Birthing wisdom

The ancient art of birthing - a skill we females all innately have, but one which has been suppressed over the years through medical intervention.

13 years ago, Miss P was consciously and orgasmically conceived within a loving marital relationship. I still remember that moment now and how beautiful it was. We had been married for about four months but had been together for over seven years, the time seemed perfect and having a baby was the natural next step for us.
I am naturally in tune with my womanly cycles and have been for many years. If you refuse synthetic birth control methods it isn't that difficult. You know exactly when you are ovulating and can feel and sense each stage along the way.
It is easy to be swept onto the band-waggon these days with regards to pregnancy and birth. Like so many areas of life the whole event has been prescribed, medicalized and opened up to commercialism. It's tough when it's going on all around you, but you don't have to follow 'sheep-style', you can do what you believe and follow your own path.

Follow your instinct.

Our bodies were created to reproduce, once the act of insemination has taken place we no longer have to do anything apart from trying to keep ourselves healthy (and even if you don't, the chances are you'll still have a healthy baby). Our amazing bodies do the rest without instruction. Even those of little intelligence can grow and give birth to healthy babies. It is truly a wonderful and amazing process.

Nature naturally created within us a mechanism that enables us to deal with the pain of labour. If left to our own devices we will not need pain relief, but will cope knowing that each contraction is a step closer to meeting your new baby.

Orgasm in - orgasm out

It breaks my heart when I watch programmes like 'One born every minute' when I see women strapped to machines and made to lie on their backs during labour, this is the most painful position to be in. Naturally women tend to want to squat or deliver on their hands and knees, makes sense when you think that gravity pulls down. No wonder the poor women are crying out. It doesn't have to be like this, we have a choice, although often this choice is taken from us and as first time mothers we are new and unfamiliar with what is happening to us so we put our trust in those around us. Years ago we would have lived in closer knit communities where the elders would have shared their birthing wisdom with us and been there to support us with what is right. We would have been surrounded by others who had tread the path before us who could help us and show us the way. These days families (in most cases) don't live close together and you walk the path alone.

Birthing naturally is such an empowering experience. I remember walking down the high street moments after leaving hospital and feeling in total admiration of every mother that had a child.

One of my good friends has birthed six children and ,many of those have been unassisted, meaning that she chose to stay at home during labour and has left things too late to call the midwife, by choice. All of her births
have been fine. Years ago this would have been the norm.

I have birthed three children now, all in the same little cottage hospital. I would have loved to have birthed at home but my husband was always put off by the smell! (Not something I have been aware of). I have always dreamt of birthing under a tree somewhere warm, where nature surrounds you and the fresh air fills you.
Each of my births has been with midwives present but with no pain relief. I feel truly blessed that it was possible to birth in this way.

I am probably at the end of my birthing road now being 40 and single, it has been a joyous road to travel and one which I would thoroughly recommend to others. Of course the journey doesn't end with birth....birth is just the beginning!

To my pregnant friends, good luck and feel empowered, YOU know what to do

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Some books I recommend:

'The birth keepers - Reclaiming and ancient tradition' - Veronica Sophia Robinson (Author of 'The Mother Magazine').

'Birth withough violence' - Fredrick Leyboyer

'The good birth companion' - Nicole Croft (Nicole runs Buddhabellies, yoga in pregnancy classes in rural Oxfordshire).

Crafty capers

I woke up this morning to find the snow had once again covered up my road to freedom. Oh the sheer disappointment of it after I had only just managed to get out yesterday following last weeks flurries. Big sigh!.....Oh well, another day of pottering....And then it happened. PING! My creative light came on. I got sooo excited! Oh, my mind has been bubbling with ideas all late morning. I busily got to work on Ebay (don't you just love Ebay) sourcing the things I need for this jolly little project. One find led to another and before I knew it I had spent £15 on bits and bobs with a 'to buy' list eagerly awaiting the next window of opportunity I get to experience freedom from the village.

I'm thinking I have enough items on my list to justify a trip to Mason's.....how I love that little store when I have a good idea!

There are so many things that I can do right now, oooh where to start...fabrics....it's so lovely to have a stash of beautiful fabrics. I must confess to having a slight addiction where fabric is concerned. I find myself purchasing small pieces just in case I should find some inspiration. It's moments like this when I rummage through that stash and find exactly what I'm looking for. It's as if the 'powers that be' knew such a moment would arise.

I can envisage this little project already, but everywhere I look (now that the seed has been sewn), I find fresh ideas, new inspiration, so who knows how it will turn out?
Right now I'm on the search for LOVE and HEARTS in what ever form they may be....does anyone have any small pink, silver or red baubles they don't want?

No time to share right now........
He he he, la la la - off to create! X

Release the kid in you.....

