Fall Garden 2010

The garden has shown many shades of green this year.

Much of the foliage has been highly productive, but flowers were not happening much this year.

As you can see dad's screen, which is normally covered in blooms now hardly has any.

It has grown very healthy, just very few blue flowers.

Along the foot path can be found little bits of color popping out.

They seem to pop against the deep green background.

This is the best flowering plant on the property.

It's showy white blooms cry to be put in your hair.

I have been wondering if the severe cold snap of last winter caused the flowers to stay hidden this year.

Melon Salad with Pansies or Violas

Serve this salad at a ladies luncheon or breakfast. It will certainly create a lot of talk. I keep them growing in the kitchen all year round. Great for head aches (non-migraine) and constipation.


Ingredients

•¼ cup vegetable oil

•2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

•½ teaspoon sugar

•dash of salt

•dash of fresh ground pepper

•3 cups assorted melon cut in ¾ inch pieces

•2 small cucumbers, sliced thin

•Salad greens

•Pansy or viola flowers

Directions

1.In a tightly covered container combine vegetable oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.

2.Shake to combine well. In a bowl combine melon pieces, greens, cucumber, and pansies or violas.

3.Right before serving pour on dressing and toss to combine well.






May you all be enjoying a walk in the yard.

Blessed Be,

D

Good Morrow My Flower

Merry Meet…you seem a little flustered…come sit with me…I made some citronella candles to keep the bugs away…how has your week been?


It has been a relaxing week…I got quite a bit done just the same…

The massage room has been deep cleaned and all padding washed…I pulled out and tested my paraffin tank and table heater…I will be placing my sombra order next week…if you need some let me know…it has been a busy week…I am looking for purple sheets…if you see some please let me know

We have opened the American Boudica Publishing Youtube page…tomorrow we will be taping and uploading…I am very excited

I have not found any good contracts up to bid on, but I am keeping watch

I have been on summer break this week from school…my next class up is computers…I am really thinking this will be cool…classes such as this teach some really cool tricks

I have started my seeds for fall crops - Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), Dill (Anethum graveolens) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)…it has rained for days…it is good as the ground can use it…I like the idea of the crape myrtle hedge to block the sun from the house…I will keep you posted as to how it works…

Since we have had so much rain, pool time has been limited…when I do get to go…the water has been freezing…this left me time to go through mail (snail and e) and autumn clean…I fixed hubby’s computer, made some great meals, washed the dogs and have been enjoying my time with friends

The stuffed shells were awesome…Walt felt special when I made him stuffed peppers…with so many fresh veggies around, I have started cooking ahead…pack it and stick it in the freezer…when I need instant food, pop it out of the freezer and into the oven…This way I cook 5 meals at 1 time…saves money and time…also because you cooked it, you know what is in it…I got into this habit when the kids were small and it has stuck with me…many meals lend themselves to this (meatloaf, casseroles, lasagna, stuffed shells, etc)…the herbs and spices really get the chance to penetrate…so if you are new go easy…

The Circle of Boudica is getting put together…I am happily awaiting my time…I feel really good about life…it is a unique experience and I am glad I get to be here at the start



Dill is a marvelous herb to the stomach and is really cool how its’ phytonutrients promote good skin…it is a strong herb…I love how the flowers pop like fireworks…very easy to grow in a semi sunny window



Dill Dip

3/4 c coarsely chopped fresh parsley

1/3 c chopped fresh dill weed (or 1tbsp dried)

1 c low-fat cottage cheese

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 c light sour cream or low-fat plain yogurt

1/4 c chopped green onion

1 tsp salt

freshly ground pepper

1Tbsp Honey (optional)


Well…it is time for me to go to bed…when you have time come visit again

Blessed Be,

D

Looking to the Clear Moon

I am so glad you came by…here fill your plate….I know the stuffed shell came out fantastic…the ‘Ragu Organic’ has amazing flavor well worth a few extra cents…I picked it up by accident…we know there are no real accidents…the steamed zucchini is drowning in butter…yes, the lady at Publix had fresh garlic bread made today…let me get you a napkin


