In a "making" mood... for a change...

Current mood: creative

I made some oatmeal soap today. Still waiting for it to finish setting up, but I think it might be pretty good. I have a neighbor whose daughter has some of the worst eczema I've ever seen, and they're still using commercial soaps with SLSs in them. So... I told her mom I'd make her some good oatmeal glycerine soap with organic coconut oil.

I've been having the urge to make lately. I'm anticipating the gathering this summer, and I'd like to have some goodies to take with me to share with whatever kitchen I camp with, and a few things for trade circle, also. I've been thinking about a lip balm, some hand salve and maybe even a salt-and-sugar scrub. I guess I'm fixating on skin care right now. I have a few other projects in the line-up, but I'm not putting them into words just yet.

This year will be an aniversary for me. My first Natl. was WY, and I was there for the fires. I did my shift on the bucket line, then helped round up kids in main meadow. I gave my whole stash of wash cloths and towels away to be used as smoke masks, and didn't get any of them back, but I wasn't too worried about that. I was just so amazed to see all these people come together to put out this raging forest fire without waiting for anyone to come and "save" them. It was quite a revelation for me, and I've been hooked ever since...

I'm not sure about some of the changes I've seen since then, but I know there is far more love in the Rainbow than anger, and when I hear that first "welcome home, sister", it just washes away the rest of the year spent dealing with Babylonian bull$#!+.

Soooo....... I'm anticipating, and I'm creating. It feels good after a long year and a half of stagnation. I didn't make it to AR last year, and I've been missing the land and the family. I've also been missing the way I feel when I'm away from concrete and asphalt. I know it's a little early, but I always get this feeling around this time of year. I'm sure it has a lot to do with spending so much time inside because of the weather. Whatever the reason, I'm happy to be in a productive mood for a change!
Blessings,
W.

go here....

join us ... join us ... join us....

or not, up to you...

triberefugees.ning.com/group/spinnersweb

ARE MOBILE PHONES WIPING OUT OUR BEES?

My friend Ryan posted this yesterday, and I wanted to spread it as far as I could, so I'm reposting it here and on myspace.




Are mobile phones wiping out our bees? Mon, April 16, 2007 - 7:50 AM
news.independent.co.uk/enviro...968.ece

Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony collapse' of bees
By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Published: 15 April 2007
It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail.

They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive's inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.

The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all American states. The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast.

CCD has since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. And last week John Chapple, one of London's biggest bee-keepers, announced that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned.

Other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west England, but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted: "There is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK."

The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world's crops depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, "man would have only four years of life left".

No one knows why it is happening. Theories involving mites, pesticides, global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks.

German research has long shown that bees' behaviour changes near power lines.

Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who carried it out, said this could provide a "hint" to a possible cause.

Dr George Carlo, who headed a massive study by the US government and mobile phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, said: "I am convinced the possibility is real."

The case against handsets

Evidence of dangers to people from mobile phones is increasing. But proof is still lacking, largely because many of the biggest perils, such as cancer, take decades to show up.

Most research on cancer has so far proved inconclusive. But an official Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset.

Equally alarming, blue-chip Swedish research revealed that radiation from mobile phones killed off brain cells, suggesting that today's teenagers could go senile in the prime of their lives.

Studies in India and the US have raised the possibility that men who use mobile phones heavily have reduced sperm counts. And, more prosaically, doctors have identified the condition of "text thumb", a form of RSI from constant texting.

Professor Sir William Stewart, who has headed two official inquiries, warned that children under eight should not use mobiles and made a series of safety recommendations, largely ignored by ministers.

Gifted veggie bus for single mom and gypsy hearted child...

My 5 y/o daughter told me the other day that she thought the best life in the world would be to travel around in a "little bus that is kind to the Mother Earth and doesn't make polutions", sharing with everyone different ways to care for the environment! Whan I told her about veggie diesel she was over the moon!!! She said it would be okay to smell like french fries, as long as we didn't have to eat them all the time... lol.

She then said I should ask on tribe (which she is sure is populated by the most wonderful people on the planet) if anyone had a small veggie bus that they wanted to give away! I explained to her that a bus is pretty expensive, but she said it couldn't hurt to ask, so I'm posting her request here for all the world to see.

I just had to share this with everyone, because I thought it was one of my most precious mother moments so far! I have an eco-baby!!! YAY!!!!!!

Blessings,
Wendy

myspace burnout...

So, I finally caved and got a myspace page, and I'm already burnt after only a few days. Far too high maintenance, and so mainstream and pop that it feels like walking through the mall whenever I log in. Not really my thing, but the rest of my family e on it, and if I want to communicate with any of them I guess that's their chosen medium. Of course... they're all pretty mainstream and pop also... more's the pity.

Why can't they be more like me??? lol

I would so flip out if any of them actually came to a Rainbow Gathering with me, or even to a drum circle. What is it about drums that make some people feel the need to either play or dance, and others want to hide behind stockade fences?

Do any of you ever feel like the changeling? The one who doesn't fit the pattern?

I've been missing the weekly drum circles here lately, and it's starting to get to me, but it's been a bit too cold to have my 5 y/o outside at night.

I know... how much can one person whine in one sitting? Sorry, I'll stop now...

How is everyone's Holiday Season going? Ours has been pretty good so far, with very little of the family drama that usually occurs this time of year. I've been too busy to do more than read a few digests lately, but I've been trying to keep up with everyone's blog posts. I can't even remember the last time I posted anything, but I've been enjoying all the new photos from all of you.

