Creative Fires

One of the attributes of Brighid, a major deity in the Druid/Celtic pantheon, is fire in/on water. This is an interesting dichotomy which I may discuss another time. I'm talking lately with a few folks who are interested in joining the Tuatha de Brighid (TDB), an independent Druidic group operating on line. I am no expert or really able to instruct but I'm posting things and leading some discussions. More on that later too.

Today I want to talk about that Creative Fire--the real fire in the belly that drives writers and most artists to let the words and images out of their heads to be enjoyed by the public. It's a gift, a blessing and at times definitely like Heinlein's Harsh Mistress. It is often more of a compulsion than a wish or desire! What surprises me is how many women (I suppose men too but more familiar with the distaff side among my friends) are writers but also have a number of other creative hobbies--everything from silver-smithing to sewing, painting, etc.

I have to plead guilty to totally failing to limit myself to even a dozen hobbies and interests! I'm all over the place. Pencil sketches of some of my long-ago 'heroes' hang on my bedroom wall; a bulletin board is covered with necklaces and bracelets I made--everything from malachite set in silver to all kinds of beads, and another rack, made of plastic canvas, holds many pairs of earrings. Yes, I love jewelry!!

Then I  sew. I learned on my late paternal grandmother's old pedal Singer machine--a real antique I gave to my daughter-in-law who refinishes old furniture and she loves it!--by making fancy western shirts starting at about thirteen or so. I guess my daughter's wedding dress is the most elaborate project I ever tried and it turned out better than her marriage which ended tragically.

Then a few years ago I turned to quilts or more accurately coverlets or comforters since I do not do the actual quilting, sewing through the layers in an elaborate design but just 'tie through' with yard or cord.. I was inspired by a now-deceased friend and author who was both a great quilter and writer, Jan Minter of East Texas (RIP Jan). My first was a simple nine-patch square pattern I made for my own bed with scraps of fabrics from a zillion of my projects and things my maternal grandmother had made for me when I was in school. It's my 'souvenir' spread! I still use it but need to do some repairs soon as a few seams are giving way. Here is a picture of it above right. I had enough blocks left over to do a lap or as I call it nap robe too, roughly the crib size of 48x60. From there I went into themed pieces, starting with a California King sized bed cover for my brother, done all in railroad prints:. Never again that big--it was a huge job in all regards and cumbersome to complete!! And I just realized when I looked at the large version of the pic above--it was completed just over five years ago--Aug 27, 07!!

Mostly now I do smaller pieces for nap robe/wall hanging/decorative throw uses, mostly in themes. I've done some that we gave away in drawings on Book Brew, my once-a-month writer-reader party at Coffee Time Romance and More and others I've given to friends. The latest was special and went to Florida to a dear friend who loves the sea shore and its creatures and shells! Another quirk of my work is they are always totally reversible--no plain tiny flowered print all over or solid color or muslin on the 'back'!! Here is the front and back of the sea shore one. I like the first side the best and called it 'front' but that is kind of optional!:

Now I am working on another for Coffee Time and my Book Brew event for December. One side is Christmasy and the other for the rest of the year but it's 'beefcake' on both sides, with hunky guys flaunting bare chests and come-hither looks! I don't have pictures of it yet but will before long.

And who knows what I may be driven to tackle next--I go in spurts of doing first one form of art work and then move to another, usually go back to prior things every so often. I'm thinking now of maybe trying water colors or going back to sketching or even making 'paper dolls' as I did for many years ago  when I thought I might want to be a dress designer. That never came to be but I did try ideas which I later made as real garments on paper first.I even sold a big batch of my old ones on eBay before my first of several moves back in 2008. The collector who bought them was delighted and took them to some shows and conventions. That was almost humbling!!

Anyway, please comment and tell me what results from your special fire in the belly! To tie this discussion back to Brighid and TDB, one of the three mysteries or tenets of our doctrine is The Art. That term is used in a much broader way than simply the paintings or sculptures in an exhibit, the words of a poem or story or even a song. Art is anything you do in the spirit of love and giving/sharing from your inner self that you can make or do! Fixing a meal, even a humble task like cleaning the house or working in the garden can be Art and you can dedicate those labors to the Deity or Power of your choice as a 'love gift' and offering. But traditional art forms are included as well and I do generally credit and dedicate my handiwork to Brighid and The Godde or overall Deity that I know created us and all and watches our slow progress to the point where we can eventually merge our purified and enlightened spiritual energy back into the whole.