You have questions about my comment the other day…I understand…I am sure science has some really cool reason for it…when you listen to nature you find different answers…what some dude with a PHD states might be true, but it is far from the only truth…

When you walk outside at night and the sky is clear with white poofy clouds…look at the moon…if it looks like it is covered in a transparent haze…it means that bad energy has been released and is going to enter the atmosphere…this was no exception

My husband’s overtime getting canceled was no big deal…he has been working so hard he deserved the time off…on his way home, the fuel line blew on his car…by the time he got home we lost ½ tank of gas…the gentleman who was supposed to help me with the video had disappeared…the next day, a man came to me with an animal that a young lady took from me…she so cruel I was really stunned…she had taken 2 gliders…one is MIA…she did not tell them man the nutritional requirements, so the animal was suffering malnutrition…I spent most of the weekend nursing him back…thank goddess for the gentleman who had stepped in or the animal would have been dead…some cats started fighting in the back yard which sent some mice into the house…thank god for a big cat in the house…I wish he could have got them before they tore up the kitchen…it has rained most of the weekend, so very little pool time…

There are clouds thick and deep tonight and no visible moon in sight…I have been chanting with positive energy to try and keep the damage a minimum…I have been burning purple sage around the house…

We are coming into the time of Harvest…The Feast of the Ingathering will be the same day as my induction (September 23)…this year it will be private…the feast is one to celebrate the hard work of summer…it is a time to start the winter preparation…you will find it is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months….the colors of this holiday are green, yellow and brown

The ‘Circle of Boudica’ is open to fellowship on September 1, 2010…we will be holding prayer circles through out the month of September…my plan is to have everything ready for Samhain…Samhain is considered by Pagans as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died…In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities…this is one of my favorite holidays…the colors of this holiday are brown, orange, red and blue…classes in Pagan study, herbology, religious study for adults will not open until the first of November…we will excitedly be starting the kids studies in December…since Yule will land on December 21…I feel it is a great time to get the kids involved…it is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the god and the goddess passing from crone to maiden…the colors for this are blue purple and white…if you are looking to join our fellowship please let me know…

I was able to get the YouTube for American Boudica Publishing today and the videos should be posted by the end of the week…we are very excited…I can not wait to hear the reading by Chris…it will be neat for others to hear him…you see every time we write together, I have him read it back…to listen to him animates the story by 10 fold…The 'massage FAQ' video we have worked on together…I think it will be enjoyed by not only people who give massage, but also everyday people who would like to or have gotten massage…

Lavender Herbal Jelly
Spread this on whole grain white for a nice way to relax…I used to make kids a sandwich of this when I wanted them to be calm or take an afternoon nap…the leftover lavender water can be used in a tub to calm skin and an excellent aromatherapy source…

• 1 1/2 cups fresh lavender flowers

• 3 1/4 cups water

• 1 box powdered Pectin

• 4 cups white sugar

• 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar

1. To begin, sterilize 5 x 1c jelly jars, rings and seals, and find a medium to large sized pot.

2. Bring the water to a boil in a pot, place in the lavender, and cover with a lid.

3. Lower heat to simmer for 5 min, and then remove from heat. Don't peek! Steep for at least 20 mins or preferably overnight.

4. Strain and measure 3 cups of the lavender brew and place in deep jelly making pot.

5. Whisk in pectin crystals and vinegar, bring to a boil, and whisk in sugar.

6. Keep pot boiling until it is at a rolling boil that can't be stirred down (about 1 min.)

7. Remove from heat, and let sit for 5 min. skim the top if necessary.

8. Quickly bottle and seal before it jellifies. Let the jelly age 1 month for best results.



Thank you for stopping by…I am glad I was able to fill your belly…it will be a busy week…I am here if you need me…may positive energy surround and protect you…

Blessed Be,

D

Feeling Quite Purple

Thank you for making time to sit with me…it has been a great week…here have a glass with ice, I have gotten hooked on Simply juices…I have lime or raspberry lemonade…which would you like?


