Yule in 4 Part Harmony

Part 1 Counting Blessings

As 2013 comes to a close, I have been counting my blessings. And my blessings are comprised of a long list of names etched delicately and with a flowing hand on my heart like the engraving of words on the ring from lotr.  They shine in my mind with equal intensity. Some are chiseled deeper than others.. mom, dad, brother, husband, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, pets, life long friends, dear teachers and coaches the like. Older names, ancient ancestors for who without I would not be here yet have had their names lost in time and worn smooth. These folks might not be known by an etch but they offer yet a glowing golden burnished and shiny foundation on which the newer names have been placed. Other names are etched with a lighter hand... neighbors, new friends and business associates. And even lighter still are marks to indicate those that have merely passed through but have made their mark.. like the 3 guys who each stopped to help push sticky pistons car home (in the saga of the car, he was able to repair his last damage but lost the engine somewhere just before the freeway exit on Christmas eve. He was able to coast a ways before stopping. After 2 days of intermittent pushing, it now sits truly dead in the driveway.) Anyway.. those 3 guys, the older grandfatherly fellow I shared a smile and a nod with while at the beach yesterday, and nameless others who I am thankful for in such minor but major ways.

Accompanying the names written on my heart are encrusted my most precious of gems

May they never unnecessarily lose their sparkle 

and if they should lose it they may they have the tools to recover it!

That and much much more I wish for them. My blessings and prayers for them fill volumes.  

Looking at and spending time counting these names and the moments with these individuals takes up the better part of this season and in doing so I realize how very blessed I really am. I have wealth beyond measure. And I am truly grateful. Happy New Year to you all!! May your year be filled with much Joy and Warmth! May your bellys stay full and your cup far from empty! May you have a roof over your head! May pockets bulge (From money of course, what were you thinking? But hey, if you need some of that, may you get it too!). May you be Happy, healthy and wise!

Part 2 Recognizing Accomplishments

There were not a lot of little things but a couple of  bigger things that need to be recognized as our accomplishments for the year. First off, our biggest accomplishment is that we started homeschooling last March. This has been an accomplishment for us all on many levels. It requires a lot to make the children effective home learners and we have all adapted marvelously. A second accomplishment is making sure to fill in our leisure time productively with the establishment of our Viking scout troop. Its still a work in progress but if nothing else it gets us out hiking and learning about our local environment. I planned and executed a successful  HS classes reunion with the help of a small handful. Not a soul left without a smile. I planned and executed a successful Surfrider Annual party with the help of a small handful. We made members and money! We joined the gym and have gotten more fit. Willow got braces. Greg was elected to the Chamber of Commerce. The kids completed swim lessons  tennis classes and got a chance to be jr. veterinarians. It was a successful year all around. Greg caught and truly rode his first real wave and didn't get any tickets! Gregs year at work was solid. I raise my glass to all this and all the small little things that might have gone unrecognized. 

Part 3 Oaths and Resolutions

One of the most important things about  about Yule is that this is truly a time of deep reflection and silent revere. It is a time of counting and giving thanks for our blessings. And a time for giving gifts to express that thanks. It is also a time of taking stalk of where you are analyzing how you got there and making plans for the future. It is a time of renewal and of recharging of batteries. Its a time of making commitments. Its time to witness the birth of a new year. This and every year, I greet the return of the sun and the challenges that lie ahead with the following:

• Bravery and Courage: I willingly face my fate. 
• Truthfulness and Honesty: I will do my best to speak from both head and heart. 
• Honor: I will speak true and uphold my word. 
• Loyalty: I will remain loyal and always act in good faith to family and friends. 
• Self Discipline: I will use my emotions as tools rather than allow them to lead me wildly. 
• Hospitality: I will treat others with respect and act for the good of my collective community. 
• Industriousness: I will work hard to add value to whatever I am involved in. 
• Personal Responsibility: I claim personal responsibility for all my choices and my deeds. I accept that the consequences of these deeds have a ripple effect and effect more than just me. I accept that this is also my responsibility. 
• Perseverance: With continued tenacity will I forge my path.

