Do what makes you feel good

It's such a simple statement and an oft repeated phrase, "Do what makes you happy..." or "Follow your bliss..." It's probably pretty safe to say that we tend to lean this way in forging our paths of life-works and family-creation, but do we do it in the little things.

I don't.
I don't do it enough anyway.

Just yesterday I plunged my hands in the dirt and started our fall version of our trial and error garden.
We planted mustard and collard greens, crook neck and zucchini squash, thyme, chives, leeks, broccoli, red lettuce and started several seeds including some we harvested from our summer basil.
It felt so good, it SMELLED so good and I joked that although we've had some extreme failures in our garden, we've harvested more than enough produce and herbs to pay for what we put into it...and heck even if we didn't, the zen of the dirt through my fingers is worth what we spend.
Why don't I do that more often?

This weekend we bought a great BPA free carafe with a lid for juice. I haven't juiced in MONTHS. We juiced yesterday (yes we, Bm was there, I ran the juicer and hub steadied the carafe), carrots, pears and apples and it is lucious numminess and such a glorious color. I had some in my fave wine glass (a b-day "spoil yourself regularly" gift from my bff years ago) for breakfast and it FELT so good...I don't have to tell you how it tasted!
Why don't I do that more often?

I actually said that out loud in the presence of my hub...he said "coz cleaning the juicer is a pain in the A" well sorta...but not more than the pleasure I get fromt the juice! Now that we have a carafe that will keep it for a couple of days, I can definitely commit to juicing more often. Perhaps the daily chore seemed too ominous...we'll have to see, check back in month and we'll see how that's going!

But, that at least started a convo between the hub and I. "It's sorta like yoga," I said. " I always feel so amazingly good when I'm done; taller, stronger, more comfortable in my own skin...but I don't take the time to do it.
"Me too," he said, "we really need to try and do that more."

Yes, yes we do
So why don't we (and I'm speaking human race we) do the things that bring us pleasure more often
I function better in all other capacities when I care for myself and treat myself to the things I love so it would only seem LOGICAL...

So I'm continuing my "Today I honor myself..." trend
I started it in another of my blogs and it really helped me remember TO honor myself.
Today I honored myself with delicious juice
I will spend the time it takes to collect water from the rainbarrel (which is much longer than just turning on the hose) basking in the beautiful weather, and I will enjoy my time in the garden...I'll even snap a couple of pictures so you can have updates :)

How will YOU honor yourself today?
(yes...you're supposed to respond ~grin)

National Coming Out for Equality Day

**I did not write this post...I blatantly copied and pasted it from Christine and I think you should too

and so should your friends

and so on and so on and so on...

Did you know?

You can still be fired from your job in most states, simply for being LGBT, and have no legal recourse — because currently, no federal non-discrimination law protects LGBT Americans.
This is unacceptable to me.
More than 86 percent of LGBT students report being verbally harassed — name-calling, threats, etc. — at school.


This is unacceptable to me.


Most people do not realize that the "Defense of Marriage Act" actually denies LGBT Americans more than 1,100 benefits and protections. That includes their entire household. Children.


This is unacceptable to me.


Many, many people do not take the time to know or truly understand what it is like to be LGBT in in this country, and to work and raise a family. Regardless of their religious beliefs, they are uninformed on the details and implications ... the horrific lack of service and compassion and love.


This is unacceptable to me.


For more information, go to the Human Rights Campaign web site, or find your favorite gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual friend ... and just ask them.


Then listen.

What are YOU doing in 2016?

Me? I'm going with my hub to a 5 week residential yoga immersion.

5:30 am - Wake up

6:00 am - Meditation, Nada Yoga, Lecture

8:00 am - Asanas, Pranayama

10:00 am - Brunch

11:00 am - Karma Yoga

12:00 - Personal Studies

2:00 pm - Main Lecture

4:00 pm - Asanas, Pranayama

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:30 pm - Meditation, Nada Yoga, Lecture

 

Vegetarian meals, lodging, beautiful surroundings...and Yoga teacher certification by the end of the experience.

 

Yes, yes we will do this. Hub is on board!