Are any of you making New Years Resolutions yet? I've been trying to explain resolutions to my little girl, but I don't think I've quite gotten the point across. I told her that they are promises you make to yourself to try and be a better person, with some examples being; eating healthier foods (my own resolution for the new year), quitting smoking (did this almost 7 years ago), being more thoughtful, helping others more, being more organized, etc... and she suggested that her resolution could be to eat more chocolate!!! LOL I almost fell off the bed....

And on that happy (or at least funny) note I will say Happy New Year (or whatever your family celebrates this time of year)! Wishing you all lots of Love, Laughter and Ease of Spirit during this festive season!

Blessings,
Wendy

Up to date...

My 5 y/o created this winterscape in Paint. She never ceases to amaze me...



Well... I just spent an hour or so updating my profile, adding poetry and images, moving things around, sweeping up the cobwebs and such... only to come to the realization that I'm probably the only person who ever looks at it.

Now if I could just find the motivation to do the same with my house... Things are starting to pile up, and I just can't seem to get busy with the things that need doing.

I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit, but it's slow in coming this year. I love to have Solstice greenery and decorations up, and my birthday is coming in a couple of weeks so I need to get going, but I feel so slow right now. I need a shot of B-12 or something (preferably something more organic) to recharge my battery.

We just had the Blizzard of the Century (since the century is only 6 years old I feel safe in using this term) here in Oklahoma. Some places got a foot of snow. I know that's not much as far as real snow is concerned, but for OK it's enough to shut down the whole state for a couple of days.

(note to self: when shopping for "storm supplies" don't forget to buy toilet paper!)

I remember snow from when I was a kid here in OK. We used to get snow at least a few times a year then. Now we're lucky if it snows once or twice a year. You can't convince me that's not caused by Global Warming. Well, it's beautiful now, and I think I'll go build a snow person with my kiddo. No school today!!!

So... Good Solstice, Happy Kwanza, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and whatever else is celebrated this time of year!

Blessings,
WendyLady

childish things...

Hi all,

I just finished writing 22 letters "from" the Ginger Bread Man to the kids in my daughter's kindergarten class. Now she knows the GBM doesn't always answer his own fan mail... and she's not happy that I won't give her his phone number so she can ask him what I should write in each letter. I explained that it was against the rules to give out his number to kids, and that he could only accept calls after her bed-time.

Hey - at least I haven't told her that her belly-button is where the Indian shot her with his bow and arrow when she was a baby... (true story, my grandpa told me this when I was 4) or that if she drinks coffee before she is a grown-up she will turn black... ('nother true story, this time it was my grandma). She has already started questioning Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, and she hasn't even lost a tooth yet!

Since I was so diligent with the letters, I decided to treat myself to a glass of chocolate milk (well... we didn't have any "real" chocolate).

Anyone ever notice how all those years of acquiring grown-up restraint and moderation fly right out the window when you have that big bottle of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup in your hands???

And how you just have to squeeze it with both hands because you can't seem to get enough out of it with just one???

And you don't even mind that you have milk mustache???

And it's not really satisfying unless there's that layer of chocolate sludge on the bottom of the glass that you let trickle down the side and onto your tongue like it was nectar???
LOL

So... how many of you are going to get an ice cold class of chocolate milk right now?

Maybe a better question would be - how many people will ever even read this? Oh well, I feel better for writing it, anyway... ~<{ ;-)

Blessings,
WendyLady

I just realized...

I have joined 69 tribes... good number to stop on ( }:-o~ ), but I'm sure I'm not done yet. There are just too many interesting subjects here, and I haven't even scratched the surface yet. Of course, I don't have time to do more than skim the daily digests of some of them, and keep posts down to listings and alerts from most of the others, but eventually I'm sure I'll be able to figure out which are the keepers and which ones I just can't keep up with.

Right now I can't even keep up with myself... it's quite late, and I should have been in dreamland long ago. Good night, everyone...

Blessings,
WendyLady

Drummers Save The World!

It could happen....

They saved my sanity, anyway. I finally connected with some rhythm seekers the other night, and we got together for a little drumming and fire spinning. It was great, and we're talking about making it a regular event, with even more folks attending. Drummers, spinners and bellydancers, oh my! Nothing more kinetic than drums, fire and dance...

It's shaping up to be an interesting Autumn...

Blessings,
WendyLady

Update from HELL...

It's so hot here that small animals are cooking on the driveway (really... so it was a mouse, it still fried in it's own juice).

It's difficult to be sage, serene and philosophical when you're sticky, breaking out in hives and learning to breathe like a fish. It finally rained a little last night, about a 1/4 in., but we're still about 20 inches below normal for the year.

I just realized my first ever blog entry is starting out to be one big whine fest... how sad.

On a lighter note... I just got lots of folks to agree to get together weekend after next for a drum and dance circle! It will be the first drumming I've done, or even heard, since the gathering. I'm so excited I can hardly wait!!!

There, that's better... no more whining...

I'm glad summer is winding down, I much prefer fall, winter and spring. Unless, of course, I'm in Colorado, then I love all the seasons (just some a little more than others...).

I've been working quite a bit, but not anything that pays. I'm doing lots of design work for family (actual relatives), so it's all freebie stuff. I don't mind, though, because it's excelent exposure. There's a 14' x 5' sign 30' up in the air that has my work all over it, and soon there will be t-shirts all over the state with my designs on them also. When ever anyone asks who did the designs, I expect both of my brothers to hand over my business card and recommend the hell outta me!

Guess that's all for now...

Blessings