An Interesting Article

I homeschool but don't unschool, but I think this article is interesting. I agree with lots of what it contains, but not everything.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2009/06/22/elmoreed_0622_2DOT.html

Hopefully the link works....

Happy Father's Day

My own Dad died in 1989, although some days it seems like it was just yesterday. He was the best-always there for me; when he was alive I always felt like someone was there believing in me, even when I had trouble believing in myself. He was gone too young and too quickly, and although I sometimes feel him around me, I miss having his strong arms around me, being able to pick up the phone to call him. Sometimes I still forget that I can't call him anymore. I'll be in the middle of some situation in which I need the advice that I know only he could give, or I'll be celebrating some wonderful event, and I'll move toward the telephone, only to remember that there's no phone line to the other side. At least, not that I've discovered. Sometimes he comes to me in dreams. At times, I've felt his presence right before something traumatic has occurred, and I've felt that he was around to comfort me. After we lost him, I remember thinking that hopefully some day I would be able to give my own little girl a Daddy who is as awesome as he was. Today, that wish has come true. Soon after our daughter was born, I realized that my prayer had been answered, and I whispered a little thank you to the Great Mother.

A couple of days ago I stood in front of the Father's Day card display in Borders with my daughter. As we selected a card, I felt the tears well in my eyes, as they do every Father's Day, no matter how many years accumulate between the day of my Dad's death and this holiday. My daughter picked out a beautiful card-one with a little girl on the front that reminds me of her. The sweetness of her joy at selecting the perfect card for her Daddy dried the tears, and bathed me in the joy of blessing. I'm so grateful for my husband and daughter.

Happy Father's Day today to all of the Dads out there, including my Dad and Grandfather.

I miss you, Dad. Thanks for everything you've given me. I love you.

Happy Bunker Hill Day

Today commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was fought in 1775 on Breed's Hill during the early part of the American Revolutionary War. While the battle turned into a victory for the British, it demonstrated that the heart of the Colonial forces was strong, that these largely inexperienced men were willing to go to battle for what they believed in and even present a challenging fight. The British may have claimed victory in this battle, but they also suffered the greatest losses on this day than on any other during the whole of the Revolutionary War. (info . from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunker_Hill_Day#Commemorations)

Being from the greater Boston area, I've always felt proud of my roots. It's a cool thing to walk around the city, following the Freedom Trail and imagining the thundering of Paul Revere's heart as he tore through the streets of the town during his famous "midnight ride" to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British Army's approach. It's inspiring to wander through Faneuil Hall Market Place; one can almost hear the rumbling of the revolutionaries who refused to tolerate political oppression and were willing to sacrifice their very lives in the cause of freedom. While Florida has its own history, it's a different history. Boston's history feels like my own, somehow. I connect with it.

On this day, I'm inspired by the idea that no matter how insignificant someone might seem to be, no matter how insignificant I myself sometimes feel, we can all make a positive difference in the life or lives of others. Likewise, today reminds me that we should never allow fear to prevent us from following our dreams and hearts.

May you be fearless today!!!!

Litha Fairie Garden

As some of you know, Litha is coming up. This holiday is otherwise known as midsummer or the summer solstice-the date on the calendar when the sun is in the sky the longest and the night is the shortest. It's a good time for celebrating the warmth and strength of summer, as well as acknowledging that nothing on this earth lasts forever and that change is always imminent. Some people like to take time during this season to clean out their closets, to give away old clothing no longer worn that someone else might like and/or need. I think that, in celebrating Midsummer, we might come to understand that while not all change is easy, it's not necessarily a bad thing either. Once, a few years ago, I was in a relationship that I thought was "the one". Suddenly, the relationship was ended and I was left devastated. Because I had a belief that the universe has some sort of order and the Goddess has a plan for me, I muddled through this difficult time (with lots of help from friends and family). I even traveled to visit friends in Colorado and was helped in my healing by the nurturing energy of the western mountains (one of my favorite places in the United States). Now, six years later, I'm married to a man who is a much better partner for me and we have a beautiful little girl. Today I can see how that major shift in my life was really for the better, even though it was a painful time.

As one of our Midsummer crafts, we are making a fairie garden. Using Crayola clay I purchased at a local craft store, we fashioned mushrooms, a sun, and a moon. The sun and moon were kind of afterthoughts. It was so much fun mushing around with the clay that we didn't want to stop when we had enough mushrooms to make the garden! I poked little holes in the tops of the sun and moon so they can be hung up someplace as ornaments. Due to the high humidity here in Florida, it took a couple of days before the pieces were dry enough to paint; yesterday we brought out the paints and got busy decorating our clay pieces. We began by carefully selecting colors, applying the paint, and making little dots and flowers on the mushrooms. At the end, when my daughter's attention was beginning to wane, we scooped the paint up with our fingers and finger painted the last mushroom. The effect was pretty, swirled colors. Rachel also painted a miniature watering can made out of terra cotta. I think she did a fabulous job with the whole shebang! Today or tomorrow we'll put the garden together. We might not get to the project today, as we have a doggie appointment at the vet this morning, some errands to run, and ballet later in the afternoon. But, I'm happy with how the garden is coming out so far, and we're having lots of fun making it!

Dog is Love

I saw the above saying on a bumper sticker recently and thought it was cute, and so true. Dogs love us unconditionally, deeply, truly, sweetly. Our little guy is a typical shepherd puppy, crazy one minute, nipping at exposed fingers and toes, and calm the next, sidling up for a hug and a kiss. This is not the best picture of him, but I snapped it yesterday morning in the midst of a romp around the dining room. He does not like to stay still for long, so taking pictures of him can be difficult!

