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Garden prepping

29/3/2015

It’s the time of year to start thinking about gardens. I have two new four shelf greenhouses that at least one is going to be used as a vertical planter holder instead of greenhouse. I will have to do some modifications to it, however; they just are not strong enough to hold my potted mint plants in their current structural format. I know this because one of the potted mint plants bent the center pole on the bottom rack. I’m thinking some pieces of plywood cut to fit over the top of the shelving sections will do it.
And speaking of mint plants—I’m sure those of you that remember my gardening posts from last year where I talked about having regular mint, pineapple mint, chocolate mint and lemon mint plants. Well, I have added spearmint, peppermint and an apple mint plant to my collection. I am so excited to try these ones for cooking. I did learn about another mint plant that I want to get as well. Its name: Cat Mint. Yes, you read that correct catmint. Not to be confused with catnip. Cat Mint is very ornamental in gardens and can be used in cooking and teas just as the other mint plants are and will not attract kitties like the catnip will. To learn more about catmint click HERE.
Today was spent cleaning up the strawberry plants by removing all the old dead leaves and stalks that I leave for insulation during the winter months. Soon I will be prepping an area for planting my Viking purple potatoes and the rainbow carrots that we got too. I’m going to see about converting an old small plastic trashcan into a potato barrel. My wonderful husband has said that he will help me with doing that.

Peppermint

Apple Mint

Spearmint

Catmint in bloom

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Ostara, Puppies and Taekwondo

22/3/2015

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On Friday our puppy Tala turned one. She is now a whole 58.6 pounds of furry cuddling power. Yes, she is an Ostara puppy, which reminds me… Happy Ostara everyone! I love the start of Spring! I’ve already gotten my Viking Purple potatoes to plant out in my garden for the year. There is nothing like getting fresh veggies and herbs from one’s own garden when cooking.
Friday March 20th was also the International Day of Happiness. I only just learned about that on Friday. It was brought into being back in 2012. Getting back to topic, Ostara is the celebration of the return of Spring, new life and new beginnings. It is appropriate that this is Tala’s birthday as she was a new beginning for me. My husband got her for us to help ease the loss of my beloved Ember; whom I still gravely miss. Tala has helped ease that pain and stopped the spiral of depression that was starting to occur after Ember left this world.
Our lives are greatly enhanced by having Tala in it, not only our lives but that of our other dog Bridhe. We had already witnessed the change in her behavior years ago when she had become an only dog and we did not want her to go through that yet again—another reason for our having gotten Tala. The two girls adore each other and both cry if one is taken some where without the other.
Yesterday my husband had a Taekwondo Tournament in Oak Harbor. I am so very proud of him! He has obtained his second degree black belt! The fun part of yesterday was watching how much fun he had sparring with other black belts that are less than half his age. Yes you read that correctly. My wonderful Robert just turned 49 earlier this month and the three young men he went up against in sparring were 16, 17 and 24 years old. Now before you go thinking it isn’t fair for a man his age to spar a kid of 16 or 17 let me say this. Both the teenagers were bigger than my husband and bigger than the 24 year old. All four of these guys are 1st or 2nd degree black belts within the Hwa-Rang Federation of Taekwondo.
With that being clarified, it made my heart sing to see my husband still bouncing on his toes at the end of the match with the 16 year old who was puffing away for air. It was the same with the 17 year old though not as greatly noticeable. Robert won both of those matches but the one against the 17 year old was for the third place position. The one match that he lost was to the 24 year old and that was by the skin of his teeth that he lost. But hey, Keenan is a National Champion and just less than half of Robert’s age! He is also a very sweet young man that Robert loves to spar with they both enjoy battling each other and have great respect for each other and the sport.
Well I best be off have a ton of things to do before we head out to see friends at Lake Tyee today. Must dig out those Xmas presents for the nephews that we hang onto until we see them normally around this time of the year. Plus I think I’m going to make some little individual cheesecakes to take out there with us for everyone to enjoy as well.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend and that the coming spring brings everyone joy and sweet new beginnings.
Blessed Be everyone.

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Exploring Human Design:

8/3/2015

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Exploring Human Design:
Astrology for a New Paradigm
By Janet Hickox

Janet Hickox is an Astrologer, Human Design Coach, and Host of Living Astrology TV on the Empower YOU TV. She specializes in readings that empower individuals to live their authentic lives. Request a free Human Design chart by going to her website at www.living-astrology.com. She can be reached at (360) 399-1122.

