Nostalgia, what does it mean?????

I'm going to let you tell me what you think nostalgia is, especially at a time of year when we all look back and think how lovely things were.

Is it the feeling of comfort we gain from the familiar? Is it the persons, places or events now gone that we long for? Is it a fad, attitude or position that we once held but no longer hold so true?

I have had dreams, as of late, that entail long ago events albeit in a dreamlike way, that I would really rather leave in the past. But there is definitely something that I am being told by the reviewing of these events long gone. I just haven't had my awareness of the lesson plugged in yet. But it is interesting that while others long for the good old days, I would rather skip it all together.

There are not very many things in my personal history that I really, really would like to re visit, even on a happy trip down memory lane. Most memories have other appendages and baggage attached that lead to some not so pleasant thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I do have happy memories that I recall fondly.

But if I were to pick a time in my life when I am crystal clear that it was life changing and I needed to hold onto the memory as tight as I could for as long as I could..........drum roll.........it would be when I cursed myself by saying, "I'll never forget what it was like to be a kid", because as hard as I have tried, I have unfortunately forgotten so much.

As much energy as I put into holding on tight to that feeling of pre-pubescent angst........it has been washed by time, to a pale image of itself by so many happenings in life. But I am getting nostalgic for that time with a certain 11 year old girl child who is suffering so from being at "that age". I can muster some feelings when she decries the injustice of adults who "just don't understand". I can sympathize when she is awkward and unsure of herself in social situations and I can almost touch the joy of the newness of life situations that tickle her deep down inside her soul. She has so much life to be yet lived.

Did you breeze past this stage of childhood, or were you mired down by the changes and drama? Or like me are you unsure anymore of what it was really like?

And so winter has begun...........

I commented on someones facebook or blog or maybe I dreamed about it, that I am so very glad that all the fa la la is over. This has been the first holiday season in decades when I did not have enthusiasm for anything or put up 3 trees in the house, decorate the outside of the house with all manner of winter paraphernalia, bake everything chocolate ever invented and made the Mexican Christmas of my childhood. In my other lifetimes, I was a dyed in the wool, holidayaholic. In recent months, I have lost the fa in my la la. I have the need to find that old Linda who loved to love life. The one who played truth or dare with reality, the one who had a lust for all things fun and light, the one who went to bed tired from doing....not tired of doing.

This old lady who is living inside of my heart right now needs to find new digs. She is a drag.

I am not complaining per se but rather stating my position at the moment. And I know there are so many of you lovelies who know exactly "of what I speak".

I will begin my purge of bad juju in my heart and mind this week. The moon growing to fullness will aid me in my attaining a better perspective, as will the turning of the wheel and more sunshine. I normally love this time of year when you complete the nesting and get ready for the spring. Albeit forced, like the paper whites that should have been placed in my refrigerator to bloom by this week, but that just one of the things that didn't get done because I lost myself, I will put on a happy face and make do....get over it.....get on with it.....cut the crap.

Last year my word was meld, year before it was opportunity....right now "hang on tight" seems to be a good motto for the upcoming year.....we'll see how much attitude adjustment I can muster.

In the meantime, hey ya'll, here comes a new calendar year. Personally, I'm still stuck at about half past July but I guess that ain't gonna cut it as an excuse for stuff now, huh?

I know, I know, "buck up, little buckeroo". And as my Momma used to say, "don't be ugly Linda...nobody takes ugly out dancing".

You know my Aspie grand is a genius, right????

And a deep thinker as well. Ry can come up with the most unique things in the universe. I am always amazed at not only the things he thinks of, but also the complexity of his thoughts and sometimes to be perfectly honest, I don't understand.

