Juliepatchouli

Hello Again!

2009-01-25T19:11:00.003-05:00

Hello Everyone!
It's been along time since I have posted, or read and commented on blogs and I'm so sorry. It's been a difficult time as of late. I have had a bad patch after Lucy went into the light and we found out news it would be hard to have our own baby (or very expensive to say the least) and other stumbling blocks here and there. But we've had many other blessings - Christmas with family was wonderful, we got a new pup named 'Chewy' (after the star wars character Chewbecca b/c he was so hairy, he's a poodle adopted from the local shelter) and he is just a sweetheart.
I recently visited my family in Ga., and got to see several family members I haven't seen in a long time.
I'm very hopeful for this new year. I'm so excited about the new President. I do know we still have a long time to make up for the last 8 years and things won't change overnight, but I have a lot of hope in my heart about the future for this country and for us as a nation to embrace these changes.
I've been using facebook and enjoy that, you can look me up there if you use it as well.
I miss you all and hope to blog more, love love...

Having Fun!

2008-11-21T21:58:00.006-05:00

Our recent trip to N. Ga included a trip to the Victorian House Restaurant. They have lots of hats they encourage you to try on, and as you can see we did. Tony was a great sport for me. Everyone in the restaurant said so as well. I think he's so handsome! The food there was spectacular, especially the Lobster bisque! Love, love...

Moving on.. and onto many projects

2008-11-15T10:45:00.003-05:00

Well, we had a wonderful time w/ our friends in Tellico Plains and a most restful and relaxing time in the beautiful cabin in Northern Ga.
My mind is clearing more from the sadness about Lucy as I remember the joy of having her company with me for all those years. It's amazing how God can heal you in that way, replacing grief with the memory and blessing and appreciation of knowing what a gift you had for so very long.
We are going to start to work on some projects we've been too busy to really dedicate the needed time - a network to serve the needs of those in this surrounding area and a foundation to help 'other animals' and people. The first one will network churchs together to help meet all the needs of the parishioners so that just each individual church doesn't carry the burden alone. We have a meeting w/our pastor this next week to brainstorm with him.

The second has been a dream of mine for many years, a foundation to help animals and people. It would provide funds to adopt animals to elderly, disabled or low income people and some food/vet care to appropriate homes. We all know the value of what a pet companion can add to the quality of someone's life, and it would provide a home for the furry friend. The second part of the foundation would provide funds for vet care if an animal has an injury or illness that is treatable but the steward isn't able to afford it. We would ask that those funds be paid back in volunteer hours to the local shelters or in helping w/ the first component of the foundation. We are putting together the non profit status of this, have talked w/ a local vet who is very excited about this and soon we will be doing some fundraising about it. The first part of funds are called Lucy scholarships, since she was a rescue dog, the second are Audrey scholarships, my beloved peekapoo, since she was once run over and also had kidney disease.

We are excited about these endeavors and feel spirit led in doing them and hope they benefit a great many people in the process. Keep us in your prayers as well start the ground work for them. Hope this finds you well, love, love...

The Roller Coaster

2008-11-06T23:11:00.005-05:00

Nose to Nose picture of us at camping (click on it and look at it larger).....

I'm so happy and excited that Obama Won. I feel like the tide will finally change in this country. I have real hope now. Like tangible hope I can feel in my hand!

Personally, I have struggled though, with the dark curtain of sadness. I have good days and bad days. One day I asked Tony if there was magic to bring Lucy back, was she really gone. I didn't believe she was really gone for good. I still don't think it has sunk in yet. You know they talk about the 'stages of grief', and I guess I am dealing with them. I am putting my husband through my bad days as well. I was rather ugly to him for no reason the other morning when I was really just hurting and also anxious about about our dr's appt to see about us having a baby together since I'm so old and he's been 'fixed'. But he was sweet and very forgiving and we worked it out quickly.

We saw the doc.. and the long and short of it is.. we will do this test of my ovaries w/ some blood work and meds to see what happens to see if I'm still fertile at my age before we go any further. I guess I feel guilty I'm so old.

But this weekend, we have some respite and rest!!! we will will see some friends in Tellico Plains and then we are graced to be able to relax in the N. Ga Mtns at my Dad's nice cabin while I take the hormones for this test.