I love astrology! There is no doubt in my mind that I was destined to become an astrologer. I am also certain that I was designed to share with the world new, exciting and eye-opening astrological concepts in an easy to understand, practical and useful way. Such is the purpose I have in mind today. I am speaking to you from a certainty that comes from having discovered my authentic self, Truth, and purpose through an astrology called, Human Design.
Human Design is the synthesis of 4 Ancient Wisdom Traditions and 2 Sciences – the Chinese I’Ching, Jewish Kabbalah, Hindu Chakra system, Western Astrology and Quantum Physics and Human Genetic Coding. Making it even more mystical and magical is the fact that the entire system was transmitted to Robert Alan Krakower through a spiritual experience he had in Ibiza, Spain during the Harmonic Convergence in January 1987. A voice told Robert that this system – Human Design – was crucial to helping people on the planet make vital shifts in consciousness for the evolution of humanity. He spent the next 25 years traveling the world teaching and developing Human Design until his death in 2011.
Human Design is one of the most important tools we have to move us forward into these new paradigm times. First and foremost, Human Design teaches us to LOVE ourselves by learning the Truth of who we are designed to be and how we can live our authentic life and destiny, serving to improve our self-worth and self-esteem. Human Design shows us how to act with awareness, deliberation and courage according to our own personal Type, and by doing so we learn to honor our energy, our feelings and emotions. Empowering each of us to, “Know Thyself,” allows us to find a way to love and accept others as well. My Human Design teacher, Karen Curry wrote in her book Understanding Human Design, The New Science of Astrology: Discover Who You Really Are (Hierophant Publishing, 2013), “Human Design is not about changing yourself. It simply gives you the tools to journey back to a deeper understanding of your gifts, your wisdom, your drive, and your vulnerabilities, which can set you free from old, self-defeating patterns of thinking and the judgment of others. It gives you a new perspective so you can see the beauty and magnificence of who you truly are.” My own personal experience with Human Design has opened me up to a sound decision-making strategy based on who I am designed to be, which has brought me into alignment with my true nature. Living out my True self has made my life easier and empowered me to pursue my passions.
Human Design is complex, yet there are three key pieces that are easy to understand and can have a profound positive effect for each person. Let’s take a closer look. Unlike Western Astrology’s circular chart depicting planet placements by degrees of signs, Human Design is made up of three component parts, The Birth Chart, Body Graph and Keynotes.
The Body Graph is comprised of 9 Energy Centers that resemble the Hindu Chakra system. It is from these centers that your Type emerges based on what centers are defined (colored) or undefined (white). Within each Energy Center are numbers, which we call Gates. They are related to the 64 Hexagrams of the I’Ching. These gates form connections between the Energy Centers and further define an individual’s personality characteristics. When the Gates between Energy Centers are connected they form Channels. The interconnected channels or their lack of being interconnected further help define your Type.
The Keynotes section of your Human Design chart shows the key information gleaned from your Body Graph: Type (which includes your Life Theme and Strategy), Profile- Incarnation Cross and Inner Authority. From this information alone a Human Design astrologer can give you an easy to understand reading of your life map.
The Birth Chart is comprised of two columns of numbers, one black and one red, with symbols for the planets between them. The numbers relate to the Gates within the Body Graph, and it is from this chart that the gates in the Body Graph are defined. The black column of numbers are based on your actual birth date and become the personality traits that you are familiar with in yourself. In Human Design we say that these are “conscious” traits. The red column of numbers are based upon a date that is 88 astrological degrees or approximately 90 days before your birth. These are the more “unconscious” traits that you are carrying within your Soul. In fact, the date of the red column is said to be the date that your Soul entered into your body. Your family and friends may recognize these traits in you before you actually do.
The first key to understanding your Human Design is discovering what Personality Type you are. There are 5 Personality Types in Human Design: Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors and Reflectors. Each Type has a different way of operating in the world and has a unique decision-making strategy. This knowledge alone rocked my world and fundamentally impacted my success in connecting to my authentic self. Here is a short description of each Type.

To continue reading about Human Design click here

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Story updates...

1/3/2015

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While doing research for my David and Ragnhild story I was contacted by a wonderful person in Malta. They have supplied me with some images of newspaper clippings talking about Ragnhild and a few even have Lady Ragnhild in them! And one is a image of a painting that she did. I am over the moon about this! I finally have a face to go with the name and am thrilled. Images are below the post.
While I am working hard on this story I am also working on the next story for my Forever Fey series. I got a sneak peek at a part that will be coming up within the story… I’m not at this point yet but when a character shares something you write it down when it is shared. lol Here is the sneak peek for you (please remember this is rough draft just pounded out and no edits done).

Ashleigh felt her breath catch in her throat when Bran took her hand. He was magnificent with his dark hair and brown eyes so like deep pools of chocolate with small gold flecks. Her stomach dropped and heat pooled deep with her most private areas as he brushed a kiss across her knuckles she felt herself become damp.
Bran smiled as he raised his head after kissing Ashleigh’s hand, her pupils had dilated and her scent gave away her arousal. “It is a pleasure to meet you Ashleigh,” he voice rumbled low in his chest, his eyes boring into hers.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too Bran.” Ashleigh flushed her stomach flipped at the deep gravel tones of Bran’s voice. Malcolm had warned her that Bran would have an effect on her lady bits but this was ridiculous. She watched as Bran’s eyes changed from their deep chocolate to a more golden color. Her eyes widened as she watched the small gold flecks grow, spreading so that Bran’s eyes were now golden amber.
Ashleigh’s reaction was affecting Bran and let that show in his eyes, he knew they were changing color and he watched with amusement as the woman in front of him tried to fight her basic urges.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend and I wish you all a great upcoming week.

Blessed Be.

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Garden prepping

Ostara, Puppies and Taekwondo

Exploring Human Design:

Story updates...

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