From where I sit....

There is so much story to tell from where I sit. I haven’t written in so long. I have been blocked in more ways than one. The story has been bubbling, and I had to wait for a milestone to pass. I refused to start writing, before the finish line, out of fear I would jinx it. It was fear of a pain that I have known so well. I lost so many hours of sleep, laying awake, wheels turning with all the what-ifs…….

In 1979, when I was 1 week old, I met the man who would later adopt me. It was love at first sight. We were meant to be. At just 6 weeks old, that man drove me, and my mother, to meet the family. Apparently, as the story goes, my Grandmother spread the word, like wild fire. “Dougie” was bringing his girlfriend and her baby down. Well…..Gram had the house lined with people. Friends. Family. Neighbors. All eyes waiting to get a look at that little baby.

What happened on that day, was nothing short of God’s will. I entered the house that would be my family. The people accepted me in a split second and they NEVER looked back. They NEVER made even a hint that I was not their true family. They would literally become the most important, and influential people in my life. They were my teachers of the sea, of unconditional love peppered with dysfunction, teachers of the garden, laughter, acceptance, tough love, patience. I am me, because of them.

However, it was not just the people that became family. It was the place. The house. The sea. The culture. The connection.

From where I sit I look out at my favorite place in the world. I look out at the cove where my Grandmother was raised, and her dad was raised, and my dad was raised, and I, and now my kids are the sixth generation. That is priceless. The connection to the sea, to this house, to the heritage that I have been blessed to be a part of is almost indescribable.

This house that I live in was lost in my parents’ divorce. It was ugly. It was awful. The pain that the loss of this house brought with it took my breath away. I will never forget the way my heart dropped out of my chest, the day my dad sat me down to tell me the news of foreclosure. My sister and I tried to save it, but we were young and just didn’t have time to put our ducks in a row, and make it work. It was pure devastation. The house that many of our family members have called home, was lost. I turned to beers and landed myself in jail with an OUI……it was a bit downhill for awhile. Myself, my Grandmother, my dad, and my two younger sisters were all displaced. Life is a journey and there is a reason for everything.

Later in my life, as a married woman, the situation presented itself for us to potentially buy this house back. I remember saying no to my husband. I couldn’t even bare the thought of the loan not being approved. I couldn’t take my heart down that road. I had stopped driving to this neighborhood for years, because the pain was so great I couldn’t bare it. Well…..we plugged on and were able to buy this house and move our family in. I remember putting my rocking chair near the window, and just putting unpacking on hold for days. Sitting there as much as I could and just letting that reality set in. We did it. I was home.

A couple of years ago my husband and I separated. It has not been an easy road. I am not going to sort out the details of it here. I will say that it has taken me to places that I have never been before. So low. So fucking low. It has been a lot to sort through and certainly isn’t 100% healed. I have made some choices along the way that probably didn’t make sense to some people, but it was part of my personal journey. So, here we are…….

I have been in the refinance process for around five months. It was grueling! I had planned ahead last spring, and knew that I would need to take on any work I could manage to fit into my schedule, around raising 6 kids (5 of my own and 1 foster). I taught Yoga, many classes a week. I cleaned houses, many. I painted interior walls for people. I mowed lawns. I gathered herbs, and made so many potions. The mortgage company hemmed and hawed……”We need this.” …….”It isn’t enough”…….”You need a co-signer”………”We need more papers.”……….”You don’t need a co-signer”………………….”You need a pile of $$$ to close.”……….

It kept me awake at night.

It drained me.

I revisited trauma.

I cried.

I prayed.

I held my father’s head in my hands as he breathed his last breath, in May. In August we spread his ashes here in this cove. I. COULD. NOT. LOSE. MY. HOUSE. TOO.

There is a God. God is good.

I DID IT!!!! On Monday I signed. It is over. My Gram’s house is my house. Every scrubbed toilet, and shower, and painted wall, and blade of grass, and Yoga class, and every single potion sold, made the difference. I can breathe. I can sleep. I did it. I am home. And I am not going anywhere! I have known deeply in my being that I am to be an old lady here. A salty, wise, weathered, whiskey drinking, card playing, old lady, with an open door just as my Gram would want it.

The gratitude I have for every one of you who have supported my wee business, is beyond words. Whether you have purchased anything or not, your presence has kept me moving forward. You encouraged me to keep showing up and offering my gifts. You have made a difference, a huge difference in my life, and the lives of my children, and you have blessed my neighbors as well!! They are thrilled that we aren’t going anywhere. You have helped me save my little house by the sea. The future is brighter.

So much love.

Thank you for reading,

Kelly Jo

Loving my Tribe fiercely.......

So, sitting here on a muggy, summer August day on my favorite Maine island, reflecting on what "Tribe" means to me......

I have spent the last 8 years as a stay at home mom, aka "housewife" (Just so you know, I Fucking hate that term). Over these 8 years I have been so busy....homeschooling, pregnant, nursing, gardening, postpartum, book keeping....5 kids....lobsterman's wife....the list of chores is frightening to most (especially said lobsterman). Recently, I made a huge decision to go back to work. I have many amazing, healing business ventures in the works, but my goal is to have my very own studio space to offer these gifts. So, for the sake of my sanity, and to bring in more money for the budget, with the goal of freeing up funds to acquire a property...I have returned to the world of bartending.

I have just finished up my second week back after 8  years away. Let me tell you, momma is tired. I am sitting here surrounded by 5 busy, messy, starving (always!) little loves between 3 and 12 years old. I am sitting here catching up on bills and all that wicked fun stuff....reflecting on this concept of Tribe.