I guess what I'm saying, I'm so happy about Obama, but still so sad about Lucy,, this will take time, probably lots of time. One of my best friends has left my side physically and it's finally hitting me and it's devastating. I go between denial and being upset, and angry that she had the cancer and how I took her to the vet for the last year and how they missed it and blame myself. I just miss her. I honestly just miss her. I always will. For my lifetime left on this earth, I will miss her forever...and that is why difficult times make you more compassionate. I know these times are teaching me tremendous lessons.

Love, love...

How Wonderful!

2008-11-05T21:49:00.001-05:00

I'm So excited ( or I mean we are - Tony and I), we feel like it's the beginning of a whole new ERA for our country! A new day has dawned today... !!! yeah yeah yeah....

Love love....

My Annoying Rant On Politics

2008-11-03T17:53:00.003-05:00

I find it rather disappointing and baffling the reasons I've heard most people will or will not be voting for the candidates they have picked.
Of course this isn't about everyone, but from interviews and then things I hear around town and here and there.
I've gotten some chain emails forwarded to me that are just full of myths and urban legions as well.
I think people, perhaps it's human nature, would rather believe something bad than think better of people.
I've heard that people think Obama is a Muslim, an Arab, a Terrorist and anti-American and a socialist. Or that McCain is just too dang old. Or they want to vote for Obama just b/c he's not from the same Bush administration.
Of course we know that Obama is American. And so what if he were a Muslim, or even an Arab, that wouldn't make him a bad person, nor a terrorist. One of the most kind hearted and most spiritual and most nonjudgmental people I've ever met is a Syrian lady. Everyone now connects anyone Muslim or Arab with terrorists, which is horrible. I suppose since my husband is a white male he might bomb a government building like Timothy McVeigh, doing the same unfair association. We don't do that with all white males.
McCain is older, but many people reach their pinnacle of success and just finally shine in life in the later sunshine of their years. And just b/c Obama isn't with Bush, doesn't qualify him to be 'better'.

What about research into what their policies, their beliefs, their views for the future of this country will be? I don't hear that for reasons why people want to vote for them. It's always things of a personal nature or of a past nature from the prior government - not even their voting record. I don't see how that really is a of a qualifying nature.
And on a personal note, that many will disagree on, to add heat to this, I don't see why abortion or gay marriage has anything to do with the presidential election. I don't think government should be running our households that closely. What we do at home and in our personal life, should be left up to us.
Abortions will always happen, legal or illegal and if they are ever outlawed, women will die, and back alley profiteers will crop up everywhere and it will be a horrible mess. And gay people deserve the right to live as unhappily or happily married as anyone else. What they do in their home has nothing to do with what I do in my home, or in the home of the government elected officials. These have always been issues used to inflame politics and side tract from the real issues at hand.

What I'm concerned about is the economy, domestic affairs, health care, foreign policy, the social welfare of our own citizens. These are the questions to be concerned about with our politicians, not age or the background of their name or the color of their skin.

I find it embarrassing that people will use any convenient excuse, urban myth or downright prejudice to look past a good candidate instead of educating themselves on what would be best for our society as a whole. As I've posted before, I am a supporter, an enthusiastic supporter for Obama. I'm not against McCain. I think he's a good man and has served this country in a number of honorable ways. But I strongly believe that Obama is the best candidate for the job. I'm very hopeful that he will win and I believe in his policies on domestic matters, health care, economics, taxes, and foreign polices. And he picked a grand running mate as well. I'm excited. I hope you feel good about your choice , and mostly about the reaons why and will go out with excitement to vote tomorrow, and most importantly, do vote. If you don't, you have no voice in which to complain the next four years, but also b/c so many suffered and died for our right to be able to vote. I'm sure many of you won't agree w/ me. That's the beauty of this country,, we can agree to disagree... but I'll be stepping down of soap box now..
love love....

Let's go down to the River

2008-10-30T20:14:00.004-04:00

As I went down to the river to pray Studyin about that good ol' way

and who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let's go down Lets go down, Come on down O sisters lets go down

Down in the river to pray As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way ..

