A School Mum

It was many, many moons ago that I first took my kids to school... they started at 12 and 13. Since they were home schooled they missed the Primary school days. I was as nervous at the thought of putting them into the public school system as I was dropping them off that first day, they were ready for it and pleased to be going, it was just their mother fretting over them being OK, *laughing* it soon passed though, and it became a quick *SEE YA* as they bolted out the door.. So this morning when I went through all that again I was sort of surprised, I thought that whole *new school - first day thing* only happened once, then you were a seasoned school mum.. ha ha oh was I wrong.. I so forgot what it was like -

While Courtney was really upset and in need of lots of reassurance and hugs last night, she was so cool about it all this morning, when I came to the kitchen to get coffee and lunches made before getting them up for their first day back at school since their Mum died and at a new school as well, there she was all dressed in her uniform, sitting eating the cereal she had fixed for herself bossing her older brother to hurry up, she was as happy as a duck in water. It was like 7.15 and she doesn't start class till 9am..

It was actually me who was a wreck. Did she have everything? Could she remember our phone number and our address. Would she cope knowing no one. Did she remember where I was picking her up from, gosh it was endless.. she was totally oblivious to my concerns... I could hardly get her to stand still for the photos. Her brother was far less enthusiastic, defineite guy thing, I think. Her first day was a success, she had an awesome time and was so happy when I finally got to pick her up this afternoon... I tell you what though, Oh my Goddess, some of those school parents in cars picking up their kids, how do people cope with them? Talk about Mummy road rage..my normal layed back tranquill self developed stress levels that went from 0 to 90 in about .99 of a second..
I think once the weather cools down, I am going to walk her to and from school till she can ride her bike.. far less stress and much better for the soul..

Lammas/Imbolc

Firstly may all in the Northern Hemishpere have a Blessed Imbolc.. and to those down here, a Blessed Lammas.

The best layed plans went skew whiff with any plans I had to celebrate Lammas.. It s I would have felt worse about it had I not had taken to heart what was told me by one of my blog followers.. So on my altar today there sits an apple, some oats and an orange candle..and in my heart and spirit the knowledge from a wise woman - thank you Sarah again *smiles*

A Crone's Tale

Tonight, it is 10.48pm, and I am really to tired, exhausted is probably a better term for it, to write a "personal" blog, however this came to me yesterday and I so loved it.... Can you go from approaching Mother/Crone back to Mother? I am not sure.. maybe I can still combine the two so the kids get the best of both woman *smiles* well whatever it really gave me warm fuzzies to read so for today this is what I have to share... Before I realised the Crone aspect wasn't all doom and gloom she scared the willies out of me.. no more however and Bless Her, there is not much about the Crone that doesn't make me feel *embraced*

A crone's Tale:
As I walk quietly down the road, winds rustle the now dried leaves across my path. There is a chill now in the air that laces its fingers lightly around my shoulders. I pull my shawl tighter around me. Lamas has come and gone and Samhain fast approaches. The fields are furrowed under save for a few patches of squash and some very large pumpkins. It is very quiet and still. A hush has fallen over the land. Birds are silent and there is a hint of burning leaves in the air. Soon the snow will fly and the dark times will begin. A time for mending, sewing, preserving and of course for gathering of family and friends now has come and is welcome after the work of spring planting and autumn harvest. We will sit about the hearth. All will be dark and cold except by the fire. The children will snuggle close together by their mother's feet. Warm cider will be passed around and the men will light their pipes. It is now the story time will begin. The time for telling tales of old and perhaps a few of new, tales that were told over many generations, tales of heroism, of love and best of all stories of magick. The brave deeds done by others and the evil deeds done by their foes will widen the children's eyes with great anticipation of the ending. There will also be great and hardy laughter of ones foolish merriment perhaps not so long ago. This is a time now for rest and we will enjoy these dark days as best we can for after Yule the Spring is sure to follow and fields will again be tilled and planted, and of course Beltane will bring the maidens to wed. Summer will shine with its driving heat. The late summer will bring back the start of the harvest once more. Men will be reaping the crops and women will be drying pickling and preserving. At Lamas we will again give thanks and then full circle, it will be Samhain once more. Ah yes, the Wheel of the Year keeps turning. Seeds are sown, crops are harvested, old ones die and babes are born. I feel these years in my bones. They ache with the weight of the years and stiffen with the cold. But I still continue. I must now teach my children and their children the ways of the Ancient Ones. I must point them to the path and pray to the Goddess they follow wisely. Ah, here it is. The tree I came to see and touch. This friend was planted when I was born. It is a strong tree and will be on this earth longer than I. It will be here to shelter travelers from the sun and be home for some small creatures of the forest. How are you my old companion? Your bark is old and rough much like my skin I should think, but all the wisdom you have gathered all these many cycles and turnings of the Wheel. We have shared many stories these long years together.We have seen many come and go, many joys and much sadness as well. As I touch you I can feel the life of many years and the warmth of your brave and strong spirit within you.I should like to stay here through the dark days, but we know I cannot and you must sleep now. Well my old friend, I must turn back for home. Sleep well and safe through the dark days and I shall return in the Spring. At that I turned to walk back down the long pathway to home, when it seemed to me, as the wind slipped through his bare branches, I could hear him softly reply, "Rest well old Crone and return to me in Spring."
A tale by Niamh ©

