Maeve’s Musings

Imbolc has now come and gone. One aspect of the holiday is a celebration of change. I, for one, am reveling in certain changes, trying to make the best of others, but overall just accepting that change is a part of life. The days are getting longer. We’ve had a nice snowfall. (Oh, how I wish it would have stayed around longer!) We’ve had lots of rain. (A little less so the pasture wasn’t so muddy would be nice.) New ideas are abundant. Figuring out the means to implement them is challenging, and therefore fun!

The kids are all growing like weeds. They’re a constant source of change. My daughter is happily and proudly a wearer of big girl panties! The boys are learning just how much work goes into owning a horse, and loving almost every minute of it (even the poop-scooping!). My youngest is still not interested in walking…at all. I know he’ll start when he’s good and ready, because he can get everywhere he needs to by crawling, so why bother?? =) I’m enjoying them all being the ages they are, as I know they’ll all grow up far to quickly. At the same time, dreading the fact that they’ll grow up far too quickly and eat me out of the house! It’s so hard to not wonder where the devil they’re putting all that food?!

The businesses are getting back up to speed and should do their very best to date this year. Very heady and exciting stuff, let me tell ya! As soon as we get a good sunny weekend there will be new stuff up on Maeve’s! How exciting is that?! I know it’s pretty damned exciting to me. The goal is to get something new up there at least once a month. The plan to achieve said goal will be implemented this week, wahoo!!

Isn’t it just the truth? We had to move yet again last month. The well at the house we were renting started to dry up! So a second move within five months for us. Yeehaw! We managed to get everything moved with the help of several of our friends within four days Gotta love friends who’ll drop everything and come help you move until 3am!

We’re mostly unpacked and settled in, still have to finish the kitchen (huzzah for a real kitchen again, it’s making cooking a pleasure once again rather than a tedious chore) and the bedrooms and the shop and the office but once that’s done there will be no more random boxes packed with stuff that hasn’t seen the light of day in years!! That’s the goal for this move ~ to have nothing in storage unless it’s seasonal stuff. If we haven’t used it and it has no sentimental value it’s getting donated, given away or tossed. It feels really good to pare down to just the essentials.

I must say I’m really looking forward to building up an entirely new wardrobe this year! Another 40 pounds to go and I’ll be at my goal. We started up the workouts again!! I have to admit to missing them, even though I don’t really enjoy them, I love the results. Maybe one day I’ll enjoy working out for the sake of working out, but in the mean time I’ll just look forward to them for the sake of the results. But yeah, the end result is going to be a brand-spanking-new wardrobe for Maeve, probably mostly made by me, for me! I know I’ll end up buying some things, but I’m looking forward to making things that fit well. That’s another interesting thing, actually knowing what I look like, seeing as how I’ve been overweight most of my life, I have no idea what my body really truly is shaped like!

On the work front, things are getting caught up finally! That’s something I’ve been working on for the past two years (very sad I know, and terrible for my wonderful amazingly patient customers for whom I am so grateful). I’ll actually this year be able to get to creating new designs and have a production time that is back to a much nicer 2-6 weeks for most things! So with the help of our new assistant seamstress and the occasional email subscriber secret sale we’re on the path to a bigger and better than ever Maeve’s!

I hope the New Year is a fabulous and amazing one for everyone!

Our oldest is 10 today! I can’t believe I’ve been a mom for ten years. It sure doesn’t feel like that long. Every day spent watching my children grow and discover something new is pure magic. Whoever said that kids are the fountain of youth had it right, I definitely feel younger and more energetic now than I did ten years ago!

The weather is turning from autumn brisk to winter chill quickly and is just lovely to watch the leaves changing and the land quieting down.

Someday I’ll get to go see Spamalot!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we’re still around and plugging away. Our move is complete, unpacking is still an ongoing process, but at least I’ve got a workspace set up and beds are all put together. Now if I could just get around to going through the boys’ clothes and setting up their dresser so I don’t have piles of pants and shirts and underwear to wade through to get to my room!

The new house (still renting, but that’s OK) is great! It’s a bit smaller, but we have a separate area for business stuff which makes all the difference. It’s on 5 acres which are mostly wooded so there will be endless days of exploring for the kids over the next year. The land is wonderful, so peaceful (aside from the incessantly barking dog somewhere down the road). I can see all the stars in the sky at night! Huzzah for no more light pollution!

Autumn ended up having a litter of 6 puppies, and all but one have found new homes It would have been great to keep them all, or even just one, but it just isn’t feasible right now. They were all so darn cute!

On a personal note, I’ve managed to lose almost 70 pounds so far this year! Still have a ways to go (40 more pounds to reach my goal) but it’s going well and staying off! I’m donating all my clothes as they get too big so I won’t have any more “fat clothes”. My plan is to reward my hard work at the end of the year with a new wardrobe, including new garb for myself! Yeah yeah, I know, like I’ll have the time for that! I can hope though, can’t I?

Wishing you all Love and Laughter in large amounts in your lives!