That's the Allison Krauss song that I love. I was singing it as I walked Lucy down by the river. It seemed appropriate as it was our last walk by the river together this past weekend. (I didn't even know Tony was videoing that moment til I walked by him and said 'that's enough' but I'm glad he did). Lucy went into the Light Monday October 27th. I didn't realize how after after almost 13 years just her being with me was just pure comfort to me in the house each day. I guess that is selfish. I have so enjoyed the pleasure of her company. Just knowing she was here when I came home, when I woke up, when I went to bed. Each of those moments, when I would have expected her, I have cried, actually sobbed. Then there are those times during the day that I just break down when I realize she has left me physically and isn't coming back ever- I have cried so much; though I know we are always together in mind/body/soul if you know what I mean when you have a connection like you do with a sentient being like that. I know she won't suffer any longer and what happened had to happen. But we miss her tremendously and we are devastated. We also remember all the joy and blessings she gave us and me for all the many years she blessed us with her sweet devoted life. We celebrate her passing onto her next journey leaving her tired sick body, but we miss being able to feel her sweet self and be in her presence so much.

It will take me a long while to get used to this, she was my sweet special flower and my strong rock. Thanks for listening, love love...

Camping with Lucy

2008-10-23T20:07:00.003-04:00

Here's a video of Lucy and I camping together this summer. We took two solo trips this year and I'm so thankful for that time together. She is one of my dearest companions and such a rock in my life. We are taking her this weekend on a camping trip again - sadly her last one. We just learned recently that she has a very horrible form of blood cancer that has spread. We opted to not do surgery and chemo b/c the prognosis was still grim and we didn't want her last days to be difficult and full of procedures. We want her last days to be like the above; camping and without suffering. This terrible invader of her body has produced a huge mass that is on her spleen and will eventually rupture and producing a death of great suffering. So we will have to give her a compassionate release into the Light very soon, upon our return from camping. It's the most surreal thing to know you are in the last days with one of your best friends of 13 years. You look at her now and you would never know there is anything so terribly wrong with her, she is still so frisky. A great sadness has come over Tony and I, but we are fighting that off to celebrate the great blessing she has been in our lives all these many years and enjoy the time we have NOW with her, celebrating this gift at this moment. All of your thoughts and prayers would be so greatly appreciated. I ask God that we be allowed this weekend with no incident, just this last weekend, allowing her favorite activity and time for all beloved friends to fellowship. Love, love....

Go Vols

2008-10-04T09:27:00.003-04:00

This weekend plans to be a good one. Fall has descended upon us and the weather is divine, cool nights and pleasant days with trees beginning to show their magnificent different hues of red, yellow and orange. We are going tool round here for a bit in Tony's ole 1962 Dodge step side Western edition Dodge truck to the Jefferson County Country Days -a fall festival, going junking again and then later to the UT fooseball game. Dad has great box seats season tickets he has given to Jeff and I to share. I'm sure our presence and support there will be just what they need to win today. Here's a picture from last years game we attended where we helped them win. That's my ozzy osborne look. :)

Tomorrow we are going to a family reunion in Townsend and then hope to see a dear friend close by in the area if time permits.

I hope you all have a great weekend as well, love love..

This that and the other

2008-09-22T18:30:00.005-04:00

We've been grooving right along here. Last weekend we rummaged and went to flea markets and got some great deals and I am so HIGH from that...we got the coolest reclining rocker chair for $12, a working antique sewing machine that works for $40, a great canister set for my flour, sugar for $1, a bread basket for 50 cents....

We've mostly been working through if we can make the land behind us workable for a farm so we won't have to move. Our neighbor, a nice guy, is willing to sell, but a lot of it is woods and rock. We would have to do lots of work to make it the farm we want to have. It's a plus in not having to move. We will see.

Lots has been going on w/ my Lucy girl, since I finally have her w/ a very good Vet. EXHALE. She has her on a different med, Anipryl and I'm starting to see the return of the girl I used to know a few years ago. I am ashamed that I didn't question the medication from the old vet, when he had her on phenobarbital even if he had seen her for many years, it just seemed a poor choice. But now she's on the right track. Even if she does have does have that Alzheimer's in dogs, it doesn't mean she can't have a good quality of life. Her other vet just sedated her. This new vet is actually treating her symptoms and actually giving her something to treat her disorder and she is getting better. She said she is an unique case in that she is a big dog living long enough to get this. I will take that as a compliment. But I sure wish Lucy didn't have to deal with it. I'm going to take her camping w/ me this weekend. It will be a girls weekend. I don't know how many I have left w/ her and I want to treasure them.

Hope all is well in your world, love love...

