Tag Archives: grand-dogs

Harmfree Passage.

Posted on March 6, 2013 | 6 Comments

             One of the ways I find that so many of us can connect is in our various “issues” and imperfections.  We ALL have them, there is no such thing as perfect or normal, there are only people.  Individuals, every one of us.

             As you all know, I’m a huge fan of Russell Brand and THIS is only one of the many reasons why.  It’s kinda long, so if  you don’t have time to read the entire thing, save it for later, but don’t just skim and don’t just pass on it, because he says so damn many valuable and important things.  Totally worth every minute.

             One of the parts he touches on is how so many of us deal with critical situations on our own.  And how we could really benefit from having a support system.  What a joy it would be if we were all able to reach out, as he’s doing, and offer a hand.  My own dream is to have that opportunity, on just such a grand scale.

             Tonight though, here in our Burrow, Dan and I will have our Parental Worry hats on instead, as Real Life takes a front seat.  Emma and the guys from the gym are on their way to Las Vegas for an event.  She’ll be competing.  Happy, safe thoughts would be appreciated.

             And tomorrow will be yet another “adjustment” day as our Weird Week continues.   No worries, though, I’m handling it very well.  (It helps that Dan has errand-y items which need doing, so those will go on the list, and we’ll stay busy.)

             Speaking of adapting, I’ve been reading about how to flow nicely along and play politely during retrograde phases.   Sarah truly knows her shit!  (If you haven’t been to see what she’s about yet, seriously, go.)  Like this brilliant wee nugget:

“The passage of Mercury
retrograde is actually a gift from
the heavens which gives us an
opportunity to reflect, take stock,
review, and correct mistakes we
may previously have made in the
rush and whirl of everyday life.
It’s how we receive and use this
gift that matters.”

             Isn’t that the most positive and lovely way to reframe a situation which has, for far too long, been viewed as only confusing and harsh?  When we find* someone who writes (and tunes in) so lovingly, it always feels so generous and bountiful.

*Find, or are given, whatever, the end result is the same, and we need to acknowledge that blessing.

               On our card altar today I got a chance to riffle through those clippings for a creative cover-up.  I liked how it turned out so much that I’ve glued it down.  The message is, as always, very welcome, and tremendously timely.

oracle and angel cards

“Angel Of Clearing  ~

Your time of waiting and confusion will soon be over.

The Angel of Clearing is at work right now clearing your auric field.  This will pave the way for a time of renewed clarity, focus and purpose in your life.

Over the coming days you will feel the effects of this clearing as all areas of your life are brought into balance and harmony.  Give thanks to your angel for this gift and know that you deserve all the blessings coming your way.

Know also that the period of doubt, frustration, and confusion you have experienced in recent months was a necessary part of your growth, and in its own way also a blessing, for just as Nature has her changing seasons, so too does your life, which is governed by the same laws and moves in constant cycles in accordance with the Divine Will of the great Creator.

Life constantly carries us within its ebb and flow; towards the horizon  across the great ocean of life, then back to rest upon the shores or our own divinity.”

             Which reminds me, I didn’t get a chance yet today to stand in my hallway and say our March affirmation.  When we hold up OUR end of things, I can’t help but think that it probably makes the Universe’s job easier.  And really, it can’t hurt.  Also, renewed focus?  NICE!

Today’s Deck:

Angels, Gods, and Goddesses Oracle Cards by Toni Carmine Salerno, with a cover-up by Jennifer Hewiston, and me.

Today’s Mileage:

was a direct pedal up to the pool and back, 3.994 with an average speed of 9.3 MPH (third day in a row) for 25 minutes and 38 seconds.  The entire ride was dry, but the yards and streets were all rain-soaked, so was the park.

Today’s Baking:

is going to be some cookies.  Probably.  I’ve had butter (yeah, I know, but supplies are limited right now) sitting out for hours, but the house is so cold right now that it’s not softening much.

