VW tattoo

How much do I love this little car?  Enough to get a likeness of her tattooed on my arm!  Yes.  I did put it on there permanently. Just looking at it makes me happy just like looking at my little big does.

My very own Beetle

Omg. I'm so excited to introduce you to Gloria. My 1974 Super Beetle. Finally after so many years of searching for just the right one.  I find her for sale right here in my own turn.

 So, I am taking up a new hobby, exercise, fun time. What ever you want to call it. I got a bike. In fact it was gifted to me by a lovely friend who used it for 3 years as her only transportation. I am blessed not to have to do that, but I do plan to use it to get around town to places like the farmers market, the library, the bookstore and others. I am so excited to get going on this. I only need a helmet and a basket now. I want to be able to carry anything I 'd  like. And eventually I will get a cargo bike for even more possibilities. Stay tuned.. Peace~Yarrow

Becoming a Drummer

I have always been a dancer. As a child I danced to any and everything, any time and any where much to my parents chagrin. As an adult I danced with my husband every chance we got, and as a mother, I danced with my children on my hip and then holding their hands. Finally at 30 I took belly dance lessons and loved it. The djembe drums were always what I loved dancing to the most. I danced at festivals around huge bonfires and the live drumming was what kept me coming back, they fascinated me.

At one festival, when Sophie was only two. She began mimicking a drummer on a small djembe. She was so good at it that I bought her a tiny one of her own. I loved it myself, but the size was not easily played by an adult. Friends I knew had and played djembes and I longed for one of my own.

Finally, I have one. Found at a pawn shop of all places. I have no idea why someone decided they needed to a pawn this beautiful instrument. But I am glad that they did. I cleansed it with sage and now it is mine.
My church has an informal drum circle that meets every other Saturday and I recently attended my first one. It just happened to be the one where the musical director sat in and decided that he wanted us to play with the choir and band the next day. Play in front of an entire church congregation!!!! Me!!!  Well, since I have long ago decided to stop saying no to things that I later regret, I did it. I showed up the next morning early to practice and we played along to four songs and a full choir. It was so much fun and I felt great afterward.

It is a strange feeling identifying myself as a drummer, a musician. I have always felt un-musical, so to speak, never really learning an instrument completely. Always dancing to the music. Now I am the one making the music. It is a really nice feeling.

Peace, Yarrow

My Latest Tattoo

One more tattoo in my tattoo addiction/collection. This is a Triple Moon, in honor of the Great Maiden. Mother, Crone. With the words to my favorite chant added.This is on the front of my left thigh.

Yoga and Moving

Well, I have continued my yoga practice most every day. It is amazing to me how after forty it takes so much longer to recover the degree of flexiblity and stamina that I used to have just a few years ago. I am trying to help the arthiritis by keeping in shape and flexible. I am also determined to clean up my diet. I am still eating vegan, for the most part, no animal products, except for the negligable amount of milk in some chocolate and convenience foods. But I feel likeeven  this eating has caused me to gain a couple of pounds and not feel as light and clean as I'd like. SO......I am on a mission to do better. It will be different, because I began this way of eating in the middle of summer, June 1 to be exact. And the eating was good and easy, tons of fruits and veggies. Doing it as fall comes into winter will be a challenge. But I feel like I am ready.

As for our move. Things are happening. We have a  couple of options in and near our neighborhood. And we feel very positive about finding some where that will be a comfortable fit for us and the kids. More to come......

Yoga Check in

I have managed to get insome yoga practice every day so far. Some mornings, which is my preferred time, are easier than others. I moderate to severe arthiritis in my hands and wrists, so sometimes it is difficult to do those poses that require me to put weight on my hands. And of course those are my favorite poses. :/ But it is what it is, and I am dealing with the hand I have been dealt. (Pun intended)

Peace and Blessings.

Yoga Anew!