These last 8 years I have been surrounded by my little tribe. However, it has felt incredibly, and overwhelmingly lonely most of the time. And, there was my 18 month stay on a remote island....You have never felt so lonely.....I spent 2 weeks in my house unable to leave my driveway because it was so icy that my car wouldn't make it out. We spent 2 or 3 days of a Maine February iced in. No boats were able to come or go....

It is unfortunate to me that the majority of our culture has strayed so far from such an ancient concept of being part of a tribe. Many of us spend our days immersed in the rat race that we are conditioned to think is the correct way of life. Days are spent living in our own heads barely a meaningful conversation to be had, let alone a close connection.

This. Is. Sad......We NEED each other!!!

Not only have I returned to a CHEERS like version of a tribe, which feels really great. The world of bartending lends you an extended family. Many of the people I am seeing now, are the same people I developed relationships with when I was previously serving up the spirits. We have picked up right where we left off as thought there were no 8 year gap in conversation.

I also spent three days last weekend immersed in a brand new tribe of women. We gathered in the most magically wooded place I have ever experienced. We were surrounded by trees, herbs, vegetables, wild medicine, and beautiful nourishing food. I knew only one other person at the start of the journey. Yet, somehow, I had known them all, my whole life. We came together to form a supportive, warm, almost ancient connection. Ladies were comfortable enough to bare it all and swim naked in the magical pond.

I found myself in a state of extreme awe. Never have I experienced such a caring, non-judgemental, open armed group of women. Despite only knowing each other a short time I have no doubt that these women have my back, even from across the country, or over the Canadian border. We gathered, we connected, we shared fire, food, tears, healing, ceremony, and the most amazing chocolate EVER!!! We are connected for life.

The most beautiful part is, we are here for you too. A group of women determined to offer a sense of Tribe to all who are open.

My ONLY caution is this.....Leaving the company of such beautiful souls may leave you SO full of love that anything less is hard to swallow. Upon returning to "the real world" I spent a couple of days coddling a sense of grief. It was so hard to come out of the sacred circle we formed and return to everyday life. I feel such a connection to my beautiful new Tribe that I am sad to be away from them. Yet, I have a new strength that is unbreakable. Even from far apart we walk together.

To all of my new sisters, Should you need me.......I am here for you.

To all of my readers, find your tribe and love them fiercely! The world needs more LOVE!!!

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Kelly

Transforming F/V Charlie III from tragic to......

Without exaggeration the latest boat project, for us, has  been at least 11 years in the making. My husband has been studying, shopping for, and viewing fishing vessels (F/V) for at least 11 years. He has searched from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland and down the East Coast.......All while we have been creating a family, making a living, getting through Foster Care licensing, adoption, and a few moves.....Am. I. Glad. It. Is. Over????? Hell yes! The transformation of F/V Charlie III has literally felt like having a sister wife! At least she has finally started making money and is not just spending it all!

I wish that the story of her history were one of profit, harmony, and smooth sailing, but that is not the case. There is no doubt that this boat was designed to be seaworthy. Fortunately, her tragedy didn't occur on the water! This boat was a vision. A vision a father had for his son.

My husband spotted this boat on Craigslist, while we were living on Isle au Haut (a remote island 6 miles off the coast of Maine). The boat was located in Scituate, Massachusetts about six hours away. In the time between finding the listing and the time we got the boat to Isle au Haut there were around six trips to and from Scituate. This included a round trip steam, by boat. The return trip had our new vessel in tow as she was not ready to run on her own power. During that time my husband got to know the previous owner and learned much about his connection to the boat.

I have to be honest....the first time I  saw the boat it was sitting on boat stands in an impound lot....I was in awe as I pulled up and saw just how big this vessel was. Then...I boarded the boat. I could have killed my husband. This poor boat had been neglected for a long  time. Everything was rotten and punky. Holy Mother what the F*&* was he thinking?? That is what went through my mind. He saw something I didn't. He knew he had found a great deal. He knew there was much to be done, and true to form, he has stayed the course.

At first, the conversations with the owner could be less than friendly at times. He was quick to get heated and it made the boat all the more rotten to me. As we came to know more about the owner's relationship with the vessel it became very clear why he had such a hard time dealing with the boat.

This was his vision for his young son. He had a plan to get this boat fishing for his son, to set him off on the path to success. To cheer him on and teach him the way, something that most Captains hold in the very fiber of  their being. This young son was also a father. He had started the next generation for their family..........The vision that was held for the future of the vessel, the future of father and son all came to an end. That young man was killed in a car accident. His little one was left without a father. His father was left with a hole in his heart...and there was the boat, a constant reminder of the what would never be.

The boat sat in that parking lot for about six years. Six years of reminding everyone what they had lost.

For all of the tension that this boat has brought between my husband and I, I pray that we will never know the pain that this boat symbolized for her previous family. I pray that now that our vessel is ship shape and has new life breathed into  her that somehow there is healing for her other family. Once she is painted in the spring we have plans to make that trip to Scituate once again, this time under her own power. I think seeing the boat in a fresh condition may provide a release of emotions that will hopefully bring even just a tiny bit of comfort to the sadness left by that broken vision.

We have four sons, and a daughter that may just out-fish them!! So, in honor of our children, and with the intention of setting a new course, we have opted to rename our vessel. F/V Charlie III has shed her old skin and transformed into F/V Troublemakers! Trust me, the name fits!

Blessings to you!

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

There it is........

