Halloween 2019

The Legerski home-  our favorite Halloween tradition. 

Elias's candy haul-  organized categorically.   
Elias and I share the beauty of ADHD, or Fast Brain as we call it.
We explore, create, and think outside the box... or in this case inside the box.

National Cat Day

Cat spirit animal:  Magical, independent, curious, overly-imaginative...  Yes please.

I love this bundle of fur.  So much.  Every cat owner knows, No one ever owns a cat.
Tigre found me when we were living on the beach in Mexico, and I am one lucky lady.
These are my favorite things about Tigre and all cats:
He never hides his emotion; absolute emotional honesty
He hasn't forgotten that cats were once worshiped as gods
He has high expectations, and knows he is worthy of them
Independent
Curious
IN THE MOMENT
Most of all, my cuddly friend.

There are few things in life more heartwarming than being welcomed by a cat. -Tay Hohoff

So-  if you think I am that crazy cat lady who wears funny hats, and talks to animals.  You couldn’t be more correct.

Happy National Cat Day-  Enrique Nacho Tigre!

Mexico Veterinarian Office 2017

Halloween 2017

A Day Spent Reading by the Fire... is never wasted

Elias and I are reading The Birchbark House- by Louise Erdrich
How I love reading about indigenous nations and experiences.  Elias seems to have the same affinity.  He stayed home from school sick today.  I am pretty sure it was the Birchbark house needing to read sickness. I had the perfect cure.  We read for hours.  How I love that boy.

Creation of Fire

Keeper of the fire

Finally she is

Patience and practice

Bow Drill Wiz

Okay,  “Wiz” is a bit of a stretch, but...  I DID IT! Finally!  

First Blizzard of the season here in the Great White North.  Perfect day to build a fire, and it only took me 2 hours! Haha!

Maybe by the end of the season I will really be a  Bow Drill Wiz.

Starting a fire using a bow drill is a skill I have wanted for a long time. 

A bow drill is a simple rotational hand-operated tool of prehistoric origin, commonly used to generate friction to start a fire. #rabbitstick #fire #frictionfire #bowdrill #Blizzard #noschool #snowday #home #ancestralskills  #primitiveskills

The Mac Impact

Saturday May 3, 2014 I woke up at dawn and ran 5 miles, when I came home to wake up my little girl and found that she had died during the night. I have not run in a race or trained since that time.

Running is therapeutic, releases endorphins, dopamine, and just feels good- and although I have needed these things in my life, I couldn’t bring myself to go.

Until #TheMacImpact

Heidi with Jill Beireis,  We love, we grieve, we live.  We are not our grief.

Just lacing my shoes up for the first time to train brought tears, therapeutic, healing sobs and tears.  #IAmNotMyGrief

This weekend I ran the Grand Forks Wild Hog in honor of McCormick Beireis a 2 year old boy who has made a profound impact on many lives. Including mine.
Thank you Micky Mac. You helped me remember my passion for running. Please hug my Lizzy for me. 💙

Prajñāpāramitā

This little girl, I found at a puppy mill in Wisconsin.  She had spent years as breeding stock living in a small cage.  She is a ShihTzu, a breed that originates from Tibet.  Naturally I gave her a Tibeten name, Prajñāpāramitā, which means Mother, Mother of Light, Mother of all Wisdom,  The Great Mother.  She was a mother over and over whose pups were taken from her.  We relate, she and I.    I call her Mita. 

Truth be told, I am a cat person.  Anyone who really knows me... knows that NachoTigre is my precious (yes, just like the ring is to Gollum).  BUT.... nonetheless I brought this cute little white fluff home.  12 hours in the car with this stinky little mama on my lap.  Our souls imprinted on each other forever.  That was nearly two years ago.

I think I can say in truth that no other being has loved ME more than this dog. She follows me everywhere, always wants to sit by me.  Rides in my bike basket.  And loves to go all places.  I took her through the process of becoming a Certified Therapy dog-  She passed the tests and observations with flying colors.  She now likes to visit the Elder Care center and love on the residents there.

And to be completely transparent,  I have been somewhat unaccepting of my little Mita.  She has been difficult to potty train having lived in a cage her whole life, she constantly wants to be near me.  I have been dismissive of her, even annoyed by her constant stream of affection.  Still yet, she is UNCONDITIONALLY loving to me.

As I drove out to Rabbitstick last week, I listened to the book Radical Acceptance: A Buddhist Guide to Freeing Yourself from Shame.  

As I got into the book Tara Brach speaks a client who said "If only I could love myself the way my dog loves me".

This struck a chord with me as I continued driving through the mountains.  Tears welling in my eyes. My dog ADORES me.  "Maybe if I could just see myself the way Mita sees me?"  I thought.

Just then in my audiobook, Tara mentions Prajñāpāramitā.  And it hit me.  I am completely accepted loved, and adored by Prajñāpāramitā, the Great Mother, The Mother of Light and Wisdom.  Tears flowing from my eyes I embraced myself with a love I haven't felt in years.  Goddess Love.

#synchronicity

As I learn more about embracing myself with my grief, I am learning that my grief is not what defines me.  And I no longer want it to define me.  I am NOT my grief.  I am so much more than that.  

Weddings and Hand Signals~

Take a close look at her hand~

So my amazing sister in law got married July 11.  

There were many beautiful pictures of her and her hubby.  

However, this picture of my niece, took the cake.  This little girl just finished 1st grade, and she means business.  She is not afraid to take the bull by the horns. She is a go getter and she knows how to get what she wants from life.  

You go girl.   Don't ever lose your spark.

And I love you.