Let me interrupt myself to say that lately, I have had conversations with adults I know, about life, living and the pursuit of knowledge. My friend and chiropractor Steve is a big thinker as well and sees life differently than most of my other adult friends. So when I say that he "gets" Ry, you will have an insight here. Steve believes that the Autism Spectrum folks of the world are actually going to be the saviors of the human race because they don't go down the conventional wisdom lane of traffic. I agree. Wonderful insightful thoughts come from deep down inside AS adults and children and some of these thoughts could very well be the life savers we will all need in the future.

I know I borrowed this from another lovely soul in the community....but honest to goodness I can't remember who. If it was you, let me know and I shall give you credit.

Back to Ry. We are getting ready to celebrate MidWinter, Winter Solstice, Yule. One of our traditions is to have he and his sister play the parts of The Holly King and the Oak (Ivy) King in the battle that brings the light back into power at this time of year and the dark back into power at Summer Solstice, MidSummer, Litha. They both look forward to the playing of parts and the costuming and set decorating and lalalalalala...

So tonight after we have finished dinner, he turns to me and asks me...."So Oma, what ever happened to the Spring King and the Fall King? Did they not have as many followers as the Holly and Oak Kings? Or did they find out that we don't have to do battle in order to get our point across to each other? Because I would like to draw all of the Kings and I was just trying to make sure I had all the information."

Never in my wildest dreams would I have contemplated what he saw in his mind's eye, explored in his vivid imagination and is now in process of writing poetry about it and making illustrations to go with it. This is the same boy, who 2 years ago wasn't even verbal. Holy Moly ya'll. At 7 years old, I barely understood rudimentary things that folks observed for holidays or religion or celebrations. But this little critter is keen on not only "knowing" but taking the building blocks of the logic of it and putting them back together again.

So what do you think the other kings look like? I'll let you know when the "boy from somewhere else" who everyday blesses me with his self, gifts us with his insights.

Wednesday musings........

I saw Oma tickle Santa Claus at breakfast this morning.......

Yep, that's me getting a squooze from the Santa Man himself. Took the kids to breakfast at Mick's Chile Fix this morning and there he was, Santa Claus, just sitting there eating his super Green and Red Chile breakfast burrito.

I was the first to get and give a hug. He told me I needed to work on being a good girl, but we all knew that already huh? He gave the kids huge hugs. Then he told them that he knew how very hard they had worked in school and how very good they were for Oma and Papa and their very sweet, hard working Momma. And asked us to join him for breakfast.

The kids were thrilled. Sat down with Santa and had french toast and pancakes, asked all kinds of questions about the reindeer and the North Pole. When asked how he had gotten to Mick's, since we didn't see the sleigh parked anywhere, he pointed out this "good old ride" and said it was how he was able to get around without attracting attention.

Wow, he even took time to pose with the family. So now if someone asks you where Santa eats his burritos Christmas style (red and green chile) you can with total confidence say, "why Mick's Chile Fix in Albuquerque" of course.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS  from everyone at Casa de Cuckoo

And then there was sunshine.........

for about 22 seconds at a time.

But the dogs and I have sat in the southern facing window and enjoyed spurts of El Sol's mini visits for the last few days. I'll take the sun when I can get it. At one point it was Odin (the grands dog) and I on the love seat with Ellie Mae Scootles (of the Tohajalee Scootles) on my lap and Sunny Bunny Boo Boo Head (the 14 yr old Ginger Tabby Manx) on the back of the seat all huddled there waiting for the next break in the clouds. I could almost hear the oooohs and aaaaaahs coming from their fur baby mouths as the streaming warmth descended on us.

I didn't want ya'll to think I thought we were having bad weather. We need the moisture like nobodies business. It is just my reaction to no sunshine that lead me to write my last opinion. Cold is not my best friend either but heck it's December and that is how winter rolls. So me and the pets are huddled together for warmth and commiserating on how we are all getting a little "long in the tooth"....except for Ellie Mae who is darling, oblivious and a still a puppy.

