes, one) on my finger. Ladies, I used to get tons of hives on my hands when I was really stressed out, so I'm hoping it stays at the one. DH had his interview yesterday, and it seems like it went really well, even better than this other school last week. But again, we have to wait until the end of the week. Gads, if there were full time work for me, I'd apply, but there just isn't. Not at my current hourly pay, or even remotely close to it, even.

And tomorrow is my birthday. 33! I had a free mini-facial Sunday, so my skin looks pretty darn good, I think:D

[kittywitty]

Valérie - good luck! The wild dogs sound scary!

Maia- So funny. "Let us eat lettuce". lol

Clay- I'm glad you seem to have figured it out! That's freaky! What type of handsoap by Method was it?

I dropped my sweet 12 yo kitty off at the vet for a mass removal behind her ear. I'm so worried about her. Her kidneys are a little small, too.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by witchygrrl And tomorrow is my birthday. 33! I had a free mini-facial Sunday, so my skin looks pretty darn good, I think:D

Oooh, happy birthday!!! I woulda bought you a slice of birthday cake if I'd known while I was up there!   Well, here is some champagne for you. If you don't drink, it's sparkling cider

Originally Posted by kittywitty Maia- So funny. "Let us eat lettuce". lol

Clay- I'm glad you seem to have figured it out! That's freaky! What type of handsoap by Method was it?

I dropped my sweet 12 yo kitty off at the vet for a mass removal behind her ear. I'm so worried about her. Her kidneys are a little small, too.

It was hilarious. I wish I could sing it for you like he does! Yeah, Clay, glad you narrowed it down so fast! Was that it, did you figure out?

Kittywitty, hope your sweet cat turns out alright

[Aeress]

Happy Birthday!

[_ktg_]

Happy birthday Witchygrrl!! 

[witchygrrl]

kittywitty, hoping the best for your furbaby! Beyond stressful.

Thanks for the birthday wishes:D

[Millie Ivy]

Happy Birthday Witchygrrl!

Clay- weird, about the skin reaction. I was actually going to ask if the kids used the antibacterial soap at the hospital when you were there (did you say you all had been at a hospital, or am I crazy?) When we were at the hospital recently, I used some soap in the bathroom and had a reaction exactly as you described.  Red, burning type reaction, ending at the wrist.  I couldn't figure out what was going on and we were there all weekend (husbands best friend ended up dying, I'll tell that story in a minute)-and the nurse gave me a regular soap that's not antibacterial. She said the other stuff eats peoples skin it's so strong.  

I wasn't in the sun after at all, for weeks practically, but I bet if I had been, I'd be very photosensitive. that stuff was nasty. 

OK- my sweet niece, Elliot, was born on Mothers Day!!!  After DAYS of trying to get labor started, and then resting up whenever she could, my sister when into active enough labor on Sunday afternoon.  I think we walked a total of 5 hours over the weekend, trying to get it going.  After a couple more hours walking at the birth center, she had only dilated 1 more cm, so they broke her water and Elliot was born in the birthing tub 40 intense but fast minutes later!  She is perfect, and elfin, and amazing.  My sister is already healing up fine, up and around, they are nursing champs and feeling awesome.  Blessed BE!

(incidentally, people who don't know me that well say "Oh, you must not have any kids, you act so excited about your new niece" ha. 

I'm exhausted.  Long work week.  I work part time for a caterer and usually only get 1 or 2 jobs in a week.  This week I've had 5, totaling 30+hours.  Which is awesome, especially since last month was low on hours, and when summer hits -jobs just die off.  But I'm beat, doing all that on top of being my sisters doula off and on for 3 days. 

Tomorrow I get to take my fiber and spinning wheels, carders, etc over to the kids' school to do a spinning demonstration for the 4th graders.  I did one early in the year for 2 nd grade (my sons grade, he was very proud) and now my dd's grade is studying up for going to Heritage Village in Dallas soon.  I'm getting to be pretty popular at that school. lol

Speaking of dd.  My lovely daughter is going to be 10 next week, which seems like a huge birthday to me.  A decade of a beautiful life, a decade of my motherhood.  It's big news, people. :-)

OK, tired now, signing off.

bb

[Aeress]

Millie- Our area is just getting going with catering, summer is their busy month. I worked for a caterer back in high school and man, once May hit, we were swamped.

How exciting about your sister and how fast! My sister is due in August and I am so excited!!!

[kittywitty]

Yay, congrats Shelley!!

My kitty is fine. She looks a little funny, but she's recovering well.

Happy Birthday, Witchygrrl!!

[LionessMom]

well i havent really been here much lately. so much going on. i spend most my time, when not cleaning, doing research on the internet. but i think i have all the answers i need. i found out what our problems were and have most of it diagnosed correctly. i have researched food and how we need to eat. i know what i am doing there now. so i want to shut off our internet. the only thing left that i do on it, is find recipes, talk to friends, and facebook. i can do that at the library once a week. which i should do with the kids anyway. DH said he will miss the weather but i can get the internet added to his phone if he wanted, for less than what we are paying thhe cable company. i could cut down everything to bare bones. basic cable, land line, and cell phones. it would mostly unplug us. my son and I wouldnt be able to sit around all day on the pc. i know we have fatigue and everything hurts but we would be happier and i would spend more time with the girls doing stuff. i have been wanting to do this for awhile now but i always come up with excuses as to why i need to keep it. but the truth is, is it is just costing me money i should be spending on food, and costing me energy i could use to read my kid a book. i think the internet has lost is usefulness for me. i dont even check in here very often.

love to all.