Why 2016?

Well, we'll be on the eve of our 44th year of life

We'll be entering our 12th year of marriage

Our last children will be graduating HS

 

By then we know we will...

No longer need our current jobs

No longer need our current house

Be ready to go on the road full time

 

So...

This 5 weeks will be a transition ceremony for us

An opportunity to honor and shed our past selves

An opportunity to claim and receive our new chapter

An opportunity to cleanse, to reset, to grow as individuals and as a couple

 

And...it's a Goal

a bona fide long term goal

and

I'm excited :)

 

Whose Our is it anyway?

There's a new song on the "positive hits" radio station we listen to when we're not listening to NPR
It's called Our God and the refrain says

Our God is greater, our God is stronger


God You are higher than any other

Our God is Healer, awesome in power

Our God, Our God…

Listening to this got me a bit miffy
It sounds sort of "nanny nanny boo boo" to me

Now, before you commenters get riled up...yes I know this is scriptural
There is no god but God
Actually, this is scriptural in every ancient scripture that exists
ergo...my question
Whose Our is God?
We are a collective OUR, no?

I think I'll name my car "Epiphany" because that is where I have my most profound God moments.
I was reminded of the tower of Babel, where God separated the languages so that we couldn't get too full of ourselves (yes again, I know there are more reasons than this but go with me here).
At Pentecost, everyone heard - in his or her own tongue - the message sent from God...from ONE GOD.

So, as I rode in Epiphany this morning I saw a vision of peoples from all around the world saying "Our God"
And God answering, "Yes, you called?"

Amen

An Ode to Lilith

Yesterday Lilith Fair was in town (okay, in state).
I entertained the idea of making it a Mother-Daughter trip ... then I saw ticket prices and *gulp* decided to make it a Mother-Daughter day instead.

Over the summer we stumbled across a quaint little shop tucked away amongst other quaint little shops in College Park. Beachcomber Bazaar is a funky little shop with all things bangle-y.
(Now you're singing Walk Like an Egyptian...told you it was an Ode to all things Lilith today)

Bm now sports a beautiful butterfly henna tattoo on her foot. It's Curly and Swirly...just like us!  We bought a Bajidoo bangle kit and an extra bangle and decals are looking forward to her workshop in September!
We sang songs with radio back-up, wandered the bookstore, searched for the perfect Mojo Jojo fish and giggled, a lot.
Me thinks a pedicure night is in order :-)

Christianity, Christendom, Churchianity...call it what you will, would Jesus agree with your definition?

...and turns out neither does Anne Rice and she wasn't afraid to say it out loud
Her comments resonated with me...as did Michael Rowe's statement:

Like Rice, our belief in the purity of Christ's teachings has chained us to a body of believers who no longer represent anything of what we believe, and indeed represent the very opposite of what Christ's teachings are. There seems precious little Christ in Christianity as it's understood in America today.

She caught a little flack (Anne did) on my fb page and other places I'm sure after I posted her quote on my wall:

"For those who care," she wrote, "and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."

Some people got it...that she's denouncing what the label "Christian" has come to represent.
Some people didn't and simply see it as another of her vacillations in her belief system in order to sell more books or something...

What's wrong with stating the obvious?
To "Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind even if your voice shakes? (Maggie Kuhn via my bumper sticker)

It's much easier for us to simply say
Oh...she's renouncing her faith because her son is gay
She must be broke so she's renouncing her faith because she wants to write books about darkness again

Much harder to take a look at what she HAS to say and see if it is in anyway applicable
Okay...disagree with her but at least LOOK at what she has to say and why
Can't you see...her statements resonate with the reasons non-believers DON'T believe
A Pastor friend of mine commented on my wall post saying "I stopped being THAT kind of Christian years ago..."

ME TOO
and I think it's time those of us that have got a bit braver about SAYING SO!

Being Disagreeable Works!

