Jaspenelle and Michael's Journal

My son has cat feet…

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:16:17 GMT

(or maybe my cat has a human head.)

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Traditions

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:12:01 GMT

Our holiday decorations are simple and mostly handmade. All of our stockings were made by my mother-in-law. Michael’s is the one his mother made him as a child, Damian received his one his first Christmas and Ivy and I both received ones this year (they are lovely, check them out.) Elsewhere in the house we have a quilted banner hanging with angels, also from Michael’s family. I have a few Wintery cookie tins and candle holders scattered around too.

Our tree is a small live dwarf Alberta spruce that stays on our altar for a few weeks before going back outside. We have to watch for spidermites so I mist it a few times a week and crack the window beside it daily so it doesn’t get too warm for it. We decorate it with a handful of small ornaments, little painted wooden figurines and small beaded baubles, a crocheted mouse (Damian’s first ornament) and my one of my great-grandma’s little bells (Ivy’s first ornament,) a wood bead garland and a short string of big colored led lights. Santa/Odin stands beside our tree decked out in a fur and greenery with birds perched on him. We have a few glass ornaments that are too large for the tree (from when we had a large fake one) so we hang them from the ceiling above the tree, I think they make a great “topper.” They catch the light and this time of year is all about welcoming the return of the light for us.

I admit I love outdoor decorations more then indoor ones, so we have a couple strings of white ones on our porch and a wreath I made on the front door. Over the years I would like to pick up more lights, maybe the icicle ones if I can find led ones to line our roof with. On Christmas Eve we usually go around our neighborhood and look at all the decked out yards, but we will see how that goes with a newborn this year. Tonight after Michael gets home, we will delivery the last cookie plates to our neighbors and watch our favorite Christmas movies during our “finger food feast”. I am making all our favorite finger foods (and a ham) because nothing says holidays like eating too much (or something like that… Hey, it’s tradition!)

I love our Solstice traditions and for us today is the last day of Saturnalia and tomorrow is the first day of Brumalia, but it is also Christmas. We choose to honor Christmas in a secular way because of our family traditions. I love mixing Michael and my family traditions with our new ones as a family. And lets face it, this time of year is so much more fun with a young family. I can’t wait to see Damian unwrap his gifts tomorrow.

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Solstice Gifts

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:42:10 GMT

Though we do our main gifts unwrapping on Christmas Day (as that is the day Michael always has off work) we tend to share a couple smaller gifts on Winter Solstice. This weekend we had a small Solstice gathering at our home and Michelle gave Damian the small wooden car in the picture (she also brought onsies and a hand knitted blanket for Ivy as well as an heirloom crib quilt.) Every year Michael gives me the beautiful We’Moon datebook on the Solstice and I tend to make him something by hand. This year I made him a set of juggling balls.

(Damian with the heirloom crib quilt. It has bluebirds on it.)

I bought The Return of the Light for our children. It contains 12 short stories from around the world about the return of light, perfect for the Solstice. Reading to them is very important to me and I love it when I am able to find seasonal as well as spiritual stories. Ideally, I would have given it to them for Saint Nicholas Day but it arrived several days later, so Solstice it is! (Theoretically, I will have it a little more together next year. Not surprisingly, Ivy’s birth put a bit of a hold on some holiday surprises this year.)

Of course I like receiving gifts, I adore my datebook filled with beautiful images and inspirational works, but I do not think anything makes me quite so happy as seeing the look of the faces of the people I give to. It was nice seeing Michael juggling within minutes of opening his gift (and Damian giggling with joy) it is wonderful to have Damian cuddle up beside me while I feed Ivy and read them both a story. Lasting happiness for me is in those moments more then anything else.

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

First Hair Cut

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:44:16 GMT

Just the other day I had scruffy but adorable baby curls and bangs that Mommy was constantly pushing out of my eyes. There was talk of girly hair bows if it got much longer.

Then my Aunty Shannon came over to visit this weekend and now…

(Ben and I at our Yule gathering over the weekend.)

I look like quite a dashing boy if I do say so myself. Mommy, Daddy and Aunty Shannon agree but they say I look way to grown up and three times more mischievous now.

