MEET BANJO JUNIPER

The last 72 hours have been a whirlwind.  Our family unexpectedly grew a little bit with this adorable little guy.  After hearing a cry in the woods for two days, I found this little guy alone and scared in the rain.  I left it where I found it for a few hours to make sure it's mama wasn't coming back.  I knew it was going to storm that night and I couldn't bare it any longer, and it was still out there crying non stop.  No other kitties were to be found, or any trace of a mama.  I was hesitant to take it, but Ive already had one kitty die b/c I didn't find it soon enough, so I didn't take a chance on this little fella.

Yesterday he took his first car ride to the vet to get dewormed and flea + mite treatment.  He's too little for shots just yet, but the vet gave him a good examination and we think he is healthy as can be.  For the past 13+ years I have not allowed myself to get a kitten b/c Bella hates other cats.  So needless to say, this hasn't been an easy transition.  Bella is pissed.  But I'm hoping over time this will change.  And really only time will tell.

This little boy is a mama's boy, and he definitely things I'm his mama.  All he wants to do is be right up on my neck, coddling, suckling, purring, rubbing, kissing... He is a LOVER BOY to the max.  Cries when I'm not by his side, and instantly purrs the second I walk in the door.  Screams until he is up on my neck, and then just melts, purrs and rubs all over my face.  The second I put him down, he screams.  MAMAS BOY.  It's been a delicate balance trying to be there for him around the clock, and be there to reassure Bella she is still my baby too. 

I go on vacation very soon and James will be home alone with all this crazyness.  I hope he transitions a bit more before that!!!  I'm a little worried honestly.  But gosh he is soooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am just in love.  Madly.

And his little name is Banjo Juniper. <3 He is a lover. A mama's boy. So curious. Loves to play, but gets easily scared. A ferocious eater. And an even more ferocious cuddler.  Like the biggest, sweetest, most in your face cuddles youve ever seen. Heart Breaker.

S P R I N G

Everything outside has been so beautiful lately with spring here and the off and on rain we have had.  Weve been rearranging our outside space alot lately, and Ive been capturing little bits of it along the way.  The other day I was stopped in my tracks with the beauty that was going on around me outside, so grabbed my camera, stepped outside, and just started snapping away at things.  Butterflies were fluttering around everywhere.  It was a moment of everyday magic for sure.  Here is a little photo diary of it.

TEEPEE, FULL MOON, OWL MEDICINE

I recently decided to relocate my teepee from my front yard to my back yard.  I realized I never used it in my front yard, b/c I simply don't like hanging out there where the cars drive by.  I'm not sure why it took me so damn long to figure this out, but I'm so glad I did.  I have spent just about every spare moment I have since it's been up, in it.  I'm kind of sad its raining today just b/c I want to be out in it. 

It's funny b/c James and I started working on building it 3 days in a row and each time we failed at getting the main structure stable.  I kept getting frustrated and just stopping.  Finally, the 4th attempt worked.  Ive built two other ones and never had any issues.  I guess it was all about right timing.  It finally started coming together, and its my favorite one Ive made so far.  Ive outfitted it with my crystals, favorite sticks Ive collected over the years, and other trinkets. 

We've spent lots of time in it reading, hanging out with Bella & Violet, giving them massages, gazing at the full moon through the branches, listening to the birds, listening to music, watch the clouds, doing crafts, just laying there, drinking whiskey.  Ha ha.  Like I said, Ive spent every free moment the past several days in it. 

I adorned my outside space with all the scraps Ive cut off all the bell bottoms that are too long for me.  Which is just about all of them.  Ive been saving the scraps forever for just the right project.  This area is slowly coming together.  Two friends gave me some rad old windows that I'm still figuring out just where I'm going to keep them. 

Lots of reading the Bohemian Collective Magazine has happened in it too!  ha ha.  While I was making the bell bottoms garland above I heard some ruckus in the trees behind me, and turned to see an OWL flying from branch to branch.  I watched it dart to the ground twice to catch something, although I don't think he got what he was going after.  I have never seen an owl in the wild before.  Only heard them in the night.  My jaw was hanging wide open.  I took the risk of running inside to grab my binoculars to get a better look and I'm so glad I did.  He stayed on the same branch while I ran inside, otherwise I probably wouldn't of been able to spot him again b/c he blended in so well in the trees.  It was the most magnificent thing Ive ever seen.  I got watch up close all its crazy head movements.  There were a few times it heard me moving and put its eyes right on me.  I got to watch it for about half an hour! 

This happened on the day of the Full Moon in Scorpio, which is just so appropriate, with owl having ties to the moon and to scorpio energy.  Such great messages came through this beautiful witness.  Leading up to this day, my week was a wreck.  We had a really big emotional decision to make about my parents house, and I had to let some people that I really love down, and it hurt my heart so much to come to terms with this choice.  I found myself at a crossroads recently.  I thought it was just a crossroads with my parents house and what to do with it, but I realized it was a metaphor for the crossroads of my life.  I was at the cross roads of continuing to live in the past, or to let go in a big way and move on ahead to my future.  It was a painful decision, but I chose my future.  I'm ready.  I'm ready to move on.  To let go with ties keeping me bound to my parents house.  Let a stranger move in and walk away.  Allow this to be a big blessing in my life to dream of things I may never otherwise be able to attain. 

It was the first time since I can remember feeling like I made a choice that defined my life, and myself as well.  In what I was capable of.  Emotionally.  I felt an weight lift, and a shift in my heart.  Something was very tangled in that choice.  And we still have so much go through before the house is actually sold and gone, but I felt like I took the first step on the beginning of a new path, and good god it feels amazing. 

After the Owl visited me, we went to town and a turkey flew across the road right in front of our car.  Owl & Turkey have been two of my messengers for quite some time, and this full moon, they made themselves very up close and in  my face in brand new ways, and I couldn't be more thankful for them.  Sometimes I really believe my parents speak to me from beyond the dead through the animal world. 

PARK PICNIC

Today has been less than stellar.  You know those days... with hormones flying around, bad tempers, trying not to let someone bring you down with them, but can't figure out how not too... we all have them.  And today I'm in the thick of it.

So... I thought I'd share about a day that was really nice a week or so ago.  We randomly decided to stop by our town's river for a picnic when we went for one of our post office runs.  The weather has been so amazing out lately.  I hope we take advantage of many more moments like this before it becomes blistering hot here in Texas.  Violet loved it too of course. 

I'm pretty obsessed with my Willie tee from Imogene + Willie.  So glad I snagged one when I did since they were limited edition and no longer available!  I'm also happy as clam in these slouchy pants from Gypsan.  Anyone know where that saying comes from?  Happy as clam? 

And guys... my next magazine release is just 3 days away!!!  May 1st!  Eeeekkkkk!!!!  Stay tuned!