National Dog Day

I kid you not--today, August 26 is National Dog Day! I won't belabor the point since every day is dog day at my house LOL but I would suggest you give your furkid a special hug and treat today and remember to be thankful for the unconditional love and wonderful companionship that he or she gives you. Like the saying goes, "God help me to be the person my dog thinks I am."  I fall so far short, I know. It is humbling and sets a high bar for you to see the look in their eyes!

Belle and her "cousins" KayCee, BeeBee and Rojito got plenty of watermelon bites and the 'beefy sticks' they love as Charlie, my brother and I, ate our dinner. These dogs just love watermelon and both the soft and hard beefy sticks. The hard ones come from PetCo in plastic bags of about 5# or so--they are chopped rawhide compressed back into pencil sized sticks. The soft ones are the 'snack sticks' that come in bags at Walmart--NOT made in China and beef is the first ingredient. I do read the labels on all the food and treats my pets get. Charlie made a trip to Las Cruces earlier this week and stocked up on some treats our kids love--the beefy sticks, some little pillow-shaped bulk treats they get the last time they come in for the night and ginger bears, one of Belle's faves. Although I have to admit she never met a treat she did not like!!  Rojito is developing a fondness for them too! No, we do not have spoiled dogs--it's just that every day is dog day here!

Cooper is safe! (Heeler/JRT mix??)

I was touched by the plight of this little guy but my friend Julie Smithson definitely put her money where her mouth is! She let her fingers do a whole lot of walking and as a result of her efforts a sweet young dog--we think he is Heeler and Jack Russel mix--will be moved on Monday from a high-kill shelter to a very special place where animals are cared for and every effort is bent to finding them a good forever home. Thank God for people like Julie.

Here is the first notice about Cooper a few days ago:
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Cooper - Young Cattle Dog Mix: An adoptable dog in Owensboro, KY

 http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23261930

Cooper is a young gentleman who was unfortunate to end up in a shelter. He seems like no one ever spent any quality time with him. He has a lot of energy, but responds well to training. He does love people. When shown affection, he becomes attached very quickly. He needs an understanding home and a home who will continue to work with him. If you are interested in this pet, please contact us as soon as possible. We take in approximately 4,200 animals a year. Unfortunately we are a high-kill shelter due to the amount of animals being brought to the shelter. We euthanize mostly due to space and temperament. If you are not local we can recommend transport services. Please email us at dcacanimals@yahoo.com or call at 270-685-8275. Please Hurry!

We are also VERY rescue friendly.

Please read our home page, too. There is more information about the adoption process, shelter location and hours.

Pet ID: 1206-1891 - Primary colors: Black, White or Cream

Cooper's Contact Info: Daviess County Animal Control, Owensboro, KY

270-685-8275

Email Daviess County Animal Control

See more pets from Daviess County Animal Control

For more information, visit Daviess County Animal Control's Web site. 

CODE RED! This sweet young dog will die before or on August 27th. Please share his plight, and please hurry! Our shelter is FULL!

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I could not get the photos to copy so I could post them but the link will show them to you. This is a sweet and totally loveable looking little guy; too far for me to go and we have four dogs which is the local limit but I am praying he will get a forever home soon.

Here is where he will be on Monday thanks to Julie's tireless work to save him!!

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Such great news! Cooper is SAFE and will be rescued Monday by Paula of New Hope Animal Shelter, Henderson, Kentucky!

Cooper still needs a forever home, but is safe for now! If you'd like to offer Cooper your home & heart, here's more information on his new home-for-now, or want to donate a little something to this rescue whose motto is: "We take in unwanted, lost and sick pets. We treat them, vaccinate them, spay or neuter them, and then we find them forever homes." New Hope Animal Rescue, 526 Atkinson Street, Henderson, Kentucky 42420: https://www.facebook.com/#!/NewHopeAnimalRescue/info newhopeanimalrescue526@gmail.com OR rayeraye1964@yahoo.com ; phone 270-827-8088. Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Thanks to God and all his angels -- and to those angels that listened to my desperate voice on the phone today, or read the email from me, trying to save Cooper's life -- bless you all so much!

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So if you know anyone close enough to drive and get him that needs and would love this special little guy, by all means tell them. I know from working with Aussie Rescue a bit that often transportation can be arranged and volunteers do a relay race to get a dog to a new forever home or even a safe shelter for  the present. I am soooo happy there are animal angels who do the Doggie Deity's work and take care of as many of the lost ones as they can. Wish there were more of them and fewer abandoned pets in need of that care... Yes, please spay and neuter and adopt if you can!!