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Love is…

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:42:30 GMT

… staying up into the wee hours of the night humming Three Little Birds to your three week old with an upset tummy.

Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing,
‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Rise up this mornin’,
Smiled with the risin’ sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin’, (”This is my message to you-ou-ou:”)

Don’t worry about a thing…

I don’t know about you but I think it is a pretty good lullaby for this longest night of the year. As tired as I am, this still feels like a precious time for Ivy and I. Our first Solstice eve together.

Blessed Yule!

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

But I have a shovel!

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:06:03 GMT

I had a zombie nightmare last night and it was really scary while I was in it, but kind of funny now that I’m awake. (And no, I haven’t watched any zombie movies for a few months now. Not since Samhain.)

I was in a house that looked like my uncle Stan’s but which had the yard and basement of our current house. It was snowing heavily and I was getting ready for our annual Yule party (which is today in real life.) Andrea called me to let me know she’d be late since zombies were blocking her car, she told me to turn on my tv. When I did they were on screen, in the perspective of looking out Andrea’s eyes. In the dream this made sense as she had just recently received her “Blackberry implant” and was now completely wired.

Peter was dressed in Samurai armor and was throwing pine tree bonsais at the zombies (funny because Peter really does have Samurai armor and has tons of little pine trees in his grow room.) Andrea was throwing turnips (which I need for a recipe, Michael is picking some up on his way home.) Unfortunately neither weapons were ineffective and though they got in their car the zombies pulled them out and ate them (very Night of the Living Dead-ish.)

Frantically I called Shannon, when she picked up she informed me of her similar situation. She was using a snow shovel to knock them down her basement stairs as they came in her back door (so much for her roommate…) Her last words before I heard a snap and gurgling were “but I have a shovel!”

I called Michelle and Mikcos but no one picked up, nor did Michael. In my dream Michael was at work (as he is this morning for a few hours) but I wasn’t worried since they had a zombie shelter. Damian and Ivy were not in my dream (thank you subconscious.) My mom was out with my uncle, so it was just my grandma and grandpa Mason and brother at home. We all fortified ourselves in the basement, armed with canning jars. When the zombies broke threw the door we all screamed “I want my mom!” and started throwing the jars.

Just before I woke up I realized all the zombies had iphone implants…

Weird huh?

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Snow Day

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:36:47 GMT

OMG Mommy, the world is covered in icecream!

Yay icecream!

Om nom nom nom!

What the heck?! This doesn’t taste like icecream!

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Ivy’s Birth Story

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:45:26 GMT

Since early in my pregnancy with Ivy I had had a feeling she was going to be born on, my Grandpa Mason’s birthday, which is November 27th. As it turned out she was born on the 29th but I did go into labor on the evening of the 27th.

So many people have misconceptions of what labor is like. Most tv shows would have you believe that after weeks of bed rest from some unknown malady, a pregnant woman suddenly doubles over screaming in agony as her water explodes everywhere and then ten minutes later she pushes out a screaming perfectly clean baby. The mother never delivers the placenta on tv (in fact it is never even mentioned) and the mother’s body then magically reverts to it’s prepregnancy shape upon delivery of the child (haha.)

I say this because I want you to understand that when I say I went into labor on the 27th, I do not mean I was in active angry labor for a day and a half. What I mean is I had bloody show and sporadic light contractions that started on the evening of the 27th.

So what did I do now that it had begun? I took a bath and went to bed, and proceeded to slept through the night. (Not exactly Hollywood material is it?)

The next morning I woke up to the same light contractions of the evening before, but they were a bit more consistent, probably 10 or 15 minutes apart and lasting 30 seconds. I guess this is what a lot of medical professionals would call “failure to progress” and would have been wanting to induce me at this point but it wasn’t bothering me and Ivy was still moving about. I felt she was just doing things on her own time. I messaged my two friends (Andrea and Shannon) who were to be present for the birth not to leave town that day though.