And on this foundation, the plan for the year is to at least accomplish the following:

• plan to get out a Valentines Day Mix
• Attend at least one Asatru gathering
• Graduating Hummingbird from 9th grade and seeing her entrance into H.S.
• Get Garden growing and Chickens going
• A year of Hockey, Tennis and Swimming for the kids as well as a chance to try their hands at children's theater. 
• Get back to Surfing 
• Get back to artistic/writing pursuits
• Continue going to the gym
• Finish the school year with flying colors and get off the ground for the next year.
• Help mom build her business
• Continue with Viking Scouts
• Continue with Surfrider
• Dance more and have more music 
• Greg will maintain his course at the office

That sounds like enough to commit to or recommit to.

Part 4: Celebration And Travel

This year we remained here for Christmas but headed North to the homeland over New Years. It was far from the trip we expected. Things shifted every which way from last minute change in our first nights lodging to, failing to meet with grandparents due to illness, missing other connections for similar reasons and mom falling sick on our final day. But what remained was perfect! A lengthy visit with the cousins, A long catching up over wine with a very dear friend D., Hitting the streets of Reno and dancing with friends and strangers alike, snowball fights, cousins, the hobbit, special gifts., visiting with mom (before the flu struck her) grandparents and aunt  and the trying of her homemade Novella. A most wonderful time was had! Picts can be viewed by clicking HERE. (Click it. Go on. Click it. You know you want to!) Next time I need pictures of D!

And that just about concludes the Yule Season. A few more little things to do and I am ready to meet the year ahead.  Then I need to put away a few things.. decorations.. and its back to business and  mix planning!! I need to come up with a theme!! Before my gears go off on that tangents let me just say...

 Love You!! 

swimming in the luxuries of home

ahhh... vacation. Ive grown lazy and been sleeping in until 10. With the rain, we have spent our weekend indoors watching movies and lounging. The Yule tide lads have begun making thier appearances and have aided us in these idle pursuits with gifts of blankets and a board game called CAMP. Its all about forest and animal facts. Did you know a group of unicorn is called.. a blessing? I think that was a joke but maybe not. Did you know a group of owls is called a parliament (wha?) That one I know is true. The lads also delivered an air pistol. They have not broken anything this year (We have kept them well fed) though they have made quite a bit of noise every night.

These last few days, I have also made it a point of getting to the beach every day. If for nothing but taking a look see. I can't begin to say how much I miss my daily sojourns to the seaside. My toes in the sand, the roar of crashing waves rumbling up through shoeless feet, body trembles, heart lifts,  mind drifts. mmmmmm.. I need to do this more often.

One one of these trips to the ocean I had Splash along. We were walking down this back road. off to the side, a yard full of dogs yapping wildly as they are prone to do. Another couple walking a dog. Tiny white teacup of a thing. Splash, reminded of flounder, wanted to play and in attempting to greet the other dog slipped out of his collar. The woman was panicked and did nothing but stand there and scream.  I apologized and leashed Splash with no problem but the woman was mortified despite the fact that her pup was in no way harmed just startled. She glared at me as if to say "You and your dog are monsters! The cops should lock you up for scaring fefe so!"  I wish I could have explained why splash acted as he did and why she needed to calm down but they had turned and were walking quickly away stabbing glares shot over shoulder to try and shame/blame me. My big dog was in no way going to devour her little dog despite her thoughts to the contrary. Her response is funny but human. We have no way of understanding why things happen that are outside of our control yet we make assumptions as to the cause and we lay blame when the reality is there is none to lay. As horrified as her face/stance and demeanor indicated, this woman will be pissed way into next week. And for what? One friendly dog became a little too friendly. Hardly anything to ruin your vacation over.

Recently sticky pistons left for a week for work during which time he ran out of some important meds. His prescription was also up so he was off of them for a few days. This is not a pleasant experience however when he went in for a check up he indicated that he wished to see if he could get off of them. Who wants to be a slave to a bottle? The dr. cut back his dose in half. This has been interesting. Because of his previous withdraw his body took to the 1/2 dose quickly. His discomfort abated. This has allowed him to have a good view of how the medication works. On the lower dosage his mind is racing. His senses are hyperactive. He is overloaded with stimulation. Overloading to the point of almost going haywire. And this is at half a dose. Without the meds at all the overactive data sensory imputs stimulation is just to much for the boy to handle. Overestimation equals angst and irritation.. gives him an itchy trigger finger. His current dose is just enough to stave off  most of the annoyance but he still fills completely overwhelmed with information. So much so he is going to go back to his regular dosage. Fascinating how our brain chemistry functions.