How many of you who know me read that title and just said "WHA??!?!?!"
heh heh
I am NOT the disagreeable type
I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been accused of being a curmudgeon
but...I am NOT agreeing during the month of June and its WORKING for me
So much so July looks disagreeable too :)

We practice the Art of Allowing. Which means reaching for the thought that feels best, not the thought that is the real thought, not the thought that is telling it like it is. Telling it like it is only holds you where it is: "Damn it, I'm going to tell it like it is. I'm going to tell it like it is, because everybody wants me to tell it like it is." Tell it like it is if you like it like it is. But if you don't like it like it is, then don't tell it like it is--tell it like you want it to be. If you tell it like you want it to be, long enough, you will begin to feel it like you want it to be, and when you feel it like you want it to be, it be's like you want it to be.

--- Abraham

I choose NOT to agree

For the month of June
I will NOT agree that anyone is a butthead or a jerk or a bitch or a pain in the ass or "insert derogatory word of choice here."
Not only do I choose to abstain from agreeing
I am going to challenge you to change your thinking
Whoever you are
My hub, my best friend, my co-worker, the person in line at the grocery store
Change your thinking, change your life
I believe it's true
Stop thinking your neighbor is a butthead...and they'll stop appearing to be a butthead
The child will not seem like such a pain in the neck if we stop calling him/her a pain in the neck

I'm binding and loosing and I'm hugging...a lot
and you should hug too
So what if you can only start with 2 a day
add one more tomorrow
work your way all the way up to 10 hugs a day
can you do it?
Can you hug your loved ones TEN TIMES A DAY....EACH?
I'm gonna try
And I'm gonna keep telling you to try too
Because it makes a difference
...and change is good :)

Hanging out my shingle...

The Universe has shown me on several occasions just this week that it is time to stop dreaming and just DO.
My goal?
To be recognized and sought after as an esteemed communication and relationship coach in the areas of personal, social and professional relations.

Turns out people recognize this quality in me...and even seek out my skills already so I'm jumpin' in while I work on the "esteemed" part...

So by July 15th I will

• meet with my web designer and outline launch of my website
• make contact with at least 2 potential mentors who can help me create my fee structure
• contact local organizations (churches, community centers, etc.) and book 3 introductory workshops

Ta Da

So let it be written...

So let it be DONE

Trial and Error Gardening: May Update

If you don't know where our garden started...click here and click here to see our humble beginnings...
Unfortunately the eco-friendly pest control we tried on the lawn didn't work, we have more ants than when we started...so I lost that battle...hub gets to pick the next product. I am glad we tried though!

In no particular order...here are update photos from our trial and error container garden.

Don't know if I had bum seeds, or a poor soil mixture but no seedlings emerged :(

These are actually itty bitty strawberries from the strawberry pot you'll see below. They were sour, but the plant is flowering :)

This is the olive tree we planted last year. Somewhere there's a pic of it as a baby, but I can't find the page so I'll add the link later.

Radishes take two. The first pot of radishes was a porcelain pot, the day after they were planted it POURED and the seeds were flooded out...note, it hasn't rained since!

Look closely...there's spinach trying to flex it's muscle

Burgundy Beans

Bush Beans

The rescued Dwarf Banana and it's brother...both doing very well

Honey Berries

Green Onions...they look a little weak to me but they're trying

heh heh...just in case you missed the fennel failure earlier

Green Pepper and Oregano. This is my FAVORITE pot. The peppers are fantastic and I snip the Oregano for dinner daily!

Cubanelles

Patio Tomatoes.
This plant actually looks worse than the original picture. Lost lots of leaves to leaf miners
But the fruit...is FANTASTIC this is a GREAT tomato, very flavorful.
We've harvested a couple of pounds already.

aforementioned strawberry pot

chives...

top hat blueberry

Rosemary (s) the hemispherectomy was a success :)

I'm excited to see the corn barrels successfully producing! Next week I'll thin the stalks to the healthiest specimens

as I mentioned, we've gone weeks without rain so my cilantro bolted...now harvesting coriander and may try to start some from seed. I snapped the picture before I pruned the basil...harvesting seeds from these too because one can NEVER have too much basil!

pole beans!

mint...the other one is still there, just not thriving as much as the one on the left

my 'cut it all the way back and see if it returns' experiment

my new garden cart from the hub :)

Portabello rice bowl

Okay so the pic doesn't look very appetizing but this dish DELICIOUS and made with some ingredients from the yard.