I do not like focusing on early labor as it makes the whole experience seem to last forever so I started cleaning the house. You could call it nesting, but really my mother raised me never to have people over in a messy house, and since Ivy was to be a homebirth, people would be coming over. I also baked a batch of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and made a Winter vegetable stew, that is more like nesting for me, yummy food! I even did the dishes…

Even though I was constantly distracting myself, the day still really dragged. When evening finally rolled around I was getting a bit annoying by it all. I called my midwife (Beth attended this labor) and friends to let them know to expect a middle of the night call and get some sleep while they could, and then we ate dinner. Around eight Michael and I put Damian to bed and finished watching an episode of TNG before getting ready for bed ourselves. Of course once I was ready to crawl under the sheets, I moved into active labor. Even though I was a bit tired I was really quite relieved, finally some change! However the strength of the contractions also made me want to plant myself down where I stood and not move, which happened to be on my knees leaning over my exercise ball in the doorway of Damian’s playroom.

Michael called Beth and Andrea. As Andrea lives just 5 minutes from us so she was the first to arrive, she texted Shannon at some point as well. Before Shannon arrived Damian decided that it was a good time to wake up so Andrea took over for Michael (who was rubbing my back) while he went to comfort him. Little did we know that all the activity of Shannon and Beth arriving a few minutes later would keep Damian up all night! He was very well behaved as long as Michael was holding him though. Andrea and Shannon were like my doulas during labor, they were amazing. Michael and Damian sat near me, always within arms reach, which was very comforting.

Eventually Andrea and Shannon convinced me I would be more comfortable on the couch then between a rocking horse and wooden blocks, so I managed to move into the living room and lay down. They were right, way more comfortable! Granted they were making me feel like royalty with how much they were pampering me which certainly helped me relax.

Don’t get me wrong, contractions still really really suck, and I was having back labor which is particularly horrid but I was still really happy. I was also really funny, at least in my own mind I was. When I was in labor with Damian, even when I was in transition, everything was amusing to me and I kept trying to tell jokes but my contractions got in the way. It was the same this time too though I don’t remember what I said other than at some point I was trying to tell Andrea why I was laughing and it was because Henry Winkler was covered in bees (Little Nicky reference.)

After Beth arrived and was all set up (she really does bring everything, even an oxygen tank, just in case…) she checked my dilation. I remember groaning “I bet I’m at 4cm and will be forever!” And guess what? I was right! Okay, maybe it wasn’t forever, but after a couple more hours it felt like it. When I delivered Damian I tore a little and had some scar tissue left from that, so my cervix had to get past that hurtle before dilating past 4cm. My cervix got hung up again at 6cm, just like it did with Damian. My water still hadn’t broken but was bugling, just like it did with Damian. If my body had it’s own way, I have a feeling it would give birth to the baby still in the amniotic sac. Neither Linda or Beth have ever seen a sac as thick as mine, the Fort Knox of sacs… With Damian, Linda had to break my water with a special hook designed for that purpose, though it looks eerily like a crochet hook. I delivered him 1 minute to the hour after my water was broken. With this both Beth also gave me the option of breaking my water but I decided to wait awhile longer and see if it would on it’s own. I also switched position back to the floor leaning over my exercise ball and stayed there until I delivered Ivy.

At 1:30 in the morning on November 29th I asked Beth to break my water. Within minutes of her doing that I had the urge to push, much to Beth’s surprise. I was a bit surprised too as I had yet to go through transition. I went directly from active labor to the urge to push. I was not about to complain about it though! Then one of the most amusing things that can happen during labor happened, at least in my opinion, Beth asked me not to push for a few contractions (my cervix was not done dilating so it was swelling due to my pushes, which is a little counterproductive obviously.) This is probably only amusing to women who have been in labor and who know that the urge to push is quite possibly the most overwhelming feeling in existence. Asking me not to push is like asking the Earth to stop spinning.

