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2005 -- September's snippets Raw food survey! Please take time to fill in this raw food survey, as created by the guys at The Tree Of Life, Arizona. They need at least 300-400 responses by September 31st 2005 in order to get valid statistics for the comprehensive study and ascertain any dominant patterns or areas of concern/confusion among this target group. Go to raw food survey Little pecan mouse Little plant pot mouse My little mouse There's a mouse in my house! 12th September -- OK, there's more than one. This is what you get for living 3 doors away from open fields. Harvest time comes, and the little mouses have no home, so they make themselves comfy in front of my joss stick and revel in the fact that there are nuts and seeds in every cupboard. Now, obviously I wouldn't kill a mouse. Pesky karma has seen to it that I can't do such things. So a few weeks ago I got some humane mousetraps. They didn't work. Last week I got some different ones, called Trip Trap. They did work after a few attempts. The trick is to keep moving them, and to put them at the backs of the surfaces that you see them on, and skirting boards. Yesterday was funny, there was one hiding in the plant pot! Very very cute, these mice are. It's like, I don't have an issue with them being in the house, but you let one stay and it suddenly becomes mouse party time, and they start eating all your books and things. Anyway, so I've let one mouse go (you have to drive them away from your house so they can't track back), and I put the plant pot mouse outside yesterday (but think he got back in very quickly). And now I've two little baby mice sitting in the traps waiting for Evie to wake up so I can free them. Obviously can't go out while baby's in bed. That'd be a social services issue! Now, the thing about this whole mouse stuff, is that all 3 that I've caught, and the plant pot mouse have all been babies. Honestly, barely bigger than a pecan. Didn't know they made babies this time of year, and am very concerned that they won't live outside alone. I did attempt a box construction for mouse number one, but he did this Houdini thing and ended up in a crack in the lid, so I had to quickly tape it up and drive fast before he totally jumped out. I realise I can't keep them. I just don't dig the thought that yes, it's a humane trap and you set the mouse free, but then will it go to someone else's house who has traps, or will it die alone and cold and pecan-sized? They become your responsibility... Very tough, but feel I must keep doing what I'm doing. We've got them in the bedrooms and loft, all over. Just hope they'll be OK when they leave Duck Duck Way. Speaking of ducks... And she will... Evie has a new word. Duck. A duck is a duck (first discovered from her two sets of ducks that bathe with her). A bird is a duck. An aeroplane is a duck, because it flies. And finally, all toys and bright things are ducks because they look like her toy ducks. So obsessed with ducks is she, that she wakes up in the night, shouts "Duck" and the drifts gently back to sleep. I knew when we moved to Duck Duck Way there'd be trouble. It's creeping into my subconscious, too. Walking by the Grafton Centre yesterday, I said to Annette "Look, there's a Starduck's over there". Obviously, then I doubled over in laughter. So you go to Evie "What's this?" and she goes "Duck". And we were in Mothercare yesterday and she goes over to a toy, going "Duck" and I go "Darling it's not a duck, it's a toy" and she lifts it up, and Annette goes "It is a duck" and there it was, a mirror with a duck on it. I was so proud (as the Mothercare women didn't know everything's automatically a duck, so it seemed Evie was being terribly bright). No more waddling Unlike ducks that waddle, Evie now walks confidently and happily. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to walk along holding your baby's hand. So sweet. Love her. And letting her go... a bit Sanity, time, stress, time, exhaustion, time... all came into play when I made a big decision last week. Am putting Evie into a nursery for 9 hours a week. Doesn't seem much, but it'll give me a bit of time to recharge my batteries and breathe. I love being with Evie, yet I really didn't know how hard it'd be to be a single mummy. Yeah, Matt does his bit, he comes over twice a week and plays with her, but most of the time it's me and her, and it's not too exciting for her as we have no mummy mates here, and I was getting so very tired, so I made that decision. It's two afternoons, and the nursery is on a farm, very very lovely and rural. They're fab people there, and are happy to acommodate all Evie's food things. They do a messy play activity with potatoes or jelly or something, and they said the'd do it with sand and water when Evie's in. Very good of them. I never thought I'd do something like this, but I also never thought I'd be a single mum, so you have to do what you think's right, and that can sometimes alter your perception on what you thought was right for so many years. But honestly, a raw baby has energy! She goes to bed around 10pm, and then I'm supposed to work! It just doesn't work, so this little change will hopefully give me the peace to regroup myself, and will give Evie some friends to hang out with. We just started the Steiner mother and toddler group in Cambridge, too, which is lovely. Really like the vibe there, and wish they did a nursery!!! Summer 2006, the summer of transformation Can't believe how fab our retreat next year will be! Check it out! Ohhh, I'm going to all of it, me! OK, must attempt getting ready, am off mouse-freeing now! Lots of love xxx 19th September -- Aw, Evie had her first proper day at nursery today. She did 4 whole hours there. I had all these grand plans to relax and do nothing as I'm so tired from everything, but realised I had a stack of work, and if I relaxed I'd just think about it and think about Evie, so I worked instead. Went to pick her up a bit early as I got all antsy and funny. She was great, though, hanging out with one of the girls in the garden, with her big girl's shoes on that she can't walk in yet as they're too heavy for her. Talked to the girl about eating mud, then took Evie home, and she was a night night girl as soon as we got in the car. But then she woke up