I have been struggling to put words to the various emotions I have been experiencing with regard to life, current events, etc.......

I could write about Standing Rock, because I am part Cherokee, part Passamaquoddy, and an earth conscious human being,  but instead I will send love to the situation, and continue to do my part.

I could write about my opinions on the changes and problems with our dysfunctional government, but instead I will keep my heart hopeful for appropriate change.

I could write about the progress of our boat project, but right now I have nothing nice to say about that, so instead I will pray for a beautiful completion followed by abundant catch.

I could write about my children, homeschool, chickens, or one of my many other passions, but instead I am inspired to write about one of my fathers.

 I received a phone call from one of my fathers recently. To many, this would seem like no big deal..........I am quite certain that this is about the THIRD time in my life that this father has called me of his own accord. This is always a BIG deal to me. As I answered the phone I expected to hear my other mother (she deserves more of a title than "stepmother", you will come to understand why) on the phone. So when I heard my father's voice I was surprised. Neither of us are really the sort to enjoy the telephone, so I don't hold that against him.

 This is a man that I did not know until I was 28. This is a man that I could waste my time being bitter toward, but instead am incredibly thankful for. This is a man that has served his country. This is a man who came from a broken home himself. This is a man that spent time as the oldest child, in a house of four children, with a single mother. This is a man that has watched two siblings fight and lose their battles with cancer. This is a man who has made some tough life choices along the way, choices that many are quick to pass judgement on, choices that........when I look into his eyes, I can see are eating him with guilt.

 This is a man that, for 28 years, was a total stranger to me. I knew only his name and a few other facts about him. I didn't even have a picture. This is a man that was a complete stranger, until......the immediate instant I looked into his eyes for the first time. In that moment, from way down deep in his soul, I saw myself. I found something I had only dreamt about. I found my missing piece.

 So, why was this phone call the catalyst for this post.......Well, I have three fathers. Somehow it was decided that, in this lifetime, I would have three fathers. Now, unfortunately, two of my three fathers are struggling with the grips of early onset dementia. I am equally saddened by the reality of each father's struggle. One of my fathers (the one that raised me) has battled mental health issues for most of my life. So in a sense I have been grieving his unavailability for years. My biological father has just recently started down this path of memory failure.

 Of course I love them both deeply,  but maybe you can see how there are different pieces of my heart that are sad for each one them.

 I have only had my biological father in my life for 9.5 years.........So, when he called me, distraught, repeatedly expressing his love for me and my children. Repeatedly telling me that he misses us. And then.........in tears, unable to carry on any further conversation.....between breaths apologizing for getting older and losing his memory......There it is. There is the consuming, raw, broken hearted emotion that I must write about.

 Why???? Why would this be the way that our story would turn out? Why would I wait so long to find him, and then lose him slowly to failing memory??

 Love your people with all of your heart. Forgive them and appreciate them right where they are.

Blessings to you all.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

I can't make this stuff up.....

Well, I have been planning this trip for a few months. This trip is.....emotional on many levels. The original reason for this trip sprouted from a desire to get some extra, long overdue time with one of my fathers. You see, I have three dads.....That is a VERY long story. So, for now I will keep this part of my adventure exclusive to the father that helped create me. I have known OF my father since I was 8 years old. However, our paths were not meant to cross until I was 28. So, I have only been lucky enough to know him personally for a little more than 9 years. This is a piece of my story that I am totally at peace with. I know that life is meant to be an adventure.

A few months ago his wife (one of my stepmothers) called to give me some unpleasant news. My father's well being has taken an unexpected turn. There may be a point in the nearer future, that my father's memory may really suffer. Given that I have only spent about.....2 weeks with him. total.....in my whole life......I was crushed to get this news, to say the least. We live several states apart, so in my heart I knew a trip had to happen.

Now, here is where the story gets even more interesting, exciting, crazy, and blessed......Are you ready???

While I was awaiting my departure date, organizing the schedule around a boat project, homeschool, a fishing schedule, five kids, and all that goes with this wild life, AND preparing myself to fly (I HATE FLYING)......Ready?? Right smack in the middle of it all: I got a new sister!! For real! A new little sister!

Now, I mean little sister, but not in the sense of an actual newborn baby sister. This little sister is 23. She was out there in the world, wondering who her family is. She was out there feeling the call to find us, and that is EXACTLY what she did!

Have I Iost you yet?

My family tree, well....it doesn't necessarily look like your typical image of a tree....

So, here I sit, waiting to board the plane. I am leaving my beautiful babies at home with daddy, to hold down the fort. I am boarding a plane, which is high on the list of my least-favorite-things-to-do! I am heading south to warmer weather, two of my parents, my Grandmother and my Papaw, southern comfort food, my brother and his beautiful family, cousins, and......for the first time ever in my life not one, but two sisters will be at my destination airport. That's right! My new little sister will be meeting me at the airport, with our other sister.

Together we will get four of my father's children in the same room, for the first time, EVER. For the first time EVER my new little sister gets to meet the family she had been searching for.

This trip is emotional like I said. I can't make this stuff up. How lucky am I to own this story and all the other wild pieces that go with it? Life is short. Try to enjoy the ride!

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

All I can say is......"I have five kids!"

I have intended to write more often. I have planned to go to the beach more often (because when you are an island kid 3 or 4 times a week will not suffice). I have intended to shower more often, and walk more often, keep in touch more often, maybe drink wine more often, and on and on and on. I can pile the guilt onto myself like nobody's business. I must have hit the ground running as an infant because I have every intention of conquering the world EVERYDAY! I have set the bar too high for myself, I am aware of it, but I repeat the pattern time and again. Somewhere along the way I grabbed onto this idea that I have something to prove to everybody. This idea that I need to be more, do more, prove more. I am my own worst enemy. In my quest to do it all, and be it all, I have forgotten to breathe.