However the Earth did stop spinning according to everyone present, or at least they said that I did manage to not push for a few contractions. I honestly don’t remember (probably because I was thinking of various people covered in bees) but I do remember Beth telling me I could push again which I was probably more then happy to do. I few pushes after that Ivy was crowning and then her head was out and Beth told me to stop pushing, again! Not so funny this time since the reason not to push was due to my baby’s cord being wrapped around her neck. Again I managed not to push for most of a contraction, long enough to loosen to cord. Unlike with Damian, I felt Ivy’s whole body coming out, not just her head, this is because Ivy’s head circumference at birth was 13.5″ and her chest was 14″. Normally the head is the largest part of a newborn but not my daughter. She needs that extra chest room for her amazing lungs, which she was happy to let us hear as soon as she was out, much to my own relief. (A cord around the neck is not as scary as it sounds but in that moment it was the most terrifying moment in my life.)

Ivy was born almost exactly an hour after my water was broken at 2:30, just like with Damian’s birth. Since I gave birth to her on my hands and knees it was a little funny getting me sat down and Ivy up onto my chest but but in no time she was wrapped in my arms and snuggled against me. Other then Beth drawing some cord blood (it is important for me to know if Ivy has a positive or negative blood type since I am RH-) I held my baby girl until her cord stopped pulsing and was cut (by my very excited friend Shannon), I delivered the placenta and then breastfed my baby girl for the first time.

After that everything was little bit of a blur. There came the usual weighting (8lbs,) measuring (21″,) and Ivy received her vitamin K shot. Michael put on her first diaper, clothes and swaddled her and then everyone got to hold her for a little while (I love watching my husband hold our children) while Beth checked me out and I got to cleaned myself up (yay! Labor comes with an unbelievable amount of bodily fluids…) A couple hours later after Beth had finished all her postbirth cleanup and paperwork, she was gone and it was just Michael, Damian, Ivy, Andrea, Shannon and myself left. It was only then that I realized Andrea had brought a huge fruit tray and hummus and chips, yum! We talked for a time, though I don’t remember about what, mostly because I was dozing off, which was quickly noticed by all. I didn’t want Andrea and Shannon to leave, they were so wonderful during the birth, but they did. We couldn’t be blessed with better friends. And then it was just Michael, Damian, myself and our newest little baby girl.

We all ended up in bed together (I was pointless to try and get Damian to sleep in his toddler bed at that point) and falling asleep. Michael and Damian were out like lights and Ivy was already asleep in the crook of my arm. The last thing I remember before sleep overtook me was seeing my family glowing in the light of the moon streaming in our bedroom window as if we were being blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. Perfect is the only word that comes to mind to describe that scene, it made ever moment in labor worth it.

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Adjusting

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:34:56 GMT

Grandma Stewart and Ivy

Since I have been getting quite a few curious and sweet texts, emails and facebook messages asking if I still inhabit the Earth, I thought I might do a quick little update since Damian is in bed and Michael and Ivy are napping for the moment as well.

We are adjusting well to our newest family member’s presence. Nighttime sleep could last a little longer and days could be a little less hectic but that was all to be expected.

Damian is adjusting well to having a little sister though he does seem to miss being the center of attention at times and we have had a handful of extra tantrums. We expected that. Aos has not eaten Ivy yet which is good. He pretty much ignores her existence in fact and is content to take long naps on Damian’s bed (whether Damian is in it or not.) Michael is doing well is somewhat sleep deprived, as am I, though I am a little emotional from time to time, but that is to be expected.

We all ventured out for the first time since Ivy’s birth today (aside from a scheduled trip to the pediatrician) and went to Costco. It wasn’t difficult, other then it being the Christmas season in a big store thing. Damian was very well behaved and Ivy slept the whole time.

Michael goes back to work Monday and we are having friends over for our yearly Yule gathering next weekend, so my posts will probably be just as sporadic as they have been for a couple more weeks while we all adjust to this new routine. I am working on Ivy’s birth story which is in point form at the moment, so that will be one of my next posts.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Yule season filled with peace, happiness and lots of love and laughter. We most certainly are.

Originally published at Paganites :: Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Pieces of November

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:30:54 GMT

On last month’s collage post I said that I had a feeling November was going to be both exciting and incredibly hectic, and I was right! As you know our daughter was born this past Sunday and the past few days have been both of those. On October’s collage I made a list of all that happened and that I was grateful for, but I am tired today so I’ll just share the pretty pictures. Enough to say I am in a very warm happy (and a little exhausting) place right now and so very grateful to be living this life.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Ivy Eleanor Stewart

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:09:29 GMT

Ivy Eleanor Stewart was born on November 29th, 2009 at 2:30am. She weighed 8lbs, and is 21 inches long. Welcome to the world precious baby girl!

