AI Family Affair Part II

As I 'missed' a great deal of the summer's richness and bounty, I am anticipating the autumnal traditions of harvest and the rituals of honoring of legends wherein the veil between the worlds becomes apparent and transparent. The very air seems to alter as the nights become longer, the day becomes darker, and the equinox approaches: this year it occurs Sep 22 2009 5:18 PM EDT.

Whatever we choose to call the holiday that comes at the end of October the first of Novemeber, Allhollowsmass, Hallowe'en, Samhain, Nos Galan Gaeaf, Día de los Muertos, All Saint’s Day, it, as others have said is my favourite holiday.

As the ageing hippy/country bumpkin that I am, I relish the rituals and the traditions of this time of year: autumnal housekeeping, sweeping the doorways and decorating them to reflect the coming dark season in the Northern Hemisphere. Baking fresh apple and cider cakes and fruit cakes, dosing them with honey-sweetened rum and vanilla-infused brandy and tucking them away in a very old crock to be brought forth in celebration of Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Yule, and the calendric New Year.

Additionally we have decided that as I am no longer able to keep ahead of the native grasses, the tumbleweeds, and goat's head thorns, and ants, in the courtyard/meditation area that we will replace what was once raked sand with concrete. Not only will this change provide us with a nice place to sit in the mornings and watch the Sun arise, it will keep the 'weeds' from growing against the foundation of our house.

In the past, we have also brewed beer appropriated to each of the holidays, this year we may not engage in the traditional ritual. However, we have set five gallons of vinegar to infuse with peppers, herbs, and garlic, lots of garlic.

Bob has turned one bed in the walled garden and added a generous amount of well-aged compost and some straw in preparation for planting garlic and winter onions. Next will be the bed for carrots, turnips, and beets. We are still enjoying tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and anticipating acorn and butternut squash.

Thank you for sharing your lives with me. May the Sun shine on each endeavour, light your way through the ravages of chronic disease, and create shadows to enthrall and delight you.

To family! Shug

Hey family, so good to year from everyone! Sorry I haven't been here much lately. My PsA has been a little better but I've been having tests done to figure out why I have been having such pain in my lower abdomen. The latest was a ct scan and I should know early this week. The most common theory is a hernia. Not looking forward to that. My husband had that surgery and those 2 weeks were not the most fun in our marriage. I had a c section though so I'm thinking it's the same kinda pain. Not fun. Speaking of my husband. We are going to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in November, and we are going go the Salish Lodge at snoqualmie falls, it's a spa! I can't wait. Take care all. I will try to be more active here.

How wonderful to see so many replies!  Kim, I can't ride a bicycle but wish I could, coasting downhill on one is the closest thing to flying, on a fine day it must be a slice of heaven.  Lindy I wish you could post some pics of your jewelry, they sound so intriguing and beautiful.  I'm sure they'll sell well and their new owners will feel honored to have them.  So glad you found a great RD, wish everyone could have one so thorough and caring.  Waddie, what can I say, you're a peach.  You're a peach's peach.    I wish we could clone you and send them to the four corners of the earth to be a good example of what it is to be a great lady, a great person.  Babs, I'd been wondering what was up with you, you haven't been posting much.  I hope you're on the mend and having a fine early autumn in many ways despite the flare.   Shug, my mother died on Halloween.  My sister and I agreed it was the day she'd have wished to pass, also her favorite holiday, laughing even through our tears.  Each Halloween since I've set out a dish of her favorite hard candies and communed with her in spirit.  If she ever were to pass back through the veil that night for a visit, I'd like to hold her ghostly hand and tell her, "I understand you even better now."  Lynn, enjoy these days!  I hope they give you memories to bless and sustain your future days and nights with joy.  Allymom, can I be a stowaway in your luggage to your trip to the spa?  I hope it helps you physically and makes you happy, you deserve that.  Milly, you're another peach!  Your update here makes me happy.    We have a veritable peach orchard here on AI. 

Edited by SnowOwl - 20 September 2009 at 9:30am

Wannabe, it's ok to ask for support, we all have our turn at giving and receiving.  You're there, in the heart of the turmoil, we can wish the best for you and offer up our experiences and encouragement but you have to live with your people in your world.  We can tell a person who's suffering that it will eventually get better, but our pain is our pain, immediate and intense.  We understand that. 

Bumping because I like this thread