Man, I tell ya what! If it’s not one thing it’s another keeping us busy these days. Ander is getting so big! Destiny is talking so much! Sam, Tristan and Trystan are all sprouting like the clover out in the yard! Clothes are getting too small, shoes too. Ander is starting to eat solids (he loves them, his tummy….not so much!). Dustin has been gone to several weekend-long camping events merchanting and that is going fabulously! And anywhere I can find a spare minute I’m sewing =) When I’m finally off for the night I’m usually too tired to do much of anything that requires any concentration, so the cabled scarf that I’m knitting sits forlornly at about 6″ long and the sweater that I’ve been planning for Dustin will most likely end up as a birthday gift (which is probably a good thing!) any knitting that I do has to be completely of the non-counting, non-chart-reading variety or I’ll have huge mistakes to rip out later.

I do believe our Puget Sound spring weather is finally giving way to the preludes of summer, just in time since the solstice is only a few weeks off and I’ve got nothing planned. For Mother’s Day, the boys all made me these great cards (without even being asked by dad!) and Dustin got me a potted dahlia (Dark Angels varietal) and a money plant (Pachira aquatica) which are both just beautiful, strong and healthy! I have to content my green ways with my potted plants this year since there’s just no time for a garden. Just gives me more time to plan for next year

I don’t have any idea what I ought to get for Dustin for Father’s Day. And he’s no help at all…He says all he wants is to be surrounded by the family that he loves. Hey! I think I might be able to swing that

As someone who wants to keep bees someday, I thought I would put this out there for everyone. Dustin and I have been talking about the strange decreases in the worldwide bee population over the last couple months and I just found out about this ~

I am putting forth the call to join our hearts together on May 2, 2007 to send A Message of Appreciation of Honeybees!

Honeybees. All over the world they are disappearing. Hives are empty, Not Even a dead bee to be found. Invader species refuse to take up Residence in The old hives. No one seems to know why the bees are disappearing. What We do know is that 60% - 70% of all honeybee colonies are vacant. We Realize That without honeybees the crops of fruits, nuts, corn etc do not Become Sufficiently pollinated to allow them to bear fruit.

In the past I have called for such action when Sedona was Experiencing an Unbroken drought. People from all over the world joined together in Giving Appreciation for Precipitation.

As the Weather Spirits received this outpouring of love and gratitude They Responded with a giving forth of rain! Rain poured down from a sky That had An hour before been bone dry! And it rained for two weeks, giving us The Needed drenching and respite from devastation.

It is now time to hold the honeybees in appreciation, to allow our Pouring forth Of gratitude to revivify and embrace back into the fold of life and Sustainability Our dear companions upon this planet: Honeybees!

Appreciation of Honeybees! May 2, 2007

In whatever manner you are personally able, move your awareness into That of Appreciation. Perhaps meditate upon someone for whom you have Appreciation And gratitude, an event that stimulates a sense of deep gratitude. When this Is A felt-sense, a palpable experience within your body, disengage the Object of Your appreciation (the person or event) so that you remain in a non- Attached State of appreciation. Draw into this state the image of honeybees. Now bring In an association of how they sound, their buzzing about, their Beauty and Grace, the wonders of honey as a food and as a wonderful sweetener of Life! Feel that joy rushing through your body as you contemplate the Honeybee.
Hold your awareness of Honeybees in this state of appreciation. Do so For As long as is ‘right’ for you. When you are ready to stop, forcefully Blow Your Breath into the image of the honeybee. This breath of life, sent in Appreciation Carries with it all your desire for blessing and positive life Empowerment to Be Carried forth to the honeybee species.

This is all that is asked, all that is required. No dogma nor Doctrine is Involved. No dieties or angels need be called upon (you certainly may if you Choose). Keep it simple! No money is being collected, No organizations derive Financial Benefit from participating in this. This is solely about the Honeybees, and Our Appreciation of them.

Yes! Please Forward this along to all you know!
http://www.shamanic.net/

Oh my, the time does fly! I can’t believe Destiny was born 2 years ago…She’s getting so big, and all I want is to keep her where she’s at right now. So sweet and lovey. A little girl who loves to snuggle in my lap and say ‘I love you Mommy!’ and give me hugs and kisses for no reason.

She woke up Monday morning and started singing happy birthday to herself. She spent her day playing with her brothers, helping me make banana cinnamon pancakes for breakfast, enjoying the sunshine, loving her spaghetti dinner and devouring her chocolate cake with raspberry filling and pink frosting (and of course vanilla ice cream!). All in all, I’d say she had a fabulous birthday.

Well, it all started last week on Tuesday after my weekly appointment with my midwife. Somewhat regular contractions!! They evened out and Dustin and I began to think that maybe it was time =) So we got everything all together to go to the birth center and Dustin made coffee. And then….they stopped!! Long night to say the least, ah well, Destiny tricked us a time or three too.

