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51
Reflections on death. 
It's like a book.....to contemplate a loved one's death....a pet's, or our own....one accesses different chapters.  All have very different meanings, IME.

What was your group focusing on, Hops?

About Christmas..... I'm going to cover pinecones in PB and seed. for the birds and squirrels, this year.  Two wreaths,  dinner out with the girls and the bf.... it's a wrap.  Boxing day sounds like fun.

Sorry about your hairbrush.  As my father used to say.... "We all protest in our own way."

Lighter

52
Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by sKePTiKal on December 21, 2025, 10:51:31 AM »
Happy Solstice and Jul!

The days start to get longer now; night's shorter. Time to put my seed orders together during my "slow time". Got my Seed Savers catalog before Thanksgiving this year!

53
Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by Hopalong on December 20, 2025, 11:46:29 AM »
I don't worry about neurodivergence, Lighter, but I often ponder it. DNA just gonna DNA, imo. Under a lot of divergence (great word, ambiguous, large) are streaks of creativity or in some cases, brilliance. I remember how startled I was when I first saw some tinsel braided into someone's hair, startled and delighted. It's like that.

Amber, I love the slowness of winter too. I think it quiets the restless spirit, at least it generally does mine.

You two are so productive your executive assistants need executive assistants! Much respect.

hugs,
Hops

PS I'm so glad I don't do Christmas. It confuses some people intensely, but I'm unhooked from trying to fix it. More Netflix and chill, and eventually it's over. I am going to one thing I'm really looking forward to...Boxing Day at a British friend's home.

54
What amazes me about your mind, Lighter, is how much it can hold even while you also make order externally. People talk about the "hive mind", which is a perceptive image for groupthink. But you are uniquely your OWN mind, which also reminds me of a hive because of its busy-ness.

I could not react so intensely to so many relational stimuli, or even environmental stimuli, without spending even more time portraying a fetus. It's astonishing to witness and I imagine after long descriptions here, you feel rebalanced.

I do understand the stubborn Frenchie within who does not stop pulling toward a goal. Or 100 goals. Made me smile.

Made Pup sniff and ignore me for ignoring him for a while. I led an online meeting the other night and he was SO good I thought he'd outgrown that toddler-at-your-ankles-while-you-talk-to-an-adult stage. Then I fetched my new hairbrush (lovely flexible detangler type) and he had chewed it into a glob of rubbery spikes. At least the group got a laugh out of it to end with.

It was our final session on Death. Great insights, surprising expectations, meaningful reflections.

hugs
Hops

Inspiration can come from anywhere, and I don't think anybody here will ever lack for it.
55
Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by sKePTiKal on December 17, 2025, 12:00:47 PM »
Slow days around here! Which is GREAT; I've been looking forward to this. So not much news.

The BF seems to have chilled out & got his head on straight. For now, 2 weeks & counting.
56
We've been around zero for a few days now. The worst days we had 20-40 mph wind. Today's high will be 40.

I have the heavy comforter on the bed (and if it really gets cold, the fur (real, recycled) blanket will get added. I've been having some neck/shoulder pain (side sleeper) so Hol gave me a bed topper (think feather bed type) to try. She was going to donate it. That makes the new mattress just a bit softer; still firm for both of us. And new 2nd pillows in down, too. It's indulgently soft & warm in bed... which is why one or more kitties sleeps with us.

During the day, about the only thing I add to my normal coat, neck scarf, and fingerless gloves is a ski hat or headband. I keep reminding myself, I used to ice skate for 4-5 hours in zero temps. And I try acclimating to the cold in the fall & early winter, by not overdressing outside.

Nevertheless, about 3 pm every day - regardless of outside conditions - I need to start the fire in the woodstove.

It's supposed to warm up this week.
57
Hops, I've been editing the kitchen...... knives got winnowed out last night.  Almost all of them placed in a box....so many of my Grandfather's blades....there, bc they were his.  Not bc we use them, so....into a box.

