Alignment

"When you are in alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but uplift those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."


Words that ring so true for me today, from several perspectives...
I cannot bring them with me and I cannot give my alignment to another
Sigh
that is hard
I can only hope that it rubs off


and their alignment doesn't rub off on me
Sigh
that one is harder


Some days it is hard just to keep my own alignment; my Spirit led heart and mind remind my frustrated flesh to stay in line
My flesh just wants to scream a crooked scream


It is probably also as good to remember

"When you are in dis-alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but deflate those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."

I CHOOSE TODAY TO NOT BE DEFLATED
MY BODY WILL KICK AND SCREAM
MY THOUGHTS WILL TRY TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE
BUT MY SPIRIT GENTLY REMINDS ME THAT I AM IN ALIGNMENT IN A CROOKED WORLD
AND A CROOKED TREE ONLY BECOMES STRAIGHT WHEN IT WEATHERS THE STORM AND FOLLOWS THE SUN

Eco Challenge

I've always been intrigued by the Discovery Channel Eco Challenge...you know the extreme races in really cool challenging places...I've secretly always wanted to complete an Eco-Challenge...sigh

but, turns out that I'm more than 1/2 way there in completing ONE particular Eco-Challenge
The "Country Living Eco Challenge" (April 2009)
"reduce your enviornmental impact in one month-without giving up modern conveniences"

1) return wire hangers to the dry cleaner (I'm ahead of the game on this one...I stopped USING the dry cleaner.

2) Tighten your gas cap until it clicks 3 times - check

3) Burn Soy Candles - i don't burn candles as much as I used to but YAY for soy candles

4) scrub down your wheels at a car wash, not at home - check

5) burn a fire with an artificial petroleum-free log made from wood fibers and biowaxes - I live in Florida, really?

6) Drive with cruise control on the highway - not an option...sigh but i do let off the gas when traveling down hill :)

7) set your home page to ecosearch.org... will have to check this one out

8) Keep your freezer's temperature at 0 and your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees - check

9) Use soft-white compact florescent lightbulbs - check (but be sure to dispose of them properly!)

10) Eat meat-free once a week - check

11) Leave bar soap by the sink - check! Even the kids are using it now...woot woot

12 ) Wear organic cotton clothes - check...at least when I buy new clothes

13) Register to get your name off junk-mail lists - check...and we shred and use whatever slips through in the compost bin the worms LOVE it

14) Stash a pitcher of water in your fridge...good call! Adding this one now

15) Submit your taxes electronically - check

16) serve a 1.5 liter magnum of wine when dining with a group instead of two 750 milileter bottles...  okay

17) put cloth napkins on the table - check!

18) Donate your old cell phone to charity or return it to the manufacturer for recycling - check

19) Plug your devices into powertrips, and turn off the strips when not in use - check

20) Place a recycling bin next tot he wastebasket in your home office - check

21) Read/check your water meter - check

22) purify your air with potted plants on windosills and tables - check! (kitchen herb garden!)

23) switch your computer disply to go to sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity - annoying, but check

24) use your dishwasher's air-dry cycle - I fail miserably at this one...can't stand the spots on the glasses, I'll put more plants on the kitchen shelf to make up for it

25) Stow a reusable bag in your car for errands - check! I even have my hub carrying one around now!

26) have your car's air filter cleaned and tires inflated - happening this week

27) replace traditional shower heads with high efficiency models - check

28) wash laundry in cold water - another one I struggle with coz i have stinky boys so it just aint gonna happen for a while

29) consolidate your errands into fewer trips - check...and once my work schedule evens out I plan to work stuff into my trips home from work and just be HOME when I get home :)

30) use a toaster for simple baking tasks - check!

See at this rate I'm more than half way through my race!

Every day thankful for the little things...

My 14 year old texts me...we have good conversations
My 11 year old hugs me, tightly before bed
My other 11 year old trusts me
My hub thinks I'm hot
I got all the clothes folded yesterday
fresh oregano and basil over sliced cucumber and tomato is yum!