The Marines and non-coincidences

I came of age during the Vietnam War and although I was not involved in the protests, I had a lot of misgivings about that war and most before or since. War is a bad thing; the ones hurt the most are often the children, the innocent animals, the poor and common people who only want to be left alone to live their lives as painlessly as they can. That being said, I am still a big supporter of our military and I have a very special place in my heart for the Marines. I've worked as a civilian for the Army and Air Force and support them and the Navy and Coast Guard as well, but my late husband and my middle son were Marines and I picked up a huge respect and regard for that particular branch as a result. I learned a lot of the Corps' history as well. Most of the books in Jim's collection were passed along to grand sons but it does not look like any of them will become Marines--which is okay. I'm not sure that joining the military as really a wise choice these days.

In another of those non-coincidence strange crossing of people and times, my late husband served in the Korean War and while serving there he met war correspondent David Douglas Duncan. Duncan produced a book, mostly pictures --stark and extremely powerful black and white portraits mostly but some narrative about his experiences and observations while he was there. The book is called This is War and it paints an unforgettable scene, Jim never found a picture of himself in the book although he did identify some friends and comrades. The son who followed in his footsteps into the Marines and later into law enforcement was named David Duncan Walton as a tribute to Mr. Duncan's work and character. Duncan of course was of Scots ancestry as was Jim, maybe another factor! Now the odd link--some years before when my father was doing some features and photo-journalism for the Kansas City Star, Duncan was also beginning his journalistic career at the same newspaper and they did meet and interact a few times. Dad held Duncan in high regard as well.

I am sure this poster  below is copyrighted but it is so powerful I did want to share it since it fits with the theme of this post. In war it really is the families,  children and pets who suffer... wherever they may be. May God/Godde/The Divine One support them! The same for this photo to the right.

I am not one to pass along a lot of 'forwards' and never send those that give the dire warnings if you fail to and promise miracles and wonders if you do to everyone in your address book! I hit the delete key as soon as those show up in my mailbox. But I do look at a few and much more seldom, find one that I want to share. This is one of them. Be prepared to get a bit teary eyed with this one; it is that sort of a true and powerful story. I think it speaks for itself. Leaving their dead was something the Marines seldom did and still try to avoid; that makes this even more powerful.

CLICK ONLINK TO OPEN    http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=C6f_FvZpm3g

That's enough for today. I am unashamed to be patriotic and support my country although I often disagree with many in government and much that goes on. Still I do not  know of any nation in the world where I would be better off and happier--and that's perhaps the main reason I still say the Pledge of Allegiance and mean it, respect the flag and thank the (real) powers-that-be for what we enjoy here. We are blessed and I pray we do not throw it away--but this is not a political place and I won't air my rather heretical views!!

Deadlines, Dreams and the daily grind

If you are a writer or know someone who is, you are aware of that horrendous creature called a deadline--as enforced by (variously) dragons, demons, devils and sometimes dollars. A writer has to write and complete projects within prescribed time frames in order to sell books or stories and earn payment for them. While I do not depend on this work for my livelihood since I am fortunate enough to be retired and drawing an annuity from my years of working for the government, still it is nice to have that extra cash coming in once a quarter. That's when most of my publishers pay royalties. Since I am kind of fond of dragons, maybe because of being part Welsh for the Cymric folk do like their national dragon, I guess I would term my deadline whip-cracker a demon. Anyway, one has been breathing down my neck and that's where I have been this week. I actually had two projects to finish by September 1 at the very latest. One is done and submitted and the other is coming along. So I came up for air and a little R&R before that last push.

It is still hummingbird summer--I fill the feeders almost daily and delight in the aerobatics and the little chitters and tweets they make as they buzz around from the trumpet vine to the gladiolas to the feeders. Wonderful little creatures and so amazing. They are tiny and fearless and incredibly agile and quick. Oh to fly like that! (I dream often of flying, without a craft or aid--just lift off and go! Maybe in one lifetime somewhere I could.)

Meanwhile, deadlines or no, the daily routine grinds on. One must eat and sleep, walk the dogs, bathe, do dishes and laundry and sometimes make a vague stab at housecleaning. I say Martha Stewart does not live here nor is she likely to visit and the Queen--any queen you wish to name--is not going to come for tea, so it matters not much if I can write my name on the coffee table in the dust. If anything Alamogordo is dustier than Arizona was!.