Friday the snow fell from the sky in large quantities and (it appeared) all seemed to land like a giant carpet around my house.
Beautiful!!
The children were of course delighted, as was little Jenny dog. I on the other hand looked at it in despair at the rapid disappearance of my freedom....

SNOWED IN!!!!

It happens every year. The thought of snow used to fill me with joy but oh, it really does put a damper on things. I totally loooovvvve living in the country, but there are somethings that do take rather a lot of getting used to. You do have to be prepared to STOP and ACCEPT. Being in the the middle of nowhere where the woolly ramilies graze, life is very different from that in the town. Power cuts are a frequent occurrence, often for long periods of time as the little chappies who deal with things fix the supplies of those in higher populated areas first, and Snow. Well when the forecast for heavy snow comes in, us country folk can forget life as we know it for a while - we ain't going nowhere!

My little motor breathes a sigh of relief at the prescribed period of rest that lays ahead.
I sense already that the world beyond our village is functioning pretty much as normal, the main roads are clear. Well that of course is great news...if you can get to the roads! For me, tucked away in a remote pocket of the Oxfordshire countryside, the sheer lack of passing traffic means that the snow carpets the ground until IT is ready to melt away, plus there are hills on every exit...so you see - no hope!
So what does one do?
Well firstly don't panic - there's not a lot you can do. No ones going to rescue you for fear that they will become stuck!

2. Befriend everyone who has a 4 x 4

3. Ensure the larder is well stocked. I always have a good supply of milk in the freezer plus veges and flour. That way you can whip up oodles of bread, soup and cake!

4. Kit yourself out with good warm and waterproof clothing and footwear - if you're warm and dry you'll enjoy the fluffy stuff!

In my previous life 'snowtime' was 'social time'. We used to drag out all the local families and congregate on the slopes for much fun and frolicking then return to ours exhausted and red-cheeked for hot chocolate, toasted sandwiches and a game of cards, gambling for pennies. This snowy period seems so far to be one for the kids, they've thoroughly enjoyed socialising with friends, so much so that I have barely seen them.

So what have I been up to?

Sorting - a bit dull I know, but today that vortex under the little lady's bed was cleared and tidied.

Jobs - I have re-sited and put up the shelves that the plumbers left propped up in my downstairs loo last week.

Cooked soup, bread and cake over and over....this evening I made a curry to warm the insides.
I rarely follow a recipe when cooking, usually the title, picture or a quick scan of the ingredients is enough to inspire. Tonight's curry contained a mixture of colourful vegetables mixed with spices and coconut milk and served with brown rice.....I have the usual 'Yuck, I'm not eating that'! I'm quite used to this reaction and do not bow down to it....'Ok, that's fine, but no cake to follow...' they always buckle!

Create - my life would be so dull without creative projects. This week I've started crocheting squares. I had intended to make myself a blanket but as I started I decided it had to be for my friend who is expecting her fifth child very soon. I have already managed 18 squares in the past few days so over a third of the way there.
These projects take time, but they are unique and lots of love goes into them. They are durable and ultimately beautiful - there is something really special about 'homemade', especially when that item is made specifically for someone :-)

 Miss P made a bed for the cat. She is thrilled when the animals use her craftings!

Play - Friday I didn't go out but yesterday I released the inner child in me and hit the slopes for a touch of fun and laughter. Prepared in all my many layers I enthusiastically joined the children on their mission but 'Say what'? I was the only adult out there. Have those around me all forgotten how to play? Or should I behave like a responsible adult and stay at home? Naaaa - life is far too short!

These icicles had formed beautifully yesterday and I waited eagerly to photograph them, so as you can imagine when I saw Small Boy lobbing Miss P's wellies at them I was not best pleased. He smashed the whole lot off! Thankfully today they grew once again and I managed a quick snapshot before he got to them - just!

Hope you are all having a wonderful, safe, snowy, holiday - keep warm and enjoy!

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Life in January

January.....the month when most of us are in a serious state of depression following the party season of Christmas and the New Year.......

Today was a beautiful sunny day, how I love days like this. We were at home today, not an event that occurs very often these days. I may home school, but being home and schooling is not something that happens much in our lives. We always seem to be 'not at home' schooling....is that confusing? Those of you who are on a similar journey will know what I'm talking about. We're always at work and schooling or at friends and schooling...blaaa blaaa blaaa, it happens and I am so glad we have the flexibility to do so.

