Memories..

I am in the process of scanning a bunch of pictures for a holiday project, I am remembering so many things from the times the pictures were taken and the ages of us kids (including my step siblings)

it got me thinking about all the little things we say and do over the years. How we become one large family.
It was over 15 years ago I knew my parents were not ment to be. It was Christmas time that my mom finally told him she had reached the end of her rope. For several years I dreaded this time of year, it had been my favorite before that. but that was a black cloud. Then I learned a few things. I gained a step mom who I call Mama, and saw how hard it was for her. Back then I was not mean to be mean, but I was mean to her in other ways, it took me years to see that.
Now when I talk to my mom I see that she has always cared about my dad but not in a romantic way. she knew that her leaving him would be a good thing for him. she was right.
Mama brings out a side of dad I had never seen, they act like a couple should..

I got a chance to really see them in action this month. My dad is in the hospital and Mama is by his side all day every day!
I have seen her argue with doctors and nurses to get him the care he needs and I have seen her lovingly try to help anyway she can.
I remembered why we are a family, because we love each other and never give up.
Seeing Mama take care of dad is a sight I never thought about, and in years past I would have been jealous, as that was always my role. but this time I am not and I am glad she is there to do it. I wish I could be a bigger help to her.

I am glad that I have mama in my life, not only is my dad happier then I ever remember him being in the years before she came around, but I gained 4 siblings that I love very much!

Living naturally... or trying to

Our life is crazy. I think we have mentioned this before. Some people think we make things harder on ourselves by doing so much by hand and from scratch. But we know the benefits of doing that. We try to treat illness and injury naturally. The food we eat tastes so good because we take the time to season it with fresh herbs. Our garden takes time to manage but the food and herbs that come from that save us money at the store and taste like different food. After eating home grown food the stuff bought at the grocery store tastes like cardboard.
We have been asked where we get all our information and our knowledge. That is a hard question to answer. Our cooking knowledge comes from many hours in the kitchen and experimenting with different herbs and spices. Some of it has been handed down through the family. Our health knowledge comes largely from the same sources. Although research from various sources has been done. Not that we could site any sources at this point. The biggest part of it is from folk lore, something we have learned not to discount. Old wives tales usually have some basis. Its just a matter of sifting fact from fiction.
One of our go to herbs is ginger. There are so many uses for ginger that its hard to narrow down what to use it for. We put it in most of our cooking because its good for the whole digestive system. Then there is garlic, natures antibiotic. We put that in a lot of our cooking too. Those go on and on. The herbs and spice that we use to season dishes usually have a purpose other than seasoning.
We also use some of them separately just for healing. Comfry is the one that comes to mind for that. Its best not to ingest comfry. But a poultice or salve of comfry works wonders for broken bones and strained muscles.

holiday specials

We have been so busy!  This is the season for local craft fairs and that is keeping us on our toes. But it is also lots of fun because we get to find out what kinds of things people want and what we can do to make more items that sell better. Last year Lisa made some pumpkin bags and we sold all 4 in one day last month (while taking orders for 2 others, that were a little different) so we started talking about different types of bags we could make.  2 are loosely based on a pattern, those are the pumpkin and monster, the snowman was a request and the cat was an idea we had.  And we are working on the design of a turkey bag this week, and a bunny one for spring Easter/ ostara baskets.
Here are some pictures of the bags. The cat bag has reflective yarn for the eyes. A touch we want to work into all the bags for Halloween safety by next year.

our insane, crazy, normal life

Yes my life is insane and busy and crazy and no, I wouldn't have it any other way. There are times when I think it would be nice to slow down a little bit. You know, when I don't have a to do list that rivals War and Peace in length. But then I look at what I have, my family, my friends, my two businesses, and I know it will never happen. I love my life and even though its insane at times I wouldn't trade any part of it.

Examining the power of a gift

The last few weeks have been full of all kinds of things around here and one is some legal actions that are being dealt with. To combat the negative energy and the over all sadness that comes with that. Lisa and I employed the power of the homemade gift.
We put careful thought into all parts of this gift and it all has power and meaning.

Each of the charms was picked with the recipient in mind, She is the Queen of our "family" so the crown. A Key (many meanings here) she holds the key to her man's heart, there is a door she will find it, she is the woman of the house, and again the crown on top for her role. The last is a shamrock, 4 leaf clover is always good luck, but also is a sly token to the old ways that we follow. Even to clasp being a heart was for a reason, so she knows she is in our hearts at all times.
Each stone is there for a reason, protection, health, justice, better communication (due to reasons beyond her control, she has not had much communication with her man), strength, and clearness of thought... several stones are also gifts from other people those stones are fully charged and cleansed, that adds even more power to them.
After we finished making it we took it out to the fire and used smoke to cleanse and purify it, while asking for specific intentions to be clear, and for the stones to be free to work as they should with help from above.
Wisdom, Justice, and Comfort were some of the things we asked for. While we give this gift tomorrow (today when this is published) may the recipient know every time she sees it and wears it, that we have her back, and she is family.

The Power of Handmade

There is a special power in making something by hand. The maker always puts a little bit of themself in whatever they are making. The people that understand this use it to increase the power of the objects they make. Most of the time people use it passively. They know its there but don't have a specific purpose in mind when they make something. But once in a while something comes up that needs an extra boost of power.
The prayer shawl movement has taken this to heart. The person making the shawl prays for healing or comfort or whatever it is that the recepiant needs while they work on the shawl. It can be taken to another level if the maker understands the power they are using. Including symbols that represent the wanted outcome or the people involved can add to the power.

A heart to show the person is loved, a teddy bear to show a child is cared for, flowers to show caring, or more personal things like a name or a personal symbol all can add an extra layer of power.
For example, I am working on a project to bring a little girl home. Friends and I are make a blanket for her. We are crocheting and knitting squares that will be put together in a blanket when we have enough. The first square done was a heart.

We are including symbols for all the people involved. There are symbols for what we believe in and symbols for the little girl we want to come home. Every stitch in the blanket is made with the intention to bring the girl home. I have no doubt in my mind that this little girl will come back home.
With any project of this kind, intention is very important. Good intentions bring good results. Bad intentions bring worse results. And always remember, everything comes back on the maker, good or bad.

Update on the Project...

We have been working on the squares and we have also been teaching others to make them :) so busy we have been... but we have more done and try to work on them a little every day.

Sun Wheel

World Tree

 This one and the blue/gray one are 2 different stitches but the pictures make it hard to see the textural differences.

This has a neat lace pattern in it :)
and the purple one has a flower motif .

 This has several names, I will call it the celtic knot here














The last 2 are personal symbols or bind runes for people (more on why later) as the next post planned is about the power of something handmade. Each of these people have had a hand in making it in some way also, even if they have not made a square, they will be helping with the blocking and layout (or in the case of the little ones making more work for us, but trying to help :)

Saga's

Jesse's