Saturday morning

On Saturday morning, I look forward to some alone time, before the kids come down stairs, to regroup for the week and prioritize. That didn't happen this week and I will admit it has made me feel kinda whiney. PAddy and I had an agreement that should he stay upatairs and rest longer, he could stay up later tonight and when tonight rolls around, he will feel kinda whiney too. Oh well thems the breaks.

I raked the leaves off the patht to creek, mostly so the Widows would not try to set up shop directly where we wander. The forest being their natural home, I fell lilke a better neighbor, giving them a heads up- big gauwmy things are going to walk here, best try the next tree over for your lovely web, tyvm. She is a lovely thing isn't she? All shiney and black with the red hourglass reminding us that time is precious. Still, I would rather not have her on my foot.

I think the kids have outgrown the sandbox- they have broken all the toys in it, and it is time to take the boards up and use them for something else. Fun while it lasted, but a pain to mow around. Last summer the ant lions build huge craters int here and it was more fun to watch them then to play in sand really.

The daffoldils are up, and almost ready to bloom. I look forward to that every year.

And Pix and I had a nice walk about the yard. She is not convinced about outside being anything more then a needed bathroom, but maybe a walk now and then will warm her up to the idea. She sat on the porch with me, rocking in the swing and growling like a lil teensy gargoyle at passing larger things, lol having Momma's knee to hide behind is a great source of bravery. Spring makes all our troubles seem lighter somehow which is a grand thing! The taxes on our house are paid, and I can stop worrying about that and admit I was scared to death at the possibility of not making that payment. A true gift, that was and one I will not forget.

Like the flowers and buds, I too am beginning to feel the possiblity of growth and unfurl in the warming spring air...

My friend Snooze posted something about mice and it made me think about my favorite flower- the Dandilion. I tried to post a comment on her blog but for some reason my computer refused to comply with my wishes so I decided to write here.
Dandilions are the most amazing flower- they can live in the wild, in conditions that scorch garden blossoms. You can find them bursting up through the concrete in cities, the relentless cheerful yellow flowers easily identified by any toddler. And they are FUN- I still love blowing the seeds off a dandilion and watching them float away to find another spot to be for a while. Dandilions are beautiful. If they were a hot house plants, we would plant them in every garden and marvel at the unique lovliness that is the dandilion. Instead, they refuse to allow us that control and break free, growing wherever they want at every turn. Once, long ago- I wrote a poem about my favorite flower...

Dandilions
Your flower is a burst of sunshine
Children make wishes with your puffs of white.
If you were rare,
our gardens would welcome you,
And coax you to bloom.
We harvest your leaves, use your roots
to eat, make herbals, make wine,
call you Leontodon-tooth of the lion.
You are relentlessly yellow-bright
People try to tame you,
try to control your growth,
But your seeds fly free
You resist the manipulation of humankind,
Refuse to be tamed, but grow free in every part of the world.
City dweller, you grow up through cracks in the concrete.
Your cheerful flowers drench fields in yellow.
We call you a weed,until we know better.
You are a survivor
tough, adaptable, determined,
a healing herb with attitude to spare.

Addams Family

"when we're together, darling, every night is Halloween.."
I am rewatching my old favorite, the Addams Family and again I am struck with the similarities to my own family. I guess it was not much of a suprise, that someone who watched the show religiously as a child. As an adult, it took me years to realize that I was comparing my own relationships to that of Morticia and Gomez- their passion for each other and the family so obvious. Who hasn't wanted a Thing? The old black and white films evoke a simpler time, but the family itself is eternal- they are unusal and creepy yo outsiders but always and forever they are true to themselves and each other. Content to be who they are, and oblivious to what others think they roll along, in love and gothic humor for all time- I salute you Charles Addams, and salute us as we roll along in our own gothy splendor:)

Valentine's Day is here. We can't afford to do anything, but it does not matter in the least. There is nothing in our lives that matters that would be bettered by a "grand gesture". Our love would neither increase nor decrease, based on the pricetag of an expensive present. We would not cherish each other more if there were new gewgaws involved.
With you, dear one, every day is a celebration of our love, and you are the cream for my coffee, the sunshine in my sky.
Here's to us!
mwahz.

Free Range Fingers!

When Eilish had her hand bandaged, we had a tube-like thing to cover the bandages. During the time she had the bandages on, we had the start of a cold snap here in NC and I thought that the cover looked cozy, like a legwarmer for the hand. She could sign with it, and it covered her wrist. I thought I would like to have something similar- a hand warmer that would allow me to type, text and sign. So i fiddled around and invented them! i made a set for everyone at home, and then decided I might expand my market a bit. That is how Free Range Fingers handwarmers was born! I am going to try and sell these nifty lil handwarmers and see how it goes. I used a crohook (double ended crochet hook) and dual yarns, so they are reverseable and quite cosy. as of now, I have several pairs in medium ready to sell and I have photos of sizes small, medium and large to post. I also have a set of cotton crochet coasters that amuse me- I think I shall make more of those as well.

Do you need a good cry?

This week I was reading various articles on the net about the benefits of having a good cry. I have always thought that there was something healthy about a good cry- you feel better when all that stuff is not locked up inside, don't you? I do. it's like the tears have washed away that which weighed so heavily. http://www.helium.com/items/339767-possible-health-benefits-of-crying is an article y Dr. Keven Keough. While I don't know him, I thought the article sounded sensible. He says that studies show strong and consistent evidence that crying is linked to significant health benefits. Stress hormones cause damage to virtually all bodily systems- we all realize that. Stress, in fact damages the very parts o the brain that are designed to reduce our stress. Tears contain stress hormones- it is a way for our bodies to shed these toxic hormones in a natural and effective way.
I feel better, knowing that the cry that often makes me feel like my problems are not so stressful is actually helping me to cope with the stress of modern life in an ancient, natural and effective way. So let your tears flow and know you are helping yourself to be healthy!

My Art

When I was looking for work, I nearly stopped making any kind of art at all. I let my worries cloud my creativity! So I have decided that there is a new Art plan for me! I will get back to taking photographs for my own stock, and to work on those skills every week. AND at least every other day I will doodle in my sketchbooks. Last night, in the bath, I drew my big toe and it felt really good to have a real pencil in my hand again! I love photomanipulations and digi art, but I think I need to hold pencil and paper on a regular basis for my own joy.
So, I will occassionally fly of the deep end here and post work that will seem kinda out of context! Most of my life is out-of-context I suspect anyway ^.^
Speaking of- I was telling David the other day how I missed my blue hair. When I started Art School, the talking heads agreed that my lock of vibrant blue hair was not a "corporate image" and I should lose the blue in order to get work. Well, not having blue hair didn't REALLY give me any kind of corporate image either, and I miss it as does my family. So I suspect when I can afford to, the blue will return again. On another note, I miss my stained glass work. I suspect that is another thing I will go get when I can afford to is the chemicals to make my glass again. I have quite a bit o glass, and my tools. When I have the chemicals, I can make a few things to sell. When I made glass before, most of the designs available were for fairies and flowers... Nice, pretty things, but not really my style. I started designing by designing my own glass plans. Fox, Cougers, dragons.... The trick to designing or glass is to remember that glas does not like to be cut in certain ways, and that you need room for your lead. Glass is really fun but to make a good design, you need to break some. I am wondering what to start with ^.^ Maybe a black panther with this design.