Ahh.. the Beach

2008-09-07T19:18:00.002-04:00

I'll let the video speak for itself. You may be a child of the 80's if you know the hand gestures Tony and I were doing, if so, we get to hit you in the arm when we see you, tee hee...Notice the reading material as well.. anyone, anyone??... love, love....

Another Deer Video

2008-08-28T20:48:00.003-04:00

Here's another short video I took of a deer in the backyard eating a delicious block we put out for them that my brother gifted us. The deer enjoyed it so much, she didn't mind me sitting in the back yard with her.

New Thangs!

2008-08-21T21:21:00.006-04:00

Well Tony got a Tattoo! Isn't it so beautiful? It has a lot of symbolism. Most of it is obvious. The heart is for his love of me, the Lilly is a favorite flower of mine. Also, the Lilly is because Jesus said 'I am the Lilly of the valley'. It is blue because it's my favorite color and a color of peace. The green by my name is for new beginnings. The old style lettering is symbolic our togetherness before time began. I can't express how deeply touched and flattered I am that Tony had this done. Some things are just between two people you know and can't be expressed on a blog, but I'm sure you can imagine how much this means to me.
This is my new do! I have no idea how it will look once my hair curls up b/c he blew it out straight. But I wanted a newer trendy look. I too am going to get a tat... Tony's will also look similar to mine when he has more work done. He has just had the 'inner part' of his done today. Ma always said she would get a tat w/ me as well, so get ready Ma! My design is in the works! Also, click on the frontal picture of me to enlarge it and see the pretty blown glass necklace Tony got me for our anniversary, it's so beautiful! Love, love...

Deer in the backyard

2008-08-19T20:11:00.004-04:00

I took a video of a doe and the little fawn in our backyard. You can see she notices me on the deck and is cautious. She slowly continues to walk through the yard and her fawn is so cute hopping to catch up w/ her (he is in the corner).. she never leaves the yard, but walks to the garden! That part you don't see. But see how dry our yard is.. how we need rain. We haven't gotten much from our garden, but we almost did. The other critters did,, we would see almost ripe tomatoes, then go the next day and see the place where they had been freshly plucked and the bean leaves have been eaten, the squash eaten. I guess with how we infringe on the natural world and w/ the draught and how we can meet our needs, it's good to share back the garden w/ the other animals since we have taken from them their natural habitat. I so enjoy watching the deer. They are here almost daily. They are the 'neighborhood deer' and used to people, as you can tell. I hope that doesn't make them easy prey during hunting season. I remember when that fawn was my smaller than my cat..

love, love....

Back in the Saddle Again, briefly

2008-08-15T19:22:00.005-04:00

Wednesday I went for a ride on my new horse Butternut. It was my first real ride for any distance with him. Well, it started out really well. The guy who has him said, 'You are doing better with him than anyone has' and I was confident. Tony was riding an old stubborn horse who ran back to the barn and I decided to be bold and go on out to the field and test things myself w/ the young guy. See I haven't really ridden for over 20 years. I used to be quite good, but I don't have the confidence and don't know Butternut as my beloved, except in my mind. He started to get fidgety, but I knew I had to keep my resolve and stay the 'boss' as he was testing me, I was calm and stern and kept him on the course I wanted to go, as he wanted to go back to the barn. He calmed down and we went on up the field up to the ridge. My handsome husband then appeared on a beautiful walking horse who was willing to let him lead. I let them pass me and as soon as they did, Butternut decided he wanted to take control and the battle ensued. One, I'm afraid he won. He bucked, reared and I nearly fell off. I don't have to tell you, I was shook up. I decided then to make a very bad decision and get off the horse to gather my thoughts. He had already calmed down. It was me that was freaking out. See I'm older now. I should have stayed on and kept the course. But once I got off, he knew he had gotten the best of me. I started to get back on him and he made circle, circle and circle and then wrestled the rein's from me and ran straight to the barn at top speed. Which scared the rancher to death and here comes the truck racing up the field to find the girl probably dead on the ground. Nope, just humiliated from being outsmarted and outwitted and scared by the five year old gelding! But he won't do it next time! I had a long talk w/ my dear one in the barn. Next time, even if I fall, I will get back on again! I just had to muster back my fears and get my riding behind and boots wet again. Butternut is my beloved, and we will learn to be sweet riding partners, it may just take a wee bit of time! love, love....