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Thanksgiving

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:07:10 GMT

“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
- – Ralph Waldo Emerson

We spent today at our friends’ Thanksgiving gathering. Peter and Andrea’s home is always so welcoming. Andrea’s sister-in-law, Laurie, surprised us with a couple of gifts too, a really soft adorable turtle plush for Ivy and a Kalanchöe, a tropical succulent, this one has orange flowers. I admit, I am a sucker for new plants.

Damian behaved as well as any 17 month old toddler can. He loved the food too, I was pleasantly surprised that he ate the turkey since I have the hardest time getting him to eat any form of protein, animal or plant. He stuffed himself silly (very silly indeed) with it in fact. The only problem with going elsewhere for Thanksgiving is you don’t have leftovers, however my turkeys would not have been nearly as good anyways. Ivy even left me some room for seconds!

So what is your preference? Barbecued turkey or oven baked? They had both! And tons of sides of course, yams, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauces, rolls… Everything was delicious, but more then that, the company was wonderful. (I think it is impossible to feel like an outsider with the Parrish family…) I have been spending an exuberant amount of time recently feeling rather nostalgic about my mother’s side of the family (with whom I spent nearly all of my childhood holidays with.) Andrea’s family reminds me of them quite a bit so it was extra special and a bit therapeutic to spend Thanksgiving with them.

I hope you had as lovely a day as we did and have hearts as full of gratitude as we do. Happy Thanksgiving!

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Every Day

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:27:54 GMT

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
- His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Slide!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:44:53 GMT

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Preparing

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:45:00 GMT

In these last few days before the arrival of our second child arrives, I have been looking at the early photos of Damian and rereading his birth story. He has grown so much in these past 17 months, I’m in awe. This is one of my favorite, he is just a couple days old here, he is definitely still Daddy’s little man.

Damian is standing beside me at the moment making lion noises (rwar, rwar, RWAR!) while holding his stuffed lion, which was assisting me in the tickle attack on Damian a few minutes ago. He has been such a big help lately, his developmental milestones being closer to that of a two-year-old. He helps me unload the dishwasher, put his clothes and diapers away, sweep (okay, he TRIES to sweep, good enough for me.) Damian’s greatest help as of late though is that he seems to understand that I am tired a lot and he will just crawl in my lap and relax and nap with me. I haven’t a doubt that he will be a fantastic brother but I do anticipate a bit of confusion in the beginning, as he is so use to my undivided attention.

All the birth supplies that I can prepare are ready and in a storage bin in our bedroom, all the newborn supplies are in their proper place too, clothes in the dresser, cloth diapers rewashed and stacked in the changing table, breastfeeding supplies in a bag (Lansinoh is my breast friend.) As much as the baby companies would like you to think otherwise, newborns really don’t need much. Well, that isn’t exactly true, they need a ton, they need your attention, your joy, your deepest love… and a heck of a lot of diaper changes.

I feel as ready for this birth as I can be and I know Michael is too. People tend to downplay the role of their partners during labor but I know I could not have gotten through Damian’s natural birth without Michael’s support (and the constant pressure of his hands on my lower back.) I truly believe he worked just as hard as I did and he will again for this baby’s birth. However, as ready for her arrival as I am, I know she will not come one moment sooner then her own schedule dictates. I just wish I could peek into her day planner!

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Blessingway

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:52:05 GMT

This past Saturday my friend Andrea held a Blessingway for me. It was so much fun to get together with my women friends and celebrate this pregnancy. Andrea took all these lovely photos of the occasion and there are more in a set on my flickr account.

After indulging in lots of delicious fruit (quite possibly one of the shortest ways to my heart,) opening a few lovely gifts and chatting it up, my friends did a belly cast on me. I don’t think I stopped laughing the entire time, with maybe a couple squeals from cold water running down my side (which was quickly rewarmed and the bowl placed on a heating pad.) Michael and Damian watched. Michael was as vastly amused as I was which was a comfort to Damian who was rather perplexed by what was going on.