I am geared up to begin my yoga practice anew. In fact I have already begun it. This photo is very inspiring. It is not me, duh. :) But I strive to be flexible in all of my life, not just in my body. I have, of late, been under tremendous stress and pressure and have turned to my yoga practice as a way to ground and center myself for the tough times I am going through. The quote is very true also, and I have to continually remind myself of my strengths and resources. To help myself keep to a regular practice I have decided to once again turn to my blogging community for support. I will post regularly on my progress and hopefully receive some helpful feedback.

Peace and blessings.

Hibernating.....

We have settled into a routine of staying close to home and renewing our family bonds. After going through some very trying months last year, relationships within our family have knit themselves together again. Through much hard work and determination on all of our parts.

Many things have been put on hold while this catharsis has been taking shape. There are to be many changes in the coming months, some welcome, some not. But we have come to realize that we are a family and we can make a home anywhere as long as we are strong in each other.

So what have we been doing? I have been back at my old job as a vet tech since November. It is going well and I am feeling very fulfilled and glad. I took this semester off of college to get the job well in hand and prepare for my last semester, (I hope) The children are all busy creating their own lives and making plans. David is healing and healing relationships with us all. We are very hopeful that things are working out and happy together for the first time in a long time.

In between all the serious issues we have and are facing, we are all reading, a LOT. I am knitting and crocheting and Sophie is learning. We have watched a few good films and savored the time together.

Hopefully with the slow approach of spring we will come out of our caves, rubbing our eyes and ready to take on the challenges that this has all been preparing us for.

It's been a while......

Sorry for being so long with a post. Things have been a little crazy around here of late. However, things are finally looking up and we are moving forward rather than standing still. I have high hopes of recommitting to my blog posting.

On Monday, I am going back to my old job as a Veterinary Technician. I am so glad and excited. Out of the blue, my previous boss asked if I wanted it back because one of the techs is moving away. Vet work is my passion and though I have enjoyed the library work, and it has been an interesting experience. It lacks the challenge and reward that I crave in a job.

I will tell you all more about it soon.

New job + New classes = busy, busy, busy!

Wow! Who would have thought I would be away from the blogging world for so long? I started a new job last month, at the library. Yeah, I know, at the library! Me, a bibliophile if there ever was one, working at a library. It's much better than working at a bookstore, because any book I see that I want, I can check it out for FREE! I would have no paycheck if I worked at a bookstore. lol

Also, last month, I started my fall classes at RSCC. I am now a sophomore. Originally, I had planned to graduate in the spring, but because I can't go full time, I will have a few more semesters to go. Things are going well, I have met with my adviser and I am enjoying my classes. But sophomore year is much more difficult than freshman year. There is more homework and much more reading and a lot of online stuff. I am so tired by the time I get out of class and off from work in the evening. But this is the path that I want to take. I am grateful and thankful that I have the opportunity and the job. Thank you Goddess.

Hopefully, I won't be so long before posting again.

Peace and Blessings.

Seeking Balance

I wonder everyone has the same dilemma that I do. I have so many interests and things that I want to learn, that I really don't do much of anything. I mean I am always doing something, but it seems it's never done. I have so much reading I want to do, and that takes up a lot of time. I have sewing, knitting, crochet, and I want to make hemp jewelry. I am getting involved int he PTO and the Neighborhood Watch. I want to be more involved in Sophie's education as well as add to it with spiritual and herbal teachings. Not to mention my own education at RSCC, and in life, which can and will take the rest of my life. I want to be here for my older kids, here for David and be able to nurture our relationship. My spirituality is very important to me, as is being present and involved in the Pagan community. So many things.....how to balance them has always been my problem. Sometimes, I go at one thing til it's "done to death" and I "get it out of my system". And other times I flutter around all my varied interests like a bee in a flower garden, but never really getting much accomplished in any of them. Neither way is totally satisfying. I know that balance is the answer, but with so many other lives intertwined with mine, it is near impossible for me to achieve. So, I continue to work on it.