DD24 organized upper kitchen cabinets recently.  They feel so neat, right and good....like a magazine ad, which I've accepted, is beyond my abilities. It has to be ok.  It is ok. Same for you, I suspect.  Our brains aren't wired that way......they just aren't.

I noticed, and mostly dismissed, noticing my weaknesses.....tried to focus on my strengths.....dive in, embrace, do, achieve, HAVE what's available to me......sans all the typical judgments, and inability to just get on, in the best possible fashion.

A heavy, hand thrown chip and dip plate. with attached bowl, got filled with bird seed and water....put on one pile of hurricane wood in the backyard.  I filmed a bright red cardinal taking a bath.....a squirrel lording over his new hoard, now he's discovered it.... it's his. Snow flurries in the blustering wind.....leaves flying this way, then that.

Mostly, I begin small organization piles, sort, throw, put away and notice opportunities, to choose differently in every moment, come and go.  I can't judge it anymore, bc that time's passed.  I know better..... can't afford to waste the time....finally understand what's traded ...lost....am unwilling to just give away precious time to rumination.

That opened up flowing dialogue with younger parts. Things feel more like an orderly classroom....parts pop up....adult Lighter notices .....reassures/explains/redirects......things continue getting done. It's imperfect movement, of a sort....crabbing along.....sans care for appearances and.... that's not feeling so new.  It just is.

About the energy for other people...... it's always there.  It might not always be a distraction, but there's always a cog in'me brain pan....dedicated....devoted....committed to
redemption.  And I don't know if redemption arcs are.....on my path. For me.  For anyone.  It doesn't matter, but.... some part always pulls, like a stout little committed Frenchie ...always pulling towards it.

I stopped trying to drop it, change it.....banish it.  It belongs ...this cog...just another part.  Not good or bad.  Just there.

I attempted to force huge change yesterday.....by extending an invitation to a early 20's young woman, living in her broken down car.....to live safely in the jazz shack, till her car could be fixed.  Perhaps work with me, here, at the lake, till she's pocketed enough to build a safety net and safer living situation.

I'm looking at that....those words.....THAT would be catalyst for huge change, new choices....altering course drastically......which is something I desire....but more for others, than self.  It was a thought.

Hmmmm. 

She likely wants only dollars, for drugs, but the chance was there.... she's creative...but she knows catalyst is not for her. Yogi must eat, and Yogi wants what Yogi wants.  I'm somewhat relieved and disappointed.  For many reasons. My BS meter's installed.  Filters removed.  Four hands would have been such a relief.

So......my energy returns to self......which is what it is.  Self energy....comforting. Grounded.  Available and present for my younger parts.  We turn towards organizing the garage, which is heated, thank goodness..... itt was 10° yesterday. How do the little forest creatures not freeze? 

I've dropped off requested gifts/snacks at a nearby retirement home.
  That takes some pressure, to do do do for others, down to a French smile....just under a simmer, yup yup yup. 

That's ok too. To notice, and turn back to choices in front of me.  I can let the deeper cares, about people I'm attached to, recede, bc it's ok. Now. But still simmers to the surface, I bet tuce.  That's ok.  I feel like I'm sorting requests, positioning boundaries, and preparing to drop ropes without emotional charge.  It's problem solving...not rumination.

It's also respite...... it's wisdom and knowing.....
to do what I can, then put it on the shelf.  A blessing when it just happens, without having to talk it through, or calm myself out of feeling helpless or at the mercy of, kwim? New pathways. 

It feels like spinning into a smaller, more focused spiral....not necessarily down.  Sometimes up.  Sometimes not changing levels at all.  Just....less unresolved baggage and misdirected yearning.....let go of....dropped away.

I've always understood I was plodding towards meaning.....towards important (to me) work.... that's just mine, and ok to care about, despite other people's disinterest, or judgements.

I notice obvious worries.....let them go by.....like passing clouds.  I am the sky.  I recognize what I can do, and can't do.  Do I need to do something? 