I did have a dear old friend stop by on Monday--she's one of my few non-writing friends since we know each other from work and then the VFW Auxiliary. It is ironic--I talked her into joining the VFW Aux when her then active duty husband was sent to the DMZ along the Korean border which gained eligibility to join  the organization  before the current Middle East kerfuffle. Now she is working up through the chairs in the Arizona hierarchy, something I never desired to do but I wish her well. Anyway we had a good visit and (I hope) she did not notice or mind the dust and dog hair!!

When I awoke this morning about 6:00, I was dreaming that I was giving the graduation speech at some high school and explaining how fifty years ago I was where the graduates are today--looking to the future and feeling a mixture of emotions at the end/beginning point the ceremony marks. Yes, it was that long ago although it certainly does not seem like it should be! I am a little disappointed that my class is not having a fifty year reunion. It would have been fun to go. Instead the school holds mass reunions every few years and I have been to one of them and hope to go again. It's strange how one's perception of people changes as the years go by! I actually enjoyed seeing old classmates although when I was in school I had a limited social life and often felt the odd-girl-out.

By the way, Belle had a couple of downish days but seems to be recovering again. At any rate she is still with me and seems to still enjoy her life in between naps, especially early and late when it is cool and any time food is available. People food is of course the best and she is right there eager to get her share. Yes, I spoil her. At this point I think any harm done will be little compared to the pleasure she gets from the tidbits. The dogs all love watermelon! We been having some cut up for dinner most nights and they are right there, dancing for a bit handed to them and are all adept at snagging it off a fork! Too cute--I need to get a video!

And we may get some much needed rain. The monsoon flow from the south has reestablished itself and we had drizzle overnight and early today. Now the sun is out some but boiling up the huge thunderheads so that there may be storms in the evening. Of course I hope there are no bad floods or too much wind but rain is almost always welcome here in the desert. We need all we can get.

Almost invisible behind the trees (left) is the building in which I began high school. It is in Clarkdale, AZ and was the high school and junior high--7th and 8th grades anyway. Very long ago! And the other is a very old postcard of the  Jerome High School where Mingus Union was housed for a few years before the new building was built for the consolidated high schools around 1970 in Cottonwood, AZ. Both are rather desolate now which I find sad.

I got a lot of my Ds into this post as well as some not in my normal list of favorites. August holds several birthdays or anniversaries of birth dates of friends and loved ones no longer adding years to this life. I've sent a few greetings out and will quietly remember August 20 as the birthday of my first love, August 26 as that of my father-in-law for whom I had a great regard, and one or two more. A Taurus person perhaps should not get along with Leos but I always have. Well, I have Leo rising so that may explain it in part. Astrology is fascinating once you get past the sun sign popular newspaper horoscope junk. I do not pretend to really understand it but I do believe, at least somewhat. I think I set forth my rationale in an early post actually when I talked about being interested in both astronomy and astrology!

So back to work--a four letter word that is sometimes almost as bad as s**w and others that Deirdre O'Dare may use in fiction at times but  rarely are heard in my speech!

Hummingbird Summer

Until I moved to Whetstone, Arizona in the spring of 1984, I never had much experience with humming birds. We saw a few in Marysville, CA but I did not feed them. I think they were mostly Anna's but am not even sure of the variety. However, Whetstone, at the junctions of highways 90 and 82 north of Sierra Vista was a great place for birding of many kinds. The Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains in Cochise County are considered the hummingbird havens of the US. More varieties of these amazing little birds are seen there than anywhere else in the US. They are mainly a tropical species but about a dozen kinds have been seen in southeastern Arizona.

At Whetstone I began to put up feeders my first summer. I also put out water and seed for other birds. We had two varieties of quail, three or four kinds of doves, many sparrows, finches and the Pyrhuloxia, or desert cardinal as regular visitors. Several kinds of Orioles, Vermilion flycatchers, Phenopepla, several grosbeaks and other more rare breeds also appeared now and then. I became an avid bird watcher!