[Maiasaura]

Originally Posted by LionessMom well i havent really been here much lately. so much going on. i spend most my time, when not cleaning, doing research on the internet. but i think i have all the answers i need. i found out what our problems were and have most of it diagnosed correctly. i have researched food and how we need to eat. i know what i am doing there now. so i want to shut off our internet. the only thing left that i do on it, is find recipes, talk to friends, and facebook. i can do that at the library once a week. which i should do with the kids anyway. DH said he will miss the weather but i can get the internet added to his phone if he wanted, for less than what we are paying thhe cable company. i could cut down everything to bare bones. basic cable, land line, and cell phones. it would mostly unplug us. my son and I wouldnt be able to sit around all day on the pc. i know we have fatigue and everything hurts but we would be happier and i would spend more time with the girls doing stuff. i have been wanting to do this for awhile now but i always come up with excuses as to why i need to keep it. but the truth is, is it is just costing me money i should be spending on food, and costing me energy i could use to read my kid a book. i think the internet has lost is usefulness for me. i dont even check in here very often.

love to all.

Good luck to you, Lioness. I hope you check in now and again! You will be missed!

I have thought about getting rid of internet, too....but it's only $20 a month, and I don't have cable at all, basic or otherwise, and I don't have a landline. When AT&T takes over T-mobile, then I will maybe have to go cell shopping yet AGAIN (sigh, ugh), but until then I shall keep what I have. I have unlimited minutes all the time (not just nights and weekends, and all over the country) and 300 texts per month all for $55. I am so happy with this service that I am really, really pissed about the takeover, because I don't have a contract and I don't know if AT&T will honor this. I called them and they said I'd probably have to wait close to a year to find out anything, including if I'd be grandfathered in or not. GRRRR.

But until then, I won't have to re-evaluate. I can take the $75/month I pay for both phone and internet and figure out what to do next-- next year. I really don't want to, though. It's always when you find something you're happy with that they change it

[wombatclay]

Happy birthday!

And happy 10th birthday!

And happy new baby birth day!

:)

method- it's Method Gel Hand Wash Refill, French Lavender with vitamin E & aloe, naturally derived, triclosan-free (according to the front of the pouch).  I was googling photosensitizers and came across a footnote about some antibacterial soaps containing photosensitizing ingredients.  Now... the listed chemicals were NOT in any products I have around the house, but I started googling ingredients and +photosensitive and got a hit on Benzophenone (bensophenone-4 being in the Method soap).  Vitamin E can also be a photosensitizing agent, and essential oils can enhance dermatitis symptoms.  We've been using this Method soap for a month or so, but we only recently started being outside a lot and... I yanked the soap, we've been doing epsom salt and baking soda soaks, lots of oatmeal baths, and really thick goopy lotions.  So far so good!

What was really freaky to me at least was that the girls /didn't/ have any discomfort.  No itching, burning, or anything really other than the minor sting you'd expect form having scrapes/abrasions across your knuckles.  But nothing like what I'd have assumed those purple red puffy bleeding hands /should/ have felt like.  It was really odd.  Anyway, DH and I both used that soap regularly, but I think we use less soap than the girls and we rinse it off better... it's just sort of a freak of chemistry that this happened.

Assuming, of course, that it really is the soap.  I guess we'll see!

unplugging- it's sort of funny... I'm actually trying to get TV access for our home.  We need to cut down one HUGE tree, possibly two in order to have a line of sight on the right part of the sky (there is no cable access here or local tv, it's all satellite based) and we'll need to hire a tree service to do it safely.  But I so so sooooooo want to have Tv again!  I grew up tv-free, and we've been tv-free for about three years now and I honestly hate it.  I kind of envy people who really thrive on the unplugged lifestyle, but I've made my peace (somewhat) with the fact that I'm not one of them.  lol  I'd go completely bonkers if I didn't have internet, and I've told DH we HAVE to have tv before the new babe arrives or I'm going to lose it!  I think in part it's living so far out in the country... it's 10 or 15 minutes in the car to the closest family with kids, and a goof half hour to the closest park with a play space or town (where kid related stuff happens) and I'm a big people person.  The isolation of the country makes me all stressed out and edgy, even though it's what I grew up with (or maybe because it's what I grew up with!).  I usually feel like a "bad pagan" when I honestly confront the whole "I'm cutting down trees to get tv" or "I don't like being out doors in the wild" aspects of ,my life, but I'm getting better at accepting my nature...

[DaughterOfKali]

Witchygrrl- Happy Birthday!

Lioness- I'll miss you in fb!  I get it, though.  I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be getting rid of cable, landline, and internet very soon.