SPRINGTIME RUMINATIONS

The birds are busy from dawn to dusk singing, swooping, and squawking. The bus is covered with winters moss and I fear her cleaning will turn to painting, which I deem less fun than gardening. First tulips bight red blooms, snakes in the veggie beds, seeds ripen in the greenhouse, the crochet hook set aside for the sewing machine.

Elk Medicine

(picture taken within the city limits of Longview WA)

The dog and I are making deliveries in the dead of the afternoon. Sun beating down, urban stink, obnoxious traffic, driving through crime infested neighborhoods their former beauty freely decays.

The road becomes winding and narrow, the green of tree and bush returns, around and up we climb. I'm startled by a pickup barreling down the hill straight for me. We salute each other properly; gesture, grimace, growl .... and onward.

To my left are grazing elk: alert, strong, wild. I pull over and struggle with my pack to find my camera. I cut the engine. I'm in awe, the dog growls low and deep, the bull sizes us up. The best pictures are stored in my mind, the above pic came once I found my camera.

Elk Medicine teaches me that pacing myself will increase my stamina. If I have taken on too much recently, it's a good idea to take a look at how I plan to finish what I started without ending up burned out. Elk medicine also teaches me to seek and honor the company of my own gender. Within sisterhood I will find the strength and support to realign myself with the warrioress energy that I will need to go the distance.

Happiness is in the everyday choices we make ....

A ninety three degree day here is murder. It's rare. It happens maybe twice in each season of spring, summer and fall. Not enough to buy an air conditioner. Hot enough to make you flee towards the Columbia and hope for a coastal breeze. At four in the afternoon we had suffered enough. We filled the water bottles, filled the gas tank, grabbed our gypsy packs and headed for the holiday filled shores of the Columbia. No sand to be had, fishermen, families, picnics, swimming, further on we go. The air cools, ahhh, we are silent in our relief and the wheels keep turning. Green mountains, covered bridge, sloughs, basalt cliffs, moss covered trees, ferns, cool salty air dances on our skin, cranberry fields, the beauty of Willapa Bay, mountains of oyster shells and finally the sandy coast and welcoming waves of the sea. Hours spent walking, taking in the fresh air and evening sun. Happy enough to feel hungry. We head for Long Beach for thai food. Yeah, I know what you're thinking, I did too. A pleasant surprise awaits you. Authentic thai on pacific avenue of Longbeach. Chilies, lemongrass, lime leaves, peanut curry, coconut milk, seafood all done right. A genuine treat. The sun seemed to never set. We had light late into the night and as we came down the mountain towards the rainier bridge a coyote crossed our highspeed path. I hope the sneaky thing lives. Coyote the trickster.

A Gypsy Cure for the Blues ....

FIND TREASURE !

Goodwill stinks !
I prefer to shop local thriftstores run by volunteers .... better bargains, hidden treasures and money spent stays within my community !

Results of one successful hunt;
2 grapevine wreaths used in things I make .25 each
1 vintage cake decorator craft supply .50 cents
1 basket full of shells craft supply .50 cents
Medicine Card Oracle Set (score! great resource for animal totem info) $2.00
soapmaking book (another score) $1.00
vintage indian crafts and lore book .50 cents (revealing crafting techniques that I couldn't figure out)
4 paperbacks on herbs, local wildlife, local gemstone trails and picture book .25 cent each
Total $6.00.

1 hour of focused treasure hunting resulted in an attitude adjustment (ladies you know what I'm talking about), hours of book reading and crafting joy and new road adventures seeking wildlife and gemstones.

Message from a Heron

This beautiful weather has me outside walking in the early morning hours.

High calorie season is around the corner, my (self-imposed) stress levels are high and the ol' bones have been creakin' since the weather change.

A morning walk for me is good medicine.

I had taken no more than 20 steps when I hear this sound, turn to see what it is and come face to beak with a heron. He's so close I can see his white feathered breast and neck vibrate as he speaks. What do I do ? Is he gonna hit me ? Where's my camera ? No one is ever gonna believe this. I can't believe this. In my experience these bird naturally shy away from human activity, this bird is going to hit me. My instinct is to reach up and hold it and ............. as if he's read my mind, he shifts and passes on my right an arms length away. He eyes me to be sure his message has been received and glides gracefully over water to land camouflaged on a winter gray tree.

When an animal does something to get my attention I view it as medicine.

I try to look inside myself to understand and I back it up with research. I currently use these reference materials; Ted Andrew's Animal Speak, Jamie Sam's Medicine Cards and Animal Spirits .

The message for me was spot on and as soon as I understood a heavy weight was lifted from me.

It was a good day.