I am undecided what I am going to paint on it and probably will not get to it until Ivy arrives either way. I am thinking maybe some design with lunar moths as they have been so prevalent in my dreams during this pregnancy (as have coyotes and shooting stars for that matter.) I have a feeling the birth will inspire me as to the design.

It was an exceptionally wonderful day and am reminded once again of how very blessed I am to have the friends that I do. I love you all.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Remembrance Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:36:18 GMT

“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”

Several years ago, maybe when I was still in Spain, I saw this photo somewhere. It is of a soldier cradling an Iraqi child who was wounded in a suicide bombing. Every time I think of war this photo comes to mind instantly no matter what war is being discussed and it twists my heart and stomach into all kinds of knots. It reminds me that war touches everyone, from those who chose to go into harm’s way, through the most helpless who must survive its madness. I don’t need to witness war to have my dreams affected by it’s horror or know that it is ugly and brutal.

I hope that one day humans will reach a point where we no longer think that war is needed to protect peace. I think that the word’s of Eleanor Roosevelt reflect my desire for lasting peace most clearly, “When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?” Unfortunately I know that today is not that day so instead I send love and support to those who have and must endure war, both civilian and military and pray for an end to the violence for all.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Fat my Ass!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:03:27 GMT

“I hope she falls, breaks her neck, becomes bedridden, gains hundreds of pounds, dies alone and burns in Hell.” — from my last entry

Wow, I can get pretty specific when I am upset can’t I? But you know what, that woman is not worth that much of my energy mental energy when I have so many wonderful things to focus on.

Today is beautiful and I am beautiful.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Hurt

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:40:01 GMT

A woman said something to me when I was at the park with Damian this morning that really hurt. I was sitting down for a minute to catch my breath after a Braxton Hicks (false contraction) and some woman just came up to me and informed me that I should get up and chase him around to loose “all that extra weight you’re packing and set a healthy example.”

Maybe I just look fat rather then pregnant in the Winter coat but that is no reason for her to have said that! I am measuring exactly where I am suppose to for this pregnancy. How is what she said even remotely helpful? Was it suppose to motivating? So bizarre form of tough love? Was she just trying to randomly hurt the feelings of a stranger? She succeeded in that last one.

I don’t understand how people can be so heartless, I’ve never had someone be so out-of-the-blue cruel to me before. I was having such a shitty morning and went to the park because it makes me feel better and I feel she stole that from me, and I let her. I’m angry that I feel this way and that the only thing I could sputter out was “What the hell is wrong with you?” and she shrugged smiled and walked off, and I let her. I should have grabbed her and slapped her smug bitchy face, I should have stayed in the park rather then coming home and crying.

I hope she falls, breaks her neck, becomes bedridden, gains hundreds of pounds, dies alone and burns in Hell. And no, I can’t even find it in me to feel sorry for her right. I just… I’m so upset. I miss my mom, she would have killed her with a look.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Pregnancy Update

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:25:11 GMT

This post is password protected. You can read it at Michael and Jaspenelle, where it was originally posted. Please leave any comments there.

Feline Friday: Insert Food

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:06:30 GMT

Insert food here please!

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Chrysanthemums

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:58:02 GMT

Michael brought these home for me the other day, orange chrysanthemums! I love the scarecrow head with the crow perched on him.

I really love mums but I have never had the greatest luck keeping them alive through the Winter. I heard if you get them earliest enough in the Autumn you can transplant them, but we are already having our daily hard frosts here so I doubt it would survive transplant. I’ve also heard the reason they don’t survive the Winter well is because most are greenhouse grown and not the hardiest varieties.

So do I just have bad luck with mums or have others had this problem? Has anyone successfully kept them alive and healthy through the Winter? I’d love to hear your tricks and tips.

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Halloween Recap

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:56:58 GMT

The night before Halloween we carved the pumpkin that Damian picked out at Harvest House in September. Michael drew its face under Damian’s close supervision.