But the hummers most fascinated me. Over the twenty years I lived there I saw many Black Chinned --the first to arrive in the spring, Allen's and Rufus, Anna's,  Broad Billed, Broad Tailed, a White Earred or two  and an occasional Blue Throat and Calliope, the largest and smallest of the breeds that visit the area. One Magnificent and a couple I never positively identified. The females and young are very hard to differentiate but the males usually have distinctive markings.After a few years I had birds returning who knew where the feeders were supposed to be and they became almost fearless. I could stand within a foot or so of a feeder and they'd buzz in right by my face. If you wore a red cap, you were likely to get dive-bombed and several almost tangled in my hair! I started to know about when to expect the early ones and when others would arrive.

Late in August or early September was a heavy migration time as those who had nested farther north began the first part of the long trek south. That was when I could not keep feeders filled and even five or six would all be surrounded by mad whirls of birds from dawn to dusk. I took to calling this two or three week period humming bird summer. That's when we saw the most different kinds but usually the Rufus--the only red backed hummer--and the Allen's, similar but with a green back, dominated.

One late fall day, near Thanksgiving as I recall,  I saw a little one perched on the fence and it stayed there for at least twenty four hours. Later I learned this is common. (See picture above! And yes, I was that close! Did not use a telephoto to capture this.) The birds go into a near trance to rest and build strength before they head out for the longest leg of their autumn journey. Then they 'tank up' on food and fly, going as high as they can and slowly drifting lower, hopefully maintaining an adequate altitude until they are near their tropical winter residence areas. I still wonder about many aspects of their lives but never cease to enjoy them. Rufus at the left--no green on these guys, at least the males!

Here in my new home, we saw a few around the morning glories on the patio trellises after we got here in early October including one very tiny guy that was probably a Calliope but not positively identified. This spring I put up feeders in early April (later than in Arizona) and waited.  Finally a couple showed up, apparently Black Chins. Gradually a few more, at least two pairs and then their chicks, normally two per breeding pair. Then the last few days there are suddenly more and more--I've glimpsed a Rufus and others but most are just the bland gray-dusky green of the females and young ones not yet into mature feathers.We have a trumpet vine that they like and they also favor the gladiolas. I took out the morning glories as they died off in the winter and were brown and ugly! Climbing roses will fill the trellises in time but have not gotten there yet. I don't think roses are a humming bird favorite but they will visit most flowers. Still the nectar feeders give them a good source of food.

Anyway regardless of the date it is now officially humming bird summer in Alamogordo! How long this will last here I do not know but I'll keep my feeders full and perhaps add a couple more--I've had two six port feeders up so far-- and watch the dogfights and incredible aerial acrobatics with much joy. My little totem birds have found me.(The name WindDancer that I sometimes use is an old Native American term for these little flying jewels!)

An aside, I used to get some calendars with hummer pictures on them. The best photos were by a gentleman named Russel Ogg. He was legally blind but set up a system of light beams to active his cameras and took some phenomenal pictures of these wonderful little birds. You can google his name and probably find some of  his work which I do not feel I have the right to share here. I just did some more research and learned he passed away in 1990 but some of his photos are still out there. They were amazing!! But here, my poorer quality shots have to do! Happy hummingbird summer!

Inherent Goodness?

 

This rainbow appeared one evening a couple of weeks ago and I snapped a view of it. I'm almost as much of a rainbow fan as a sunset fan. They are special to me as a message of hope from Higher Powers that comes when it may be gray and wet to remind us good lives on!!

With the rash of tragedies and horrors painting the news lately, we too easily lose sight of the fact that there still is inherent goodness in our world and its inhabitants. True, we seem to be fascinated with bad news and tales of terrible events, at least to the point where most of the media feels sex, scandal, brutality and violence sell more papers, magazines, views etc. than uplifting stories that inspire and encourage us. That's sad. Still it is important to keep a firm eye on the fact that goodness exists, that it can be spread like less favorable things, and that we can add our small bit to it each day!

I just read a short essay written by a flight attendant and going back to the 'day of infamy', 9-11-2001. It told the experiences of one plane full of passengers on a flight from Germany to the US that was diverted to Gander, New Foundland when news of the terrorist actions began to filter out. Ultimately over fifty planes were diverted to and landed at Gander, a small town just over 10,000 souls. And there were over 10,000 passengers and crew members who spent several days on the ground in the area. I suppose there may have been a few negative incidents or experiences but it seems most of it was positive and powerful. The group on Delta Flight 15 were mostly sent to another small town in the area and housed in the local high school--hotels etc. were few because the region is not exactly a resort area! Upon leaving, they set up a scholarship fund for the students at that school, who used the time when they were not in class to help the stranded travelers in every way they could. The fund has gone on and on and now over 125 students have gone to college with its support! Other similar tales came out of that time too. Goodness in the midst of a difficult and painful time. People who reached out to help; others who were inconvenienced or experienced problems yet did not .become mean and nasty.