Yup...thankful for the little things
Every day

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation

At the end of the day or the week or the trial
if you realize you are all there is...is that all there is?
If you think you made it through on your own are you all you need?
If all the people that happened to cross your path were just random happenstance
is there no order to things? is there no higher power?
if you realize that you are all there is when you realize this do you cease to exist?
What else is there if "human" is the highest life form
Can it really be? I mean...really? have you SEEN some of the humans out there?!?!

Perhaps I need to think about how my thoughts on this issue play out in printed word
It's so very much a part of my breath
so to be able to express it eloquently in words should be an important component

If everything were logical...there would be no place for faith
We can all pretty much agree that all things are NOT logical...leaving room for faith
so I'll start there...

When cliches seems fitting, how fitting...

Lots of Lemons this week, I wish I could say they've all come from our garden, but our garden has not yielded much (if any) fruits and I'm trying hard not to read into that. Lots of proverbial lemons...but the Proverbs offer the perfect lemonade recipe...and from where I'm sitting, it tastes pretty darn good.

However...I won't be so bold as to ask for a better harvest of lemons any time soon! ;)

My next home

I want a community of THESE!
Thanks to one of my fave bloggers for sharing the link!

I believe life is better when it's simple
when neighbors are neighbors and needs are met
the wants become more social and less socially motivated
I want a yard where kids can play
a community garden
a circle community school
finding joy in the gifts we have and can share
I want to bake for my neighbor and share meals together
I want to can (more than just pickles)

If we ALL would live with what we need
the EVERYONE's needs could be met
and we ALL could LIVE

I made pickles

Okay...ever since I read Gluten-Free-Girl's post about making pickles, I've wanted to make pickles.

I tried to get everything together before I left for Texas but the cukes I bought at the market weren't very good so I scrapped the idea for a later date

today was that date.

I made up my own pickling spice recipe

and think next time I'll add some of our pepper creations to the brine.

But for now, the jars are resting...waiting to be eaten in a few days!

newest addition to the garden!

YAY!

I came home from an all day training to see our rainbarrel in the yard!

The hub and the wee's finished it today

I'm sooo excited

I think I might paint some swirlies or retro flowers or something on it

then again, maybe I won't

I can't wait for it to rain!

'poo free update

I have never loved my hair more!

It's soft, it's shiny and I can go a WEEK between washings!

the pics are a little fuzzy but you get the picture ;)

Her Room is DONE

It took a while to get the 'decor' done but I LOVE that she wanted to get the Rugrats inParis movie banners down again

I got them for her when she was a baby and 'secretly' introduced her to art :)

Two Birds, One Stone

My boss's boss asked me today what would make our business more profitable.

He didn't mean the theme park itself...he meant our little corner of the business.

I told him we don't market our services

If we just included information in our print ads

or had a spotlight article about our services in the local paper

our target community is loyal

once they know you provide a service...they frequent

We've been providing amazing service at unheard of levels and haven't been telling anyone about it

If you tell them...they will come

So he said he'd work on the copy in print ads...he's got more clout

And he asked ME to write an article

something he can float down the line to the ones who make things happen

me...he says I'm a good writer and know the niche intimately

Me

So see both of these things (print ad, article) are on my list of professional goals to be completed in 2009.

And one of my personal goals is to be published...thought I had accomplished that one with my guest appearance in a tattoo mag...but maybe not...maybe this is a chance for the whole 2 birds one stone thing

Now I'll just not question my writing abilities and go...

(inhale)

Bm the constant note

I want to play a game

You'll have to do this with me

I want juice

Do you know how to play spyder

Can I come with you

Aren't we all eating together?

Big, doey, brown eyes

Last night my daughter did everything in her power to say she needed time with me without just coming out and saying she needed my attention

I put her off

I promised her that today (my day off) she could teach me how to play her game and we'd find a better way to put the patches on her vest but right then, I had some last minute things to do and then it was going to be 9 and I was ready to just sit.

