Dilapidated

This is not my cabin. But this is the dilapidated (slightly leaning, slightly rotted) state I thought my cabin would wake up as, after two nights of howling wind so fierce I spent my time waking and mopping. Waking and mopping. Waking and mopping. Water.

The wind threw it in. Under my door. Over the threshold. This is why I couldn't have skylights. The structures near me deal with seepage. Including brand new skylight seepage (and breakage). It's the fierce wind.

I've tarped the area fairly well, to allow protection, good ventilation and thorough drying. And my heat inside is nearing 80. I smell a drying threshold. Pretty please.

After more wind tonight, I'll likely have to wait a week for the rain to stop. Then I'll likely haul out the palm sander to sand down a steeper fall for the water to drain off the threshold, add a bunch more finish and watch it for a while.

Maybe I'll add that newfangled gadget that screws into the bottom of the exterior door, forcing the water to fall further away from said bottom of the door. Now there's an idea.

(Then I'll likely get the porch permanently covered. I didn't want to have to do it. The roof will interfere with the beautiful view a bit and who wants to spend money on a porch roof?! But I also want to spend my winter nights sleeping. At least a little bit. :o)

Weleda Toothpaste

I spied this on the shelf

at the healthy food store.

I know I should instead be making toothpaste from scratch.

Oh, how I know it.

But I thought I'd spice things up a bit

and explore this product first.

After all, it said "plant gel" for "sensitive gums"

and "Vegetal." And it was pretty, inside and out.

But if this doesn't impress me beyond all others,

I promise to start making Grandpa's recipe. :o)

There Are Things...

There are things

that peek out,

with a little prodding.

There are things

that insist on

(almost) always hiding.

There are things

preparing to go bump in the night...

ghosts of the season, so inviting.

Happy Hallowwwwween!

Tonight I saw someone.

Who makes me want to run.

Straight into his heart.

Free Giveaway: It's About Love

UPDATE/WINNERS!

Macy, Andrea, ShannonMarie, Bekah, Ceci, Linda

I know...three extra winners...the pendulum swung a little longer. :o) Email me, girls, at isledance at gmail dot com with the address you'd like your earrings mailed to, as well as which earring you like best, second and third. And thank you deeply, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing all of this amazing love. We sure needed it. :o)

I made these just for you. They're sterling silver and natural stone.

Tell me the love story you dream of. Or the amazing love story that happened to you. Or your favorite love story, ever.

Enter your delicious (PG-13 rated!) details in the comments below, by Saturday, October 31st, at midnight. Because then we all turn into pumpkins, you know. Check back here for the winners. (One entry per person, and all that.) Love you. -ID

Rainy Day Relief

It's rainy out. And blustery.

(And two birds ran into my window. I still can't talk about it. Sniff.)

But it wasn't a rainy, blustery or sad, sad birdie day when I snapped these photos.

I've been saving them, in case a day like this arrived. Because these things happen.

I just hope you've had a chance to view Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, on The Bonnie Hunt Show!

The Low Flow

I tried to install a composting toilet. Oh, how I tried.

I needed to install a standard low flow toilet instead.

Because officials would not allow composting toilets. On an island. With water issues. I know. It doesn't make sense. Especially since others islands are ((encouraged)) to use composting toilets. But give these officials a few years and they'll change their ways. I just know it.

In the meantime, the composting toilets will get to improve their fly and clogging issue (not that all composting toilets have them). And they'll get to improve their plastic looks. Yes, oh yes (maybe this isn't so bad after all).

And the major toilet manufacturers will get to work on adding a little more "old fashioned" to their form.

'Cause this fancy, adorable, modern fixture is just about more than I can handle. :o)

The Claw Foot

It sits out in the open. With a hemp shower curtain. Taking in a view.

I chose it for its legs. Simplicity.

I splurged on...

...this.

It matches these, perfectly.

It feels so nurturing to be inside, while looking outside, and throughout the cabin, all at the same time. Fully exposed...yet safely free.

In by Candlelight

It's official: I'm in the cabin! Even though I don't yet have indoor lighting. (Maybe there's a bulk deal on beeswax tea lights/candles?)

I love these authentic reproduction faucets. So much. Even though they're impractical by most modern standards, I think they're just so very perfect.

Hot on the left...

...for cleansing.

Cold on the right...for brushing teeth.

I'm thinking it's time to buy a wooden toothbrush and start making Grandpa's homemade toothpaste. :o) Oooo...and find a mirror!

Eating Seasonally

I had to give Mr. Rooster a couple of days of glory on this site, before posting again. I wasn't sure I could love anything more than my little observance of him. But then I fell in love with this photo. It makes me love ferns, apples and crates in a whole new light. And I really, really, really already loved them before.