I am a fisherman's wife, homeschooling mother of 5, working on a blog, managing two Facebook pages, building an Essential Oil business, Reiki practitioner, studying AromaDance, starting an Etsy shop, blah blah blah. Regardless of how passionate I am about all of these endeavors, it will all mean jack shit if I do not slow down and breathe.

This week, when I answered the front door at 11:00 am, to greet complete strangers, in my pajamas, with my hair a mess, I simply said, "I have five children." I have decided that this is how I will respond to any questions from now on. That will be my excuse for everything......"I have five children!"

I received a phone call earlier in the week, regarding the health of one of my father's (I am a lucky girl, I have 3 dads, long story). He lives several states away, and I do not see him nearly enough. I was instantly reminded that the "busy-ness" that we let ourselves get wrapped up in is far less important than our health and our relationships. I, you, we all need to remember to breathe. We need to remember to connect with one another. Our next minute is not a guarantee.

I understand that we all have goals, passions, commitments, responsibilities, and chores that inevitably need tending to. However, take time to breathe. For me, when I stop to breathe and I smell that salty air or a beach rose, those are the moments I most connect with myself. Those are the moments I am reminded to be present and thankful to be here. So, if you happen to see a women in her pajamas, with wild hair, and maybe even a chicken under her arm, with her nose shoved in a rose bush near the sea.....Think to yourself, "Maybe she has five children."

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

"The birds are chirping."

One of my sisters (I actually am not sure how many siblings I have, but that is a story for another day...), has made some life choices that have raked her over the coals. She has also been thrown some terrible hurdles. She has struggled an ongoing battle with alcohol, finding every Mr. Wrong who can't keep his hands to himself, and experiencing not one, but two still births. Through all of it, our relationship has been rocky to say the least, but we are sisters, and in our own dysfunctional way, we are best friends. I wish she loved herself as much as I love her. I think sometimes she may think my life is perfect, and I have got it all figured out.....Lately, that has been SO far from the truth. In all honesty I have nothing to complain about. I live in my own version of Paradise. I have a husband that loves me despite my difficult, stubborn, strong willed personality. I have five healthy, amazing, perfectly naughty kids. We have a stable life. We eat well. We know LOVE.

Here is the thing though. It is all relative. No matter what is happening on the outside, we all have our own battles on the inside. Our life experiences have led us to certain thought patterns, and we can be our own worst enemies. Lately, for me, I am driving myself nuts. I haven't been able to pull my thoughts together enough to even write a decent post.

You see, I have recently returned to my childhood home, my childhood neighborhood, my old stomping grounds, after 12 years living away. This is truly fantastic, a dream come true. Here is the thing though.....ALL of the ghosts from the past are creeping up on me. In this small community everyone knows everyone. We are a "drinking village with a fishing problem". As a community we have experienced much loss together. On my street alone we have lost three friends over the years. So, now that I am back, all of the familiarity is stirring up old memories, and I am processing these losses all over again in a sea of emotions.

Another challenge with all these memories of my youth.....is, well....memories of my youth. Memories made by a young, wild, free, independent island girl (not to be confused with any other young girl, because island girls are FAR more wild). That girl had far less responsibility. She had no children, chickens, or businesses to run.....And, she knew how to party.

Well, here I am, all grown up, being haunted by my past, being stalked by the voice of a younger me. All right in the middle of a really intense boat project. A boat project that is a financial strain. A boat project that leaves me with even less of my fisherman's time. A boat project that leaves me out numbered by little people for even more hours per day.

So, the more responsible, older me, is trying to figure out how to bring back some of the younger, wilder, more fun me......in some way that is congruent with raising five kids and building a business. I don't just want to be a mom. I don't just want to be a supportive fisherman's wife. Because, the truth is, even on a good day, my soul is being smothered.

The point of all of this rambling is this: today I ran away for a little while. I called my sister, and she said, "the birds are chirping." I called my sister, and she said, "I have softball practice." So, I ran away from home. I ran away from tension building between me and my husband. I ran away from being a mom. And.....I went all the way to watch my sister practice softball. I had time to breathe. I had time to think. I had time to sort it all out.

I came home with a new perspective. I came home knowing that I need to take a time out more often. I came home knowing that I am SUPER proud of my sister for getting back to her love of softball. She was right the birds were chirping.

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Essential Oil Love......

How You Can Bring Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils into Your Home

I know some of you are new to this blog, and some of you may have no idea what Essential Oils are....So, if you want to become more familiar with Essential Oils, click here or here. On the other hand, if you are Oil savvy, or if you are brave enough to take the leap of faith that I did......Read on! I am going to tell you how to purchase with doTERRA.

Option #1: Purchase as a Retail Customer

This, folks, is your most expensive option. You will pay 25% more than you will if you skip ahead to OPTION #2. However, if you are looking to make a small, one-time purchase, maybe this is the option for you. So, here is what you do:

• Visit my personal doTERRA website here

• Browse the products, Shop, and Pay as you would on any other site

• Thank you for your support! Contact me with any questions kaboodajo@hotmail.com

Option #2: Become a Wholesale Member - get 25% off Retail

As a Wholesale Member you will enjoy 25% off of the retail price. You will NOT be required to spend a certain amount, to purchase monthly, or to sell anything, EVER. It is like having a Sam's Club membership, EXCEPT your membership fee is waived if you opt to purchase a QUALIFYING KIT

Yes, I want to buy a kit, and get a FREE membership!