to her bedroom, her booboo and her mama. Who she calls Daddy at the moment. In fact, she calls everyone Daddy, except Annette, who she calls Annette. Very clever that, for a baba. Anyway. That's all I really wanted to write. I survived the nursery separation thing. Am hoping this little bit of spare time will enable me to feel human again, what with all the events of last year, something has to! Much love xxx 26th September -- Wow, have started to feel all relaxed now I get a bit of time off. Matt had Evie for a while longer than normal on Saturday, had all these grand plans which included mowing my lawn, but ultimately I just had a bath and watched a film and tried to sleep twice but couldn't. Then Evie came back and was so tired she slept most of the night, so I had like a whole day to myself! Went to bed early though, couldn't keep awake. Anyway, am enjoying getting a bit of a life back, I have to say. I also feel like I can offer Evie so much more as I'm not permanently wanting to sleep. It's good. Evie's settling into nursery, though she fell asleep when eating today -- bless her. We caught moust number 7 last night, had to go out late at night and release him, I thought he could fret to death otherwise. The stars were awesome. Love living so close to fields. Having mice is a small price to pay. Annette may say otherwise about the gigantic spiders we get. It freaks her. Time to dust off that Slade record already... Anyway, very excited to announce our Festive Party for this year. It's on Saturday the 10th of December, and is in Cambridge (UK). It'll be a total blast. Check it out here. There's a cheap early booking fee, so if you want to come, book now to save £££s! Evie's naming ceremony A few of you have asked to see what we wrote for Evie's naming ceremony last month. Here it is, we ad libbed a bit of course, but hope that it helps anyone thinking of doing their own thang... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <***put music on***> Matt and I would like to thank you all for coming from far and wide to witness the welcoming (albeit a little belated) of Evie into this world. Once the ceremony is finished, we invite you to sign her guest book, and to write in it anything appropriate that you'd love her to read. Before we go any further, could you please make sure your mobile phones are switched off! Also, we’d like to remember Uncle Ralph who couldn’t be with us today, as he’s working in Brazil. He sends Evie his love. We would now like to introduce you to the most beautiful and precious person in our lives. Welcome, Evie. May beauty delight you and happiness uplift you, May wonder fulfill you and love surround you. May your step be steady and your arm be strong, May your heart be peaceful and your word be true. May you seek to learn, may you learn to live. May you live to love, and may you love - always. Mummy and daddy have some promises to share with you: Shazzie: Evie, I promise to be ever conscious of your needs, even when they conflict with mine I promise to hold you deep in my heart so you are always protected I promise to show you unconditional and relentless love, and I promise I'll fully accept it back from you Matt: ***Insert your promises here*** (You may want to say why you chose "Evie Grace") Both: We know that life presents a series of challenges and opportunities, and we would like you to know that we'll always be by your side to laugh and cry with you. We'd like to give you a secret name, for you to use whenever you like. The name is Anjika, which is Sanskrit for blessed. Bless you, Evie. We have asked four very special people to be Guardian Angels for Evie. We know these people love her dearly anyway, but we felt that they will enrich her life with their diverse and loving ways. Please can Aunties Jane and Jennie, Uncle Wayne and David come up. <GAs come up> As Evie's guardian angels, please share your promises with Evie and everybody here Do you promise to show Evie love? We promise to show Evie love Do you promise to show Evie light? We promise to show Evie light Do you promise to show Evie laughter? We promise to show Evie laughter Do you promise to be there for Evie whenever she needs, from now and into adulthood? We promise to be there for Evie whenever she needs, from now and into adulthood Now, Auntie Jane would like to say something to Evie ***Jane's speach*** Thank you, Jane Now, Uncle Wayne would like to say something to Evie ***Wayne's speach*** Thank you, Wayne Now, Auntie Jennie would like to say something to Evie ***Jennie's speach*** Thank you, Jennie Now, David would like to say something to Evie ***David's speach*** Thank you, David <Shazzie holds Evie, Matt anoints her with water from the chalis, drawing a circle on her forehead> Evie, we offer you this circle of water to represent the ever flowing river of life that you are part of. <Matt lights a candle> Evie, we light this candle to guide and protect you throughout your life's journey. <Matt gives her a balloon> Evie, we give you this balloon as a symbol of breath. Enjoy the ever expansive life that breath gives you. <Matt picks up a box with the placenta in it> Evie, we now take your placenta, the beautiful organ which bound you to me, and which is no longer needed and we'll place it in the earth. To show you the wonder of growth, we'll plant a monkey puzzle tree on top of it, which will grow and blossom with you. <All go to tree planting via back gate into the front garden. Drinks boy to be stood with glasses of champagne/wine/juice for them to collect on the way> <Me to place the placenta in the ground> <Matt to plant tree with Evie joining in> <As the tree is being planted, me to read:> As Matt and Evie plant the tree, kindly donated by her Grandmother Christine, I'd like to read Prayer of Peace by St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment. Feel free to join me. Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. <Wait until tree is planted> Now, all that remains is for you to charge your glasses and give a big welcome to Evie Grace Holdstock. All: "Welcome Evie!" <Cheers her> Pass Evie round from guest to guest with each one of them greeting him or her and perhaps each one making their own small promise. <End> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Next

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