Owl's Nest Story Lady

I am so excited about becoming a Story Lady! I have been to the library and am doing some research into storytelling and have decided between a couple of stories for my first story. Plus I know I want to tell the story of "La Befana and the Royal Child of Light" in December for Solstice. One of my absolute favorite stories in this translation especially.

Today we are taking Sophie and her cousin Becca to the Children's Museum. There is a great exhibit there about a past local story teller. I had taken these photos of some of her puppets and her storyteller's apron a few years ago, but today I want to explore her story. I am going to talk to the museum employees and find out more about her. As you can see from the photos she was a very creative and colorful individual. Very inspiring to me.

A Story Lady

A friend and mentor in the community has decided to create a pagan children's library in her home. She plans to include books, videos, and crafts with a weekly story time for children under age ten. She has recruited a few women in the community to act as Story Ladies. Reading to and telling stories to the children on Saturday mornings. I have been asked to become a Story Lady! I am so honored. I envision a small group of children nestled around a big, old, comfy wing back chair. While I take them on magical journeys via the written and spoken word. I have had an interest in storytelling ever since attending my first Storytellers Festival in Jonesborough, TN many years ago. And one of my favorite actresses, Jessica Tandy, did a movie in the nineties called The Story Lady. I always loved that movie and was enthralled by the idea of telling stories to children. There is just something so fascinating and magical about someone who can weave a story so well that you can see it all in your head. The name she has chosen for the library is the Owl's Nest, invoking the wisdom and inquisitiveness of the owl. She hopes to have a local artist paint a wise owl mural on the walls of the library room. I am very excited about this venue and about another way to share one of my greatest passions, reading and storytelling with the next generation of pagans. Story Lady Yarrow......I really like the sound of that. :)

Children's Festival of Reading

On Saturday we took Sophie to the Annual Children's Festival of Reading at the World's Fair Park in Knoxville. The highlight of the day for her was the public fountain that is a major attraction in the city for kids and adults alike. It turned out to be a hot day so it was a nice time for her.

The other big event was having one of her favorite books signed by the author, Grace Lin, author of the book, Lissie's Friends, among many more, was there! What a thrill for Sophie. She was so excited.

The local Kung Fu team put on an amazing dragon show, I only wish I had known the story behind it.

The drumming was amazing and beautiful.

I love this photo for the artistic quality, done quite unintentionally.

David and I enjoyed a day out with our girl.

My Vegan Journey: Day 7~Cookbooks

I am so excited! I picked up two new cookbooks from our local independent bookstore. The first is The Voluptuous Vegan by Myra Kornfeld. Full of yummy, inspiring vegan recipes. The second is an oldie but goody, The Vegetarian Epicure, by Anna Thomas. Though it's been reprinted since, this is the 1972 edition. Some of you know of my passion for 1970's books, so this was a must have. Though not strictly vegan there are plenty of vegan dishes mixed in with the delicious vegetarian options. And I just adore the whimsical, hand drawn style of the illustrations. So fun to read and yummy. Vegan blessings.

Chocolate...oh my!

Now I know that the hardest part of eating vegan, for me, is going to be chocolate. I love it! Not only that, but it's everywhere! It's so easy to grab a bit of chocolate. Most anywhere you go, you can get chocolate, but not the dark kind that is vegan, usually, it's almost always the milk chocolate, which, unfortunately, has milk in it! Geez! How am I supposed to get through a chocolate craving? Dark chocolate is not my favorite, either. No that would make it easy, huh? Well, I know that I am going to need a Vegan Chocolate Cookbook, and if anyone has any great recipes for vegan chocolate please let me know. Night before last I watched Chocolat....yes, again. Needless to say that did nothing to end the cravings. I have been indulging with strawberries dipped in Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Hmmmm.....I am wondering if I can actually give it up.....only two days in and I am weakening already. On the bright side, everything else has been no problem. I have meals planned from the vegan cookbooks and I am feeling lighter and very energetic eating so healthy. Viva la vegan!

4 Days and Counting.....

......to the start of my Vegan Journey for the month of June or maybe longer. I am trying to get prepared by reading up in the vegan cookbook I have and making a menu and shopping list. I don't want it to get expensive by using all those snazzy "vegan" products. I want to keep it as fresh and natural as much as possible. Its the perfect time of year for fresh produce and grains will balance it out. Along with throwing some veggies and tofu on the grill I will honor my sweet tooth as well, by planning for some yummy vegan desserts. I am curious as to how eating this way will affect my joints and pain. Can't wait to find out!