• Sign up here with my Sponsor ID # 2076373, and choose 'Wholesale'.

• Select your desired QUALIFYING KIT, as your first product, and your $35 fee will be WAIVED!

• To learn more about the QUALIFYING KITS click here

No, I am not ready to buy a kit, I will pay $35 for a membership!

• Sign up here with my Sponsor ID # 2076373, and choose 'Wholesale'.

• Add desired products to your cart, and the $35 membership fee will be added.

• The Wholesale Membership renewal costs fee is $25 after the first year. However, you will receive a free bottle of Peppermint when you renew, valued at $27 retail.

Option #3:Join my doTERRA team ---- Earn FREE products and/or build your own business!!

• Sign up here with my Sponsor ID # 2076373, and choose 'Wholesale'.

• Select your desired QUALIFYING KIT, as your first product, and your $35 fee will be WAIVED!

• Contact me kaboodajo@hotmail.com to let me know you have enrolled! I am here to help you get started! I will add you to our team Facebook Page and get you moving in the right direction.

Here is how to earn MORE FREE products from doTERRA

• I will help you set up your LRP (Loyalty Rewards Program) order. You will be able to adjust your order every month, as well as select the shipping date.

• If you intend to build a business, and earn compensations, you must reach 100 PV per month.

• To earn the FREE product of the month, you must reach 125 PV, and have your order ship before the 15th of the month.

• Over time, you will build up a discount:

This doTERRA Essential Oil adventure has changed my life. I LOVE the support that these oils provide to myself, my family, and my pets. I am excited to share my oil knowledge with you. I LOVE helping others find oils that work for their needs. I am not a pushy sales person. I take a laid back approach with building my business. I use these oils EVERYDAY for many reasons. I encourage you to do your homework. Read about oils, their uses, building a business with doTERRA. Reach out to me, ask questions, OR do what I did and just jump in! There is so much to learn, I could NOT possibly fit it all in here.

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

To wash or not to wash.........?

At this point, some of you may think I am a little crazy at times....or all the time, but hey, if some of us don't color outside of the lines we might not have anything to talk about!

I know, I know, eggs come from.....a chicken's back end. There is a high probability that there is some poop involved somewhere along the way. It seems that it the ONLY proper way to care for an egg is to wash it!!!

However, as I have told you before.....I love to read, and research, and question until I arrive at the answer that seems to make the most sense.....Plus, in the name of good homeschooling, everything must be a lesson!!! So, here is why I am comfortable NOT washing my fresh eggs from my happy, healthy, free range, organic, NON GMO, essential oil fed chickens:

• Chickens are laying eggs to hatch! They are designed to lay in a warm nest for 21 days!! So, my eggs are safe and sound on my counter (as long as they are not cracked).

• Chickens coat the eggs with a protective cover called bloom. Bloom is intended to keep bacteria out by sealing all of the pores on the egg. This is an evolutionary mechanism to ensure the safety of the potential chick.

• Once an egg is washed, the bloom protection is removed, and bacteria are free to cross though the shell.......Eeeewwww

• Washing eggs in cold water will push any bacteria, that may be on the surface, directly into the egg.

• Washing eggs in warm water will safely clean the egg, but will still remove the bloom, and allow any bacteria looming about, to enter the egg.

• Once washed the eggs MUST be refrigerated.

• P.S. Factory eggs are commonly washed in a bleach solution.......NO THANK YOU!!!!!

 I know all my chickens by name. We collect our eggs several times a day, and we even say, "Thank You!" We keep our nesting boxes clean, so our eggs are almost always clean. The occasionally dirty egg does happen. In which case we just lightly sand it clean!! 

 Go ahead and do a little research of your own. You might be surprised at what you find. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/What-is-the-best-way-to-wash-and-store-my-eggs-H62.aspx

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/11/336330502/why-the-u-s-chills-its-eggs-and-most-of-the-world-doesnt

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Free range kids.....

By now, most of you know that I am free ranging some backyard chickens, and we homeschool. At times our approach to homeschool has been very ridged and inflexible.....but life has been crazy for us for a few years, and we have had to learn to be a little more free range, if you will. I know this concept of a less-forced education is a little wack-a-doodle to some, but for us it fits. So, we have daily rhythms and routines, and chores, and we are learning how to be compassionate human beings. We fight, we make up, we are FAR from perfect! I wouldn't ever want anyone reading my posts to think I am Mary F$&@ing Sunshine and I float through my days on clouds of happiness. This life is hard, but this is what works for us.

However, this blog post isn't intended to preach homeschool to you. Instead I am shining some light on my beautiful daughter. My oldest child, with an old soul. She came to me during a time of struggle and uncertainty, and certainly came with a fire, and a purpose. I literally COULD NOT get through life without her. She is my mini me. She is full of love, light, strong will, passion, and talent.

Hannah Banana, most recently, saw me trying to design a business logo. Something that would represent Island Momma, the blog, my Essential Oil business, and any homemade creations that come to fruition along the way. So, off she went to create her own version of what my logo should look like.......Low and behold, I liked her design way better than my own! I have since ordered two rubber stamps and have commenced to stamping all of my bags for my oil business, and all the tags that go on the face cream I recently made!

Here it is. It captures exactly what I was going for. This girl knows me!