Anyway, being a sunny day, I felt inspired to get out and clear the shed. The shed has been a serious dumping ground since I moved into this house back in April last year. It had just got to the stage where you couldn't get further then just through the door. I have an amazing shed. It was probably built as a washroom. There's a little fireplace on one wall and a copper in the corner. It would make a wonderful little workshop to get creative in....I can dream! Does anyone need any old jam jars? I collect them year upon year for potting up my jams and chutneys but when I went in today and looked closely I realised that I have wayyyyy too many. Perhaps they would be good for storing screws in for those of you who like a tidy well organised shed. In my dreams that little shed is decked out with a lovely wooden floor and shelves lined with jars containing brightly coloured buttons and ribbons, and a little table by the window with a lamp and cosy chair and I am busy creating beautiful things with the fire going in the background whilst I'm looking out over the pretty little garden. As I said I can dream! One day the urge will take hold and I shall disappear for hours to be found clearing out everything and painting her up......we all have to dream!!

My one and only resolution for this year was to improve my fitness. Two years ago I was really fit whilst training for the Moon Walk and Dublin Marathon, but these days having little time alone to train, that is no longer the case. My plans are to get the kids out too! They aren't so keen, but I thought perhaps I could get them out on their bikes or perhaps buy them some roller skates and maybe some for me too! (perhaps not for me!!). Being such a beautiful day today, I dragged everyone out for a stroll. It wasn't quite the stroll I have expected but it was good to walk the lake walk and to get some fresh air. I took the dog as you would expect and the cat decided to come along too. He's very elderly and extremely slow these days so walking at speed was not possible, the walk was one of those 'stop/start' paced jobbies. But he made it....just!
Our walk was just perfect for airing my wild side, there were so many beautiful things to spot. I spent the whole walk ooohhhing and arrrring at natures delights. I am so glad that I have time to stop and smell the flowers, there is so much that would be missed if I had a fast pace of life. I'm in such a bubble these days. My wild side is soooo loving shining, I'm thrilled to have found her.

I'm going to share some photos with you...enjoy!!

Blossom .......in January!

Amazing fungi

Small boy climbed about 20ft up to check the contents of a birds nest....took about 20 minutes!

That little black dot is my ancient cat.

 Happy January! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A time for adventure

So having recently turned 40 and deciding to embrace the decade as opposed to trying to deny the fact that I and everyone else is ageing....oooohhhh sorry! I decided that this year is to be one packed with adventures and random acts. (I possibly thought that this time last year too)! Already the soles of  my feet have started itching as I think about how utterly boring it is to remain in the same place doing the same things forever and a day. The sense of adventure is beginning to bubble within me. So what to do for the year ahead.......I'm quite fancying one of those Treetop adventures where you swing through the air at 30 feet attached to a rope and scream for your life....cannot imagine why that one would appeal but something about it does. Then there is volunteering at a local festival. I did this last year and it was a huge amount of fun, possibly more fun then it would have been had I actually paid to go to the festival.

 *Note to self......two man pop up tents are actually not really for two people at all, don't be lazy and take a bigger tent!!!

I'm in the process of booking the usual Summer home ed festival and hopefully the delightful Mother's retreat. Now the thought of somewhere warm is beginning to niggle at my insides....I am a little peed at the promise of an Indian Summer in this country that in fact never materialises....never....so this year I think I'll bite the bullet and jet off somewhere hot (do I take the children??). Rather fancying Italy...perhaps I'll contact my long lost friend who lives there and see if I can arrange something. Then closer to home I think I have to take myself out to dinner. Dinner for one...is that so odd these days? Romancing the Ordinary tells me I have to fall in love with myself before falling in love with someone else. Some people don't have a problem with this, but I don't think I have ever practised self love. Perhaps I could take a romantic break for one....wonder if anyone has ever thought to organise such excursions?

Last Friday my adventures  of 2013 began with my lovely friend Jenny and her team. We went to France for lunch! Yes we really travelled all that way simply to have lunch and then travelled back again. It was exhausting to say the least to drive alllll the way to Dover, hop on the ferry, walk around admiring the sights for a day, a bite to eat and then alllll the way back again. It was a great adventure though and very inexpensive too. Thoroughly recommended!

                                                                             Snails!!

Just a little tiny weeeny bit of me is wondering once again about buying a camper van and being a traveller for six months, then selling the camper van at the height of the Summer season, thus not (hopefully) making a loss. Yes I know what about all that debilitating  'stuff' that I own? Well I could hire a storage unit...! Isn't it sad how laden with 'stuff' we all become in this life. How sad it would be upon entering the gates of heaven to be asked why you never followed your dreams? Only to reply, 'well I didn't because of my 'stuff'....'oh dear, I have to do something about this.

 Our own New Years Eve party....well if no one invites you out you have to create your own entertainment......dress code PJ's and silly head wear......The little lady was indeed wearing knickers on her head!

Jen dog wore a wig too!

 Ummmm no comment!

Small boy throwing a few shapes.....

My 85 year old grandfather joining in with the 'chocolate game' on NY's day........he cheated like mad!

Belated Happy New Year to you all, I have a feeling this IS going to be a brilliant year!

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* This you tube clip has just planted itself on here....I have no idea how or why but I didn't put it on so view at your own risk!
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