Raccoons

2008-08-10T18:10:00.003-04:00

I thought all the noise I heard in the back yard was a neighbors dog, but it was these five raccoons enjoying some spilled bird seed. I don't really want them to hang around the house too much, as they can be a real nuisance, but they were pretty enjoyable to watch.

Other news, we did close last week on the house I had for 12 years . We have put in an offer on a nice groovy farm house with six acres and are waiting to hear about that, if that goes through, we have to hurry and sale our house! We hope to have an open house next week. We looked at our calendars and we have plans for each weekend through the end of October.. whew....and most importantly,, we have our First anniversary tomorrow! We celebrated last night by going to see a movie, 'The Dark Night', and to dinner at Ruth's Chris. We had such a great time. Tony has surprised and spoiled me with thoughtful and sweet gifts all weekend. We have had a wonderful year together. It has had it's trying times, it's growth moments, but they have made us stronger. I guess anytime two people who are stubborn, who are in the middle of life, put their lives together, and especially when you have people working against you (his ex, the kids) who bring drama into the picture, it can cause some tension. But it's through the chaos, that great things can happen, closeness and resolve and solidarity. We've had many wonderful adventures together, taken trips to New Mexico, to Florida, to Georgia, camped, we have explored our faith together and are enjoying learning about Quakerism. We've laughed together, cried together, laughed together until we have cried. It's been a great year and I'd do it all over again, many times over! Tony is a wonderful husband, thoughtful and caring. He's a great partner, sharing in everything, dotting on me constantly and telling me very often how much he cares about me, how beautiful I am and how blessed he is to have me in his life. And I am truly blessed myself to have such a grand best friend and husband who is so good to me. Love, love.....

Closing....

2008-07-30T07:07:00.007-04:00

Well, we have a closing date next week finally for my house (see picture, isn't it adorable?) that I had before I married Tony. I'm glad to finally be able to close that chapter of my life. I miss my neighbors tremendously who live next to the house, but that's about it. It was a good house to me for all those years, but I have a great life w/ Tony and we have a beautiful house out in the country with abundant wildlife and peace and quiet and our furry room mates love it here too.

I spoke briefly with my former neighbor yesterday and was glad to see they were ok since they attend the church where the gunman went to on Sunday. He described how surreal it was and how everyone took care of each other. He also spoke to how the church would have took care of him had he come there looking for work, food or any other need. I know that would have been true, that church helps anyone who calls, comes by or brings a concern to a member, as I used to go there several years ago. They outreach to anyone and everyone in the community and people even in other countries. With his level of hatred, he wasn't wanting help at that point, he just wanted to hurt someone badly. It reminds me of a line from the book Conversations with God, 'What is it that hurts in you so badly, that in order to heal it, you feel you must hurt me'...which I know must be true. I think we all hurt others out of our own pain, in a distorted sense that it will some how make us whole again or heal us, but instead it brings more pain, and more injury to all parties. But where did it go so terribly wrong from saying a hurtful word, or doing a small deed to that level of violence against so many people? ...

Love, love ...

Pictures

2008-07-27T17:35:00.006-04:00

This past Friday, Tony and I attended/volunteered a Gala where I used to work. It's a special night at the program or 'club house' for people who have mental health issues, but who are really focusing on the positive aspects of their life, on wellness not on illness. We had a great time. It was wonderful to see my friends that I don't often get to see.

In this next photo you see a moth I found in the house. I thought it was some kind of stick, but then you see the cross on the back. Facsinating! I've never seen one before and can't find anything about it on the internet. I took it outside so it could not suffer the wrath of our cat maisy who is a moth huntress.

I recently went camping w/ my Lucy Girl. On the way there, you can see what most of my view in my side mirror was.. her enjoying the sites and smells out the window. We had a great time. Hope you have a great week. Love love..

Hello

2008-07-26T12:25:00.002-04:00

Hello! Just a few updates..
Tony and I went to a prom last night, what fun! Then he married someone else!
We have just about become Quakers, we are going to do yoga in 3 minutes, so I must go.. more later with explanations,, much love love..

Lucy Camping

2008-07-05T10:24:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick video of me making over Lucy while camping last weekend,, hope you are having a very fun, relaxing and safe holiday weekend, love, love...