So......in honor of my spirited, talented, beautiful girl, and her fantastic design.....I would like to have a GIVEAWAY......I have an abundance of Essential Oil supplies, and I am shooting to reach 1000 likes for my page!! So, to the 500th and 1000th FACEBOOK PAGE LIKE,  I will mail you (or hand deliver, if feasible) an Essential Oil Introductory Kit that includes 1 - 5 mL bottle of each of the following: Peppermint, Lavender, and Lemon. This trio has so much to offer: digestive support, sleep support, cleansing properties, and on and on......

So share my post! Like my page!!! Hannah will be thrilled to know her artwork led to sharing oils!!!

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

I want to be best friends with my medium......

I am trying to write this post, like I said I would.....but I am having a hard time finding the words to describe the experience of sitting in a group reading. To say it was overwhelming is an understatement. I am not skeptical of the ability to connect to life beyond. The overwhelm came from being new to the experience. This was a group reading for 15. There were only two other people in the group that I know well. So between the novelty of the experience, the size of the group, the aching to connect, the bubbling emotions, and being overshadowed by people in the group that are more familiar with the dynamic of the situation........I am surprised I even knew my name.

This session cost me $50. It was worth every penny and then some. I actually came away from that night knowing with certainty that I want to have another reading, but feeling certain I am willing to pay more for a smaller group experience, or even a solo session.

I did not want the time to end, and surprisingly, our medium, was very thorough. She made a point to connect, in some way, with every single person in the group. She didn't rush. She took the time to explain the many facets of her work. So it was more than just a reading. I felt like I got a bit of an education too.

I wish I had been privy to the fact that you REALLY need to be proactive in this type of setting. As soon as you think the person coming through might be for you, you have to speak up! If someone else beats you to the punch, the energy shifts in their favor. It is hard to explain, but my advice is to jump right in!

With all that being said.......I was blessed to connect with four people. First was an old friend that was taken from us at a young age. Our medium knew how he died. She knew his name. She knew the date of his death. She brought through some messages from him that were right on with his personality. To hear from him was an honor. To hear that he knew he would leave this life early, that he didn't want to grow old, made perfect sense.

The next message that came through was from my little brother. He came through with his birth date, the name of the cove I live in, and the first letter of his name. My mother miscarried my brother right here in my house. He came through to say he chose not to enter this life. He came to be the Angel of this house.

Next was my Papa. When I was young he, literally, was my hero. After he passed, unexpectedly, life changed dramatically, and it took me a very, very long time to move on. When he came through in the reading he shared a huge, enthusiastic smile, and a BIG wave. Just like he would do when I rode my bike by his house. He had a few things to say to me that no one would have known.

Then, my beloved Gram came through. She was there to make sure I know that she is with me, and she is here to help me. She also told a funny story about how she used to burn her recliner, because she often fell asleep with a lit cigarette......

I could go on, and on about how other people I know came through to my two friends that were there with me. I could tell you everything I learned about spirits. I could tell you what our medium had to say about the island I recently moved away from. Here is the cherry on the cake though...the biggest life changing piece of the session.....she knew exactly what I am supposed to do to heal myself, FULLY, from Lyme. I will share that with you in a separate post.

So, for $50, I sat through a 5 hour reading, I made direct connection with 4 loved ones, and heard from others through their messages to my friends, then I learned how to heal from this debilitating thing called Lyme. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I recommend this experience to everyone!! Plus, I have it all recorded......

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

A Sigh of Relief, and Excitement......

As most of you know by now, I have been struggling with Lyme Disease for almost a year. This week it kicked me right in the nuts and dropped me to the ground. This was a debilitating week. However, I have learned, as time has gone on, how to catch these nasty flare ups and calm them as fast as I can. So, thanks to my Essential Oils, a whole day in bed, and extra TLC from my husband and children, I am on the mend. Good thing, because not being able to use one leg for a day, and then having my jaw seized up on the next....Didn't help my spring fever at all!!!! Now, even though I am still not 100%, I can move on, just a little slower then normal. So, it will be back to starting seeds, and rototilling, and fence building, finishing up our homeschool year (because in our homeschool we are sure to be done by the first week of May!), chicken tending.....and the list goes on. Today though, that is all going to wait, because I have been invited to do something that I have wanted to do for SOOO long. I want to share this adventure with you.

This is totally of topic from what I usually write about. This is not about fishing, or chickens, or any of that hippie stuff. This is about nurturing broken places way down deep inside of my soul. Some of you might think I have jumped right off the deep end. Some of you might not believe in this topic of conversation, but here's the thing, that's okay. This is about me. This is about years and years of pain from multiple losses.

A beautiful, thoughtful friend has invited me to be a part of a group reading with a medium. This friend has already had the opportunity to sit through a group reading with this particular medium. She had an incredible experience, and I am THRILLED to have this chance.

I have known the pain of loss since a very early age. One of my first memories is from attending the funeral of a baby brother that I was anticipating. A baby brother that was due to be born healthy any day, but instead was born ready to bury. I have lost grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, pets......I am a person who loves with my whole heart, even if you really screw up, I will still be there. So, when death comes lurking in and takes you away, a peace of me gets broken.

I have learned different ways of handling death over the years. I also have tuned in to my spirituality a bit, not in a religious sense necessarily, but in a.......bigger meaning, more to life, everything happens for a reason, interconnected sense. I hope I haven't lost you. What I mean is, that I know in my soul, that our loved ones aren't lost forever, they have moved on, but they are with us. I pay attention to the signs. I sometimes just know things, before they happen. I do not profess to be a world renowned clairvoyant, psychic, medium, or anything of the sort. All I am saying is, I believe there is more to life than what we see.

