Ha ha - the p in my post was supposed to be a little smiley face with its tongue sticking out. Maybe I don't know how to use my emotions?

More love!!!

M

Wait, I'm going to try it again.:p

Now that, dear Goddess, is quite a Hot Toddy recipe. I will remember!

In this household, some would put in Jack Daniels rather than your usual whiskey. I'm thinking of the potency of such a concoction and figure you had better be getting into that bed swiftly or you'll yourself lolling on the floor. May it do wonders.

I'm still laughing about the way some have to clean house before the cleaning lady comes! That in itself is enough to wear you out, Goddess, without the extra baggage of a "bug." You do need Stillness. Much Stillness. We all send you wrap around hugs, huge warp around hugs and blessing.

Y aYa

Sweet Marilee - giggle! I am, myself not a grandmother - although that would be a blessing! I was responding to Janet's (tenaj) post about her becoming a grandmother in September. I am an Auntie though, a role I take quite seriously - with screams of laughter and giggles, and running around chasing two little girls like a lunatic! To offer a bit of personal honesty here, since you do it yourself so often - offering beautiful words and telling us such intimate personal tales with grace and humour - I am in my mid thirties, and trying to get pregnant. I fear I am running out of time. I know many woman are new mothers at this age, but there is a fear involved, having waited so long. So that is my little secret to you - offered in love - and why I get so excited about babies! Punkin

My favorite way to live, dearest Flora Nova -- a lifetime in the NOW.br>
Aren't you just loving this Tolle book. Sometimes, I think the masses lose sight of just how radical his invitation is to live in the NOW. I fall short more than not, yet when I am fortunate enough to fall into the dead center of NOW, there's such a sense of well being and one can't imagine being any other place.

A brisk breeze comes through open windows as I write. I can tell the wind is whipping up from the sound of its power in the woods here. There's this rush like that of ocean waves. It causes me to Remember the times when most people could pause and know the mood of Nature and detect on-coming storms a day in advance. I would say we are in for mighty storms here tomorrow..

Oh, to be so open to Nature you know when a leaf is about to unfold.

Yes, we will hike with slow in ease in the deep woods.:) Lady MariLee

Dear, dear, Pumpkin,
<br<Thank you for setting things straight for me and trusting enough to offer a bit of information. My daughter was in her 30's when she had her son. I do know the consternation and concern. Your excitment brings chills to the page -- those little tremors of vitality that ring of your inner dreams. We will hold such information dear and surround it in light and trust that Universe abundantly blesses you.<br>
And now we will celebrate Tenja's good news as well as rejoice that your are a right good auntie!

Marilee

Dear Marilee and Flora Nova -

I would soooo love a quiet walk in the woods .... to see nature's untouched bounty .... to smell the crisp, fresh air!

Take me, too!


Karen - Free2bfree

To All you beautiful Gardners who have been so faithful to share your gifts with the world I bring an offering of black smooth river rocks. We gathered them one year while in Tennessee and playing in a mountain stream. They are dear to me as they represent what happens as these moving, rushing waters have pounded them for years and years. They became like smooth little treasures that feels so good to hold in your hand. May I lay them with the other rocks in rock garden?

I AM accepting of healing NOW as I stroll through these grounds I see that healing is plentiful{color:#999999}. I am so grateful.

{color:#99cc00}{color:#99cc00}What wonderful work you are all doing here to maintain the beauty all around! I applaud your diligence and profound efforts of love!

{color:#99cc00}Baby Flame......Gand-Ma is just fine! Sometimes we grow best in the RAINY seasons and sometimes in full SUN!

I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as I always feel them around me!!!!!

Love to all,

Debbie

Sweet Punkin,

Although I have not yet caught up on the posts from last night, I saw your personal post to Ya Ya.

I didn't have my boys until I was 37 and two months shy of 40. They are the lights of my life. My pregnancies were two of the most joyous times of my life. I did have the amnio testing, just for my peace of mind. Although I have always had a soft place in my heart for people with Down's Syndrome and would have welcomed one of my own.

At 10 and 12, my boys still let me call them my Punkie Pies and my Honey Bunny Booboo's.

I know that everything happens in its own sweet time. And having two sisters without children of their own, I know how much my sons (and I) cherish their Aunties - and how bittersweet it can be to want one of your own and have it not happen.

One of my sisters was named Lala by my son when he was teeny and the name persists.

Now I'm rambling, but may make my next toddy with JD, is that a Kentucky bourbon, Ya Ya?

