Archive for the ‘Non-Toxic Alternatives’ Category

Favorite Memories & Finding a Better Way

May 9th, 2011

Greetings Friends!

I hope all you mothers had a great day yesterday, and I hope all you children spent time with your mothers.

Here are some of my favorite moments in mother history.

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This is my mom and I on Easter 1980, one day before my first birthday~

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Michael 2yrs 10 months and Eddie 6 months

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Michael 5 and Eddie 3

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Alan, Michael, and Eddie

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And being that I am eight years older than my oldest brother, and thirteen years older than my youngest brother, they were really like my kids too….

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~ J and D ~

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But they’re not so little anymore.  Here is my new favorite pic of us.  This is us at the creek for Mother’s Day for our annual, family picnic.

Me n Bros

There was rum at the picnic. __Snicker*__

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After we got home from the picnic, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with my hands in the dirt, tilling and planting.  I got my new garden beds dug out and refilled with compost on Saturday, so yesterday was spent just playing in the dirt and planting the first round that was scheduled to go in while the moon is in Cancer.

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Tomorrow is the group call with Guruji!  I’m finding myself really super excited about it.

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Today, I’m building a split-rail fence out of twine and substantial sticks from the woods.  I refuse to spend up to a couple hundred dollars for fencing to go around my garden bed when I have four acres of natural, unsprayed materials that are free and green.  The sole purpose of the fence is to catch and disperse errant dog pee.

The dog isn’t picky on price.

He’s an equal opportunity urinater.

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Joy Quest Month 3

July 15th, 2010

I took some pictures of my little garden today and I was completely stunned by the before and after.  It made me feel so happy, I just had to post about it.  If you remember, my garden started out as a “Joy Quest” in April.  I REALLY needed something and I just felt inspired to throw myself into my garden, and so I have.

It’s really been just what I needed.  I feel so calm and relaxed when I sit by my garden and pull weeds or work the soil with my hands.  It’s also far more gratifying than I’d have ever imagined to pull my own vegetables out of my own garden and cook them for my family.  I’m already anticipating next year!  With the knowledge I’ve gained thus far, next year is going to be amazing!!!

~ These are the before pictures.  They were taken the day everything went in on May 4, 2010 ~

Before1 5-4-10

Look at the sad, sad zucchini plants on the left of the below picture.  I wasn’t sure if they’d pull through!

Before2 5-4-10

And these are all green beans :)

Before3 5-4-10

Okay??

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~ These are the pictures I took today, July 15, 2010 ~

Ta-Da!!!

After

Beautiful Broccoli

I Love Zucchini

Greeen Beans

Garden Haul 7-15-10

*Examines her thumb with fascination*

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My affirmation until Sunday, 7-25-10 on the Full Moon~
As I focus upon being happy, all other joy filled things in my life expand*

~ OxOxx

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Happy Full Moon

May 28th, 2010

Happy Friday my friends!

We are still less than 24 hours to the waning side of our May, Milk Moon.  Did you get a chance to go outside last night and look at that beautiful full moon?  I did!  Wow!

We built a full moon fire and cooked and ate dinner around it.  Then we roasted marshmallows and watched the moon rise over the trees on the east side of our yard.

After we tucked the boys in and Mike disappeared into the computer room, I wandered into the dining room with a piece of paper and my favorite gel pen.

I wrote a letter to the Universe.  A letter of gratitude and love and admiration.  A letter of intentions and excited expectations.  Then I took it out to my fire, which was now a glowing array of red/orange coals and ash.  And after a brief grounding/centering, I added my letter to the circle of coals.  It immediately burst into yellow flame and as I watched the smoke from it rise into the night air, I intended in my heart that also were my words of gratitude and intention released into the Universe…. So mote it be.

(My Little Garden)This morning, I squatted on the flat river rock in the middle of my small raised garden bed in the morning sunshine wearing my pajama pants and housecoat, in my bare feet that were damp from the dew in the grass, dragging my little hand rake through the soil, loosening up the small weeds that were beginning to root.

This rock has become my favorite place.  I love the way it feels under my feet.  Especially in the morning when the sun has warmed it and I walk through the dewy grass and then step with my cool, damp feet onto this wonderfully warm stone.  I love to squat down and play in the dirt.  I love to touch all the plants and talk to them.  I tell them how beautiful they are and how LOVELY they’re looking today!  I tell them how lucky I am to have them growing here in my very own garden and how delighted I am to see that they’re thriving and happy!

This rock in my island.  Right in the middle of paradise.

The clusters of green near the lattice are all climbing flowers.  Four o’clocks and morning glorys and sweet pea.  They’ve already got their tiny little arms outstretched and reaching!  I’m so excited that they’re growing so well!!

(Climbing Vines)

I’m looking forward to getting my little garden expanded to the other side of the lattice this weekend.  I really can’t believe how much I love gardening and that I haven’t been doing it all my life.  _sigh_ Shoulda been a farmer.  LOL

Spending time in my garden is the perfect thing for me to do this weekend.  With my little fire ritual last night, there’s nothing that will suit my attraction energy better than spending the next few days doing something I LOVE doing.  Talk about amping up the feel good vibe!

I hope you intend to spend your weekend doing things you love.  There’s no better time to take a break and do something nice for YOU than now!

If you love to garden also, I want to share my very favorite gardening book with you.  It’s my little green gardening bible. Jerry Baker’s Great Green Book of Garden Secrets!!  I don’t even know where I got this book from, but I’ve had it for years.  It is FILLED with tips and tricks and tonics and it’s all natural.  For example, to get rid of slugs you mix a can of beer, 1 TBSP sugar, and 1 tsp bakers yeast.  Let it sit for a few days, and then leave it in your garden for them.

But that’s not all.  There’s tips on planting and cultivating and fertilizing and composting and even more that I’m not even thinking of.  I LOVE this book.

My affirmation today is~ As I love, so I create!!

Have a FANTASTIC weekend!!

~ OxOxx

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