Today’s Gratuitous Cute Pet Photo:

is of Mr MixxMaxx, and his newly found favorite toy.  (There is a basket in the guest bedroom where all of this playthings live, we never know what he might drag out of there.  That green ball just dropped back into the rotation, apparently.)

dogs and balls and toys

He did NOT want to get up into the chair and pose.  What he wanted was for me to throw the damn ball.
“Jeez, Nana. Was that too much to ask?!“

             Sure, this activity might be a cliché, but hey, he’s having a LOT of fun with it.

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Accomplishments and Practicality.

Posted on October 24, 2012 | 8 Comments

             It was one of those what-direction-are-you-going-? type of card flips today.  And not much else.  Well, not much else very spiritual.  In the physical realm, there was bunches.

             For example, pool class.   Where five of us seriously kicked ass.  And running around like a crazy person (with resident four-legged-pal in tow) trying to get some emergency laundry done for J.D.  (He bought me dinner [and a brownie], with a To Go box for his dad, totally worth it.)  But wait,  let’s back up to the water movement.

             There’s a running joke amongst us select few, and today, she didn’t show up.  (No, I am NOT being mean.)  One woman is almost as good about being there as I am, except . . . . she doesn’t DO ANYTHING!  Oh hold on, yes she does.  She talks.  She talks MORE than me!  I know, difficult to believe, but oh so true.

             She is only moderately distracting as I’m shouting out our exercises, because I just yell right over the top of her.  For some others though (like a few who have hearing issues), she can derail their work-outs, and that’s annoying.  Tonight, she was nowhere to be found, so the rest of us moved our asses and really made our hour count.  It was lovely.

             Wanna know what else is lovely?  A funny little dog.  Earlier Max and I wandered some parking lots while we waited for our date to show up.  And then when we got home, we played one of his favorite games (I pretend to chase him while he drags Hedgehog or Purple Dinosaur or Pink Holiday Stocking around, sometimes burying it under pillows or bedding or assorted garments that are lying around, very often running at full speed).  So now, he’s exhausted.

tired dogs, used chairs

Princess And The Pea Grand Dog.

             One day last week our next door neighbor showed up on the porch.  He was getting some new office furniture and wanted to know if we’d like any of the old stuff.  Here’s the thing with this guy, he has REALLY nice shit!  So I ALWAYS say yes.  Remember the anniversary gift of living room couches from years ago?  (Also, ya know, I have a problem with chairs.)

             So, anyHOO, he and I drive this wheelie sitter over here from his house to mine, and when Dan gets home from work I make him drag it downstairs.  Then I take mine back from the dog.  Or so I thought.  He wouldn’t sit on the new upholstery.  WTF?!  I sat in it, when I wasn’t on my knee-stool*.  Then I moved some crap around the next day and forgot about the entire situation.

*HERE’s a link to one, if you aren’t familiar with them.  I got mine for free about 18 years ago when ANOTHER neighbor was moving.  See? A chair addiction is serious!

             Turns out, all I had to do was put some messy-ness there, and he was all over it.  Literally.  He climbed up like he was King Of The Mountain.  Fine.  At least he’s cute.  And I have my two seats back.

             On to our crooked card.  All I know at this point is that it came up NOT direct.  That was what I heard.  Let’s look at it and see if she’ll tell us more.

robin wood empress

The Empress  ~  3

             She’s a favorite, and should be.  Her fertility and compassion are  Universally known and appreciated.  She’s generous and she is All Loving.  But she’s also, once in a while, so enigmatic that she can be a bit of a challenge.

             I looked up what some others have to say about this one, and got (three times) “unraveling of involved matters” as well as some other references to the spinning wheel so clearly seen in this illustration.  Which, for me is, is kind of special.  I’ve been doing this for a very long time now, decades (lifetimes!) and yet, I still receive the gift of surprises.

             That weaving and creating symbolism is our key point right now.  The way we put together or take apart is what we need to focus on.  Are we smoothly blending our fibers?  Or are we snarling our threads and yarn to such a degree that we will have to cut the mistake out and begin all over again?

