I got hooked on essential oils last year. They are good for everything from aches and pains (topical use) to making the house smell great (diffuser) to adding to the flavor of your favorite foods.But I am not all that skilled in working essential oils into my dog routine. I have a great sister-friend who has made me some salves and sprays for my dogs that help with healing and ease irritation, but I didn\’t have anything to help with calming them when they get upset. Both are not fond of fireworks or other random noises (like pine cones falling…
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What to say when words are inadequate?What to do when anything is not enough?How to not cry when crying is all that seems right?How to comfort when no comfort can be found? I wrote in my head all night.It was that, or cry, which I did a little before going to bed: there is a young couple I know from my last church whose son (a wee babe) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last year. He was one of the happiest little boys ever. He even liked me; I don\’t feel I am very good with babies…
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Hey, Cave Dwellers: It is my honor to feature my writing colleague, Emerian Rich. She’s got three great pointers for new authors (and some not-so-new authors … just sayin’). Here she is! As writers, we have many bad habits that hinder our careers. I am just as guilty as the next author and some of us don’t even know we’re doing it. I’m going to bring to light three self-torturing habits we have, in hopes that we can all help each other stop the madness. We don’t support ourselves. Sounds weird, but it’s true. We wrote these stories, we love…
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He drove the little truck through the parking lot slowly, looking past us to a point in space none could see as he went by our set-up. I was in the park with my friends who give out food and my task was to get the signatures of those who picked up today\’s goods. My friend\’s husband has to provide a sign-in sheet to the food bank where he gets many of the items to show that he is, in fact, handing out what he is given.As I stood and looked to the south, I saw a dark sedan; the…
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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU[/embedyt]Watching my dogs run in the sun, I laugh as Sputnik chases a butterfly. The Santa Ana wind is blowing and the gusts carry the insect higher into the blue bright heat of mid-day, but she does not give up. Back and forth she races beneath it, squinting into the sun and dust.I wonder how dogs keep sand-grit out of their eyes enough to not stop chasing what it is they are after.I cup my hand against my face as another gust blows sand at me angrily. My shadow on the ground does the same and I suspect my…
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We are two-dimensional beings most of the time. It is rare that we show 360 degrees of ourselves to anyone. The first husband had an image of me that I could never live up to and it made him angry. Well, he was already angry — the fact that I wasn\’t what he thought he had simply added fuel to his already stoked fire. I wrote some time ago about burying the best parts of me deep inside so they wouldn\’t be hurt during those years.Like an egg, or maybe more like a cocoon, I kept those parts carefully wrapped…
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Disclaimer: I was contacted by the company to offer an unbiased review after trying this product.I went to the doctor for my annual check-up several months ago. I was terrified that something was terribly wrong. I had body aches and all sorts of discomforts. In as kindly a manner possible, the young man tells me I am in pre-menopause and proceeds to share what I am in for.Great.I mention that I do not want to take prescription medication and asked for natural alternatives. He recommended something from the local health store, so I drove over afterwards. The choices were not…
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There is something to be said for familiarity.I enjoy spending time with the folks who come out to the food ministry each weekend. Since we are friends, I will let you in on a little secret: I enjoy the folks who come for the food — talking and laughing, catching up on the week — more than I do with the folks who bring it. For the most part.Living on the street is no joke. When someone is missing, it pricks my heart with concern. I want to know they are okay. When people who haven\’t been around for a…
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It will be tomorrow by the time you read this.In the first dream, I was walking in a house or apartment that must have been mine; I did not recognize it but it felt comfortable. I turned and was confronted by a dark figure wearing a skully. I grabbed something that looked like a large pen (or an extra-long vape battery?) and stabbed him in the neck — the soft meat at the collar bone.And then I woke up.In the second dream, I was outside, barefoot, walking across a greenspace to a dilapidated door that was held shut by a…
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The crackle, etc., of the Rice Krispies did not wake me.I stayed up far too late.Confession: I could have gone to be earlier but #GameOfThrones, right? I had to see it. But I got a call from one of my adopted sisters who I hadn\’t actually spoken with in over a year, which delayed the mayhem-watching for about three hours.I guess I could stop saying I am an only child since I have been blessed with multiple \’play\’ or adopted siblings over the past almost 50 years. There are several who have been part of my life for nearly all…