Let’s start with all the updates…

As I have been feeling quite in tune lately, my massage clients have really felt special…I have worked in detail on their bodies…we have been speaking on nutrition and moving in a positive direction…we have been looking for more natural ways of dealing with minor complaints…I have now used Homeopathy on 3 different situations (2 human and one dog) and found it to be effective part of treatment…my hands have been gliding in the muscle…I feel like the muscles just want me to be there...I have been getting into some old Peter Gabriel…as you can see, I really love my job…

School is amazing…I just finished ‘The Herbal Medicine Chest’…I have another A…I hope this old girl can keep it going…this is really a great way to go to school…the class is challenging and the other students keep you thinking…our teacher was waiting on his wife to have a baby the last 2 weeks…I think the whole class was pulling for her…lol…my next one up is a computer class…I wonder what new goodies I will get there…for the next week, I am on summer break…

American Boudica Publishing is a busy place…since I have next week off we will be working hard…Chris will be getting a video reading of chapter 1 From ‘American Boudica, Family Friends and Funerals’ posted…I will be posting one called ‘Massage FAQ’…we should have ‘American Boudica, Love is like an Onion’ on the shelf by 9/15/10…The website should be ready by 10/1/10…it is a lot of work…I am so glad for all the helping hands…Chris and I have gotten the Skype down to a science…often makes me feel like I am on that cartoon ‘ The Jetson’s ‘ with my video phone…some things are just amazing…I can remember when that was a futuristic thing, Damb am I old…yea, but I am still cute

I will be banging down some more doors to try to get more government contracts…I have been on hold with this as I had so much else going on…so much for a summer break…people going back to work is more important than me sitting on my ass…so I will not complain;)

I have started seeing the change of season…fall is on the way, but the heat is not abating…the flowers and bugs have changed…this has been the colorful grasshopper year…we have had green, red and yellow ones hopping and flying everywhere…their nightly song does not come through an MP3 player and is very comforting…I will be kind of sad to see them go…I am getting ready to cut down the lilies…the crape myrtles’ have taken well to their new home…I have 3 more to plant…I also have 2 extra if you want them

The kids are well…mom has been home for a few now and is getting back into the swing of things…dad has the yard looking right again…he had to rip up his tomato from the turvey thing because a caterpillar ate it…the heat of the summer, after such a cold winter…made some things beautiful and made other look half dead…I think it amazed us both how much came back…isn’t nature cool

We have let everything around the pond grow tall to protect the fish…the water stays clear and cool when the sun does not shine directly on it…I like to stand on the deck and watch when they eat…They have been liking all the bugs jumping in the water…you can here the snap across the water…their orange and white colors have been shining this summer…must be all the grasshoppers…

The cat has been wanting to be brushed a lot…he is starting to shed again…the dogs have been liking their weekly bath…chew bitems is so small when he shakes off, the tub does not even get wet…when Shinara shakes off, she soaks the whole bathroom…Draco just sits there and gives me the evil eye…he loves to get in the tub and hates to get out…the gliders have been quiet since the others have been gone…the last few nights they have been letting me play with them again…I guess I am forgiven…all in all not bad at the moment

I have been enjoying the new TV…I do not get to watch very much…as a matter of fact, I DVR everything…so when I do get to sit for a few, I can fast forward through commercials, I can watch 3 half hour or 2 one hour shows in and hour…it is quite cool to stream the Netflix…I have had great luck with it…the Wii looks quite cool on the screen too…it has been a lot of fun

The pool has been a challenge…a friend of mine mentioned a pool service…I was a little green with envy until I went out the next morning…cleaning the pool may not be everyone’s thing, but you can learn about the area you live in by what happens with the water…it’s clarity can speak to you of what is in the air…the bugs you remove let you know when to plant or cut…the back yard has been much greener than the front due to the humidity the pool gives off…I am addicted to my pool…lol…I still try for twice a day and for at least 20 minutes…it has really helped me keep going in this heat