Grandmother Winter

Well, Grandmother Winter is really shaking out her feather bed on us this year. We have had three pretty good snows already, very rare indeed for East Tennessee. The trees were so beautiful! Each branch seemed to be covered in a thick creamy layer of frosting. We are still getting flurries each day.

It reminded me of the children's book that Sophie and I love so much to read this time of year, Grandmother Winter.


The snow covered branches against the blue of the winter sky is just beautiful.

This is the view from our back door.

Art for Kids

Art has always been a big part of our family life. When my older kids were small, we did some art every day. My daughters were very into painting and creating artworks of all kinds. Our home always was well supplied for art activities, from clay, paint,chalk and crayons and markers, to building sculptures from wood and wire to sewing and crochet. I feel that the early exposure and experience has paid off for them. My oldest daughter Laura, now 20 is a talented artist, you can see some of her work and ideas on her blog here. Her sister Emily is quickly following in her footsteps, but with her own kind of style. Now both boys, ages 14 and 12 are taking art classes and showing the same natural talent for art. Needless to say that I am thrilled.

Now I have been trying to gently nurture Sophie's growing interest and talent in the arts. She loves to sing and make music with hand instruments. She is very into painting and using the glitter! Glitter oh my!! I have found that she does best when I am somewhat involved, even as much as doing my own art next to her. She loses interest quickly when left alone, except at her easel, she will spend long moments painting there. She also loves play dough, though at this time is limited to punching and rolling, sculptures we have not attempted yet. Sophie and I enjoy reading fiction books about art, here are some we have enjoyed. Does anyone have any others that would be appropriate for a four year old?

A Piece of Chalk by Jennifer Ericsson
Willow by Denise Brennen-Nelson
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
In the Garden with Van Gogh by Julie Merberg (a board book for the littlest ones)
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork
A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch
The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola
Emily's Art by Peter Catalanotto
Anna's Art Adventure by Bjorn Sortland
and of course, the original art book, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson

For helping teach art or just exposing your kids to it, I also recommend these fine books;

Nature's Art Box and Recycled Craft Box by Laura C. Martin

The Kid's Multicultural Art Book by Alexandra Terzian

Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes

Check them out at your local library and enjoy!!

Dreaming of Autumn

Dreaming of autumn, I had homemade chili on the porch swing with this book, and thought about doing some knitting this fall/winter. I have done very little in quite a while. Though fall is just around the corner, summer has not quite finished with my gardens, there is much to harvest yet. And I am thankful.














Giantess of a Sunflower, at least 12 feet tall.














Tomatoes everywhere~still!

Herbal Learning for Sophie

I found this gem of a book at my local used book store today for $10, sounds like a lot, but its brand new, and I used trade in credit!! I have wanted this book to use in teaching Sophie for a while now, and I was very happy to find it today. I have been teaching her a little bit this summer about the herbs, their names and some of what they can be used for. She has had experience with plantain's bee sting soothing properties and itch relief, and lavender's relaxing benefits. We take a walk through the gardens most every day and check on our herbal friends, who she calls by name. This week we begin making some herbal remedies in preparation for the winter colds and such, and our herbal medicine kit is running low. I hope to be able to include Sophie in some of the prep work and let her feel the satisfaction of working with Mother Earth's medicines. Herbal blessings.

Daily Yoga Check in

Morning yoga again today. So invigorating and eye opening. This morning was an overcast, misty morning after rain all night. The birds were enjoying the feast of earth worms that came above ground. I feel wonderful, what a lovely way to begin a summer Saturday.

I am currently reading a book called, "The Body Sacred" this is a great books geared to pagans but could be used by any women who deal with body image issues, and isn't that all of us at some time or other? I will write a review of sorts when I am done. My circle is preparing to hold an Aphrodite ritual to remind us all of our Goddess given bodies and what a blessing they are. Something we all forget far too often. Stay tuned......

Frustrations and Belated Birthday Wishes

I realized that I neglected to mention and post about my son, Joshua's 12TH birthday! I feel just awful......anyway, he had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the new bike and skateboard he received. Happy Birthday Joshua!