What else? Not to much. Christmas is upon us. As my mom came here for Thanksgiving, she was headed to my brothers for this holiday and so this is our first Christmas at home in I don't know how long. Makes the season feel a little incomplete.. but a lot more peaceful! I wish her and my family in Washington the best.

New foods! My CSA has been bringing beets and chard and leeks and bok choy. Ive been getting to make all sorts of new dishes... most of them pretty good!!

All My Love... Mom!

Here Comes the Sun!.. or.. Yule, what is it?

Many modern scholars, anthropologists, and historians indicate that mid winter or Winter Solstice celebrations date back to at least 2400 BCE and have been an important part in indigenous European traditions and cultures since that at least that time. (They speculate such traditions reach far deeper in time based on root word linguistics and such) These traditions differed slightly from location to location but had common characteristics. The reconstruction of the native ancestral faith the celebration known as Yule  (it is unlikely that such celebrations were called by this name in earlier times) is really a culmination of traditions and practices from many different branches of the same ancient tree.

I consider Yule Tide  the most important Holiday within our faith. It is a time of reflection and connection. Many of the customs that I grew up with celebrating Christmas actually began as winter solstice rites (Yule trees, caroling, Yule logs, mistletoe, and others). Perhaps most the most important aspect of this seasonal celebration has to do with the importance of bonding with family. During this 12 day period, we honor many Gods and Goddesses. In our faith we believe that they, as well as the spirits of the earth and of our ancestors all join us for these celebrations.   Together we form the spirit of our future generations and so they too are also with us.

The first night of Yule and the last night are the most important ones to me and the ones I will talk about specifically although each night has its own significance and activities.

The first  celebration of Yule is Mothers Night. This is a night that is sacred to the Ancestral Mothers. The line of women that stretch from the first woman to the last and includes Mother Earth. We recognize women of strength and courage. We recognize those who bear life. Mothers Night happens the night before the solstice. This is the time a new year is born. The sun is renewed and long winter nights begin to grow longer. Celebrations this night center around the lady of the house symbolically cleaning  and seasonally decorating the home. She invites both the living and the dead to join the party and bestows blessings and gifts upon family and friends. Earlier tonight I opened the house to neighbors provided hot drinks and gave out homemade cold remedies. Later the  family through the yule log on the fire and I will tend the flame until the sun comes up. A nightlong vigil. A time to connect to the spirit of the mothers and offer  joint blessings for our future.

During the night we will be visited by the Yule Tide Lads. These little guys are an adopted Icelandic custom. They are mischievous elves that bring gifts in exchange for food and shelter. They tear through the house, throw food out of the cupboards and make a racket while they are here. We never know what they are going to break. They are a little chaotic but we welcome them anyway. So over twelve days each night they bring a gift. Like a board game or clothes or something needed.

Anyway, that is a quick sum up. Ill tell about new years when we get to it.

Hail the Mothers! Much love to you mom!!

Summertime rolls...

... through my mind like a hot trade wind caught up in my sails.. like long tubular swells cresting off white hot sandy beaches. Daydreams that I have been crowding out now find their way behind my brow. School comes to  a break just as I turn my eye to the horizon and welcome the sun and all the possibilities of the new year.

Its Yule.

I say that.. announce that we are celebrating Yule..  to me it is enough. I understand what I mean by it but most people look at me puzzled and some downright quizzical.. A very rare few, the young or teachers mostly, ask me,  "What does that mean?"  I usually can't answer it. Not because I don't understand enough to explain but this explanation requires more of a lecture than any quick pat answer. It requires thought and heart. And so this year when asked .. what is Yule?.. I simply said Ill explain on my blog. And I will. Tonight is Mothers Night. The first night of our 12 night long celebration. Ill be up all night and will put my my efforts to explanations  later on. For now I have kids to baby sit, a Yule Log to make, cookies to make, a fire to get crackin, and a door to throw open to  neighbors and friends to help us invite the spirit of the season in this evening.

Ive been buried under a lot of work but have managed to get it all done, as such I have not posted about the Surfrider Party. Whew. It was a lot of work. But it was a success. Not overwhelmingly but all told. I found some great volunteers. We turned a small profit. We gained 27 members. There were maybe 75 people there. Honored Alison as Volunteer of the Year. A step up from last year. Here are some pics:

The Blurry Beer Crew .. kept everyone well lubricated.

The DJ.. Rocked the House!

The Spread

Volunteer of the Year!!

X. One of our Happy Hostesses!

Our Opening Act!

kitchen and beach crew

Ending the Night on a great note!

