I was in a good mood right up until people started arriving to eat birthday cake. I was feeling really well prepared for the stampede, for once. I had moved all my tables into one long row stretching from the livingroom into the study. I had made lots of coffee in thermoses and tea in teapots and put everything up on the long bar counter in the ( Read more... )

Today it was time. Just a couple of days after the autumnal equinox with a full moon, the strawberries had been soaking in vodka since high summer. I separated the booze from the berries and turned the berries over with lots of powdered sugar and some hot water to draw out the last of the vodka and the strawberry flavor. The resulting liquid was ( Read more... )

Happy happy happy birthday

moonflowerz!

Well, I've made my first visit ever to a mental ward, because my friend G is in one. G is the girl who traveled to Venice with me a few years ago when I was picked up by that gondolier; I posted a photo of her and me on a sunlit terrace. She's had psychotic episodes off and on for years. She'll be fine a couple of years and then bam, she'll be back ( Read more... )

When I say I'm a hedge witch, I mean that as a statement about my beliefs and world view, but I've come to realize that's not what people hear. They think of it as some sort of office, like being a priest or shaman, something that I DO. Whereas to me, it's something that I AM. It's about what I believe ( Read more... )

I'm a little low on funds now after my vacation, but otherwise life is nice. The first few weeks back at work the weather turned cold and rainy, I had a chaos spell of staying up nights and sleeping days, and it was tough getting revved up to normal work speed again. But all that's resolved now. Even the weather is warm and summery again. Today the ( Read more... )

A couple of years ago, Amy avoided looking at her reflection in the mirrors in the aerobics hall. Now she gives herself the real evil eye when she gets into the groove. It's so fun to see that stare of determination and willpower. My little girl is growing up ( Read more... )

The enchanted waterfall was a place that Joanie and her hubby showed me and mom on our little road trip to Dalecarlia, where Joanie's parents live. There's an old forest of tall pine trees and soft dark-green mosses, where a small clear stream quietly meandering along suddenly goes over a sheer cliff drop and turns into a mighty waterfall. There's ( Read more... )

My body's not equipped to handle summer heat. My skin is pale and doesn't really tan, it gets burned. I get sun rashes all over and my feet break out in blisters in the vicinity of shoes, especially cute, light, summery shoes. This past week even my ear canals seemed to swell somehow and I had swimmer's ear all night ( Read more... )

I don't think I've spent this much time outside any spring/summer before ever. Trekking all over Jackdawtown and surroundings, having coffee from a thermos sitting on tree trunks and rocks. Spending lots of time with my mom, who in no way acts like someone who's 71, getting a natural tan, and feeling the peace and harmony gathering in my soul. ( Read more... )