So, my point here is, I am grateful that I feel better! I am so happy this bought with Lyme was short in duration, because I would be crushed if I missed this. Most people I talk to get nervous before this type of event. I on the other hand could not be more EXCITED!!!! I will probably get there early. I will be ready with my box of tissues, and some kind of recording device. I have butterflies in my belly. I have loved big and lost many, tragically, unexpectedly, and  some to prolonged terminal illness. Bring on the messages, the countdown is on!

Blessings to all.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Sometimes Momma needs to take care of herself too.....

So there are always many different projects happening here at the same time. Currently on any given day we are tending chickens, tending to our growing population of fish in our new tank, planting seeds for the garden, reading, knitting, math, and the list goes on. Recently, we have had some extra crazy situations thrown into the mix. We signed on a loan to renovate the newest member of our fishing fleet. This is a HUGE under taking and very exciting! We recently also found our Rooster dead in our coop, with an unclear cause of death. The same day we found one of our chickens had lodged herself between the house and the coop, and sustained a broken leg. She has been in ICCU (Intensive Chicken Care Unit) aka the dog kennel. One of our sons pushed one of our other sons, off the bed, he hit his head on the windowsill and needed a trip to the ER for 6 staples.......

Through it all we carry on, homeschooling, lobstering, building an Essential Oil business, tending a broken chicken leg, tending to the stapled noggin, making sourdough bread, making kefir water, readying the garden space......and on and on and on.

Momma gets tired.......Wait. Momma. Has. Been. Tired for about 11 years. Since the conception of our oldest child. Growing babies, nursing babies, raising babies......So, sometimes momma has to do something extra nice for herself. Well, that is what I did. I signed up for a service that will shop for me and send me some new clothes as often as I choose. Today I got my first package of new clothes. 5 items that I can choose to keep or send back, and I do not pay for them until I have opted to keep them. I received 3 new shirts, a warm zip-up vest, and a pair of jeans. I am keeping three of the five, and sending two back in a prepaid envelope.

Let me tell you something. I have pinched pennies. I have cut corners. I have cut hair at home to save money. I have/do use(d) cloth diapers. I have nursed babies. I have made homemade baby food. I have shopped at Salvation Army and Goodwill. I have worn the same fleece coat since I was 18...... Today, I put on a pair of jeans that are as comfortable as yoga pants. Today I opened a package of brand new clothes, that someone else put together for me. I did not have to go into a store, and try to find myself something to wear, with five kids in tow......I cannot wait to get dressed tomorrow and put on my new jeans and a new comfy shirt. Hell, maybe I will even shower tomorrow!!

Sometimes Momma needs to take care of herself too........I invite you to try this Stitch Fix too. You have nothing to lose. If you don't like any of it, you just send it back!!

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/6509275

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

4:45 am........!!!!??!?!

Captain Lewis "Louie" Magellan of Lowell is our new, and first ever, Rooster. In less than 48 hours of being with us he has schooled us in the lifestyles of roosters, real quick! I love animals though, especially my chickens, and I am really hoping we can work together and find a mutual peace....

I have huge goals for this tiny parcel of land. I am going to tackle this barren tenth of an acre from a permaculture perspective. I am going to prove to myself that I can cultivate lots of nourishment right here in this tiny space. The chickens are part of the plan. Of course they give us beautiful eggs, but there is more to it than that. Chickens can be great garden helpers.

Last spring we lost one of our Austrolorps to a hawk. Here in our new house, we have already chased a hawk away. We have also had multiple Eagle sightings overhead. They would love a tasty chicken dinner. A friend offered some insight as to the importance of adding a Rooster to the flock. Captain Louie's job is to protect my ladies (well, technically I would say they are his ladies now, if you know what I mean). The hope is that he will keep watch and call out a warning when needed.

Here is the thing though, that I can't figure out......What is so dangerous about 4:45 am??? I know, I know, DUH, Roosters are loud, really loud!! 4:45 though buddy? So, out of desperation, compassion, and a distaste for failure..I googled it! How to quiet a Rooster. I know I don't need to capitalize the word Rooster, but a Rooster as loud and beautiful as Captain Lewis Magellan of Lowell, deserves the big R! Here is what I found, multiple sites offering the same advice.....A Rooster Collar!! What? Yup, you read that right, a Rooster collar.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iJkFJrVq87Y

It just so happens that we had some Velcro on hand! So, we are in the stages of testing this fantastic idea. If we can get the results we are looking for then everyone wins! The neighbors, Captain Louie, the chickens, and everyone in this house who wakes up at to the smallest sound......meaning me, the tired mom! If this works, Louie stays here, where he will not be dinner, he will hopefully be a daddy! He will carry out his days guarding his ladies and sharing his love. We will keep getting homegrown eggs, maybe some sweet little chicks, all the chicken poop we could ever want for our garden, bug control, free composting help, and so much more!!!! Stay tuned to find out what Captain Louie's fate will be. Maybe we can convince you to get a Rooster too......

Blessings to all.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Doing it Our Way......