In my Druid beliefs, we seek to live by three abiding principles or mysteries, as we term them, since the exact nature of them is in the spiritual and mystic realm making them hard to define or pin down. We have to interpret and enact them as best we can. These three are Truth, Art and Kinship. Very simply truth is the essential and elemental realities and principles that shape the universe and guide us all. Living by truth is hard for our perceptions and prejudices color everything so much. It's the hardest for me to nail down. Art is used in a much broader sense than simply artistic expression and includes anything done with a purpose and helpful intent, work and service with a spirit of creativity and generosity. It can result in some work of art like a painting, sculpture, poem or song but can also be as mundane as fixing a meal for family, friends or those in need, picking up trash or doing good turns for anyone. Kinship is regarding all living things and perhaps even those we see as inanimate as if they were our relatives, part of our family. Thus we must treat them with love and respect; kindness and care. To me, if we practice these three things, we can rise above the evils of hate and violence. It will come in slow degrees but if we can win just one or two over to this  by example and an occasional explanation, that is a start. Then if they go on to spread these tenets to one or two more...It's like the tale of saving a penny a day, then two, three etc. and investing it, rolling the interest back into the account until you have a million dollars. Once it gets going the speed picks up!

So yes, I do believe there is inherent good. I may at times lose sight of it for a short time but something always comes along to renew my faith and make me lift my eyes above the muck in which I may be standing, the blood and tears I hear about in excess. Maybe I can staunch one wound, dry a few tears, clear a narrow path through the filth. Every small step of progress is adding to that penny fund... Don't let the badness drag you down!.I don't know about you but I do not want "them" or "it" to win!

Deserts and music

There is a program on Public Radio that I've enjoyed for several years. It airs different times in different places and here from the station on the university campus in Las Cruces is on Sunday night from 9:00 to 10:00. It is called Hearts of Space and features ambient and alternative music, most very enjoyable, at least to me. You can visit the program on the net at www.hos.org. Some programs or excerpts can be downloaded and there are play lists etc.

This past Sunday they had a program on music inspired by the desert. It was awesome! I found it very fascinating how the idea of a desert and the desert landscape was interpreted by different composers and the audio pictures they painted with their music.

Of course I also like much of the Native American music and some other ambient music inspired by native styles. A favorite is the group Cusco; I especially like their CD The Journey. Then there is a CD by another group titled Cries from the Earth and one titled Ancient Visions. Cries is put out by BCI Eclipse and Visions by Neo Pacifica. I expect you could google the names and find them or search on Amazon.

They were my fave road trip music for awhile and I can flash back to the high plains of southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico or the barren lands between El Paso and Carlsbad, NM which I traversed several times going to visit a friend in Carlsbad when I lived near Silver City and also a detour coming down from Colorado.. One time --and this is weird--I was driving south from Colorado Springs somewhere along between Raton and Las Vegas, NM and listening to one of these when I spoke aloud in a voice not at all my normal tone but guttural and low--just  three syllables Ah ho nay. To this day I have no idea what that means or where it came from but it was a very odd moment, one of those that sends a shiver down your spine and raises fine hairs on the back of your neck! Someone or some spirit said something to me using my own vocal capacity; I just wish I could translate it! Maybe an ancestor or my own self in a past life? I have no idea but it was powerful!!

This shot is some of that high plains grass.desert scenery along I-25 at the Fort Union rest stop and I can visualize the Comanche or other tribes riding their ponies over the rolling hills after buffalo etc.It was not too far from here where that experience occurred.

Giving thanks

As I write this Belle is still with me and has been doing good since Friday afternoon. She still sleeps a a lot but when she is awake is alert and able to get around. She has actually trotted or even scampered around the yard some with the younger dogs and is holding her own. I am thinking the many prayers and healing energies sent out in her behalf from my special circle of friends have been of huge benefit here! She will be surrounded in love 24/7 until her last breath which is only right!.Ever dog deserves this as does every human; taht many do not get it makes me very sad.

