Hair

I recently got my hair chopped off, like a LOT of it. I enjoy having long hair sometimes, it is fun to do different things with it, and I feel somewhat like a hippie, in the 1960's flower-girl sense, especially with a big braid down the back. Fitting, especially for someone who has a blog with the word hippie in the title. But there are many ways to be a hippie...

Then I got it chopped off. And took a shower. And realized how much less water and shampoo this new hair-do requires. As in, shorter hair is actually more eco-friendly! I'd just never thought about it that way before especially since for me, more frequent haircuts equal spending money on said haircuts. But how much money am I spending on the hot water and shampoo? Plus using the blow-dryer during really cold weather?

Even this eco-conscious girl still learns new things.

Now I just need to learn how to style this new 'do.

Happy Solstice

As a family, we try to incorporate rituals into our lives, and we are getting better at doing simple things to celebrate the passing of the seasons. We gathered on the table a glass of water, a candle (fire), fruit (earth), and a crystal (air/energy). Our rose quartz egg signifying our family is in the center. We smudged everything and each other and said blessings for each of the elements and for the light and the dark and what we are thankful for.

We want Il Tonino to grow up with these simple rituals, and learn what they mean. He loves to do the smudge (fire wash). He drank some of the water during the ritual and we had to keep him from blowing out the candle and eating the fruit. Typical three year old, LOL!

Fire Wash

A few days ago Il Tonino signed "fire wash" while pointing to the white sage smudge stick. Every once in a while he'll ask to be smudged, but that was the first time he'd called it "fire wash." We think that is a brilliant and very apt description.

He'd had a tantrum shortly before that and after the smudge was totally calm and happy again. A good reminder of the power of nature in connection with our minds-bodies. I love it that he is so in tune with that, and hope he doesn't lose so much of it as he grows.

In the Nude

Yesterday my friend came over to my house for a photo shoot. She wanted some pregnancy pictures to expand her portfolio. I was more than happy to help out! She does our family photos every September as well, and it's always a treat to see her.

The photo shoot was so much fun -- I wore a pretty skirt and was topless. I truly felt like a pregnant goddess, glowing, nice little (not huge) belly, and breasts that are full and round and preparing to nurse another sweet little babe. I cannot wait to see the pictures, and have plans to frame one of them to hang in my bedroom.

This is not the first time I have done a nude photo shoot. Twice, in college, I was a nude model for an art class, and got paid for it. That was quite the experience! The first time I did it with a group of 3 other women, and the second time with just one other woman. For an hour we did different poses in front of students half-hidden behind their easels, drawing their hearts out. I didn't mind being nude in front of other people -- as long as my toenails were nicely painted!! Strangely, this was the one thing that made me feel relaxed about having no clothes on. The oddest part about the whole thing was then walking around campus and occasionally recognizing an art student for whom you posed...

One other time I did a private photo shoot for a good friend who was taking a photography class. The most memorable shot she did (and the one that her professor thought was AMAZING) was a close-up of my torso, with about 7 knives of various shapes and sizes laid out in a row from my breasts to my pelvis. Talk about a contrast -- the soft curves of my body versus the sharpness of the knives. I still have that photo somewhere.

I really do enjoy those types of opportunities. I think our bodies are meant to be celebrated. Thanks, A, for another opportunity to have fun celebrating!

Update on Cousin M

Thought I should give you an update on Urban Shaman's cousin M. Last I mentioned on this blog, he was in a coma after a snowmobile versus truck collision.

We waited 3 weeks without hearing any news about him -- the last bit of news is that he was still in a coma, his leg was still pretty bad, and he had double pneumonia. Yikes.

Finally after 3 weeks, I emailed my MIL to ask about cousin M. The response "Oh, he got out of the hospital yesterday! He starts physical therapy this week."

Very good news. But seriously, we go from thinking he's on his deathbed to being released from the hospital? It's like this family only shares the drama/bad news. I was just a little peeved. A little. But very happy for cousin M. Although I am still wondering how he is doing, since I haven't had any further news for a month. Oh well, I suppose if he was dying again or something, they'd let us know.

I have such weird in-laws.

You Shall Have Joy, Dammit!

The thing about having in-laws who are Mormon is that it can occasionally be amusing. Note I said occasionally, sometimes it is annoying.

The other day Urban Shaman received a care package from his mother in the mail. It contained some very cool, very hippie t-shirts, some DVD movies, books, and the following crap literature.

Finding Faith in Christ. With an enclosed booklet entitled "The Plan of Salvation" accompanied by a DVD.
Yes, so very important. Except those of us who live in the household at which the package was addressed are not even remotely practicing, let alone interested in this type of thing. Both Urban Shaman and myself grew up attending Jesus-oriented churches, so it is not like we are ignorant of this, it's just that we have chosen a different way of believing in and expressing our feelings about... you know... all that sort of stuff. I honestly wonder what they think when they see pictures of us all decked out at the Oregon Country Fair or having gone to Brazil for the spiritual workshop. Oh yeah... they probably think "holy moly, they need The Plan of Salvation!"

But that isn't all. Luckily a piece of more amusing crap literature was also present in the box.

And They Shall Have Joy. But wait! It's *gasp* all in American Sign Language! With real deaf actors! Wow.



Yup.

Science at the Table

We have this book:
A few months ago Il Tonino was really interested in it, and reading it daily.

When we got to this part, the digestive system, we explained how food goes in and comes out as pee or poop. This was a concept he could grasp.



Fast forward to yesterday. Gramma, Il Tonino, and I were eating dinner together.

IT: eats a bean from his soup.
G: your body loves the bean! Your tummy goes yummy!
IT: and then it comes out as poop! with great emphasis on making the sign for 'poop'
G: sudden shocked and slightly amused look on her face
Me: total failure at not laughing

I guess he learned something from that book.

Ahh... kids.