I have been gathering wood for the induction ceremony…I am very nervous and excited

There was a haze across the moon tonight…this is never a good thing…I will pray t passes quickly…Walt called me about a broke fuel line and overtime has been called off…I will keep faith and make the best from it…

Are you in need of sleep…if so you can go to most local grocery store vitamin isles and find Valerian…as always ask you doctor, but it has been working for 100s of years…no need for heavy prescriptions doing damage to the body…it is also a pretty plant

Life is good…I accepted the fact many years ago sleep is not a requirement, life is…I have really felt great about where life is right now…its not perfect, but good none the less

It is my hope that this finds you with a smile…some good thoughts of your own…may you find at least 3 blessings in you life today (small ones count)…

Blessed be,

D, Cooper-Rooney, LMT

A time of resolution…

Merry Meet,

In the last few years, I have walked with my heavenly parents to find my way from the pain of the past to the happiness of the present…the goddess has taught and nurtured me…the god has protected me from the pain…I sit here, a child befuddled in amazement…


As we have spoken of before, many people who were and are very cherished in my life have found their way back to me…with this in mind, I had a few people I wanted to call and say thank you to…when I was getting ready to leave Virginia…a few women who saw what was happening reached out to help me…they were all my age…they wanted me to start a new life without abuse…I honestly feel it is because of them I am alive…It has been 14 years since I spoke to any of them…one of them was Becky Richardson…she was the wife of a Baptist Preacher…her husband, Oscar, and she went out of their way for me and my twins…through the wonder of the Internet…I found a number to their old business, called and left a message…I wanted to hear her voice and celebrate with her…I wanted to tell her how special she was…like a child wanting a parent to be proud of how hard they had worked…she was a big help in attaining a new life…she and Oscar had a real marriage…I learned from her a lot about stability and how great family life could and should be…she helped me protect my children when I had more bruises than clear flesh…never once did she stand in judgment…I am quite proud to call her friend…today I got a call from a sweet woman, Lois, who explains that the company was sold and that Oscar was in India preaching…I was in shock…it took me a minute, I began to explain why I was looking for them…she continued on to tell me that Becky was dead…my heart stopped…she continued on to tell me that their son still worked there…at this point, my mind raced to the point the sound barrier broke…she was only a few years older than me…what happened, my voice was breaking and tears falling…I guess Lois picked up from my pause, I was reeling from the news…she told me Becky had an aneurysm of the brain and died suddenly…Lois continued to say that Becky was with Jesus…my mind shot to the kids playing in the yard…her daughter looked so much like her…Lois said she would try to get word to Oscar and we hung up…I was thankful to Lois for calling back, but I suddenly felt lost…my heart suddenly broken…during some of the darkest points of my life this woman was the angel sent to be my foot prints in the sand…and now she was gone

It is my long held belief that we are reborn until we get it right…those who die young are taken to whatever you call heaven…Becky is proof of that…she was a beautiful, selfless soul and gave love in abundance…I am blessed to say she was part of my life…I thought about our last conservation, I am very thankful that she knew I loved her and that I was thankful to call her friend…

Let people know how you feel…you may never get another chance…I am happy she did not suffer and is in a better place…my heart hurts though…

I am now a grandma…a few weeks ago I was reunited with 2 of my foster daughters…this was a true gift and they were both married…they each have 2 children…I am so proud of them…I knew this day would come…I have to admit, I am a little stunned…true fact- time stands still for no one…at 44, I am now a grandma…

Work has been going well in all directions…In school I have my final for ‘The Herbal Medicine Chest’ this week…I feel like I am doing well here too…it has been a little hard to focus…with the induction ceremony fast approaching…I think Walter, Chris and Dale would say their spirituality has been tested over the last few weeks…ha, ha, ha…

