Michael and Jaspenelle

Toddler-Induced Quandary

EXHIBIT A:

Toddler. Bored Toddler. Loki Spawn. Mischievous Toddler.
Resist the cuteness, RESIST!

EXHIBIT B:

Air intake vent for central air. It doesn’t open (the wall is conveniently built over it) and has one inch holes.

Guess where everything Damian could find that is an inch or less in diameter can be found? Art markers, nail clippers, Damian’s toothbrush, two sticks, Cheerios, paper, my brain, three spoons… Obviously the answer to preventing this is to never let anything smaller then an inch touch the floor (haha!) But the question of the hour is how do I get the stuff down there out?

Ideas?

Bird Question

A question for my bird loving friends. I am designing a character that I want to be part avian (and part human.) I am looking for a bird that is orange (surprise!) or has orange markings on it’s body (not head.) If possible, I would like it to be a fruit eating bird (mmmm fruit.) I’m looking for one that really stands out.

Any suggestions?

Back Pain - Advice?

I have horrendous pain in my back today. I am use to aches and such but this is something else, kind of reminding me of the intensity of the sciatic pain I had in my third trimester. It is in the middle of my back though, the part behind my diaphragm and in front of it too actually. It feels like I picked up something wrong (Damian?) and “sprained” my chest and back. Is that even possible? When I touch that area it feels tender and bruised but looks normal.

I don’t want to take pain killers (with breastfeeding the ones I could take are ineffective anyways.) Besides that it hurts enough I am pretty sure I would hurl if I tried to swallow something. I have been doing cat cows which helps… until I stop then the pain returns. If I lay on the floor and brace my legs on the wall with my knees bent at a right angle it feels better, again, until I stop. Also Damian thinks I am a jungle gym then too. I just want to cry, not a normal thing for me. If I get too upset, Damian gets distressed and cries too. Poor guy. He doesn’t understand why I can’t play.

So I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for me? (Crawling into bed with a heating pad is not an option unfortunately. To start with, I don’t have a heating pad and secondly I need to watch my very adventuresome almost 7 month old, He-Who-Thinks-Power-Cords-Are-Better-Than-Sliced-Bread!)

Mystery Pepper

Michael brought this plant home from his work the other day, they were giving them away (they give away the ones too dejected to sell.) I know it is some kind of pepper/chili but I am not sure what kind, it had no tag.

Michael says there was a sign by them that said “Do Not Eat” but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is not edible, it just may have been treated with a bunch of chemicals. It might be some kind of ornamental though.

Peppers are an annual right? I might dry these peppers for decoration…

Does anyone know what variety this is?

Mystery Tree

Does anyone know what kind of tree this is? It is right outside our townhouse door.

I love the clusters of vivid orange berries that is has. The birds don’t seem to touch them though.

Tree Identified: European Rowan

Even more of a reason to love it, it is a sacred tree in Scandinavian myth (the first woman was made out of the rowan) and in Aegean lore the first rowan came from where the blood of an eagle fell on the ground.

You can make a jelly out of the berries too, but shouldn’t eat large quantities of them raw. According to Wikipedia various parts of the tree can be used for throat problems, bowel and vaginal irritations, eye problems, cramps and to remedy diarrhea.

I have a few clusters of berries that the tree let me harvest. I am drying them to add to my Autumn wreath.

A Question for Spokanites

I ran across this postcard on PostSecret:

Does it look like the Valley View Fire to you?

Rosemary Plant and Tracy Holeton

The maintenance people for our townhouse complex killed my rosemary. They were out spraying the other day and apparently the don’t know the difference between weeds in ground and a potted plant on my steps. Two days later the weeds and my rosemary are completely dead.

Arg! I’m pissed! That was my most used herb.

Anyhow, Tracy Holeton… I received a package from her with an adorable baby outfit in it but there was no note with it. The return address baby outfit from her, no note or anything. The return address is to a Tracy Holeton of Unico Inc. in Franksville, WI? I don’t know any Tracys.

Anyone know who my mystery woman is?

Lughnasadh Feast Blessing

I was working on putting all the information I have on Lughnasadh together in an understandable order when I ran across this feast blessing. I have always rather liked it but I have no clue what the original source was. Does anyone recognize it?

Now is the Time of the First Harvest,
When the bounties of Nature give of themselves
So that we may survive
O God of the ripening fields, Lord of the Grain,
Grant me the understanding of Sacrifice
As you prepare to deliver yourself
Under the sickle of the Goddess

And journey to the lands of Eternal Summer
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
Teach me the secrets of rebirth
as the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold.

I partake of the First Harvest,
Mixing its energies with mine
That I may continue my quest
For the starry wisdom of Perfection
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
before Whom the Stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks
For the continuing Fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds
To be buried in the Mother’s breast
Ensuring Rebirth in the Warmth of next Spring.

[EDIT: A commenter informed me that it originally appeared in "Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham.]

My dad will be arriving in Spokane to visit on Lughnasadh, hopefully we won’t scare him too much, hehe.

Some people have asked me if I will be raising Damian in my spiritual path, the answer is yes and no. I have no desire to hide my spirituality with him or exclude him from the traditions Michael and I have formed (such as celebrating the sabbats.) I think family traditions are important and give a child memories to look back on later in life, much the way I fondly look back on Christmas and Easter now.

This will be his first Lughnasadh and he will be present for our celebration of course. As he grows I will explain as much of our beliefs to him as I feel he is ready to absorb. I also intend on teaching him other belief systems as well, and ultimately the choice if what he wishes to practice is his. There is no such thing as too much knowledge. When he is older, if he chooses to continue to follow my path, so be it, if he is called to another, so be it.

Nursing Bra Question

I have a question for mothers who have breastfed, what kind of nursing bra did you use?

I bought a cheap one from Walmart awhile ago (the only type that they had) and it is really uncomfortable now (I loath underwire and I don’t believe it really makes a difference.) I use to be a 36B cup but now I am a 36C. From what I understand when the baby is born my breasts will get even bigger? (Sweet.) My breast tissue is rather tender lately as well and going braless is not an option because I already need to wear breast pads almost all the time.

I don’t have a lot of disposable income so it needs to be reasonably priced. I don’t need it to be cute or lacy (never thought I would be saying that…) I need it to be effective. I put a few different kinds on my Amazon Baby Registry (scroll to the bottom) that look comfortable - has anyone used any of those types? What did you think of them?

Any other suggestions would be welcome too!

Herbs and Peppers

My parsley, basil and chives have all sprouted! The parsley was the last to come up, which was expected, but it is already taller then the basil. I am waiting for secondary leaves. I am not sure if I should thin the chives, aren’t they suppose to grow in clumps? (If you cannot tell, I’ve never grown chives from seed.)

I am still waiting for my morning glories to come up outside, but its only been 10 days.

I was also chopping a yellow bell pepper for my pasta salad today. When I sliced it open it was filled with mini green bells peppers.

I had to take a picture to ask if anyone had ever cut into a pepper and had it look like this? It still tasted fine so I just finished chopping it up and tossed it all in the salad.

Speaking of peppers, I may be banning myself from browsing Taste Spotting, it makes me drool way way wayyy too much and give me bad pregnancy cravings. I found this recipe for Pimientos de Padron, which I haven’t had since I lived in Spain. I waaaaant!