Sunday Drive

Yesterday was a beautiful, wonderful day in many ways. But the best part was spending time with my eldest just driving through the mountains, stopping to take pictures, and enjoying the scenery.

Shelby and I decided to go for a drive up 215, past Lake Logan, just to explore. We hadn't been that way before and wanted to see something new. Such a gorgeous drive! So many glimpses of the beautiful Pigeon River, mountains in their winter garb, and old farm houses - we were in seventh heaven. Very little conversation beyond where to stop and take pictures and explore, but a comfortable silence between us. We were both just enjoying the time together without any pressure.

We stopped in one driveway because Shelby saw a site off a bridge. As she took pictures, I wandered down to the river's edge and looked at the stones. Picked a few up to bring home that really spoke to me. She followed me down and as she was snapping away, we discovered two ducks. She took their pictures and turned away to find more shots and they began to follow her. I guess they were looking for bread, but they cornered her next to a tree. They never made a sound, just kept waddling closer and closer to her - she was afraid they would attack! Finally they moved away and we got back up the hill to the car. Pretty crazy ducks! But she got some good shots.

Then we continued the drive, passing lake Logan (absolutely amazing as it gets bigger and bigger around each curve) and came across a stopping place to go down to the river. There was a dead raccoon where we stopped and Shelby took a picture - why, I'm not sure. We made it down the hill and found a terrific spot to enjoy the river. There was a large beach, mostly covered with stones of all sizes and a couple of small falls so you could really hear the water, and a downed tree to sit on. I looked for rocks for awhile, then sat and just enjoyed the comfort and peace of Mother Nature. The sound of the water was so soothing! Shelby took pictures, skipped rocks and just wandered. We stayed there for about 30 minutes just absorbing all that Mother had to give.



We continued up the road a piece, not sure where it would come out. We never did find the end because all of sudden Shelby had this OMG moment and had to turn around and go back. There was this fantastic picture - in between two mountains, the river came down, carving a place between the rocks and it was absolutely stunning. (I will post pics later). After that, we just decided to back track and head home - stopping a few more places for pictures.

The afternoon was perfect - just comfortable being together and enjoying the gifts of peace and beauty that the Goddess presented to us. I have some of the stones on my desk at work, just so I can hold one when I get stressed, and remember the sounds of the water and the peace of the beach.

Daughters!

Ok, here comes the first of more than likely many about my oldest. She is driving me nuts! She is almost 19, out of high school, working at a local restaurant, and sowing many wild oats. We have had discussions - arguments - fights - actually screaming fits about her lack of willingness to help out around the house and her being out all night. She doesn't really pick up after herself, remembers to change the litter box only when you can't walk in the house due to the smell, can't seem to see a piece of trash on the floor to save her life, etc. Then she sleeps until about an hour before work, comes home from work and watches TV, then about 8 pm decides to go back out and not come home until 3,4,5 - just to go to bed and do it all over again. I have set curfews, which she proceeds to ignore. Set boundaries, which are run slam over within minutes. Taken away privileges and possessions. She doesn't make any bones about the fact that she is drinking a good bit on most of these nights out, or that she smokes some pot at times. Last night was the final straw for me. I let her spend Monday night over a friend's, where she proceeded to get plastered - she complained about the major hangover Tuesday. Then Tuesday night she was going to a friend's b'day party in Asheville - I told her to be home by 12 pm - her curfew. She was like ok, though she didn't want to. Well, upshot of this about 11:00 pm she started texting me to let her stay out later. Asked if she could do what she wanted if she paid rent? Said no, she still lives under my roof, therefore she follows my rules. (She already pays so much towards her phone and car insurance). She said no one could bring her home since I wouldn't let her drive her car to Asheville. I said tough - she knew the deal when she left. She wasn't home by midnight. I cannot deal with the utter lack of obedience and respect so I am going to issue the ultimatum - 30 days to straighten out or she has to move out, without the car and phone - or she has to go in the military, where she can keep the phone. Hubby, who lives in another state, keeps saying to wait and work more with her. I have been working with her for almost two years and have spent the last couple of months trying to deal with this - there is nothing left in me to deal anymore. And my main problem is I can't stand to see her waste her life like this - she is smart, talented, funny, pretty - and she is just wasting it. It's not necessarily the not doing anything around the house, it is her lack of self respect and discipline that she exhibits by these behaviors - that upsets me more than anything.

Am I being too harsh? I don't know, but I am done. I don't have the emotional strength to keep fighting the battles. She will have to do it without me watching. I will always be there for her and will help what I can, but I can't sit by and watch her waste her life.

A contest from Two Witches blog

This is one of my favorite blogs and they are having a great giveaway contest. See the details at http://2witches.com/blog/

The prize is a 2010 Seasons of the Witch Calendar (spiral bound), and a small surprise gift from the South Jersey Pagan Pride event.

The Two Witches Blog always has something interesting and/or entertaining. They talk about all sort of stuff and I just enjoy learning about their lives as witches and moms and friends. Really good stuff -

Wonderful day!

I just got home from spending a couple of hours in Asheville with members of the Mother Grove Temple. It was so nice to be in a group of like minds again - been years since I could do that! The people were all very friendly and made me feel very welcome. I am definitely looking forward to attending some rituals with them and getting to know them all better. I feel very encouraged and know that the Goddess has led me to them at the right time for me. Any earlier or later in my spiritual path and I probably wouldn't have felt comfortable. But right now, I am realizing the need for a group to encourage and teach me along this path. And to find a group of confident, out spoken, lively people is such a blessing. The Goddess, as always, knows what I need and when.

I am looking forward to growing in leaps and bounds with the help of this group - and enjoying my path with them.

Let me introduce myself -

Since this is my first blog, I guess I better tell you a little bit about myself so you will know if you want to follow me.

I am a Southern born and bred, middle aged mother of two teenage daughters and three cats. My husband and I live in different states, which can tend to make parenting difficult, but other things better. My mother has Alzheimer's, which causes much heartache for me. I work for the Dept. of Social Services as a Medicaid caseworker - and I love my job! Helping people who truly need it is worth the hassles. I am also a Celtic Pagan, studying shamanism, and finding my spiritual path. I come from a very conservative Presbyterian background, so my path has some unique and strange twists to it, many of which are not appreciated by my minister father.

All of this influences me and what I write about. Some days it will be the problems of dealing with smart, funny, strong willed daughters. Other times it will be the struggle to walk my path and integrate it with the rest of my life. And there will be the occasional mention of the parental unit that is not happy with me and the one that really doesn't remember me.

If any of this strikes a cord with you, then please follow along. We can help each other along the journey of life - and that is what it is all about any way!