Lost track of time

The new school year starts here on Monday and we have been frantically trying to get the kids enrolled in to the best schools possible for them, we have had to fight the red tape to get them into good schools rather than the ones deemed to us by Government Zoning (grrrrrrr) a battle we actually won.. Friday we have to get them both new uniforms and books.. how prices have changed since my lot were in High School, I near fell over when I added it all up.
Unfortunately we are trying to organise what many parents have had all of the summer break to achieve and when I looked, all the pre-loved uniforms have pretty much gone. Now all I have to do is put a brick on each of their heads to stop them getting any taller and growing out of them.
I looked at the calender this morning and realised it has only been 16 days since the kids came to us, but it feels like a lifetime has flown by. One day rolls into the other and often I feel like I have not achieved much in my day, but in reality I know that's not true..
I felt a little guilty today when I realised that in 4 days it will be Lammas (Lughnasadh) this is one of my favourite festival/rituals and yet I have not one thing organised, my Altar is not decorated and that makes me feel a little annoyed at myself. I will seek out some bits and pieces and see what I can do.
My veg patch hasn't been in but a month or two and learning to grow vegetables in near pure sand in 100 degree temperatures has been a challenge so far! So on Sunday I will bake some fresh bread and try to get out to the farmers market for some seasonal vege's mainly some sweetcorn and new potatoes. I am sure I can come up with a suitable celebratory meal with this as the basis along with the bread. *smiling*
I am actually feeling better for having written this.. We have felt challenges of late, and all the while the Goddess has continued her blessings us, unorganised I may be at the moment but ungrateful I am not.. For Lammas is about Celebrations, Thanksgiving and Sacrifice and how much has that been like my life in the last few weeks.. I am feeling the little pricks of excitement at the thought of my hands into the wheat dough of the bread as I knead it, remembering to be open to the seasons, to become one with their energies and to be thankful for the abundance in my life.

Phrase's and Oddities

I have to apologise for the phrase *little guys* .. many of you have thought I have two step sons.. nope.. was my bad.. I have a 10 year old girl and a 13 year old boy.. the term *guys* often down here refers to either gender... you guys can be a group of mixed sex.. sooooooooooo that was my bad sorry...
Anyways, I went to Miss Courtney's bedroom to tell her it was time for lights out and found quiet the oddity..
Funnily, my wee dog Mister P had no issue at all with the situation I found him in and well Courtney didn't seem to mind either.. but there is something seriously wrong with this picture..

I so love giggles!

Oh thank the Goddess - today has been normal, yes there was been one tiny kiddie melt down that got sorted really quick, yet I still managed to clean my house top to bottom for the first time in weeks. I baked Oatmeal cookies and Courtney helped me roll cookie dough, she was so ecstatic at being allowed to help, my heart ached for a minute at her enthusiasm. Both the kids rode their bikes around the neighbourhood several times during the day, it is the first time in months they have wanted to ride so they said.. Robert bought two new Hermit crabs and called them Albert and Einstein while at the same shop, Derek bought me two wonderful plagues I have been looking at buying forever to put on the garden wall - The Green Man and The Green Woman (I sooooo love these)
The kids cracked themselves up over something silly one of them said while eating lunch outside, they rolled around on the lawn laughing for 15 minutes unable to contain themselves. I made a roast chicken with all the trimmings for dinner and the kids thought it was wonderful. I planted some new herbs after dinner, Derek has been trying to understand how I ever raised teenagers, my own two plus two foster kids and managed to survive.. He keeps looking at me today like I am slightly nuts but keeps whispering "yanno I really, really love you.." I cleaned my altar, burnt incense and purple candles and truly thanked the Goddess for my life and her support..
It may have been 11 years since I have been a full time Mum.. but today felt normal.. yes the kids can be noisy and full on, but hey, they where happy, they where laughing and this evening they came to me gave me a hug and said : "We are glad we are living with you" Goddess Bless these babes, I hope through thick and thin, they may always feel this way...Because tomorrow they may turn into gremlins as kids do and I will wonder where today went..*smiles*

Thought For The Day

"Our true enemies, as well as our true sources of strength, lie within."

The Goddess put inside the human being the secrets to the laws of life. We usually know this is true even though we may not know what these laws are. If something goes wrong with our lives, we usually fix the blame on something outside of ourselves. We tend to give up accountability. One way or another we say, "It's not my fault." We need to realize that all permanent and lasting change starts on the inside and works its way out. If it's meant to be, it is up to me.

Oh Great Spirit, let me realize fully that my problems are of my own making. Therefore, so are the solutions
I am sorry I do not know where this orginally came from, but after reading it in a group to which it was sent, felt very real to me..
Blessings
Wendy