Reflection... 2014

What a year it has been!  Moved from Kentucky to New Mexico, jobs dried up for us, my mother died.  We began to examine the future: I started Natural Health studies, Robby got in to Le Cordon Bleu... thusly we moved to Scottsdale, AZ.  What a whirl wind it has been... and somewhere along the path... I lost my focus on my dreams and goals.   For these last two months... since we started the move...my natural health studies sat idle.

Natural Health to me is so much more than just a hobby, it has been a passion (especially the Herbal side) since I was 13.  Even more I have immersed myself in it after major health issues between my 16-18th years.  As dear Navajo elder put it, "God blessed us with natural cures, they must not be forgotten."  As I rediscover my path, I am seeing more and more just how this gifting and passion may play in... Rob is pursuing his passion via education.  Now I will mine, first by finishing my course, the from there we shall see.

Sometimes we lose sight of the path, not because of fog, or trials, just busyness.  Sometimes fog does roll in and we feel as if we have lost our way.  In times like those, just a day at a time, stepping no farther than we can see His light, we somehow end up discovering as much or more about ourselves than when the path is bright, and the way... but we must never stop looking for His light...  Even when it is very dark, it will still be there, we just have to have our eyes open for it.  Take heart and journey onward!


~ Morria

The Dream...

The following is a reoccuring dream I have had since I was about 16, with details adding on as I have gotten older.  Up until about 2 years ago, it stopped with me jumping off the cliff.   

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 As I close my eyes, I see the trail behind me and the trail before me.  I see parts of both covered in deep misty fog.  Mesas, towering red and mighty, stunning forests, lush and green, and snow covered hills, sparkly and pure, peak out from the fog on the trail behind me.  In the clearing before me, the path comes to the edge of a cliff.  I can either sit on a bench by the edge, or take a leap of faith and walk off the edge.  I sit for a few moments working up courage to peak over the edge.  The deep grey and warm brown cliff gives way far below to the deep blue and foamy white ocean.  Quickly, I step off, "Now or Never", taking no though for my clothing, heave and dark, worn and tattered.

As I float downward, my dark heavy clothing falls of piece by piece, till all that is left is a thin, soft blue, sparkly sundress.  Gracefully I slip into the water and begin swimming as the water calms.  Playing behind me in the water are dolphins.  I swim up to a beach and walk out.  A fire is built on the beach and palm trees are swaying.  Robby is cooking fish he has caught.  I lay down at peace on the beach beside him and the fire, and close my eyes.  (END)

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Thoughts anyone?

~ Morria

New Traditions: Christmastide!

As this is the first year without my mother, and with Rob and I getting farther and farther away from kin due to our journeys, we decided it was time to start making new traditions for the holidays.  The First:  We bought a Tropical Themed Nutcracker for our table.  He adds some style and will remain decor all year.   The Second: As we dont have a fireplace, nor need alot of heat just a little, we bought a faux fireplace (mini) with the option to have heat or just flames.  Along the same wall we have hung brand new stockings: Holiday sweater for Rob; cute Christmas owl for me.  The Third:  As to Christmas Dinner, right now we are torn between Christmas Fajitas and Hawaiian Ham...  Christmas Eve we will have Tortilla Soup as has been our tradition since Chicago.  Also we will have homemade cookies, gingerbread (KY mountain style), and egg nog.

For those who are struggling with the lose of a loved one, be it this year or many years ago, let me offer some things that have helped me in hopes they might you as well.  First of all, make sure you keep doing stuff with and around other people, isolation make the sorrow worse.  Secondly, find some things that make you happy, be they going to a movie, throwing a holiday party, or creating new traditions... or maybe a mix of all of them.  Take time to honor the memory of the loved one, be it placing a picture of them in a special spot, or hanging a memory ornament on the tree in their honor, give the lost loved one a new place in the holiday tradition can really help with the transition.  Most of all, remember you're not the only one struggling with loss this year, and if you need to there are others to reach out to.

~ Morria

Who is Morria?

Who is Morria?  That is a question I find myself asking more and more.  As a child I had an ideas of who she would be grown up: strong, brave, a singer, a writer, a well traveled woman.  As a teen, I started carving a path: a dash of goth, a bit of gypsy, an herbalist, a wanderer, a warrior woman, a poet.  As a twenty something, I got lost in a fog: death, sorrow, betrayal, broken heart, shattered dreams, new dreams, and true love.  And now as a thirty something, I am trying to find out just who she is.  But the piece are not so easy to figure out.  Am I just the woman I am day to day?  The woman who works a 10-7 (nightshift), comes home, sleeps, drives her husband to college, and longs for more?  Or am I that herbalist, gypsy goth, writer, that I still envision myself as?  I am not sure, but I sure am going to find out...

~ Morria

Greenhouse!

It came today! All 5 foot 3 inches, by 2 ft, by 1 ft of growing wonder!  My very own apartment sized greenhouse, which I bought for all of  $31.48  from Amazon.Com.  It paired with my sunny picture window and a plant light, and we should be growing food in no time.  Now I must be about gathering pots, seeds, and get to planning on what we will be growing.

The first greenhouses built in Roman times, were very similar to cold frames today.  It was simply a frame covered with the oiled cloth known as specularia or sheets of selenite. Cucumbers, the main food grown this way, were wheeled into the sun by day, and under the covers by night.  Technology continued to change and grow until the 1500's when a Dutchman invented the first practical greenhouse, which continues to advance change to this day!  Who knows what will come next?

Greenhouses are such a blessing, especially being an apartment dweller.  And believe it or not, greenhouses, or "conservatories" have long been apart of homesteading.  Remember Morticia Addams beautiful conservatory with all her meat eating and deadly plants?   In house greenhouses are not a new thing (especially in Victorian Gothic homes in the 1800s), I just have to get creative to make this work in an apartment!  ^_^

~ Morria

Seeds!

I found seeds!  Walked into Whole Foods  in Tempe, AZ, and what stands before me in the seed section but a display by but a display by Native Seed/Search!  At last I live where my favorite seed company actually sells in store.  Now mind you certain plants I am looking for they don't have, and certain seeds from Native Seed/Search I will have to order as not sold in store.  But a lot I can get right near by.  So happy!



Why am I so big on Native Seed/Search?  For many reasons, among them the fact that they are gathering and protecting Heritage Seeds, Native to the Southwest (and some other Native Tribes).  These seeds are drought hardy, and very hard to kill off.    Another reason is as they say @ NativeSeeds.Org, "We are a nonprofit organization working to strengthen food security in the Greater Southwest by conserving our region's unique crop diversity and teaching others to do the same."  This is something I can get behind.

~ Morria


* Logo belongs to Native Seed Search and is being used only to aid others in finding this great resource!

Water...

Water... tis like a second home to me.  Be it a lake, a pond, an ocean, or a simple swimming pool, it awakens my soul.   I was reminded of this again today, as I was able to go swimming at one of 3 pools nigh our apartment.  Twas so refreshing... may haps we need to think of dwelling near water after this leg of the journey is over.

~ Morria