My Gramma did make these for us when we were children, and as my mother says, "You turned out okay, didn't you?"

And my three sisters and two brothers and I just look at each other and laugh.

I am going to envision you with a pumpkin tummy, all smiling and joyous. Might help, can't hurt.

Love, M

Good Morning dearest Karen,

Definitely, you come to, to the Virgin Woods with its own chaos and pristine offerings. We will take a small back pack with hot tea and scones and sit among those mushrooms and marvel at their welcome to us. I love the idea of having something quite special in the midst of deep woods. I will pack small oriental tea cups that we can hold in both hands -- even cloth napkins and put the hot scones into an insulated container that they will retain warmth. I will provide both a thermos of tea and one of hot dark chocolate. I noted that the temperature there in the deep woods was quite cool. There is a fresh spring there -- the icy kind that ushers up deep from the earth -- and a creek with vast beds of water cress. Cat-tails, too. And the eagle.

Yes, do come, too. Flora Nova will be joyful. My guess is that Happy Crone might also enjoy the journey. Can't you feel the spongy duff now beneath your feet!

A Radiance of Love and Happiness to you.

Marilee

Dear Debbie,

We do welcome those mountain spring rocks from Tennessee, worn smooth from the water's shaping. You remind me of the way, we too are shaped by life until a kind of smoothness comes and we can allow much from life experience to fall away.

The healing energy here multiplies with your entrance. And oh, how we enfold you in wrap-around hugs and a Radiance of Love.

: (((((((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Marilee

Thank you Ya Ya and Goddess M for your generous thoughts! I should be so fortunate as you M and your daughter, Marilee! Giggle - love your nicknames for your boys! I am hoping one day, I can happily post that I do, in fact, have a pumkin tummy - but what will be, will be. This book is really helping me allow things to unfold as they will.

I don't know much about toddys, but I do know that a friend's mom (to this day!) gave me hot mustard poultices. If that doesn't burn the cold right out of you, I don't know what will! I think it's just a tablespoon of ground hot mustard seed, and a bit of flour and water to make a paste. She puts it on an old towel, and then you put it on your chest for 10min! Wow!

Do get well! I must run off to work now, but I will be sending you healing thoughts today!

Love ya'll! P

Dear Goddess,

Jack Daniels is a Tennessee sour mash whiskey, I think. Potent and smooth. Two jiggers of it with lemon and honey would have me sliding under the table in the most surrendered heap imaginable.

An aside here for Pumpkin: If your grant us permission, all of in the Garden we envision you with a punkin-tummy.:)

Marilee

Dear Janet -

Grandmother-to-be is sooooo much fun! ... I just became a Grandma just days before last Halloween!

-----------------

Lil' Punkin' -

It took me many years, many unfinished starts, and many tears before I was able to become a Mother. ... I feel sooo blessed to have my two girls! ... And now after a period of time, my eldest made me a Grandma!

Before I had my own children, I spent lots of love, time, and money on the pleasures of being an Aunt! ... I come from a family of what my Mother calls "fertile turtles" ... so imagine my surprise when it wasn't so for me.

A gentle word of encouragement --- BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF! (Okay, maybe that wasn't said so gently.) ... Many times Mother Nature prefers if we slow down our lives ... put on a few pounds ... and get plenty of good food and good sleep. ... I know those things can be hard to do if you lead a busy and driven lifestyle and are used to wearing those tiny little clothes that are so cute! .... The pregnancies that were keepers (though not without much difficulty) -- they were during the times that I purposely put taking care of ME at the top of my list. I also had to put on about 10-15 pounds on -- which was hard for me back then -- though you'd never know it now! ... (giggle)

But if Motherhood isn't in the cards -- remember that you can still have the influence of being a Mom to your nieces and nephews -- you just didn't have the blessing of birthing them.

Love and hugs -
Karen - who is free2bfree


kf2bf

Where's is Michael, dear Flora Nova? Have you spotted him about today? I noted a brief post quite early on where he wished all the flowers well. I've thought of him this morning as we have talked of Hot Toddy's and expect he has a recipe to offer.

Marilee

Dear Debbie -

(((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))) for you!

I find it amazing, that those such as yourself ... those who've had more than their share of struggles and challenges ... have more love to share, and even love to spare for others. ... I'm sure it's like you say ... the pounding of the rushing waters has left your river rocks of life smooth as glass.

Love to you and yours -
Karen - free2bfree