             We all create, whether as art, crafts, word arranging, or any other example on the planet.  It’s part of our lesson here as embodied creatures, we MAKE things.  We do work that MATTERS.  In the doing of it all, are we going against the grain or are we flowing with the nap?  Those are the questions we need to be addressing.

             If we have trouble with the answers, ask The Empress.  She will gladly provide the assistance we require.  And she will do it with a caring so deep that we can’t help but feel embraced and adored.

Today’s Deck:

Robin Wood Tarot

LateNight So Freaking Cute:

dressed up dogs

The text read,
“Indiana, in his famous blue raincoat.“

             I know nothing about anything inter-web-y, but I DO know that I can grab pictures off the tweeties sometimes.  So I did.

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Happiness Cubed.

Posted on November 6, 2011 | 31 Comments

Another sunny day, another fun series of adventures.  We still have a few hours left before late dinner, more entertainment could ensue, but I’m going to set up the auto-post again (fingers crossed, our luck has been fabulous so far), and then we’re going back out.

Foreign plates have not been as obvious as yesterday, but this one was great, and ya know, there.

I’ve been taking lots of pictures, and we’ve been several cool places (where I left my business cards, hi Sara and Robert, both of your shops will be featured in posts once we get home, and I’m back on my own ancient dinosaur desktop).  One place Han and Adam knew I’d want to visit, and they were right (we have a new oracle deck you guys!) and the other one I was drawn to from across the street, where I needed to buy a bell (not sure why yet, but we’ll figure it out).

Here’s our card for today, and it’s outstanding.  (Right, I thought the camera issues were solved, perhaps not, just ignore that blurry part.)

Three of Cups – Happy Dance.

Whenever this card comes up it’s a celebration and time for abundant joy.  Because cups are about emotion this one specifies the feelings we get when we experience those easy-going loving exchanges that jovial gatherings provide.  Surround ourselves now with friends and family and plain old good times.  Add food, drinks (if you are so inclined) and music, plus whoever you can grab, that’s it, instant gala.

Threes can be slightly unstable, but in this case the implications are that it won’t take an enormous amount of people to pull this off.  A few close pals, or just a small family group, will totally suffice.  Engraved invitations are SO not necessary, a quick text or e-mail will be perfect.

Happy hearts are the order of the day (or night).  Have fun, no worries, this is an absolute recipe for a good time, the easy way.  Enjoy.

And here is how we’re going to do just that when we get back.

I bought us a sticker, to put on the Wee Walnut, and (hopefully) photographed several things inside the shop.  I’ll get some shots of the cupcakes (before they are all eaten), and then let you know how they were.

 

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Water themed on a sunny day.

Posted on October 8, 2011 | 26 Comments

            My day went well, not the way I had originally planned, nor imagined it would go, but a moderately close facsimile, and perfectly lovely in the end.  I started off with doing my bike ride early, so I could have the rest of the afternoon to go someplace else.  Someplace free.  Someplace I thought would be amusing and festive and where I’d most likely meet up with Emmy.  This place.

             Before anyone asks about the Fresh Hop Festival be aware that I didn’t get over to that part of the fairgrounds.  I was GOING to but then I didn’t.  So, none of us have a clue as to what it was like.

            We’d been to the Clayfest event before, several times actually.  This year I breezed through that building in like two seconds.  Nothing new, nothing really hollering at me, nothing I hadn’t seen before, nothing I seemed to need.  Easy, I left.

           Home Show, dull.  Too many contractors I could never afford, pest management companies I don’t need (management?  Seriously, is this your best word choice?), countertop composites I couldn’t give a shit about, and mostly just the same old hot tub displays (gah, big vats of people stew) we’d seen a million times before.  I ate bad concession stand popcorn, and that (tepid, bitter, too salty, on the verge of crispy but might just any second now go stale) was outstanding.  Also, I was by my own wee self elf, so I could go as fast or as slow as I felt like.  Didn’t matter, nothing much interested me.  Except…..