Today is to be mostly sunny, Hallelujah, and then we have another winter storm on the way with hopes for moisture. The ski areas are hoping for one of the biggest snows thus far and the farmers are just hoping for more good solid rain. I'm hoping they get what they want and I can stay warm and snuffly with the grands for Winter Holiday Break. One of them there, fancy win/win situations.

I hope all of you are warm and snuggly and have a happy week before Solstice.

And by the by....Blogger is also behaving itself today. I know I will rue that statement by give credit when credit is due, right?

Oh Blogger, you dun me wrong..........

It's like having a boyfriend cheat on you.....dealing with Blogger. Ya never know if you can trust um again.

First, my background on two of the other blogs shrunk to stupid in the middle and were not longer backgrounds but obstructions to reading.
Then I put a new plainish background on OBnSS to fix that problem, changed my mind when I found a cute on on Shabby Blogs, applied it and Blogger became like sticky snot you can't get off your finger and wouldn't let go of the header and so I have a half breed blog background. I just left it and said to hell with it.
Ever so often, it says I don't have followers, then it says I don't have blogs that I follow, but today..........

I am told that some of you, who I follow everyday do not have correct links to your blogs and get an idiot error message indicating the I must contact Blogger to make amends for yours and my transgressions. My words not theirs, but REALLY????????????? Are you kidding me???????????? It's not like I'm behind in my rent a space at Blogger bill, my contract is not up, I didn't terminate my relationship in bad stead. I'm just blogging out here like normal.

I have always known that there is a persnickety little troll living inside and every computer I have ever owned. But this one that is yanking my chain at Blogger is a real stinker.

I shall wait a couple of days, meanwhile seeking you out as I can, to see if this too sorts itself out. But this post may be for not. You may not be able to get notification that I have posted either. Whose to know? I am going to investigate other possibilities and ask the users if they have tsunami's perpetrated on their blogs as well and how often the "unnatural events" occur cuz this one sucks. And quite frankly, I'm in a pissy mood today because of the weather so.............I may sunshine myself out of this one too.

Blogger, Blogger, Blogger.......didn't your Momma tell you to play nice?

The Witches Yuletide Ball 2011

We have anxiously awaited this day. It's not often that we can get away to such a lovely location for an evening of dancing, dining and visiting with our friends. The location chosen this year is somewhere we have never been before but have longed to be invited so that we could meet the world renowned host and owner of the Snowload Inn, located in the mysterious and hard to reach Justover in the Veil.

My love and I dressed and then called our best friends to make sure they were still going to join us in the carriage ride to the ball. They were as excited as we and said they too were already dressed and ready to go. We told them we would be there just as soon as we made a stop at our neighbors to check on them.

The neighbor Snows all have been down with the lurgy and we took them some Eucalyptus and chive rub for the little ones chests along with some chicken soup. When we left the children all lined up to wave goodbye. Aren't they darling?

Our carriage ride may have been lengthy but we certainly did not realize it because we chatted the whole way with our friends. Lovely to be afforded time to spend with people you enjoy and have so much in common. Our first view of Snowload Inn was just as exciting as we anticipated it would be. Everything was so festive and lively as we entered.

The host, Pernal, greeted us with such warmth and friendliness. He directed us to the food, the dance floor and suggested that we try the ice cold Artic Blasts. After only a half a cup I was spinning and the drink was good too. The refreshments had names I had never heard before and I tried one of everything. Delicious except for the daffodil root mints, a bit bitter for my taste, but I never would let on.

Many of the guests were not from our part of the world but other wonderful places and we had a delightful time hearing their stories and adventures. We shared our own and found that many of them shared our views and customs. I just love nights like this.

And the guest of honor, El Sol, was a delight as well. So funny and had a million and one funny tales about what he has seen from his vantage point in the sky. I think I liked the stories of the "gooduns" the best. Gooduns are what El Sol calls the children of the Earth who care enough to take care of where they live, who they live by and many even care for ones they have never met. The Gooduns seem to be on the decline. Sad, but we of the otherside of the veil know that with a little help from us and others with strong good hearts there can be many more Gooduns developed.

