Harvest Time

We've had sucha beautiful fall here...an unusual amount of sunshine for the Willamette Valley has brought out more colors than I've seen in a long time. We've been very lucky!

Here are some pics from the Middle Eastern Dance Guide of Eugene's Fall Festival. It was quite a busy day for me! Luminessah taught a workshop in the morning, I then volunteered at the festival, performed a solo in the afternoon, and then performed with our troupe in the evening show!


We got these awsome eyelashes as a trade from a workshop we did last month. They were actually more comfortable to wear than some of the smaller ones I have.


The evening performance ended up being one of our best ever. It was a great way to end a really long day.


Here is some of the harvest abundance at Sundance.

We all made little pumpkins to display in the produce department.


Every year we get a giant pumpkin and have a 'guess my weight' contest. winner gets to take the pumpkin home if they can figure out a way top do that. This year, we're weighing in at 357!! (The pumpkin, not me!)


Randomly, this house was towed down our steet last Sunday. It was quite a sight to see...invloving many police officers on motorcycles, many worker guys, and the moving of street signs and trimming of trees.

My nesting masterpiece...

I finally finished the crib canopy! I've been working on it for some time, visualizing an enchanting, peaceful and ethereal experience for the baby every time we lay it's head down to dream. The material came mostly from thrifting, and the deep purple from Lisa when she gifted me with her old sewing machine. The center hanging rainbow is a locally made wind streamer, each string hand-dyed. This one in particular matches up with the seven chakra colors and is intended to bring healing and comfort.

View from the bed...


View from bedroom door...


Looking in....


Baby's view...

After putting it up, our bedroom seems trasnformed into a mystical and restful dream space. We both look very forward to hibernating with our new baby very soon!


These are the creatings I made with all the beads from my blessing at the baby shower! All the little charms went on a bracelet. Some of the more earthy beads I made into a necklace for me to wear. The remaining I made into a string of rainbow/chakra beads to hang over the baby's changing table. It feels good to have them all around us now, as a reminder of how much love and well-wishes were created for us during that ritual. Thanks again to all of you!!

random love-filled wackiness...

Here are some fun pics of our little life in Oregon...most don't need explanations, so just sit back and enjoy!

Luminessah in September...



Passed out papa...


Chico and I demonstrate baby-holding 101...

Um...still practicing!


Onnie gets to wear a collar with a little bell on it now that he's mastered to art of escaping from the yard!


Barry, our yard squirrl...so named because he gets a 'blackberry beard' he eats so many!


A perfect breakfast: fresh mango, blueberries and tropical dragonfruit!

My Blessing Way

Last Sunday (september 28th) I had my blessing way here in Eugene. It was a beautiful gathering of the caring and loving individuals who have become our 'family away from home' out here. It was held just outside Eugene at Serene's beautiful yurt in the Lorane hills.
A blessing way is like a baby shower, with more focus on showering the mama and papa with love and support, and less focus on showering the baby with gifts. I like both version, personally, and am grateful to have such amazing people in my life both here and back home.

Here are some pics:



After a blessing circle, where individuals spoke their blessings to us, the men left the room and I was bombarded by all these goddesses who sole purpose was to pamper me. I had sisters braiding shells into my hair, giving me massage and an herbal foot bath, dancing a blessing dance a playing me music...all at the same beautiful moment.


Ali and Lila gifted me and the baby with a special dance...we were all very emotional at this point!

Heather, Serene and Ali. All of these special ladies will be there at the birth!


KC and Andrea


Not-So-Little Mama and Ali

I got this shirt from St. Vinnies as a three piece patterned outfit from Nigeria...I figured that big ball of love on the belly was perfect for the big love bug IN my belly!

I was able to collect a few more birth stories as well! I'm so grateful for these. They are keeping me going for sure! I now have 28 and still expercting a few more!!

Our Backyard Faeries

Oh how we love our new digi camera....for it has captured the most beautiful and amazing Beings floating around right in our own backyard!!

KC took all these pictures during the evening hours, not seeing the orbs of light with his own eyes, but after we looked on the camera...well, see for yourself!



No joke!!! This one is the most amazing...I thought the bright light was just a star, until we zoomed in afterwards...



Although not as clear, this one is a similar winged faery with a purple trail behind!





There are many more where these came from, but these are the most awe-inspiring and clear to see.

Here's a link KC found with similar pictures from around the world.

http://www.celticgardens.com.au/celtic-gardens-spirit-photos.html
http://www.celticgardens.com.au/celtic_gardens_readers_orbs.html
http://www.celticgardens.com.au/spheres_of_light.html

KC's Playhouse

I have been working hard to finish projects before the rainy season begins.


Here is a bathhouse off the back deck. Our nice little house is great, but only has shower. It was so wonderful to sit and relax in a nice warm tub, and hear geese migrating, and see stars thru the window above,
a good dream 82% finnished, ha







I will be painting the bottom window to resemble a stained glass window shall come to be soon
Mama had her first bath the other night after complaining of back pains...what a relief to have that warm soapy water to soak in. We both think it will be wonderful for the home portion of our labor.

the mama's and the papa's

I made KC and I "papa" and "mama" collages to focus on throughout the pregnancy and during labor. I just finished mine (with just a few weeks left!), so here they are!!

In my many years of taking many many photos, I've managed to build up quite a collection of doubles. I used mostly old photos in my collage, including most of the cloud pics, all the flowers and trees, and all the landscapes.

I wanted all of the elements to be represented to be reminded of my strength. The flowers are to help me visualize my cervix opening up in case I am having any difficulty dialating. I even have a mama and baby giraffe at the bottom to help me get through the labor knowing that at least I'm not giving birth to a giraffe! The butterfly represents our spirit guides and ancestors who have been watching over us and the baby this whole time.

Detail of the Mama collage...the goddess in the center came from a calender...a very empowering image of birth. The womyn at the bottem are Ali and Lila from our troupe. They will be at our birth to offer support and the power of dance and sisterhood.


KC's is made mostly using old calanders I've gotten from Sundance. It's great...after February, all the calenders we had in the store for sale for that year are taken off the shelf, covers pulled off to send back for credit and tons of free calenders for the employees!

The image in the middle is of a native american man with an eagle painted on his back. This image reminded me of KC's deep-rooted spirituality and love of nature and all living things. On the left is Oregon...the trees with the blooming magnolias, the tepee as the yurt KC had built in our backyard, and my immage within, nesting and growing our baby. On the right is Minnesota, our true home. The picture of the tree in the center is from the boudary waters area (from a 'great forests of this country' calender), as is the rainbow at the top. The light shining thru the trees is what will be guiding us home when we soon return. The light above KC is his focul point, with baby in mind, to guide him thru our labor with strength and clarity.


Here is what the flyer turned out like that Heather made from our Bryce Creek pics. I have this in a frame with the background a mosaic of a tree picture that I tore up for the pieces.