Giving up Diet Coke

When I was a junior in high school I began drinking soft drinks on a regular basis. Up until then, my parents just didn't spend the money on them. I discovered Diet Coke in the vending machine at my high school and that was when the love affair began. I switched to regular when I got pregnant, ugh, I know, not any healthier, but at least the artificial sweetener was out of the picture. Then after having my daughter a nutritionist suggested I drink Diet Coke in order to lose the remaining pregnancy weight that I still had. So I did, and that was twenty-two years ago! A twenty two year Diet Coke habit....wow, I have been trying to find it in myself to give it up for the health benefits for a while now. But it was a hard habit to break. My one vice so to speak.

However, I ran out of Diet Coke,, and money to buy more last week, and so I have been without long enough to get past the caffeine withdrawal headaches, and yesterday morning I watched the documentary "A World Without Water" and I am now determined to drop this habit in protest of what Coca Cola is doing in water starved countries. I think that everyone should watch this film. It is so important to our world. Water is sacred....and everyone deserves to have access to fresh, clean water. It is a basic human right. I will also be doing it for my health. I expect even more weight loss and more energy without having the insulin generating effects of the carbs and artificial sweeteners in Diet Coke. I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Bikini Time

Sophie and David and I all got in the pool yesterday to cool off. Sophie decided that we should have a picture of us in our bikinis. :) I must say that I did not realize the extent of my weight loss and shape up until I saw this photo. If you recall the ones that I posted last year after a year of yoga. This is the result of a year of eating a vegan diet. Woo Hoo! I am pretty stoked. My poppet is as cute as a button in hers too. :)

This Bohemian Life

Things have been busy around here. I have nearly finished my patchwork cloak that I began two plus years ago. :) It has turned out fabulously, in fact I am extremely proud of the accomplishment. And I think it is gorgeous. The fact that it is all hand made and has all my energy and power in it is just great topping. I will have photos soon. I only need to stitch in the lining and hem it. Some long time readers may recall it's beginnings and WIP.

I have also made another skirt. I was inspired by a little shirt that Sophie outgrew, that had an embroidery saying Pretty Hippy on it. So this skirt, done in pink patchwork is based around the Hippy embroidery patch. Lovely, I don't know whether I will put it up for sale or keep it. Again photo soon.

I have been doing a lot of work on my herb gardens, adding to them and changing them up. I recently added red Bee Balm (Monarda) and Purple Cone flower (Echinacea)to them. My cone flower was choked out last year by the spearmint. Hard lesson learned there. :)

I am trying to spend more time with Sophie in our herb study and especially in the spirituality teachings. She is ready for more in depth learning about our path.

I also plan to begin teaching her to knit/crochet and embroider this year. She will be seven in December and that is in the Waldorf tradition when those types of handwork are begun. In first grade. She can already stitch a good seam, so we are well on the way, she is ready for more detailed work. I am looking forward to it. I want her to have a well balanced education. So I will have much to teach her outside of school. She is attending a very good public school , we were very pleased with it for her kindergarten year. I am on the PTO committee this coming year and planned to be more involved in the school activities.

I am looking at a full course load this fall at RSCC. I am getting a little nervous about it. About how we will continue to manage without a reliable income while I go to school. But we have been doing it, by the grace of the Great Mother for over two years now. And I know that some way it will work out. I do feel like if I could just find a part time job, things would be a little easier. We went without power for two months this spring due to no money, and would not have it now if it wasn't for the generosity of family. So I continue to look for work though the level of unemployment here is approaching ten percent. There is poverty all around, people without power, people selling all their property to make the house payment and buy food for their families, people digging for scrap to sell. It is a little scary when I see it all around me. When will things get better with the economy? We certainly are not seeing it here. How is it around the country? Anyway, things can only get better, I hope. I am thankful for my family and friends, my strong marriage and my beautiful children. I am thankful for the continued roof over my head despite the lack of rent money, I am thankful for the food on my table and growing in my garden. I am thankful for the strength to persevere when I might have given in to the desperate desire to run away that I have felt several times over the past few months. Thank you Mother Goddess for it all. Blessings to you all.