She didn't really need to do the things she was asking

She needed some attention

I think Father's day is hard for her

She loves my husband very much but in some ways she's still trying to figure him out

I know she thinks if she loves him too much, her brothers will be mad

And she loves her brothers too

So what's a girl to do?

SAY HOW SHE FEELS AND LET THE OTHERS DEAL WITH THEIR OWN DANG FEELINGS that's what I say...but I can't even do that all the time.

Then there's her bio father

it probably didnt help any that my pants pocket called him on Friday so he called back

(probably freaked him out because my number hasn't called his number in well over 3 years)

She just wants to love and be loved

me too

and when I wasn't, I got a little testy with her

I got snippy with her ...the one person who was trying to give me what I wanted

sigh

I was able to tell HER how she made me feel and why

but that's really not what she needed right then

I realized it about 15 minutes after we all went to bed

After I tried to gingerly say to my hub I ate the cheese because you sat in your chair

It hit me...she needs to feel like she belongs

I'm the only one she "technically" belongs to and sometimes the boys let her know that

maybe a bit of attachment disorder going on there

so I got up...shuffled down the hall in the dark, tapped on her door and told her I'm sorry for not listening when she needed my attention

I'm sorry I missed all of her cues

maybe next time she just needs to say "mom, I need some attention!"

we both giggled,

hugged

and I was walking out the door she said

Thank you

long, comfortable, sigh :)

I told you it was a tradition

http://curiousgeorgeandhollyhobby.blogspot.com/2008/06/happy-birthday.html#comments

yup

sang it LOUDLY this morning in the living room after the wee one's made me breakfast

AND

a long lost buddy posted it on my facebook page

AND

I still wanna be Johnette

or maybe just cover Johnette when my angel finally cures her dyslexia and notices I was supposed to be a siNGer not a siGNer

:)

how does your garden grow

with strawberries, topsy-turvys and marigolds

2 bananas, pineapples and olive tree

and peppers all in a row

You don't love God if you don't love your neighbor

We visited our old church today

We were married here

I started my path toward my calling here

I learned what it means to move "from glory to glory" here

because my glory left me behind...and waited for me ahead.

It was a bit weird driving back...we haven't been in that neighborhood in such a very long time and a lot has changed (construction, etc). We weren't sure what it would be like walking back in ...it's been 2 years since we left, I've never met the new pastor (we left during the interim upheaval) and we've had contact with just a handful of friends since then.

Walking in was a pleasant surprise

Pastor M was thrilled to put a face to the Babs name

and turns out hub is Louis-of-the-Roof

hugs and hellos from many who walked in and saw us there

tears from some

can't take my eyes off you stares from others

it was nice to see how much of what i started while there has taken root (funny too because the message today was about planting seeds)

felt good to see that i guess i knew what i was doing because the things that they do now that work, were my seeds

gives me hope that we've been moved to our new congregation with purpose

We also realized we really love our new church

yes, it was great to see some old friends

if they were friends ...then wouldn't they still be...but I digress

#1son apologized for liking the old place better than the new...the old place definitely has a youth thing going on...but later #1 said the youth thing was good because of what I did to it

so I could do it again where we are now

that felt really good

I haven't put myself forward as a youth leader in our new place coz, well more than 1/2 of the youth live in my house...and i didn't think they'd want me as a youth leader...they have to deal with me enough...but, there was a resounding request from the back seat today as we drove

gave my heart a squish :)

But...

even though both congregations belong to the same denomination

our new one is more in line with our spiritual walk

more organic

more open

more affirming

more inclusive

more about what is outside of our 4 walls instead of who is inside

our mission field IS our ministry

we're SMACK in the middle of a not so great part of town

down the road from a shelter

across the street from day labor

one of our main ministries is feeding and assisting the homeless and on any given Sunday while walking into or out you will find someone posting up with his shopping cart or her sleeping bag...and that's okay.

Christianity is our path.

and we celebrate some sacraments in the way Jesus did

but we honor the Divine in all forms, with all names and recognize that all who seek will find.

