Samhain/Halloween stuff

I will put some pics up soon if I can find the cable for the camera. Yesterday Sam and I made our Halloween Tree! We are very proud of it, and the kids are crazy over it. We found a fallen branch that looks like a small tree, anchored it into a bucket of potting soil, and then bedecked it with purple and orange lights, black and orange pumpkin garland, and small Halloween trinkets for ornaments. Last but not least, we strung cobwebs over it. Now for the sucky part.

Sometime in the night, a wind came through that caught up one of our outdoor curtains of "creepy cloth" which blew backward, snagged the Halloween tree and yanked it over, snapping a large branch. So, I reanchored the large branch, and fixed it all back, but this time it is tied fast in so many places I feel confident that the wind can no longer carry out attempted murders against our favorite Halloween decoration. As for the "creepy cloth" accomplice... it to has been tied in places so it still hangs and looks cool, but can only be blown so far. I feel victorious.

Yay for Halloween!

Seeing the forest for the trees,,,

I am easily sidetracked. I certainly don't mean to be, but sometimes it is a matter of small vision. I often have to remind myself to expand my view. For example, I currently work at a job that is good, honest work... it doesn't pay a fortune at all, but it helps make ends meet. This is not my forever kind of job. I think I would go mad. This job serves a purpose. I applied for this job because I have a plan.

The plan is that I work while my husband does the stay-at-home daddy thing. He traveled for the job he had and we HATED it. We knew we would have to cut back, but this would allow for us to be together, rather than miles apart, sometimes for weeks at a stretch. He will get a new job, but it will be close to home too. This is a priority for us. It is necessary for us. This time has also happily allowed him to pursue school and he is on the Deans List. Cool.

Part 2 of the plan is that I get to go to school this coming year. I have been wanting to go for so long, and there is no reason to wait any longer.

So, those are the goals. When I get frustrated with my little rinky dink job, I remind myself of WHY I am doing it and that can really make a world of difference. I always work hard because if I am going to invest my time into it, then I will do it right. I am grateful to have a job in a time when so many do not but again, this is a stepping stone, not a stopping place.

A Time For Change

There are far too many conflicting facts regarding what is bad for you, what is good for you, and the worst of it is that it seems to change day by day. For the most part, the conclusion I have come to is that if it is good for the Earth, it is probably good for you too. I am not in the least prepared to go all "No Impact Man" ( Though his year-long experiment was and is hella cool.), and my steps to respect and love my World are going to be modest, but the idea is to build better, and healthier ways of living - for me and Mother Earth -, and to educate myself along the way.

I hate the condition we have gotten our environment into. What the hell have we all been thinking? I mean, I know I had parents who punished me for breaking my toys, for wasting food by not cleaning my plate ( damn green beans...) and I too tell my kids not to be wasteful by breaking their things, or getting too much to eat, etc. So, the irony to me is that we tell them that and then we break the world we live in and why? To throw away swiffer pads, razors, pens, cups, plates, bottles, clothes, paper? To eat beef, knowing full well what that means for pollution? It goes on and on. Selective ignorance and I am so sick of myself.

My new habits to begin with today are these...

1. No more disposable cleaning wipes.

2. Lay off the beef and pork consumption.

3. Stop buying 20 0z. sodas. ( I am bad about this at work. I get one or two every day that I go in. At best I spend $6.75 a week.)

4. Stop buying bottles of water. While I can get a huge bottle of Dasani for $1.10, it still comes in one of those plastic bottles that I am trying to rid my life of, and honestly I really do like my tap water, so why am I paying for water at work?

5. Stop the flow of plastic bags into my home. My family and I have a whole plethora of cloth shopping bags that we don't use nearly often enough. This is a big deal for me, because I can't handle the thought of hurting animals with a bag just because they are the quick and convenient way to go.

I know that I am spoiled by convenience. I own that completely. I was raised in a generation where faster was better and using something more than once was unthinkable. It all comes at a heavy price both personally, and to the world at large. I have to do something... I feel desperate to do something; to know that I am doing something for the only greater good that I know really and truly exists. I almost invariably believe that the "greater good" is usually a line passed out to make people follow a cause that hurts others, but not this time. This won't hurt anyone. Just the opposite. I'm ready for some change.

17.5 %

This is what I learned today : Ethiopian wheat accounts for 17.5 % of the areas grain production. Maize, Sesame seed, and Haricot bean make up the rest of the major grain categories. I learned this because Sam brought it up as a random question. I had to know so, first thing this morning I got online and began looking into the matter and found out that wheat production is, in fact, a great big deal in Ethiopia; That steps are actively being taken to try and increase output. There is the matter of a small inside kind of a thing that made Sam and I very happy to find out about this, and it is not innaccurate to say that this small piece of information afforded us happiness. As an aside, I hope as hard as I can that production of all their crops does increase. There is hardly a more deserving place.