The Whisper of Spirit so loved

2008-07-01T19:19:00.003-04:00

Last night I made homemade Chicken and Dumplins. I make them from my Nannie's recipe. She used the broth you cook the chicken in (with onion and celery) as the liquid for the dough, then roll them out, then let them rise a wee bit. So, I made the dough, then rolled it out, cut them, then placed a towel over them for them to rise. After they rose a bit, I turned up the pot w/ the goodies in it and was putting them in one by one. As I did this, a soft voice said "You did just fine, now why don't you let that man relax a bit'. I turned to the living room and saw my husband was asleep in the recliner.
I'm sure I long to hear the voice of my Nannie and I knew Tony was sleepy, but I still felt her prescense nonetheless, even if it was just from her recipe being used through my hands. Love, love....

My Lucy Girl

2008-06-25T19:30:00.004-04:00

Here is my Lucy girl at our most recent camping trip. My Lucy gal is so sweet, so beautiful and such a loyal companion. She loves me, truly loves me. She was found wandering around wild w/ her liter mate, Layla, in 1996. She and Layla were adopted and brought to my home til I could find suitable homes for them. I found them both homes, and Lucy was brought back. I was so pleased! I've taken in many dogs and found homes for them, and felt good about it, but when Lucy left, both Audrey (my peekapoo who went into the light in 2001) and I missed her immensely. She was the only dog I ever took in that Audrey liked. And Lucy loved her and grieved her so much. Lucy was very shy when I met her. She hid from me in the back yard and wouldn't let me near her for four days. I let her have her space and her time, and when she finally came to me, she and I both bonded. Since then, she has been very loyal to me, and fiercely protective. She is a sweet gal, but she has nipped people she thought might be a danger to me, but she's never hurt anyone.

Well, she is aging, she is over 13 and she has been in good health for many years. She has been on thyroid and arthritis medication for about 3 years. Then she started to pant at night and other times. The dr thought it was just arthritis pain. Then came the night pacing and the occasional disorientation and the accidents. We get up w/ her at night, several times, try to comfort her, coax her to lay down on her bed and lay by her and stroke her til she calms and sleeps again. They ruled out any medical causes and have said she has Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. It's basically doggy Alzheimer's. My pups have been my children. I've spent just about everyday with them. This is so very painful to watch her age and seem to suffer in the sunshine years of her life. I know at some point there will have to be a very hard decision made on her behalf so she can be whole again in Heaven. I pray often she goes gently in her sleep by God's sweet hand. But for now, we are trying some medication we hope helps, so she rests and is not anxious or confused. I am putting a lot of weight on that medication to make her days easy and comfortable and enjoyable. The vet said "Julie she is just getting old, she has lived a long time for a big dog".

We are taking her camping this weekend, she loves to camp. We pamper her and attend to her needs best we can. We love her so. She deserves all the goodness and love she that can be showered upon her. She has done that for me for years and deserves the very same. She has been such a gift and blessing in my life.

Please pray for her, keep her in your thoughts.

Love, love...

Hello

2008-06-21T18:24:00.002-04:00

Hello All!
Things have been busy here as usual!
Since I blogged, we have put two houses up for sale (my former house and our current house), traveled to Taos New Mexico, camped on the river in the Great Smoky Mountains, planted a garden, and I turned 40!
Thank you for the happy birthday wishes in my other entry! This has been my best birthday yet and thank you to my husband, family and friends for making it so deeply special! Even after giving me the horse, my husband spoiled me more with a digital camera, flowers at work, some groovy gardening shoes, and a beautiful bible engraved with my name. And a very romantic dinner at a restaurant on the lake. Then I got to come home and enjoy a hot bubble bath and a massage!

Our trip to Taos was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking, the food was incredible, the people so nice. Everyone greeted you, were so helpful, and acted like they didn't have a care in the world. It is a very spiritual place. We went to a folklife festival and enjoyed doing arts and crafts, watching sacred dances some beautiful Native American's shared with the people, some young spanish Flamenco dancers, and eating fresh bread from a 'horno' adobe oven cooked on site. We traveled the 100 mile journey called the Enchanted Circle through several small towns with such changing scenery - from high dessert, to snowy mountains to lush fields. We treated ourselves to a wonderful spa day at a mineral spa, with soaks in the baths, a massage followed by a private mineral bath (swimsuits optional!), with our own view of the mtns and a Kiva fire place burning. (We hoped the soaks took out the remaining skunk smell, ha!) It was a wonderful and rejuvenating vacation.