I feel good…I feel the Goddess is walking me through and preparing me for what is to come…I was thankful to God to feel safe enough to make those calls…to be able to say thank you for helping me change my life…not many people get to be a mom…I am now gifted enough to be a grandma…I was shown what happened to Becky, but not until I was strong enough to handle it…

My resolve is for The Circle of Boudica to be an open loving place for all…a place built on acceptance and not judgment…a place to share the open hearted kindness that has been provided…



News on frankincense…

Did the three wise men suffer aches and pains from their long camel ride? Luckily, they had frankincense, aka Boswellia, a traditional Ayurvedic medicine for arthritis and joint injuries. In a study published in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Egyptian researchers gave people with osteoarthritis of the knee Boswellia and turmeric or a placebo. After three months, the herb group showed significantly greater relief from knee swelling.



In my holiday bonfires, I have explained to people that the ashes rise to heaven…they carry your thought, hopes, dreams…I found the following poem and thought I would share…

Light-winged Smoke, Icarian bird,

Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight,

Lark without song, and messenger of dawn,

Circling above the hamlets as thy nest;

Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form

Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts;

By night star-veiling, and by day

Darkening the light and blotting out the sun;

Go thou my incense upward from this hearth,

And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU - Walden (1854)

Earth, Air, Water, Fire…In this Circle we Conspire…a blessing of a true friend is my wish for you…So Mote It Be, So Mote It Be, So Mote It Be.

Blessed Be,

D. Cooper-Rooney

I am what is called a transplant…

Okay, I am here…thank you for the cold soda….it has been hot and humid…here in Florida we have 4 seasons- 1) snowbird, 2) love bug, 3) surface of the sun, 4) hurricane…I am what is called a transplant…this is a person who was not born here, but has moved here and refuses to leave…


I started out in Massachusetts…my dad owned a horse farm (over 500 head) in a small town called Mansfield…mom was a teacher in North Attleboro and then Sharon…we then moved to Norton…my world changed…mom was still teaching…dad went to work for Fernandez Supermarkets and then for the Paul Deva State School for the mentally handicapped…Grandma and Grandpa were in Maine…Auntie was in New Hampshire then she moved to Foxboro…New England was my playground…what a great place to grow up…I was taught the country way…it gave me strength

At 18, with new baby in hand, I moved to Millington…Tennessee was very beautiful …my husband had changed into a hardcore drunk…my son came down with whooping cough shortly after we arrived and I was alone…my husband brought home a roommate, Mark…he was from Ohio…my neighbor Sandy, from Texas…what great people…they helped keep me busy and safe from my abusive husband…I learned it was not where you were from that made you a good person

From there I moved to Virginiabeach…this is when I learned what I was made from…I love Virginia…though I will probably never set foot there again…I met so many very fine people and was blessed with 34 out of the 38 children that were entrusted to me…it is also the place that many horrid things happened to me…a bitter/sweet thing…during these many years, I had moved back to Massachusetts a few times…neither place seemed to be me anymore…I went on the road

Booking bands took me all over the country…I learned a deep love for this country and the people in it…every mile spun by…I looked in every town I passed through…nothing seemed to fit…I was blessed again with many wonderful friends and adventures that I will carry forever …

When I arrived here in Florida…I came across the I95 Georgia border…it was crazy…it was wild…I went across a bridge to see a homeless person in couture fashion… I stopped at the first bar to have the owner sign some papers…there was a news story about an iguana being pulled over on suspicion of a DUI…at this point my life was unwinding from a huge horror show…for the first time in ages, I felt like I belonged…I quit booking bands…I got 3 jobs and sent for the kids…I felt safe…life started to slow down…many from my past have tried to come here to hurt me…I was blessed with fabulous friends and governors and the bastards were sent packing…my first license in this state was given under court order…I continued to work hard…I met a nice man…when we met, he had never been married or had children…he was from New York City and had never been to the country…we got married…he got me, the twins and my pit, Cosmo…soon we were looking to buy a house…my parents, I, the twins and assorted animals dragged him out to the country…poor thing…I think he was freaked out for the first few years…I love Florida…alligators knocking on peoples doors…manatees swimming up from behind you…birds of every size and color…year round growing season…flowers and fruit are abundant…being here isn’t just living, it is peace to both my mind and soul…It is here I learned to grow…

