Just a quote

We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the passive voice to the active voice -- that is, until we have stopped saying ''It got lost,'' and say, ''I lost it.'' - Sidney J. Harris

Yardsale!

Hi, my name is Sydnii, and I'm a yardsale addict.

And I just so happened to come across a HUGE one yesterday. It was actually more of a rummage sale, but that's only if you're being nit-picky. I'm glad I stopped by. I found two flower pots (because I really needed some /sarcasm), a skirt, a cute summer dress, some candle plates, a book for Camden, and an audio book for Camden when he's a bit older (it would be awesome if I could find the print version for him, too.)

And, why, exactly, am I blogging about the yardsale I found? Well, because it was sponsored by a pro-life group. And I am vehemently pro-choice. So from the time I heard about the sale (about Wednesday night thanks to a local Yahoo group I'm a member of) to the time I actually decided to go, I did a lot of flip-flopping on the decision of whether I should go or not. Because, as woman who believes in having control over her body, wouldn't it be hypocritical of me to give my money to a group who, in general, prefers to disallow women to make their own choices?

No. I don't think so. Because I remembered back to four years ago, when I *ahem* made the choice to be a mother. During my pregnancy, I went to a pregnancy support center once a week to take "pregnancy/parenting" classes. I got points for various things, usually "homework," which I got to then spend in their store area, which had baby clothes, blankets, maternity clothes, etc. It was really an invaluable resource for me during that time. And after I had Camden, I often donated his old clothes to the center. The support center was very pro-life. And yet they still helped me, if only because I chose to be a mother.

I like to imagine that the money I spent at this yard sale is going to a center like the one I went to. One that helps girls and women who have no idea what to do with themselves, one that gives shelter to teenagers who have made mistakes that their parents can't or won't accept. And I can only hope to the gods that my money is not going to help fund a group that stoops to murdering doctors who perform abortions.

Observations

In my quest to be a music teacher, I have to jump through a few hoops for the university. One of these hoops is doing 55 hours of observation. 10 in elementary, 10 in middle school, 10 in high school, 10 in special education, and 15 where ever I choose to spend them. Considering that I switched to an education major near the end of the last winter semester and I have to have all 55 hours completed before I take my clinical experiences course (next spring), I was a little worried I wouldn't get it done. Most people have from their freshman year onward to get it done. I have less than a year.

But after this week, I only have about 14 hours left, 10 of which will include my high school observation hours. I've spent the last four days observing different middle school music classes (rock history, choir, band, and general music) as well as the special education program at that middle school. It was exhausting! And also fulfilling. I did very little actual teaching (because I wasn't there to do that) although I did point some of the percussionists in the right direction (because they were having issues playing cymbals, triangle, bass drum... pretty much everything) and I got to conduct the 8th grade band while the band director filled in on the tuba part. Despite that (doing very little teaching) I got a chance to see what I could possibly be doing in two year's time. And that is awesome.

A Little Knot Magic for Lost Things

I don't normally do spells. Perhaps that's an odd thing for a witch to admit, but there it is. I just don't usually have any reason. If I'm worried about my grades, I study, if I'm worried about making money, I start looking for a job. Sometimes magic is useful to get a witch into that mindset, but usually, I don't need it.

Until I lose something.

I lose things all the time. And generally find them in the damnedest places. Once I lost my television remote for more than a week, only to find it in plain site on top of the TV stand. *grumble* Tomorrow, I'm taking Camden to the circus and I want to take pictures. But my camera battery was low, so I was looking for the charger. Could. Not. Find it. Despite the fact that a few weeks ago it had been floating around on my living room floor. (Yes, I live in a messy and cluttered apartment. Bad me.) I looked *everywhere* in my apartment for this thing. And finally decided to do something I rarely do: a spell. And more than that, it was knot magic.

A little knot magic for lost things
Cut a piece of string or cording (I used white cotton yarn because it's what I had handy) to a length of about 12 inches. Some people get really technical with the 9 inches or 13 inches. However, I just snip snipped. ^_^

Throughout the rest of the spell, visualize finding your lost object and what you'll be using it for (why you want to find it.)

In the middle of the cord, tie a knot, reciting,

What was lost, shall be found.
With this knot, it is bound.

Tie a knot on one end while reciting the couplet again.

And a third knot on the other end, again reciting the couplet.

Tie the cord loosely around your wrist until you happen to find what you're looking for.

Once you find your object, remove the cord. Then do something with it. Some people suggest burning it, others suggest keeping it. Right now, mine is hanging out with my goddess-figure on my altar.


I ended up finding the battery charger about 20 minutes after I performed this little impromptu spell. In the back seat of my car, hiding under some papers. Go figure.

Happy knotting!

It's Mother's Day, of course, of course!

I hope all the mothers out there (and non-mothers, too, of course!) had a spectacular day. I got a potted flower from Camden (he had help from his Grammy) and did absolutely nothing! Okay, not entirely true, I did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen a bit. I also thought about going out to chinese for dinner, but decided I wasn't nearly hungry enough and it would have been a waste of monies. So instead I had left over BBQ pulled pork. And made Camden scrambled eggs and toast.

All in all, it was a pretty spectacular day filled with a whole lotta nothing.

Happy day!

And the (new) winner is...

Since Antitwilightsang was unable to accept the prize, I've drawn another name...

*drum roll*

Leathra! So, same story as my last post: email your address 'n such to sydnii[at]gmail[dot]com and I'll get your package sent off soonish!

Pagan-Friendly Children's Books

Now that my Tuesday nights are free and we are no longer running helter skelter from sunup to sundown, I've started taking Camden to the library once a week. And while the public library here in the 'Ville is pretty small, it has a large enough children's section. Plus it has games and puzzles and puppets (oh my!) to play with, even though we can't check them out. But we can check out books, and we do! We've been averaging about 7 or 8 books a week, so far. Of course, we read them all the first night and then they're old for the next six days, until Tuesday rolls around again.



Tuesday night we went to a BBQ with some friends, so although we went to the library, we didn't have a chance to read through all the books. (Darn.) But! We got to read through them last night! Camden picks out most of the books, usually randomly pulling them off the shelves and saying "I want this one" or some facsimile thereof. One of the books he picked out is called Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard and is about a witch (gasp!) who is looking for a pet (familiar, perchance?), but since she likes all things creepy, it must be a creepy pet. However, all the pets she tries just don't work out for one reason or another... Until one shows up at her doorstep, one that she's convinced she does not want, until she realises that this is the perfect pet.



As we read this, I started thinking about books for children with a Pagan message. Hoodwinked is a good example of a book that contains a message, if you're looking for a message. I know there are a few books out there geared specifically towards Pagan parents who are raising their children on a Pagan path, but I don't think I'm going to find those books in my public library. The only other book that I can think of off the top of my head which contains a Pagan message (if you're looking for one) is There's No Such Place As Far Away by Richard Bach, in which a person travels with various birds to visit Little Rae on her birthday to give her a present.

What books do you read to your children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/random kids off the street which contain the subtle coloring of Pagan ideals and beliefs? If they are your children and you're raising them to the path, do you discuss the Pagan slant one could put on the book?