There are tons of party pics
but that gives you a quick behind the scenes. Link to the lot
to come. Once I post up. Now back to work!

How the motor hums..

As we quickly approach the Fundraiser Event, I begin to ease back. Still at high speed but no longer needing to gain momentum. Ill be coasting down the other side of this mountain in no time. Like a bullet. To do list fall off the list one by one. Almost all that remains to be done is the execution. And I play hostess well.

Speaking of playing hostess, Monday night some Kindred came through from Grande Rapids. The Howards share our faith and were some of the first people we raised a horn with when we lived in that hot awful valley. Those days are long gone but despite our various and distant lives we have kept in loose contact. Enough to know our values and world views remain generally in sync as well as generally knowing they are healthy and well. As luck would have it the Howards returned to the valley and decided to visit the aquarium and took us up on our open door policy. The father is a leather worker who produces pieces which show significant amounts of artistry. The mother is a midwife and is expecting her fourth in April or so. Their three children range in age from 2 to 8 and played together with ours as well as distant cousins being brought together for a family reunion. The Howard's children do not have the ability to play in their front yard at their home as the children have been approached for drug deals while out front before. The enjoyed the freedom. Mom enjoyed the use of a real bed and found herself drifting off heavily and quickly. All told there was ax throwing, Dr. Who watching and conversation ranging from all levels of homesteading to the failings of sex education and our culture in the empowerment of women and other vaginal based topics. And there was feasting! From what I had lying around, I whipped up butternut squash soup, spaghetti, krispy kale, and apple crisp for dinner. It was a pleasure to open out house to such good folk.

Prior to company, the weekend was super active. Greg returned Friday from a week in Seattle. We slid into Saturday with me disappearing for a great many hours to flyer the entire length of coast from Zumbdowski beach in Moss to Marina Dunes with news of the upcoming party. Then the family split up 2x2 to attend various birthday parties. Little Tree Climber and I found ourselves taking off for Watsonville for a online school mate who moved to the US when she was almost two from Russia. Her parents are both Scientists. The mom is involved in studying holistic methods of curing cancer. We discussed how she is running into opposition from the pharmaceutical juggernauts. The father is involved in research at MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquatic Research Institute) It was pleasant discussing their work as well as finding commonalities which we could relate on the same footing. It turns out that they are Zena fans. So much so that they go to the conventions in LA yearly.

After that Little Tree Climber and I ran off to Salinas to watch a youth filled production of "The best Christmas Pagent Ever" put on by a childrens theater. The only one I know of in our area. The play was supurb! I am aiming to put the kids into some acting around the beginning of next school year.

P.S. Mom... In your mendery .. contact theater groups for costume work.

Whereas Saturday brought fevered and flavored activity, Sunday brought nothing but trouble. Sticky pistons applied a little to much elbow grease to some work he was doing on the  car and .. well.. basically tore part of the engine off with his bare hands. How bad the damage is and what needs to happen to correct it is as yet unknown but it doesn't look good. Maybe he should not be called sticky pistons but rather "Ratchet the Hatchet"

As if that wasn't enough, the  kitty knocked the kids laptop off a ledge and did a number to it... 2 weeks after the warranty expired. This is a bit of a bother with regard to school as one might imagine. We are working our way through finding a solution but even if I replace the laptop I am running into another challenge. Our Internet connection has begun locking out the number of devices we can connect to it at any one time thus limiting our ability to function. That issue too will have to wait until Winter break to be addressed. 5 more days of school!! Then we are celebrating Yule. School is out on the first day of our celebrations. Once school is done I will be prepping for all that.

Speaking of technology, my son just got his first email account. He has taken to it far more aggressively than his sister. Hes pursued addresses for everyone he knows and utilizes the chat function often.. Im not complaining.

10:25 AM Son: i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:} <3 span="span">

10:26 AM me: And I love you!! <3 span="span">

10:28 AM Son: :>}

This is rainbow war paint! And with that I return to the work at hand! 

seeing the light..

Last night I was feeling rather down, the flu playing havoc on my body and a lack of sleep and energy not to mention the weight of duty bearing down.  All of this leading me to the great existential question “ do all the things I do in an attempt to make the world better really amount to anything? “  Ultimately I came to the final conclusion that maybe not (On the whole, Humanity is Fu$#ed  up) but I home school and I volunteer and I do what I do for others and the world because I must follow my heart.  Always.  Otherwise apathy wins and we all lose.  