I don't want to go back

I can very easily step back into my role there tomorrow if I wanted to

heck, I could've grabbed a microphone today, someone asked me why I didn't

but it's not where we're supposed to be

my Glory is in another place

and I love it

energizer bunny

still going...

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE my juicer?
(yes, we'll check back in a month to see if the newness has worn off but i'm thinking NOT)

I LOVE my new juicer
it kicks butt! especially for a little 70 dollar model tucked away amongst the hundreds-of-dollars-models

I'm juicing every morning and I'll say it again...I cannot believe how satisfied I am
all the way through till lunch...without even CHEWING yet

I love my new juicer

oh oh...and our new plants arrive tomorrow or Friday...strawberries, bananas and an olive tree

so now I'm off to the yard to start clearing space!

New Door part Deux

The door is once again red you may remember this from before and be thinking, "wait, wasn't the door already red?"

Why yes, yes it was...then we bought a new door. 

So once again, the door is red AND the new hardware is in!

oh yeah...and i think i mentioned a post or few ago that Bm's room is complete

I don't think i posted any pics...the bed belonged to my parents and is from Sears (way back before there was ever a Roebuck so it's OLD...and for the record, friggin HEAVY).

The surfboard will be mounted on hooks she can retrieve it from when she hits the beach but keep it out of the way when she's home...and the posters have since been stuck to the wall. You can't see the other corner because, well, her clothes are all over the floor...it's one of those "battles I've chosen not to pick" right now :)

mmmmjuicemmmmm

Well i didn't get the mac daddy fancy schmancy will juice anything, make nut butters AND milks juicer that I wanted...but I DID get one

I opted for The Sharper Image Super Juicer at Bed Bath and Beyond because it was 70 bucks AND THEN the cashier gave me a 20% off coupon coz I left mine in the junk drawer in our kitchen...

This morning I made juice

yummy juice

carrots, an apple and a pear

OMG it was delicious and I was AMAZED how satisfied I felt all the way through mid morning

Out topsy turvy garden is 1 1/2 for 3...one japanese cucumber plant is doing FANTASTIC, our tomato plant just so so and the other cucumber plant just died :( the hub thinks the wind broke off the stems...I think it was an animal, but either way we'll have to find a replacement plant

We bought the pieces we need to complete our rain barrel, we have a design for our compost bin, and we have 25 strawberry plants, 2 dwarf banana trees and one hardy tree on the way.

We also got some seeds this weekend. I've been saving toilet paper tubes for seed starters and the plastic containers our strawberries and spinach comes in for mini greenhouses so I'm going to start our brocolli and zucchini inside so they're ready to plant in July...we're going to put the corn and beans (2 different varieties) along the back fence line

I heard a story this morning on npr about grey water harvesting...sounds interesting may check into it. We already "recycle" water through our central air conditioning unit to water our lawn. Our A/C unit is a water cooled system and we divert the run off through a hose and sprinkler...so whenever the A/C runs, the lawn gets watered. We'll eventually get to a system that is programmed and switches zones on its own...for now we just move the sprinkler every once in a while.

We've also decided to use the side yard for a patchouli garden. We've figured out the best way to grow from cuttings and the side yard gets the perfect amount of sun/shade etc. I think I'll try to distill my own essential oil and I know we'll sell plants through the couple that gave me my very first cutting.

Okay...time to cook dinner

maybe I'll juice mine...i'm saving the pulp for some soup i'm starting from the fresh pork shoulder the hub smoked last week....yum

Creations

The lil me wanted to make pepper sauce of her harvest from the tabasco plant

and me...well I decided to get creative as I pruned the basil and oregano :)

we'll let you know how it tastes in a few weeks!

Oh...and you should keep reading

seems as though several of my posts over the past week went to 'save' rather than 'publish.'

All caught up now :)

yummmy!

Today is our oldest's birthday

we did breakfast up right!

I made belgian waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, corned beef hash...the works ...everyone just picked and chose at their faves.