I have been having a really hard time getting myself going with all of the projects and things that need to be done and that I want to do. I mentioned in a previous post that I was planning to make a crazy quilt cloak in honor of my ten years serving the Great Goddess. That will be in August and all I have done on the cloak is the lining and the pieces are cut out. The stitching and quilting and embroidery are going to take quite some time. And I knew this when I began, and yet, I have not made myself get busy with it. Other things and life have had to come first. I keep telling myself that this is a self imposed deadline, so its not a big deal if its late, but......this is to be a ritual robe and the next big event is not until September, so.......





I find that when I have a free moment I just want to sit in the porch swing and read all the great new books that I have for the temple this summer. Of course, after enjoying this, I feel bad for not getting the things done that I want and need to. Oh, I am just frustrated, I must find a balance....must....find....a......balance.

More of TV Turn Off Week

Sophie enjoying her bike. Observing ants. Ants are so interesting.



Sophie and "catty" Jonathan with the twig and moss house.



The kids have all done so well. Jonathan has spent the week observing the ant colony in the yard. Sophie and Joshua joined him periodically, while taking a break from caterpillar hunting. The tent caterpillars are on the move here. Jonathan was inspired to create a twig and moss house after looking through the book, Nature's Art Box, one of the books we got from the library. Some of the other things we did was to make a teddy bear out of a recycled felted wool sweater for my sister's baby shower tomorrow, from this book, Mothers and Daughters at Home. A wealth of wonderful crafty goodness.









Moss and twig house. Lovely and inspiring books.

Happy Earth Day

We had a fabulous Earth Day together. This morning David & I took Sophie to the library where we tried, not too successfully to find Earth Day related books. Our library is small and the ones that they actually have were already checked out. (Note to self, don't wait until "the' day to look for books) However, they do have, brand new, "Green Housekeeping" which I have put on hold for myself as soon as its available. Yeah!

We spent the rest of the day outside and after we picked up the other kids from school, we went to the marina for some Frisbee and goose watching. Amazing! We were all mesmerized by the beautiful Canadian Geese and Mallards and one very strangely out of place, white domestic goose. There were even six little Mallard ducklings. So sweet and cute. (Unfortunately, there was some trash, but we picked up what we found, even in the edges of the water.)

After dinner, Sophie, the boys and I walked around our neighborhood and picked up trash and recyclables. Sophie truly is a budding environmentalist. She is very conscientious about litter, alerting us to it wherever she sees it.

We ended the day with a reading by dad of 'The Lorax'. Never out of style or favor, even my 11 and 13 year old boys listened raptly.

I hope every one's Earth Day was fun and successful and that you took even a moment to appreciate and love our Mother Earth. Blessings.

My yoga practice is going very well. I have only missed one day this month and that was due to a few sore muscles and a late night. However, even that day I did get in a Sun Salutation. Felt very good and helped clear my head. I have been reading Rodney Yee's book "Yoga, the poetry of the body" and it is a great book. The way he writes makes you go deeper into the poses and learn to really feel them, for instance he says about Downward Facing Dog, "Bring a lightness to this pose, a feeling of suspension, the way a sudden cool breeze brings you relief as you're working in the garden on a hot sweaty day." And of Supported Child's Pose, "Like an afternoon nap so deep that you drool on your pillow....And deep sighs." I just love reading the instructions and the "One Thing" notes at the end. This book has made me think and look at my yoga practice in a whole new way, and I have been able to get closer to the spiritual and mental side of yoga, even to being able to practice with others in the room and distractions and keep my focus on my practice. That is saying something. Go out and read this book.

David and I had our Valentine's date on Saturday night. It was wonderful to get out alone together. We so needed it and we have felt much closer since. ~~love~~sighs~~~lol

Sophie's current favorite story is "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. We love all of her books but for some reason this one is requested every night. Its a wonderful story and is one of those that includes handwork, the boy's baba knits him mittens, so I love it too. Check it out.

Favorite Corners of My Home

Here is another photo of a favorite part of my home. This is Sophie's reading chair by her bed.

It is a pink pinstriped chair, we call it the candy cane chair. In it is a felted wool pillow that I made for her before she was born, welcoming her to the family. We are all represented in paperdoll form. On the floor is her "Dora" rug, and current favorite books; "Child of Fairie, Child of Earth", "The Gingerbread Baby", "My Lucky Day", and "Pigs Love Potatoes". We read several books that she chooses every night before bed. We are amassing quite a collection of "pagan-style" children's books. I will add a list of them soon. There are more and more that relate to the earth centered lifestyle, I am happy about that. Whenever I see this little corner of my home, I can't help but smile and think of the bedtime/storytime cuddling with my little poppet.