This morning when I got up and began my usual wake up routine.  I'm a wordy sort.. well on paper anyway..  and so part of my routine it to check my word of the day ap.  as well as comb through the new words listed in a slang dictionary for fun words to spice up my vocabulary. Not that I usually find any, most are not words Id use in polite company.  Anyway, in my perusal I found the following definition which, oddly enough, was almost perfectly suited to my nocturnal reflections and warmed up my mood considerably.

Love

The meaning of life and reason for everything because there can be no benefit (no significant purpose) where there is nothing to exist for. Often confused for the feelings that arouse it, love only exists when it actually does something, and can only be as deep as the sacrifice it makes. It is better than the feelings and commitment because those things can die, but actually loving a person means choosing them anyway, which will always leave a base for the feelings and commitment to return. Love is not to be confused with: loneliness - a need to be validated by someone else, lust - a strong passion for sexual release, pride - a self prioritizing and self justifying ego, jealousy - wanting to control another person or thing, or, feeling good, because warm, fuzzy feelings can come from drinking alcohol and broken families know alcohol is definitely not love. Love wants what is best, and so, it does what is best for someone, which often keeps it left out of most marriages because most people will only marry a person who gives them what they want rather than someone who does what is best for them. There is a fine line between love and hate because the only difference between love and hate are the sides on which they stand; "To love good is to hate evil." In the end, love never fails; it is the basis for everything we do and all of our reasons. Love wins.

"I did not scold him for his mistake because I love my son more than the things he breaks."

"Greater love has none than this, that he lay down his life for his friend."

"Why do I spend time with my kids? I love them, that is why."

Thanks for calling the Food Network Hotline. Billing is nine-ninety-five for each sixty-second period. To accept, say "crème fraîche."

I've never had Creme Fraiche before. Come to think of it I have never had a 7 course meal  before (have I? nothing comes directly to mind)... let alone one that was entirely vegetarian... at least not before this past weekend that is. Check the menu.

All ingredients fresh and local. The chef arriving from Big Sur to "pop in" and create a dinner at Happy Girl Kitchen... a local lunch diner which provides local organic and fresh vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian soups sandwiches and baked goods as well as canned and pickled items for retail sale. Bread and pickeled veggies didn't make the menu but were served as well ..hence the 7 courses.  The food, which just kept rolling right out, was not overly seasoned. The natural flavors of the veg's were paired well with each other and allowed to mingle in ways on my tongue that were subtle and balanced. I will admit that it did not cater to my spicy curry loving palate but it did not offend it either. And I was pleasantly surprised with each and every bite. 

Sticky Pistons and I did not dine alone. Making the evening even more enjoyable was the company of three brand new friends and one newish but already dear friend.. the lovely and darling d. who I have worked with at Surfrider for almost a year but whom Sticky Pistons has only crossed paths with on rare occasion.  It was a seasonal celebration of the winter harvest and a moment of community and thanksgiving. Good times!

In other news...

It has been raining and pouring but we have not let that get us down. We have been singing in the rain and making retractable headed turtles out of legos. 

As I was going through my pics I stumbled on this one which didn't make the thanksgiving day upload... Had to share.

Other events and going on.. Earlier last week the kids and I joined Sticky Pistons and Mark, an old business aquaintence  of his for dinner at Roys on 17 mile drive. This is one of the most upscale resorts on the peninsula and the kids were dressed in their best the minute they rolled out of bed in anticipation of the fine dining experience. Of course the service was wonderful and the food superb.  Marks company however could make even the modest meal be well enjoyed. Mark has known Sticky  from the time he worked at Kraft. He is a sales rep/service tech for some of the industrial equipment that is standard in many manufacturing plants and he has watched Greg rise through the ranks and come into his own. They have maintained a friendly, mutually respectful and yet professional working relationship through it all  Mark has taken the family to dinner on a number of occasions when he passes through and so has become a friend of the family's as well. 

And yet in other arenas.. I miss Hockey! But what can you do?! Perhaps its time to get my little dude back in the game. Yesterday he mentioned to me (on his own) that he wants to go back. None of the other sports we have tried have really spoken to him although he does like our times at the pool. Anyway,  Ill need to get him new gear as he sure has grown since he first started out on blades. He is going to be a big man. 

The week ahead looks to be chalk full of work and the fighting off of sniffles. And so it begins! 

Love you Mom!