buzzard lagoon

Whenever I have to give someone my address for some reason, especially over the phone, I always get a double-take when I say I live on Buzzard Lagoon Road. "Yes, that's right, two words like it sounds."


Oh yeah it's a real lagoon. The path on the way to it is dotted with various lovely wildlife. The buzzards are a given of course. The wild iris are a nice surprise.


They are copious but, like most irises, don't last well in a vase.

And just around the corner...


It's not lovely, but it is an important water source for many creatures in the forest. If we are lucky we can see their footprints. Lots of coyote, deer, pigs, occasional cougar. My dog Whoopie loves to swim here...he's part Airedale, a breed created to retrieve otters way back when.


It's a magical spot, and we are so blessed to live just a short hike away. With all the hot weather lately we were relieved to find it full and thriving this weekend, teeming with salamanders and mosquito fish. We picked up a few bottles and cans from the (bad!) motorcyclists who, despite the cement pilons and local laws, persist in using it as their personal playground.

We do too, but our footprints stay light. Live light!

beltane

This past weekend I celebrated Beltane on a retreat for womyn recovering and reclaiming. Recovering from the effects of the patriarchy. Reclaiming our power in a world aimed at marginalizing womyn and making them feel less than. I am living in that world. We all are.

We danced the Wheel of Life around the maypole, an ancient symbol of joining male and female energies in working together to create a new world, whole and complete and balanced.


My beloved mentor witch and powerful priestess, Mama Silverwitch, creates these incredible dreamcatchers. They are magical and guaranteed to filter out the nightmares.



The Beltane altar is dressed to represent each woman present. We circle around to create magic and become the change we wish to see in the world. Divination is part of the process; here you can see Goddess cards that reveal our paths and speak to us of powers yet untapped.


Here is the yurt where we slept, for two nights. Well heated with a wood stove and quite cozy on futons. No sound but the soft sound of snoring sisters, until the birds awoke us. My first ritual each morning was to jump in the hot tub overlooking the forested valley below. Such luxury!


Here in the kitchen we gathered for food, lively conversation, and more ritual. The bonds of sisterhood grew strong as we met with minds and hearts and joined together in our quest of wholeness.

Blessed be! How did you spend Beltane?

belle of the ball

With everything else going on in my life, I must confess to still wanting to indulge my children, especially when they ask me to sew for them. Princess #1 shocked me by requesting a dress for her Junior Prom. I confess to a dislike for this color, but she had it locked in her mind. "I want to look like Belle Mom."


A closeup of this golden confection better shows the rhinestone details on the straps and under the empire waist. This dress could not have been simpler really, and it only took about four hours. Fitting would have been more efficient, however, had she remembered to bring her bra... and shoes (ahem).


As it turned out, she loved it, and that's all that counts. I only wish I'd been there to iron it for her.

santa cruz

Those of you who actually have been reading my blog for awhile will know: I *heart* the Boardwalk. Isn't this picture cool? ... it's currently my screen saver as well. Luckily we had a gorgeous, clear (tho chilly) happy day for Horsey Girl's sweet fourteenth.


There was some scullduggery afoot, especially after nd and I exchanged words and he split.

But before that we has us some fun...


Just a few small moments in the arcade, and we had many many tickets from playing all the silly games (half which refused to work.) Here we get our aggressions out on wack - a - mole! Pore lil varmints.


You could not pay me to go on half the rides that the girls enjoyed this day. Tilt O Whirl? Not so much.


They were completely soaked after the fourth go on this one.

Good thing we got season passes. = )

it's here Laura

I've been anticipating this package for some weeks now! How excited I was when it showed up in my mailbox yesterday. All the way from Canada.


This gorgeous, wonderful little art quilt is from a swap with Laura. The detail is exquisite, and this is such a work of love! I am entranced.


The more I look, the more details I discover.... the theme here is True Love. All the lovely handwork makes it sparkle with buttons and beads. I love the cupcake with the "real" buttercream rose.


But my all time favorite part is this little Angel of Love. I sure hope she has some mojo in her sweet little bag.... things are getting sour around here in the love department (again). It's frustrating.

But I have my sweet quilt, and the love of my good friends. Thanks so much Laura!

bees

Here are the bees nd brought home from Chico last week. They seemed happy to bee here. I liked watching them and thinking about the collective brain.


Calm and self assured, little P. treated them like ladybugs. She talked softly to them as she picked them up and let them crawl on her hands and they were calm.


I think Grandmother Apple Tree is happy to see them. Her buds are particularly robust this year.



Fun to ride around our property in the back of the truck too. We really live in paradise. The forest is fresh and cool.

We're off to the Boardwalk for Horsey Girl's Birthday!

these days

Can you find a balance each day between doing things you have to do and doing things you want to do? I find the secret is to elevate needs to preferences. Staying in the moment you can find something you want, even if you're doing something you wouldn't prefer.

We don't know why she likes her bra so much that she wore it under her bathing suit. And I don't know why I bought her a bra either... except it was 5 cents at some thrift store.


The weather has been positively unpredictable. Very very warm, and then very very cold quickly. Yesterday a t shirt, this weekend sweaters and fingerless gloves again. Seems that way everywhere out in blogland.


The perfect day is when you can just enjoy every minute as it comes, and if you're not enjoying it, to pay attention and change your attitude.

Or change what you're doing. Be sure to do things for yourself in equal portion to what you do for others.