Our camping trip to Elkmont was great. We had lots of friends and family camp and that made it such a wonderful trip from the fellowship. It was the time of the fireflies doing their 'synchronistic' lighting, which is an amazing site to see. There are thousands upon thousands of them all lighting in a manner similar to wave of beautiful dance music. We rinsed ourselves in the cold river at night, took naps, walks and read during the day by the river.

And just moments ago, walking out onto the deck in the backyard, I saw our neighborhood deer. They were feet from the deck. We both surprised each other, as it heard me and snorted and I saw her, we both stood still looking upon each other. Then I saw her little spotted baby walk up behind her. She took her time walking down the yard and finally into the woods were I'm sure she felt more comfortable and safe. Her little fawn frolicked and hopped along the way without a care in the world, never even noticing me. They probably have been grazing our garden! Which is fine, it's a small garden, with 18 tomato plants, 8 pepper plants, 6 mounds of squash and zucchini, and rows of radishes, cucumber and beans.
I tilled a small flower garden with a rose bush I gave to Tony ( called Spellbound!), a rosemary plant, and a mandovilla growing up our shepards hook that has our bird feeder and finch sock on them. The large and graceful St. Francis statue holding a bowl for water for the birds, found his home in the garden as well. Mom and Jay gave that to me for my bday.

So you can see we have been busy!
We have decided to look for a home with some acreage so we can keep Butternut the horse there. I'd like to get Butternut a friend, some alpaca's and make a free range chicken house. We have some people who want to take a second look at our house, so that is exciting. I love this house, it's so nice and warm and inviting, but we want to be out in the country on some land w/ critters and a large garden. We have a tentative contract on the other house, so keep your fingers crossed that it goes through!

Our life has been blessed and I am very grateful. And just now the deer came back into the yard from the woods.. I'm going to close and enjoy watching them.

Well, I'll post some pictures soon! love, love....

Excessive Materialism

2008-05-13T18:41:00.004-04:00

In our struggle to rid ourselves of this skunk odor, we've realized we are much more materialistic than we knew. We came to the realization that we needed to wash all of our clothing. It took over an hour just to bag it in large garbage bags. Then we took it to a laundry mat and used nearly one whole side of washers and $40+ dollars in quarters. Who in the world needs all that clothing? You can only wear one outfit at a time, and how many does one person really need? I know half of mine don't fit, but I swear one day they will! And we were worried about our home, and our belongings being ruined by the spray of a skunk! I mean seriously, that is attachment at a really poor level of thinking. We ALMOST threw all our clothing away and thought to live more simply. But can we just live more simply because of this lesson? Will we learn to not value 'things'? There is something tremendous to be said about the eastern philosophy of non-attachment to 'things', and even emotions. There is impermanence to everything in life, even to non-material things. Our feelings come and pass, our health comes and goes and comes and goes, our relationships can come and go. The only real thing that seems to leave a mark, is love, and sustaining that for all living beings. I think Love transcends all things.

Through suffering, it's said, we learn great things, we learn compassion, understanding, forgiveness. That suffering is our greatest lesson.

I know getting 'skunked' is not a huge problem, but we have learned a great deal through the process. It's amazing how God brings things into your life to teach you lessons, just when you need them most. I hope we are able to retain these lessons. To live more simply and care about the 'right things'. We have all that we need, and so much more that we don't really need. We live well, most people do in the western nations, comparably. We have huge developments, huge homes, huge cars, and stores to sell to the all consuming consumer. We consume and we waste, we consume and we waste, like an egotistical creature who's hunger knows no limits, without care to where it came from or the resources it took or those that suffered in the process or those who lack so many of the basic needs.

Who would have thought that a skunk could bring such lessons, ha!

Love, love.....

New Mexico Bound

2008-05-12T17:52:00.002-04:00

We are headed on a trip out west tomorrow evening.
We are going to Taos, New Mexico to spend five days to vacation, see the sights and relax. Thanks goes to my Dad who owns a condo where we can stay, how sweet that is!
I hope you all are off to a good week and it continues into the weekend.
I've been able to see pictures of the Horse and I am so excited!
We've spent countless hours 'deskunking' the house, you just wouldn't believe all we have done! I hope it never happens to you! Who would know that an excrection from a pretty looking creature could cause such havoc!

Take care, love, love....