When I was diving I got a sinus infection and older Jamaican woman made this for me…I was right as rain the next day…I wrote it down and have used it several times since…it is good for the flu or a cold…without the rum, if you put it over ice, it is an immune booster…

Jamaican Hibiscus Drink

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 cups water

• 2 cups dried hibiscus blossoms (Find in Jamaican or Mexican markets; sometimes called sorrel blossoms)

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

• 1 cup sugar, or to taste

• Jamaican rum (optional)

Preparation:

In a 4 quart stainless steel pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the hibiscus and ginger, simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, then cover and steep for 4 hours. Strain and sweeten with sugar to taste. Chill and serve over ice, can be served with good rum, the amount according to your taste.

Yield: 2 quarts

Life is good…make time to enjoy it…

Blessed Be

The Goddess Has Shined on Me

The rain is hitting the metal roof…it has me in a quite sedate mood…I am glad you came to join me…I am feeling a bit pensive, things have been going so well…it has me worried…most people would say it is time to relax…times like this I like to keep moving…


Massage has been great…at least 2 clients a day…it has been picking up…YEA…my hands have had wonderful rhythm flowing along the muscles…it has been an energy of gold emanating from my massage to the client…the wonderful pink energy that has been back fed to me through the client has really been a special gift…I love my job…

I know many of you are waiting for book 2 ‘Love is like an Onion’…I will soon be announcing its release date…we are soon to be posting videos on youtube.com thanks to Tim…we will soon be selling full DVD massage instructional video tapes…we have started working on the website…it is not ready yet, but Chris and I are working hard….the grand opening will be soon…can you feel the excitement as it pulses through the air…I am getting prepared for the harvest…I never thought of being a writer or publisher…my high school English teacher, Grace B. Kiernan, must be rolling in her grave…I would like to think she always knew the courage, strength and inspiration she passed to me…all of this is a special gift…another job to love…

I have worked some in trade for some beautiful Crape Myrtles in several colors…I have figured out a green solution to a VERY red hot problem…here they grow about 12- 16’ tall…my house gets hot due to direct sunlight…I am going to use them as a hedge to cut the light from the house thereby keeping it cooler…the Crape Myrtle loves sunlight…it’s a win/win for all…look out its creeping up…the feeling of another special gift…I have also cloned some of the bushes, if anyone wants one just give me a call and you can have a gift too…I love it when the garden comes to the rescue…

Things are starting to return to normal with the animals…they have started forgiving me for sending away the glider babies…the neighbors have been laughing at me…I call the dogs outside…the dogs and the cat come running…when I call the dogs in from the yard…they all come running and so does the cat…of course I wish he would learn to go the bathroom outside too…they have all been quite happy none the less…content and healthy animals is always a gift…sloppy wet kiss love is found here…

Our TV blew out on Friday…the Goddess was smiling down on me and I did not know it…Walter was determined to use craigslist.org…I told him he was crazy…he found a great deal and I called the guy to make sure it was real…an hour later we were taking it off the truck…55’’ screen…it is like being at the movies…you should see the Wii…I felt really blessed with this gift…I love the picture…

On facebook.com someone was nice enough to post a cute pic of my daughter…I loved it so much I had to share it…Dansir looks like she should be part of Steak and Shake’s next marketing campaign…it is so cute…her smile is my gift…I love her for being so sweet…

Two of the foster children have reunited with me…to find that they are both happy and healthy…I am now a grandma…I was blessed when they came into my life the first time…I loved them and set them free…the fact they came back to me…that is a gift that I hope you may one day feel…my heart is swollen with love…