• Basmati (cooked)
• Black beans (drained)
• 3 portabello mushrooms cut in large cubes
• patio tomatoes, gutted and sliced (garden)
• basil leaves (garden)
• oregano leaves (garden)
• 1/2 small wheel of brie
• 2 Tbsp of salted butter
• sprinkled with shredded parmesean

Garden Salsa

This was FANtastic!
All of the main ingredients came from the garden
I added one onion (because ours aren't ready yet)
FRESH is Salsa is the bomb!

Trial and Error Gardening: An Eco-friendly lawn and 55-gallon drum planters

Today was a big day in the yard, Woo!
We made the conscious decision to be Eco friendly in caring for the lawn last year...no more scary pesticides or fertilizers. You know it can't be good when the warning label is longer than the list of ingredients.
We used Eco Smart Organic Insecticide (which smells a lot like wintergreen milk of magnesia) and Scotts Organic Lawn Food. We may have done better had we not shopped at a big box store, but it's a step in the right direction seeing as the stuff the hub used to use was toxic. My goal for this go around was to use products that wouldn't hurt our water supply and wouldn't hurt our puppy...she likes to eat grass and has a very sensitive tummy.
So Eco-Friendly Friends unite! Please pray that this stuff works GREAT on our lawn so the hub is sold on it too!

We started the morning making our list and gathering supplies. I've been saving toilet paper tubes and egg trays for months!

The goal? Plant corn in a container...specifically half a 55-gallon drum.
We got 3 of them from my father-in-law a few years ago. We used them to store camping equipment, we turned one into a rain barrel, and we had 2 failed attempts at compost bins (no holes for aeration...stinky but it did make some good organic matter!

We hosed them off, marked the "middle" with a strap and hub hacked them in two.

I filled them each with a mix of organic potting mix, cow manure and potting soil and turned it all in with a bit of water to feed the seeds...

I sectioned off the barrel with some dowels I had laying around from banners I turned into curtains and used a tp tube to remove a plug of soil for each corn seed.

I planted two half-barrels with 8 sections of Golden Cross Bantam which has a 7 to 10 day germination period. Once the seedlings are about 3 inches tall, I'll add another layer of soil to keep the stalks strong. My goal is for the "block" planting style to aid in self pollination. If that doesn't happen then we'll play some Barry White and shake the stalks on a moonlit night

The next half barrel is home to stringless Blue Lake Pole Beans which have a germination period of 6 to 8 days and can climb up to 6 ft tall. I made a tee-pee trellis (as opposed to the tp tubes used with the corn) with 8-ft Bamboo dowels

In the next half I planted the Bush bean variety of Blue Lake beans. These seedlings should emerge in 7 to 14 days It will be interesting to see if there is a different flavor or texture to the bean. Honestly, I didn't do this on purpose and had I noticed they were both in the same family I may have picked different seeds but, it will be fun to watch the pole beans climb the trellis and both varieties keep well through drying or freezing...I may even try pickling some!

This was another "accidental gardener" incident.
The wheelbarrow broke while transporting all the supplies from the truck so... I turned it into a planter and have 2 rows of Bloomsdale spinach marked with more banner dowels. We LOVE spinach so this is one accident I'm hoping pans out. The seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.

Hub noticed the wheelbarrow was propped up on a cinder block and suggested I flip the block so I could use the holes as planters...woot woot! Burgundy beans there. We should start to see them peek through in a about a week. Too bad they don't stay purple when their cooked!

Radishes 4 - 6 day germination period

I finished out the day trying some seeds in left over containers.

Fennel  8 - 12 day germination

Green Onions 8 days to germination

Left: this year's dwarf banana. Right: last year's dwarf banana resurrected

I rescued last year's dwarf banana plant. We thought we had lost it to the un-Florida-like cold we had this year but it was peeking up from under the grass so I transplanted it into a pot and placed it next to a mentor.

And finally...
I planted some mint in my new hanging planter. I'm seeing mojitos in my future!