The witches and all the other guests ate until there was no more, danced until we could dance no more on this beautiful night.
Did I say night? As you can see the early morning rays of the guest of honor are streaming through the windows as we retreat to our ride home.

Thank you for coming along on our visit to the Witch's Yuletide Ball and thank you to the lovely ladies at On The Broomstick and Witch of Howling Creek, who extended the invitation to me. Please click on the link on the sidebar to see all the participants in this fun event. Yule Blessings to you all.

Pregnant onions............

I have always loved to grow indoor plants. In the beginning of this adventure, I had all the very typical plants; wandering jew, airplane plant, Swedish Ivy (I still love that plant), kangaroo vine. At one point there were so many plants in the house that it looked like a greenhouse.

But that was before I moved back into my childhood home to care for my father after my mother had passed away. When my parents built this house they could have cared less about the light that comes in. For the million years they were in charge, they kept the draperies closed all but a few hours of a few days a year. Grim is a good description of the vibe in this poor old place. There is only one window that faces the south (not counting the tiny bathroom windows), three east (the biggest being in the garage), one window and one door north and all the rest are windowns facing west. Hard to find a place for "normal" plants to get indirect good sunlight.

The house has a 3/4 enclosed patio at the entrance and I grow cactus, epiphytes and succulents 8 months a year out of doors. But come winter and I have to find a place for all my air rooted, spiney and prickly babies. This year with the 52 card pick up shuffle of the rooms caused a bit of a dilemma for my plants and I. But I did succeed in whittling away a place in the dining room (west) for most and in the living room (south) for the rest.

I have had this pregnant onion plant for 5 years now. I bought some tiny pea size onions and left them on the top of the potting soil and proceeded to neglect them just as I was instructed by the seller. They flourished and I have given away at least 100 of the little pearls over the years. But this year, in this light, I was rewarded with the strangest and sweetest December blossoming of the momma plant. I didn't even know that the pregnant onion would bloom. Happy December blossoms to all of you.

If you would like a couple of baby onions in the spring when I can mail them to you and not be afraid that they would freeze, just leave a comment and I will put your name on my calendar. And if I don't have your address, send it to my email. The first of Mayish....I'll send you some.

Tuesday thought...............

Some people say I'm a mean old witch. That's not true. I have the heart of a kind & gentle soul - in a jar on my desk!


Thanks Elizabeth at The Witch of Stiches

Also thank you Libby for the wonderful giveaway pressies I received in the mail. Tea, money candle, hippy smelling incense and a wonderful contemplation stone. You are the best.

65 MPH winds........whew hold on tight

I have a wonderful Ponderosa Pine in my front yard. My parents planted this tree 42 years ago. So it is an great tree and provides us with shade for all of our garage sales and the kids love it because fairy build nests in the crooks of its branches. While fall is the time for all the needles and pine cones to fall and leave a mess for us..............the wind today did the job of zip cleaning the poor thing. It actually looks kinda bald. No more fairy or bird nests, no needles and cones that aren't firmly connected and all the needles are down and blowing through the neighborhood.

I hate it when the wind blows this hard. We usually have this kind of wind in the spring. And it has been blowing since before I got up this morning. The sustained wind has been 35 and the gusts have gotten up to 80 near noon. It is getting a little better now but not by much. Everything that was not battened down has been relocated to who knows where. The flower arrangements, faux pumpkins and gate decorations are missing in action. The covers for the turbines and rain chains on the gutters are down but we did retrieve them. Sure am glad we didn't put up the holiday decorations outside or I would be mourning the loss of Santa in a globe and the candles that flank the gates. Whew, that was close.

So as we greet Texas and Arizona, depending where the wind is coming from, as they relocate themselves here I'll say goodnight and let you know we'll be holding on.