Then Damian watched me scoop out the pumpkin guts. As those present at his birthday party already know, Damian is not a big fan of getting goopy, so he mostly watched. He did keep trying to put the guts back in the pumpkin though as I put them in the compost bowl. Future doctor maybe? Innards are suppose to stay inside you donchaknow!

Then he tried his hand at carving. Since Damian is not allowed to have a knife he just decided to chop at the pumpkin. Didn’t work out so well, so he watched me do that too while he colored on the pieces I cut out with his crayons.

And here is our Jack-O-Lantern as well as a pile of pumpkin donuts I made the same night. Pumpkin carving and pumpkin donuts belong together in my opinion (even if deep frying will always scare me a bit, I’d rather not have to use my fire extinguisher you know.) I used this recipe for the donuts which turned out really well, though I did not use buttermilk and skipped the whole donut shaping bit.

I had some last minute problems with Damian’s costume (I now realize why my mom started my brother and mine a month early!) but we did have a fall back plan. Last year Mom sent him a Winny the Pooh suit which was size 18 months. It was huge on Damian then and since I made him a Green Man costume, I tucked the Pooh suit it in our Halloween storage box. It fit him perfectly this year and he loved zooming around the house in it. And he was really zooming, we almost had liftoff a few times, granted his Sweet Tarts thefts probably partially accounted for said zooming and also his somewhat delayed bedtime.

All told we had about 30 or so trick-or-treaters. I loved seeing all the cute costumes. Almost all the activity tapered off my 21:00 and we turned off our lights at 22:00. Admittedly, I was annoyed at anyone who showed up after then banging on the door. They were all older teenagers and almost all of them were not even in costume! Luckily no tricks were inflicted on us because of my refusal to give out candy after we had put everything away. And luckily for them they didn’t wake up Damian…

Other then that nuisance though, it was a great night and I am looking forward to next year already. Michael and I have some fun ideas for how to expand our decorations into the yard. Mmmm aliens…

Now to go poke through the extra candy for a KitKat…

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Pieces of October

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:20:07 GMT

I decided to try something new this month and try to take a photo every single day. I marked the new moon, full moon and Samhain on my collage just to make it feel more like a calender. These aren’t all great shots (I had quite an icky flu for part of the October which partly accounts for the blurry or the random shelves around our home) but I accomplished my goal! It kind of makes me want to try and do it every month for a year, just to see if I can. 365 photos? We’ll see… Make sure to check out the larger version of this month’s collage over on my flickr page (just click the image to get there.) This little version really doesn’t show much detail at all.

Anyhow, October, October… What happened this month?

We harvested the last tomatoes and radishes from our garden.
I received another few lovely vintage Countryside magazines from my grandma.
It was sunny, rainy, foggy, windy… Snowy! We had our first snow of the season.
Evening walks with my two guys, enjoying the Halloween decor in our neighborhood.
Taking time to indulge my developing knitting addiction.
Being knocked flat by the flu for a week but luckily no one else caught it.
Witnesses Damian’s first strings of words… What’s this? Woke up! Thank you.
Michael and I wonderful date night at Clinkerdaggers.
Canning pluots, drying apples, storing squash. Preparing the pantry for Winter.
Beautiful gift packages from my family. Halloween themed cookie cutters!
Making chocolate sugar cookies with Damian with said cookie cutters.
Sweeping the leaves of our porch and deck – very therapeutic.
Carving our Jack-O-Lantern. Also very therapeutic! Stab stab stab!
Decorating for Halloween, welcoming trick-or-treaters, embracing Samhain’s ghosts.
And last but not least a continuing healthy pregnancy, week 35!

I hope your month was as lovely as mine and your family is as blessed. Now for November and I have a feeling it is going to be both exciting and incredibly hectic!

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.

Pumpkin Day

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:31:16 GMT

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain everyone! This is our first year in this neighborhood so I am not sure how many trick-or-treaters we will get but I am looking forward to seeing them all. Now to go finish Damian’s costume, we’re getting down to the wire.

(I wrote about Samhain last year here for the curious.)

Originally published at Michael and Jaspenelle. Please leave any comments there.