What I like about me...

This is an exercise in learning to genuinely loving myself. I am finding those things about myself that I like, and putting them here. I don't know how many I can list, but I am hopeful and who knows? Maybe this list will grow over time.

1. My creativity.

2. My ability to take in knowledge.

3. My curiosity.

4. That I can dance the "Hustle".

5. That I can play the piano.

6. That I can make others laugh.

7. That I write well.

8. My vocabulary.

9. That I can love people so easily.

10. My hair.

11. That I have an ear for music.

12. That I can sympathise with others easily.

13. That I am a sensualist.

14. My large eyes even if they are brown.

15. That I can sew.

16. Having large breasts.

17. I am a good cook.

18. That I find interest in nearly everything.

19. That I am good at comforting others.

20. I can be a good friend.

100 things

1oo things that make me happy...


1. Spending time with my Daddy Penguin (a.k.a Sam...) and our demon spawn.

2. Reading

3. Cheesy movies.

4. Rich, creamy, comfort food style foods.

5. Off beat stores.

6. Painting.

7. Crocheting.

8. Trees.

9. Ice cold glass bottles of Coca ~ Cola.

10. Antiques.

11. Books.

12. Playing my piano.

13. Gardening.

14. Cooking new things.

15. Making gifts for people. ( Especially my kids.)

16. Birds.

17. Teas.

18. Pretty dishes.

19. Cloth table cloths and napkins.

20. Shopping.

21. Thrift stores and yard sales.

22. The smell of coffee.

23. Glow in the dark stars.

24. One of a kind things to put in my home.

25. The smell of candles and incense mingled together.

26. Autumn.

27. Flowers.

28. Sewing.

29. Sketching.

30. Old houses.

31. Silver soup spoons.

32. Yoga.

33. Festivals.

34. The sound of rain hitting the roof.

35. Staying snuggled deep in the bed in the wintertime.

36. Kisses.

37. Embraces.

38. Holidays.

39. Pretty bottles.

40. Handmade soaps.

41. Gooey oatmeal with LOTS of brown sugar and butter.

42. Statues.

43. Velvet.

44. Tall shoes.

45. Giant bacon cheeseburgers.

46. Earl Grey.

47. Romping sex.

48. Socks.

49. Arm warmers.

50. An inviting home.

51. Pretty porches.

52. Eating outdoors.

53. Long baths with a book.

54. Music boxes.

55. Vintage kitchen gadgets.

56. chandeliers.

57. Tiffany hanging lamps.

58. Sparklers.

59. Classic books.

60. The moon.

61. Going to new places.

62. Comfortable, overstuffed furniture.

63. Crisp mornings.

64. Leaves.

65. Believing in faeries, and Earth spirits.

66. Funny tv shows.

67. Good music.

68. Garden centers.

69. Laying outside somewhere with a book.

70. Craft stores.

71. Art exhibits.

72. Museums.

73. Going for walks.

74. Old cemetaries.

75. Following our family trees.

76. Trying out new resteraunts.

77. Starry nights.

78. Marching bands.

79. Ivy, honeysuckle, morning glories, and moon flowers.

80. History.

81. Philosophy.

82. Cool picture frames...preferably old ones.

83. Buying unique art.

84. Becoming inspired to just make something and then loving the end result.

85. Rescuing kittens, puppies, and whatever else I find.

86. Teaching things to people.

87. Cooking for company.

88. Rich body butters.

89. The smell of fresh laundry.

90. Board games.

91. Live music.

92. Dressing in costumes.

93. Downy, cotton bedding.

94. Essential oils.

95. Indulging in good makeup and other body care products.

96. Reading good cook books.

97. Fireplaces.

98. Swings.

99. Singing.

100. Writing pens and ink.

There is more, so I think I may do another list at a later date. For now, this will do. A good starting point for bringing a bit more happiness, and indulgence into my life.

Today was the first day of school for my youngest son, and this is the second year of school for my oldest child. That means that again I have been faced with the wrenching one experiences when they are at that moment they turn to leave their kid. And with strangers no less. Nonetheless, he was so terribly excited and this is so important to him... such a big day in his life. So, while I reassured him that he would certainly be missed, I emphasised heavily how excited that we, his family, all are for him. I want this to be all about him without such a tiny person concerning himself about a crying mama. It would be selfish of me otherwise.

Meanwhile, my baby girl and I are embarking on a day just for us. A tea party, dressing up in all our feathered finery, playing with makeup and hair, as well as pedicures will round out most of what we will do for today. It is going to be sooo much fun. Just a good, goofy kind of a day. She is a sweet kid and terrific company. A day definitely worth anticipating, and enjoying.