Hubby and I attempted to find a swing set at one of the local stores yesterday, but had no luck. One store had a beautiful swing set but they wanted over $800.00-a bit more than our budget allows. Another store had a more reasonable but very nice model advertised, but didn't have it in stock. Frustrated, we came home and I perused the internet, hoping to find a better deal and more variety to choose from. I did find many different models, but most were very expensive. In the end, we tentatively decided on a wooden structure from Walmart which has lots to play on at a fairly reasonable price. Unless we find something else, we will probably go with that; I'm not sure when we'll be able to buy it, as it was a bit more pricey than what we'd expected, but I know that our little one will glean lots of enjoyment from it. It will be nice to have a swingset in our yard, for those times when there isn't quite enough time to take a trip to the park or we need to do some work in the yard. She enjoys gardening, but her attention span is limited; she needs other play activities to do while we're watering flowers, planting, mowing, etc.

I have a tentative goal list created for today, to include painting clay mushrooms we made a few days ago for our fairie garden, and finishing the garden, as well as painting the little clay sun and moon we made. Due to the high humidity in Florida, it took a few days for the clay to dry out enough to paint. This is one of the crafts we are doing in celebration of the Summer Solstice/Litha.

Have a beautiful Monday!

Sunday in the Summer

I took these pictures in our garden this morning; I try to find ways to connect with the landscape around here, making every effort to feel peace and harmony with the natural world around me. Lately, I've been longing for the home I left in a way that almost makes me crazy. I long for smell of the boggy, salty air, the rolling dunes of Cape Cod beaches, the rocky shorelines. I long for the pine woods as well as the bustling streets of Boston, which always feels like a welcoming city to me in a way that no other city ever has. Recently, a friend of mine moved back home to Maine. I'm ecstatic for her, and just a little bit envious. I get tired of hearing people tell me that I live someplace where everyone else wants to live. If it's so great, why are so many people leaving? In the past few years, I've watched as friends and acquaintances have departed sunny Florida to live in Maine, Colorado, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey. Every few months, it seems, someone is telling me that they are moving someplace else. I don't mean to complain. I love our house, love my life with my little family, and have found things to love about South Florida (although the general population isn't one of them-I've found few friends here who have remained true, which has been a very sad experience). Being of the magickal persuasion, it's important for me to find a connection with the natural places around me, and I have occasionally found that link when we've traveled to local parks (there is one close by with a gorgeous live oak grove) and wooded areas. I can almost always tap into some sort of peace and feeling of belonging when I'm wandering around in the woodlands, although I find that peace is just a bit deeper when I'm walking (or running) through the old woodlands of my native New England. The energy there is so much different from what I feel here-maybe it just vibrates more harmoniously with my own energy. It's funny-when I was younger, I always talked about moving to California, or some such sunny and warm locale. Now that I'm older, I've found that most of what I've been searching for can be found in the very place I left. Somehow, that's tragically ironic.

Anyway, today I decided that it might be a good time to tap into the fairie energy in our gardens. Doing so might lessen the longing I feel for parts far away, as well as being a positive spiritual experience. I can teach our daughter a few things about the sidhe (what I've learned from books and past experience), and we can, side by side, continue to learn together.

Here's to joining in the great dance of life!

Lots of New Things Going On

I haven't been here for awhile due to the fact that I've been so busy with life and have had little time for sitting and writing on the computer. I do enjoy visiting here, though, and decided that tonight I would check out Blogger in spite of having other things I should be doing (insert deep sigh). Recently, my family and I added a white German Shepherd to our family. Already we are deeply in love with him and it seems as though he's been with us for more than the two weeks he's lived in our home. He is so sweet, affectionate, smart and cute. I have pictures but have yet to upload them (due to time constraints). I will post some as soon as I'm able to get them into my computer! Part of the reason for my absence has been his arrival; because he's a puppy, I've been busy with house training (which has been rough going some days, though it's getting better, with fewer accidents), playing, and just generally getting to know him with my daughter and husband. For the first week, my daughter and I didn't go out much because we wanted him to feel secure in his new place. This week things around here have been more relaxed. We even went out today for an hour and left him in the living room (with all of the doors to the other room shut). He didn't eat anything inappropriate, but I don't think I'd be daring enough to leave him in such an open space for more than an hour or so at this point in time. I have a "safe room" for him, but he hates being in there. I think he gets bored, since there is nothing in that room except his crate and a few toys (when we go out and I do leave him in there). He tends to go nuts when I leave him in there, while when we just go out and leave him in the living room he's calm when we leave as well as when we return. There will be much adjusting and feeling things out as the days and weeks progress!

As far as our new home, things have been going well here. We are all settled in, unpacked and beginning to enjoy living in a home with more room to stretch and grow. The only strange occurance that I've experienced is some drawers in my daughter's room being pulled out. Twice I've gone into her room to find that the drawers on her bunk bed have been pulled out to various distances. She swears that she is not the one who has been pulling them out and I can't think of any way they could be getting pulled out through natural means. I thought that maybe the cat was climbing up that side of the bed but upon examination I don't think this would be possible. When she climbs up to the top bunk to sleep she uses the ladder like we do. Other than this, nothing strange has happened. This occurance alone is enough for me for now, though. Maybe some normal explanation will arise. Or not.