About dropping the packages at the retirement home....I brought the pug....wanted to see joy on resident's faces.... outstretched hands, reaching for chubby little rolls of double coated pug loveliness.

Instead, a worker caught me in the entrance hall.....turned me around, and sent me into the empty social worker's office. Very disappointing.  The pug frightened a dog-phobic employee, who almost climbed a co-worker, sitting at his desk.  More disappointment. 

I didn't go through all that trouble,carrying pug with, for nothing, so we marched back up the hall, to the wheelchair ed lady in a mustard colored mumu with red trim, somehow perfectly matching the pug's red with yellow and green sweater from Peru. It was just meant to be!  The lady's arms were stretched out.....she said she wanted to pet.....
her eyes were on baby girl pug, at this point. As I bent to her, pug raised to her level, the gal shifted her gaze to my middle, then put both hands on my stomach.  Shocking.  It felt like some dirty old man had possessed her, but old women can, and are, creepy too. WTAF? The aid, with old lady, looked at me like...."I tried to warn you."

Before I could react, a very short, very wide gray Frenchie approached us.....pulling his Asian leash-holder behind him.  As I willed the pug NOT to scream, the Frenchie lett out one big bark. I noted his little service vest, as he bullied by us.

The pug was silent....likely bc I had her in the air.....but appearances were....
pug well behaved.
Frenchie a fraudster service dog.
 I'll take it.
  Time to go. Frenchie parked next to us.  I really wanted to muff him up....was too late....they were buckled in as we got to our car.  He was impossibly low and wide ...little devil-bat ears.  Irresistible!

About dna and passing it along.  I see it......feel it.... experience it, but there's fear....veering me away from it, bc.....child oncology wards......adult children in diapers ....violent adult children, on the spectrum, kicked from facility to facility.  I have friends, and extended family members, dealing with some of these realities.  It makes my cells vibrate 🫨 uncomfortably.  Knocks the thoughts away.

I'm happy to say I feel refreshed, this morning, and focused on resolving particular problems....one way or the other. Choices have appeared.  It feels obvious.... now, but has created so much past grief and upset......grief and upset being the sticking points, I guess. 

My desk, and closet, are looking neater/less cluttered.....little circles of attention....happy spirals.

Stay warm,  ((Hops.))

Lighter





58
Oh no, Hops!  I guess we're supposed to flip our wiper blades up....off the glass, in the cold.  I thought it was just for the snow.
Sorry that happened to you.....glad it's just the wiper blades......not too big'a hit, I hope.

About the cold..... sometimes I can't stand the idea.....I feel cold to my organs, want to bundle up just to walk on porch with baby girl pug.....fear the cold on my throat and neck.

But sometimes.....I hardly register the cold.....am surprised a light t-shirt and summer jammy bottoms are fine, in the cold.....I register it as feeling strong. Again.  Feeling cold feels vulnerable.  I don't like it.

That said, we were gifted a big box of blankets, by someone moving house....they did a hard edit.  I kept only one small heated blanket....soft and in the style of the 1950's blankets my Grandparents used in their basement.....mostly with prints. Think cowboy style.  Sometimes I use that blanket.  Sometimes I'm shocked I get cold.....bc I feel too warm, but it's on my bed, which is filled with the extra pillows and comforters used for October guests.  I need a hard edit, of bedding, too.

I realize, there's some discomfort of....not having enough....when contemplating that edit.  Giving specific things, to specific people, who need them ....mostly single mums and children .....throws a happy lever.....makes filling boxes easy. 

Bundle up proactively, Hops...... don't let the cold catch you.  Small heaters, in the bathroom feel so nice.

Lighter





59
I hear that!
My over-sensitive self reacts to extreme cold like it's an assault. A slow, nearly scary assault. And it makes my chest hurt, which turns on the hyporchondriacal microscope.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Windshield wipers froze and one broke. Damn.

hugs
Hops
60
Baby, it's COLD outside!!! 🥶 ❄️

That song just doesn't hit the same anymore. 😔
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