For me, I made gluten free apple cinnamon waffles with homemade cinnamon ricotta (who KNEW how easy it was to make!) Fresh strawberries, Bananas and REAL maple syrup

OHHH it was heavenly!

Garden updates...

We planted our topsy turvy garden today

japanese cucumbers and tomatoes

We also put some peppers in the ground AND I treated myself to a new lavender plant...and YES those ARE the patchouli cuttings flourishing in the background!

Definitely time for a good book and a lazy afternoon on the porch!

BRAVO!

I can cross off one of the things on my to do list for the year.

I always make a "professional goals" list and a "personal goals" list...actually 2 of those, one that pertains to work and one that pertains to everything else

One of my personal, work related goals is to be the receipient of a BRAVO! Award, my company's version of "Team member of the month"

and today...tada! I was awarded for the month of June

lots of goodies

not the least of which is a CLOSE parking spot with my name on it for the month of June

if you knew where I worked...you'd KNOW this is a major perk

heck I parked in IDAHO today and it's been raining every night at just about 5

Like I told my boss

I've had my aspirations for this award for about a year now...the "qualifications" have been what my work process has been modeled after...and will continue to be...gotta be a good role model now :)

oh oh oh

AND I got a name plate for my cubicle!

I know this seems trivial but I've had my cubicle for almost 3 years now

and I've never had a name plate because I'm a "department" not an individual...it's confusing...

but my cubicle neighbor noticed I didn't have one and didn't think that was right...so she ordered one for me :) (she's the admin in charge of name plates...it was easy for her to sneak it in)

so not only was I recognized...I was validated too :)

and

OOHH this is a good AND

something GOOD happened to me and I didn't EAT!

Living Room Colors

yeahhhhhh I am sooo excited for this remodel!

the accent wall and doors are going to be the deeper color (red pepper) and the rest of the living room and hall will be tibetan orange.

The hub is building a bookcase/entertainment center wall and the back wall behind the shelving unit is going to be spiced plum. I'll save the Divine Red for accent pillows etc.

ohhhhhh I can't wait!!!!

Blessing or a Curse?

On one of my fave blogs I just read that Betty Crocker is going gluten free this summer! Yes it's true
That's pretty cool....but I'm sure the changes they've had to make to their facilities will be reflected in the price...sigh...

First Team Pop Warner National Scholar

Woot Woot

yeah she did it

and yes...the banquet was just as boring as the last one!

AND we were at the table of troublemakers again :)

Hair part deux

Okay so I'm thinking I'm hitting the "gonna seem greasy" phase of my 'poo free summer

it HAS also been raining and humid here allllllll week long, seriously, 25 inches of rain this week

so the frizzies have come out a bit

I've committed to giving up my products once they run out and doing without them until after my Sedona trip...at least that's the "check in date" my real hope is that by then I'll be so used to living without them I won't miss them!

but...I fear my curls won't be good looking curls without some sort of product so...I'm trying some homemade curl remedies starting tomorrow...

• Boil 1 cup water, stir in 2 Tbsp whole flax seeds and reduce heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened, strain. (Tip: it will thicken a bit as it cools, so do not simmer for much longer than 10 minutes, as it will be impossible to strain.) Add a few drops of essential oil for scent, store in fridge, should be good for about 2 weeks. 
  
• Lavender mist: You can take a gallon of distilled water, pour out a bit into a cup so you have room to shake, add 10 drops of lavender essential oil, cap and shake, then return the rest of the water, shake. Pour into a spray bottle, and use the spray to revive your waves on non-wash days. 

FINALLY

Okay...so yes, I've been moving more towards RAW foods because it seems to be what my body wants....but ever since I've learned of my gluten intolerance, it's also wanted PIZZA. We have a Pizza Fusion opening in our area soon and I've been looking forward to that but the grand opening keeps getting postponed so ....sigh, I just sniff while the fam eats pizza

But not tonight!

we had homemade pizza night...haven't done that in a while...

regular pizza for the fam and Gluten Free for me

It was my hope that everyone would like the Gluten Free crust and we could just switch over

maybe if I hadn't said anything and just made it ... but the hub said he could taste the difference (that's okay, more for me...I have individual slices wrapped and stowed away in the freezer now

 for those gotta have a slice of pizza days)

Definitely yummy :)

Mustard, Mayo, Catch-up later...