Spring update

Sophie with the llamas @ the Earth Day event

Our Maypole for Beltane

The newly created patio decked out for Beltane



Enjoying the sun on our new patio

My momma and I on Mother's Day.











Sophie in front of her pumpkin painting at the Willow Brook Elementary Art Show

Katy and I at the SARG Charity Dog Walk

David and Katy watching the performances of dog tricks

I apologize for the long stretches between posts. I am without internet service at home and I have to go to the library or somewhere else that has free wifi. Anyway, things are going ok for us. Financial difficulties abound still, there are just no jobs in this area.
On the bright side, I am wrapping up with this semester of school, finishing up my honor's program project this week and helping the kids ready for the end of school. We are getting geared up for our annual School's Out Party! The kids are getting excited about summer break, if only we could have some summer weather. Its been in the forties at night this past week and only hitting the 60's during the day. Damn that global warming!

Anyway, I am taking the summer semester off of school so I can relax and gear up for my last semester, I plan to graduate in the spring. Woo Hoo! I will be carrying a full course load come fall.

Here are some photos of the highlights of the last few weeks. Enjoy!

I am returning....

For those of you who follow my little place here, I want to let you know that I am in the process of returning to these pages. It looks like we are in for some major life changes in 2011, so I will have much to blog about it seems. Some very new and interesting things are happening in my life and I have many things that I am working on and learning about that I want to share. So bear with me and there will be updates soon. Blessings,

Yarrow

Wanderlust

Once again, I am feeling the call of the wanderlust. The gypsy blood running through my veins seems to gain strength during rough and troublesome times. I find it hard to resist the urges to take off somewhere, anywhere....I have to say a prayer of gratitude for the events and circumstances that are at this moment preventing me from doing just that. However, that does not, in itself cause my wanderlust to abate. I must find a way to satiate that part of myself, unfortunately, perhaps fortunately, it is usually done via books and now, frequently, the internet. I can travel via the proverbial armchair to any place in the world that I choose and still be here for my family. And that is what I want, I don't want to leave my family, in fact, had a gypsy wagon large enough, I would pack them all inside it and take off to parts unknown. lol Of course, I don't know how long any of us would last in such close quarters.

But honestly, I am vascillating between wanting to hunker down and hibernate the winter, which has only just begun, away, to wanting to take off and leave it all behind. I am in a state of flux, unsure where to go next with my life plans and what direction to take. It seems that no matter what, there is always something to knock the wind out of me every step of the way. I wonder sometimes how I can go on, and yet, I do and things eventually get better. So for now, I will pacify my gypsy soul with beautiful photos and literary visions of places far and away. Peace.

Benefits of Yoga Revealed!

OK, I don't usually like to share pictures
of myself in bathing suits, however, after seeing this latest one, I was so surprised, and pleasantly so, that I really just had to share it. This is the direct result of my yoga practice. I began yoga in January of 2008, after many years of not doing any yoga, and the photo below was taken in the summer of '08. As you can see, I still had a bit of padding here and there.

This photo was taken today at the lake by mt friend Mari. After two years of daily yoga practice and two months of vegan eating!!!! I could hardly believe that such a difference has occurred. When I look in the mirror, I can not see that much, even though my hubby has been telling me what a change there has been since I began the yoga. I am just so glad about this, I wanted to share....thanks for humoring me. :)

This is what 42 looks like!! Yay!

Yoga Again

Once again I find that during a crisis at
home, stressful days, etc I neglected the one thing that could bring me peace and a centered mind~yoga. I have had a really rough week, emotionally and mentally. During that time I practiced my yoga routine only a couple of times. Knowing how it makes me feel afterwards cannot even entice me onto the mat. I simply have to do something completely mindless, and yoga is not. Yoga gently forces me to be in the present, be in the moment, and go with whatever emotions come up. When a crisis is happening, that is not something that I can do easily. Therefore, I tend to avoid yoga practice until things settle down again. Thus, I am happy to report that this morning I was back on the mat and feeling much better. Releasing some of those tensions and emotions that I have been holding in all week. Thanks to yoga I am ready to begin anew.