A heart. It makes me smile.

All I want, the rest of my life, is white pumpkins. That's what this photo makes me think, anyway. I didn't even know they really existed. I thought people painted them. Silly ID.

Not an apple. Not a pear. I think...?

This shadow may have been attempting a little peace.

And is there anything cuter than all these little baby lumps?

This makes me want to look underneath all leaves. And touch them.

I love parsley. Parsley smoothies. Parsley juiced. Parsley raw, straight up. Oh, gosh. All of this reminds me to focus more on eating seasonally. How about you?

When the Rooster Crosses the Road...

These are the moments I am happiest...

...in the auto.

When I take a meandering turn...

...and a delightful surprise appears.

Delightful surprises that entertain and remind me that it's time to take the good camera out of storage.

So I can see that amazing face close up.

And those sweet little legs.

Who could eat those sweet little legs?!

These experiences make me so happy to be alive.

And so happy they're alive.

So we can giggle at and delight in each other.

Especially when the rooster crosses the road.

Let thy Food Be thy Medicine...

UPDATE UPDATE: I don't ever want to go without these live food supps. I love them. They love me. They make me all calm and happy instead of anxious and depressed, and appear to have balanced out peri-menopause weirdness I just "knew" was happening, but didn't know how to prove when the previous MDs were not helping me solve these dilemmas. I'm not sure which supp has made my skin glow all clear, but I sense it's the capsules. Or maybe they all work together? Either way, thank you, God (and/or whomever/whatever created this existence we are blessed to experience) for these balancing solutions. What a miracle. You. And They. Are. Smooches.

UPDATE: I'm not a hippy or a new-age conformer (though some might argue this - but not the hippies and new-agers, bless them!). I'm just a girl who is a little goofy and who loves her cautious, predictable components as much as her passionate, adventurous parts. And So I understand if this sounds like a really bad, boring infomercial. Forgive me. But I must share, just in case it helps someone else. So here goes... After taking a half dose of the Royal Jelly and the E3 Live below, I wondered if/how/when I'd notice its impact. I was sure it would be a couple of weeks, at least, before I had my answer. And even then, maybe I wouldn't notice anything (like many supps I've tried). Surprise, surprise...I think: While waiting all day to interact with a very angry couple (I don't enjoy - and I seriously run and hide from - interacting with mean people) I noticed how odd it was that I felt absolutely no anxiety. Zero. Zilch. Nada. In fact, I felt a little high. On happy, peaceful energy. A little high on health, it appears, if you will. And I say "high" with reservation, because this Chickie doesn't do alcohol or drugs and is not interested in altering her mind in any weird or uncontrollable way, with any substance - no matter how natural - whatsoever. So again, at the risk of sounding like a really bad infomercial, I tell you this. Because it surprised me. Because I know anxiety all too well. I live with it daily, as it sits quietly in the pit of my tummy. And it ramps up during difficult times. So, to risk the whole freaky reputation this might bring, I think these supplements might be working. I didn't take the second dose, and woke up this next morning feeling back to my old (slightly anxious) self. So I'll be taking my MD recommended twice daily doses from here on out and see what happens... :o)

This looks like chocolate liquid in the photo, but it's really a dark Blue-Green-Algae green. I splurged on it (though I purchased it via another link). I'm seeing if it helps with a few things. The MD thinks it's wise. And it's not bad - somewhat neutral, grassy tasting, actually. I'm slowly working my way up to the suggested dose.

I thought one was supposed to give up bee/pollen products when eating vegan, but apparently not. This is Royal Jelly (also purchased via another link - but this link has great info). It looks like raw honey, is less sweet, has a bit of a tart zing to it and a tiny amount goes a long way.

And this is the third new supplement (I like to take as few as possible, but I'm not sure this post conveys that message :o). See how it says "Pure Vegan" and pollen? Who knew?!

An easy capsule. No freezing. No refrigeration. No measuring. Can life get any better?

I'll let you know...because I'm hoping all of this is as big a success as the Natural Vitamin D. :o)

Focus

The flower bud is not quite in focus. The lighting was a little too low. But he background is oh, so beautiful. Life isn't always perfect. Yet if we focus on that which we can control - acceptance - we can enjoy the perfect imperfection of life's journey. (Acceptance: My other photos didn't turn out. At all. Because we're going to fail every now and then. We have to. I'm kind of having fun surrendering to it. :o)

Island Produce Stand

I rounded the bend,

just past my favorite little island cottage,

and couldn't help but fall in love with this.

I think I see a pattern here.

I might fall in love a little too easily.

But that's okay.

The world needs a little more love.

Warm, fuzzy, love.

For eternity.