This good time may not last and I know it cannot last forever but each good day she has that we can share is a special blessing and time I cherish. I may have a lead on a young female Aussie needing a home if she has not been adopted by the time Belle does leave me. My hope for the pup a good home soon as she is fostered, like Belle was, for now due to unfortunate circumstances but if it works out that she is to come to me--again it's in the Doggie Deity's capable and loving hands!--she will be loved and have a forever home. Her name is June-Bug, which I may change if she comes to me later on.

Here are the pix I mentioned of Rojito and Belle. There seems to be a real bond between them and he loves to go on our gentle little walks. We resumed them yesterday after I let her rest through the weekend to be sure she was up to it again. I hope the LDS folk do not mind that we walk on their lovely grass. No messes are ever left--mostly none are made but Belle kind of prances in the soft wet green carpet and I think she harkens back to our home in Arizona where I had a nice patch of grass in the back yard that she loved to roll in. We have grass here too but not as lush and fine.

They were closer at first but she got partially up, actually backed a bit, at the first flash and did not get back down in quite the same place. She does not like flash or the small beeps a digital camera makes. I had the little black 'skid boots' on her rear feet as they give her more stability on the slick laminate floor we have and put down lots of rugs too. Only the bedrooms are carpeted and of course are now half dog-hair!!




He'd been right against her shoulder before she moved. I waited a bit and when she went back to sleep and I leaned over the coffee table to get the second shot--and another very similar. Anyway I am touched and pleased by their affection and bond.

Rojito seems to be a special little guy. He did not have a happy life before in some ways--he'd been at the pound and then adopted to a home where he was neglected but he is blossoming now and showing his sweet, sensitive--but mischievous nature!

Druid Philosophy and Dog Days

I will keep this one fairly short. Belle had a bad spell of weakness and disorientation Thursday evening to late Friday.She gets very anxious and upset as she knows things are wrong but cannot understand why or what. Finally in a kind of last ditch effort Charlie, my brother, and I got down on the floor with her for at least two hours and just stroked and talked to her. Finally the extra Tramadol kicked in and she went into a peaceful, natural sleep and when she awoke was pretty much back to normal. Her arthritis has been helped by the Adequan but this seems to me a separate issue, probably related to the Prednisone usage and perhaps her lupus. But I cannot afford and do not want to put her through a lot more tests and trial-and-error efforts to help her; I think it is basically past that stage now really.

I got so far as to contact our vet to be assured--they are on call 24/7 or have another stand-in if Dr Wiley is out of town and also handle a cremation contract service where you get the ashes back to keep so that is all pretty much arranged for whenever it may be needed. This is a relief as I had been worried about how to deal with the practical part of this. Yes, I am sad and hurting to know the end is probably not too far away but I believe firmly as did the ancient ones, that each life is just a 'vacation' or stopover on the continuing sequence of our slow climb up the ladder to the state where our spirits are ready to finally merge back into the universal. Life is totally eternal and does not ever go out or cease! We just move to a different plane and leave this shell behind like those we might find on the beach. So while we miss our dear ones, both human and furred, feathered etc. their spirits cling to us in part and live in our memories and they are waiting for us to join them in the next phase. (For a wonderful statement of this and its workings I recommend Dear Dean--Love Mom by Esther Luttrell. This is an amazing uplifting book based on her own experiences in the loss of a son. You can Google the name or title or ask me for a URL; I do not have it handy right now.)

I find that truth very comforting in all the losses I have gone through during my life. I have a herd of well-loved horses and a great pack of dogs waiting for me along with dear human family members and friends. I know that reunion will be so beautiful. For now Belle is still with me. So long as she can enjoy life some and have a bit of mobility, I will let her do so. When it is really time, we will know. Perhaps she will simply slide away while sleeping but if not I will help and release her. She knows she is greatly  loved but also free and released to depart when she needs to.

Last night I got some precious pix of her and Rojito together on the living room rugs. He was snuggled up beside her and both sleeping. He is a very sensitive little guy and also has gotten very fond of her. He knows all is not well and does his sweet little best to comfort us both. Thanks and heartfelt praise to the Wise One who sent him our way! I have not uploaded the pictures yet but will share them soon.

Go in peace and harmony, dear friends and readers. We truly are in "good hands" and simply need to recall that even in the darkest of nights, that beam of light is drawing us on. That light is Pure Love which is the One True Thing and the only part of God/Godde or whatever we call the Divinity we place our faith in that we can really know while we are on the earthly plane. It never fails, wavers or ceases to enfold us!! Again I remind myself and all that every sunset is also a sunrise...