HEALING HERB SALVE

1 oz dried comfrey leaves

1 oz dried calendula flowers

2 cups olive oil

1 oz pure beeswax

4 drops tea tree

4 drops lavender essential oils

1 400 vitamin E

Heat herbs in olive oil over low heat for about 5 hours. Do not let the oil boil or bubble. A Crock-Pot or the lowest temperature setting on a range should be suitable for heating this mixture. (If the lowest setting is too hot, turn off the heat once it has warmed the oil...it should keep warm for at least and hour....then repeat the process twice.) After cooking, strain out the herbs while oil is still warm. Place 1 1/4 cups of the herb oil in a pan add beeswax and heat just enough to melt the wax. Add essential oil and stir. Finally, pour the salve into wide mouthed jars. (Store at room temperature) Use for minor scrapes and cuts, to protect and promote healing.

I hope you are having many blessings this week…the best gifts don’t have a price tag…they are cultivated from the love you give…

Blessed Be,

D, Cooper-Rooney, LMT

Adrift in my own little world

My desk is momentarily cleaned off and I thought I would stop by…




I am feeling good…for many years it was unsafe to go back…here is what I mean…my life at one point turned to a real life nightmare…at that point, I did not want to drag any of my friends through it…so I stayed away from everyone…it did not mean I did not love them or did not care…I was not safe and did not have a right to put others in that danger…in the last year many of those very special people have found their way back into my life…it has shown me how wonderful they are and how very lucky I am



It was 15 years ago today I took my last beating…a strange anniversary to celebrate…though it has been a busy day, there has been a strange undercurrent of freedom…I am soon to turn 45…I never thought I would make it this far…there is life after abuse…and it can be good



On a lighter note…things have been moving fast this week…every time I thought there would be time to chill the phone would ring…it is good to be busy…the rain that has been falling has been leaving this brown film on everything…which has created a lot of extra cleaning…massage has kept me hopping…sore shoulders and stiff backs…the 90 year old that tried to take up jogging to impress his 80 neighbor had me shaking my head…Chris and I have been on Skype most every day…it is great to be back in the groove of life and have the creativity juices flowing…class time has been great…I have to admit I am really impressed at the level of education…the teachers are great…also the other students really seem to get into it…I think it makes the class a lot of fun and the information much easier to absorb…it has led to some very cool conservations…I have been putting together my non-profit status for ‘The Circle of Boudica’…The Induction Ceremony is private…I am very nervous…I will take pictures when I can and post them…



Someone asked me once would I go back and change anything…the answer is no…the beatings were horrid and have left a mark on my soul…it was hard to bury children…at the time I wondered why…a few years ago I stopped wondering…in one day mind you…I went to the hospital to see a client…on my way to his room I got stuck in the elevator with a young woman who had lost her child…when we came out of the elevator we both had a different prospective than when we had gone in…I got to the shop and my first client was an abuser…it was something I felt and he confirmed…this was a difficult session for both of us…I agreed to take him as a client only if he would get counseling…he followed through with both…he has become a wonderful husband and father…again perspective had been altered…I got home that night and was woken by a knock at the door…it was a friend who had just been hit…I said nothing and tended her wounds…she seemed puzzled that I did not get upset…she had brought her daughter with her…I asked one simple question ‘What are you going to do when this happens to her?’ It was a similar question that made me get away from the beatings…it would kill me to think of any of my children to be on either end of it…3 months later she moved on her own…Damb, here is that perspective thing again…in a moment of deep meditation I could see clearly…I couldn’t have helped any of those people had I not walked the road I walked…I am glad to be able to help others…I choose to keep a positive perspective on it all…something good came from something so ugly



So for today, let’s celebrate life…the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the water that flows through our bodies…



For Bumps and Bruises (In the following order)

Rest

Ice

Compression

Elevation



May you all be blessed with never having such an anniversary…if you have a candle…burn it and pray for those who need it, to get to safety…



Blessed Be,

D