Well I realized there's a lot of 'stuff' to catch up on so first...

the Patchouli project...

the cluster method definitely worked best and mama has come back in nicely

 the water method netted the 2nd best returns...all those offshoots are in planters at my mom's now...I'll get pictures next time I visit

The Breakfast nook is completed (except the pop-tab window sil)

The curtains are banners with different quotes about gentleness and love (mustard curtains wound up in the mud room) and the herb pots hold basil and oregano for the kitchen. You can't tell from this picture, but the pots are made of sliced corks that mirror the circles in my original inspiration art (Klimt).

Then there's the no 'poo project

this was before...flat and frizzy... (and blurry but hey)

and this is after one week...not sure you can tell but I can, not as flat, not as frizzy and shinier :)

okay...now you're caught up 

'poo free update

On Saturday, May 9th 2009 I stopped using commercial shampoo and conditioner

I donated the remainder of my stash (about 1/8 of a bottle each of s and c that I've had for about a year) to my lil one and switched to Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar.

1 tbsp of BS to 1 cup of warm water

then

1 tbsp of ACV to 1 cup of warm water

That was Saturday morning and my hair STILL feels and looks great

I've rinsed twice since then, and will probably wash tomorrow but more so because I think I should not because my hair looks, feels or smells funky.

My hub even said something about it

he was surprised it didn't smell bad :)

okay so the cartoon is just for fun

I'm really happy with this process so far

I didn't really shampoo much to begin with

probably twice a week then mostly rinsed

once my hair care products are gone...I'm ditching those too

and not coloring (at least not until September)

so we'll go summer hair product free and see what happens...

Today I'm officially 'poo free

I've used up my shampoo and conditioner...the same set I've had for over a year now so I guess I didn't use it much to begin with...and in my attempt to reduce the amount of plastic bottles we use and chemicals we put back down into our own septic system I've gone to a baking soda and apple cider vinegar process on my hair.

It definitely feels very clean. Very very clean

Right now i think the thing I will miss the most is the product I used on my curls

But as I delve deeper into this journey of discovering my true self...maybe my true hair needs to be a part of the unfolding.

I've also decided no hair color

at least not until back from Sedona in September

love my grey in all it's glory

I've actually been quite intrigued by it in years past because it is more white than grey...so maybe I'll take on that look of a wise sage :)

I've always wanted to try kicking the hair color...and now I have a tangible (because we already bought our tickets AND reserved our lodging) time to shoot for.

Will I dye my hair as soon as I get home..or in Sedona even? who knows

more likely I think I will have come to a point where I have reasons for grey or no grey that will resonate more truly with my being so in the end it will not matter.

So as you can see if you've been reading my posts, baking soda is becoming quite a staple around here, clean the house, clean my teeth, clean my hair...and i think today we'll run some through the dishwasher and clothes washer to give them a nice cleaning too.

But for now I'm in a new white eyelet sundress and off to the hub's sister's house for a family get together...tons o family i've never met with lots of miracle whip and spam but their hearts are kind and the laughter is loud

needless to say...I'm packing a cooler :)

Happy Labyrinth Day!

http://www.labyrinthonline.com/flash/chartres.swf

I'm always walking towards something good

even when i feel it's so very far away, Peace could lie just beyond the next turn

sometimes I'm close enough to glimpse it and know it is close

others I feel as though it will be forever before it is attained

but I know I am always walking towards something good

I fold back over my steps

perhaps I missed something the first time

If I try to look or plan ahead

I miss what is happening right now

But I am always walking towards something good

The way seems short, it seems so close

but there are times I must take the long road

There is something there for me

There is always something in the journey

And I am always walking towards something good