Then more contractions woke me up at around 5:30am Wednesday, went on for a few hours and then tapered off by midday. Then some more off and on in the evening, but by bedtime the were gone. Thursday started out quiet, no contactions until late afternoon and then gone again by bedtime. Friday seemed as though it would be more of the same. As I was working during the afternoon more contractions started up and began coming regular (about 4-5 minutes apart, but short). They continued throughout dinner getting a bit more intense, but not any longer or closer together. After dinner Dustin declared I was done working for the day so I sat down to relax. The contractions kept coming at about the same rate, but not feeling any stronger so I didn’t want to go to the birth center just yet. We got the kids all put to bed and settled in to watch some Daily Show and The Colbert Report. At around 11pm the contractions were feeling more intense so we agreed to call the midwife and see what she thought. While we waited for her to call back from the page I sat down and surprise-surprise the contractions stopped! So when the midwife on call called us and said that because of the recent wind-storms there was no power at the birth center I didn’t feel so bad telling her that the contractions had stopped =)

At this point it was about midnight, and I figured since the contractions had stopped I would just go to bed. Once I got there it was cold so I got up and ran a bath to warm up. I let Dustin know just in case I might need help out of the tub. Once in the bath the contractions came back, but still not very intense. Dustin came in to check on me after about an hour and at this point the contractions were strong enough that I needed to breathe through them. I told him “I think Ander changed his mind about coming tonight!” So we paged the midwife again. She had someone go check the power situation at the birth center and then called us back…still no power there. At that point there was no way I was getting out of the tub to drive anywhere! So Dustin gave her directions to the house and kept her updated on how I was doing. At this point Destiny was awake and was watching and keeping me company and being a great helper! Then there was a ‘Pop!’ (I could both feel and hear it, which was rather a strange sensation) and I said “I think that was my water breaking.” Dustin relayed that and continued to give directions (apparently I was helping ~ which I vaguely remember!). I think it was a couple minutes after my water broke that I felt like it was time to push and Dustin yells “There’s the head!” I felt his head come with a rush of relief and waited for the next contraction. As it hit I pushed while Dustin helped ease Ander’s shoulders out. I remember feeling a huge rush of satisfied relief as I felt Ander slide out and Dustin handing him to me and snuggling him into my chest. I looked at Ander and was immediately in love! I looked up at Dustin and was just amazed “We had our baby! I love you!” Dustin then remembered that the midwife was still on the phone and started talking to her and getting Ander and me covered up with a warm towel. He made sure she was OK with the directions and hung up the phone. She arrived about 10-15 minutes after Ander was born.

Dustin and I agreed that even though Ander’s birth at home wasn’t planned, it was the absolute perfect birth. Dustin is the glowingly proud daddy who has now officially delivered one of his own children! I’m doing well, healing is amazingly fast. Ander is beautiful ~ though still a newborn prune =) Destiny is thrilled at being the ‘big sister’ and Sam, Tristan and Trystan are so happy to have a new little baby to lavish their love on.

It was the best Yule gift we could have ever wished for!

Light and Laughter to everyone this holiday season and blessings upon the New Year!

The time of year has come and gone for the annual Thanksgiving feast at our house. This year we spent the actual Thanksgiving holiday at the home of a friend’s aunt and had a wonderful time! Dustin got to catch up with friends that he hadn’t seen in years and I got to finally meet them for the first time! The following Sunday we had our own feast at home, going around the table saying what we are thankful for. I am so proud of our boys! They are having an easier time every year and being thankful for truly meaningful things =) They are growing up so fast! We had Brett and his lady Sam over to share our meal with us. Unfortunately they had to leave early since we got SNOW!!!! I’d guess about 6 inches. The boys talked Brett, Sam and Dustin into a good snowball fight! =)

So far the snow has stuck, which makes me so happy. It actually feels like winter is coming!

We’re at 37 and a half weeks and counting! Dustin is beginning to go into super protective mode, wanting to be nowhere far away from me, just in case Ander decides he wants to come early (he probably won’t). But he’s got one more event to merchant at this coming weekend, so I promised to take it easy and make sure Ander stays put until he comes home!!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a holiday as we did!

Things around our house have just been busy busy busy!

We decided to not invite boatloads of candy into the house this year and had a Halloween party instead. We had some of our friends over and had a potluck dinner and made popcorn balls and caramel- and chocolate-covered apples. After eating the kids played in their room and the adults had a great game of Texas Hold-Em. I’m not much of a poker player but it was fun to watch the people who play more often =)

Now that the month of October is over things will probably quiet down a little bit, although that’s only temporary since Ander will be here in about 7 more weeks!! I can’t wait to see his little face!

I hope everyone has better luck avoiding the nasty flu bug that’s been going around. Destiny got it at the same time that all four of her eye teeth decided to come in! Oh my! She was a sick little girl for a few days =( But she’s back in high spirits and enjoying the brisk autumn weather wearing her new boots and hat and ‘glubs’! We’ve actually had frost the past few mornings. I always love watching the steam rising off the fence posts in the morning sunlight.