            Hey, would those be awesome new rain boots that you got on sale for only ten bucks?!  Why yes, they certainly would be.  Yipee!!!   How fun are these?!  I found them in the St Vinny’s room!

            For nearly every big event held in the massive exhibit meeting facility these days our local St Vincent de Paul group sets up the most adorable scenes and vignettes in one of the annex rooms, just off the big hall.  There’s always cool things on display, and they absolutely do such a fabulous job with their presentations.  Antiques, tons of furniture, creative table settings and arrangements, vintage garments, silly outfits, groupings that are just exquisitely clever.  I spotted a perfect little upholstered chair that I REALLY wanted.  Sadly, even though it fit me like it had been HAND CRAFTED FOR MY exact ass, it was just too expensive. 

             These boots, however, were not.  And wow, they fit so well, too.  (Wanna see ‘em again?  Of course you do.)

            I have been trying to find rain-worthy foot wear for years and just keep missing the mark.  (Hanna has a great pair that I ordered last year and ended up giving to her because they were a smidge too small.)  Today it was clear and warm and delightfully moisture free, so of course I wore these ridiculous boots all over the place.  Like a complete dork, there I was, clomping along, and not even caring.

             Empress couldn’t join me after all, so I went to see her and Max instead.  A much better way to enjoy my grand-dog.  I’ve missed him so much!  Look, he’s too darling for words.

!!!

            Oh and he missed his Nana too.  He was very excited to see me, and my new boots.  Although he was quite concerned when I asked Em to help me get them off.  My puffy hooves caused them to form fit in such a snug way that I knew it would be some exhausting work extricating my feet from them.  (Also a good thing I went to their place, the better to peel me out of my new stompers in private.)

            In this picture you can see how diligent and attentive our Maximum dog is being.  There was a squirrel near by, and even though Emma enjoyed its antics, Max and I were annoyed and irritated.  We don’t love them, they are far too rodent-y for the two of us.

            See?  A pretty succesful and entertaining day.  Let’s continue that way as we look at what our daily draw says.   This card is a message from the Dolphins & Mermaids, one that I hope will be just as positive as my afternoon was.

 ”Father Healing  ~ 

Your personal power increases as you give any father-related issues to Heaven.

This card shows you that you still have some father issues left to heal.  The healing does not need to take a lot of time – it simply requires your willingness to be free of any old anger, grief, or fear related to a male parent.

Universal energies are either male or female.  Male energy is expansive and giving.  Female energy is nurturing and receptive.  If we are unhealed with respect to our father, or father figures, the Universe seems to be ungenerous.  If we are unhealed toward our mother, or mother figures, we won’t accept the gifts the Universe offers us.

The more you focus on the spiritual truth of your father (or another in your life with male energy), the more your heart will be receptive to the Universe’s continuous and all-encompassing giving.  Accept your rightful bounty, and open your arms to your Divine inheritance.  Affirm: ‘I now focus on the love that is the spiritual truth of my father, and I hereby balance any karma between us.  I now let go of everything but the love and the lessons of my relationship with my father.’”

             Emmy and I talked a little about this today.  Neither of us is sure, yet, what it means to us personally, but we both agreed that it is certainly an interesting one.   I love this entire deck, Doreen-isms or no, every sign and affirmation we have received from it has been extremely necessary and so helpful.

            Ack, in the excitement I almost forgot to mention the one foreign license plate I came across: Michigan.  And the wonderfully crafty artist woman I saw standing in front of her painting easel right by a busy intersection.  She was almost cartoonish in her stance and accoutrements  But hey, she was making art, so good for her!

LateNight Rant:  I know this is preachin’ to the choir here, but please make sure that you guys all read Fokker’s blog today, and then share it around.  (Really, PLEASE do this.)  Thanks, from all of us who actually care about the planet and this fucked up country we live in.  (That would be America, for those of you in foreign lands, I’m sure yours are lovely, and not packed full idiotic and brainless asshats like ours is.)

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