Everyday as a parent has challenges. No matter how many children you have, no matter where you live, whether you stay at home, work from home, or work outside of the home, parenting is THE TOUGHEST JOB EVER!! I am one of those extra nutty people who has opted to, not only forego a career using my Bachelor's degree, but to keep all five of my little horned-angels home to homeschool......Is it hard? You bet! Do I think about sending them to school sometimes? Sure thing, but guess what, I did, and we all hated it. That experience fell flat on its face, more than once. So, homeschool is just what we are most comfortable with. This is just what works best for us. We get up, without alarm clocks. We eat breakfast together, without being rushed. We all do chores and work together to keep the ship running smoothly. We learn side by side. We run our days on our time. If we are having an off day we adjust our plan accordingly. If our fishing Captain has unexpected free time we have family time.

It isn't always easy, in fact, it is mostly difficult. I wouldn't change it for the world. My children are only going to be children for a short time. I want to give them the best foundation they can have to become the people they really want to be. I want to use these young years to form great bonds with them. I want to foster their individual passions, teach them unconditional love, compassion for other beings, and help them to have an insatiable connection to nature.

So during our days together we learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math through art, and storytelling and hands on real life experience. We learn about compassion through caring for our pets and working through challenging family dynamics. Our days may not always be pretty, but they are real.

When we get to share extraordinary moments together, that they would miss out on in a classroom, it is all worth it. Today had a notable moment such as this.........

We woke to an unseasonably warm February day. We made it through breakfast and chores, and even bath time. Then we leashed up our youngest dog, Ruby, our extra motivated, extra strong, extra big for her age, 3 month old, black lab, and headed for the beach. One dog pulling me down the road, one baby on my back, and four big kids (3.5 to 9.5 years old), and to the shore we went.

Last year around this time we were buried in at least 6.5 feet of snow on an outer Maine island. I can't remember specific dates, but for a couple of days in February of 2015 we were also iced in on that island. No boats leaving. No boats coming. Iced in. Disconnected from the world. There was no warm sunny day at the beach.

Today, as the kids practiced writing in the sand, I closed my eyes and just listened to the water gently rolling in. The feel of warm sunshine on my face was just what I needed. Warm sunshine in February, surrounded by happy homeschoolers, the sound of the ocean swooshing into my favorite place in the world..........

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

The First Chicken to Fly the Fence........

During our time living on a remote island, we acquired 3 Austrolorps, a beautiful, black, heritage breed of chicken. This breed, when happy and healthy, will have unbelievably beautiful black feathers with shimmery, emerald green visible in the sunlight. Unfortunately, before we made our move back to our hometown, we lost one of our ladies to a Hawk! So, we only had 2 ladies to load into lobster crates ( a fishing family's multi-purpose tool ), transport on the mailboat, load into our van, and travel down the coast with. Have you ever been on a boat ride with a chicken? Have you ever taken a 4 hour road trip with a chicken in your vehicle? You should, it would add a sense of adventure to your life, guaranteed!

Once we were a bit more settled in our new house, and we had a proper chicken habitat, our ladies were thrilled. New grass, new bugs, fresh salt air, a new coop, and a safety fence!!! Woohoo! So, when a friend phoned to see if we could house some more ladies, we were excited to add to our tiny flock. This time we opted for a small dog kennel to transport our 6 new beauties.

Enter 6 young, huge Rhode Island Reds! There was a brief window of slow, one at a time, introduction of the new ladies to our Austrolorps. A couple of days of caddy pecking to establish their hierarchy and now we have a happy flock of 8. These new girls have added more entertainment, eggs, poop, and mischief to our daily routine.......

Our ladies are free to roam, inside of the perimeter of our fence. We love them and want them to be happy, but safe. So, on the several occasions, since the Reds have joined us, that I have gone outside to find one wondering on the wrong side of the fence.....I go into chicken whisperer mode and scoop the rascally chicken up as quickly as I can. I have lost count of how many people have seen me, in my pajamas with messy hair and the whole bit, chasing chickens!

First chicken to fly the fence earned her name " Amelia Earhart". Well, she must have told her sisters how fun her adventure was, because it wasn't long before others were on the wrong side of the fence.....So, what to do? Say a prayer of thanks for the Internet! Google it! I found a YouTube video on how to clip their wings. This is a pain free approach to help keep them safe, inside the fence.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YfYcR8N8eAs

So, with the help of my gang of homeschoolers, I have clipped wings on more than one chicken. Until yesterday I had only opted to clip one wing on any offending chicken, and all had been well, but we found a repeat offender on the wrong side of the fence. So, I scooped her up, brought her in and clipped just a few feathers on the other wing.....Fingers crossed.

Next order of business: to Rooster or not to Rooster? That is the question?

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Stern Girl

Stern girl, show them you can work like a man,

Because you know that they don't think that you can.

Whenever you hear them chuckle,

Go ahead and give them a punch, below the buckle.

The Life of a Fisherman's Wife

When we have lived a certain way for a lifetime we can easily come to assume that the rest of the population must know what it is like to be us. Once in a while it occurs to me that to be a, "fishing family," is actually a foreign concept to many people, even people right here in my home state of Maine. So, sometimes, I take a step back to see through the challenges of this lifestyle and give thanks for the beauty of it that I might be taking for granted. I was welcomed into a fishing family as a baby. I was raised as a fisherman's daughter and granddaughter. I was on boats before I could walk and worked as a stern girl for my grandfather long before most kids even know what work is. The ocean, for me, has been a best friend for my lifetime. It is dependable despite it's unpredictability.

So, I suppose I was destined to be a fisherman's wife. Fishing is a lifestyle not simply an occupation. A good fisherman thinks of fishing most hours of the day. We all know what they think of the rest of the time (ahem, that is how I have five kids). There are hours at sea, hours mending gear, hours of boat maintenance, hours traveling to get supplies, hours spent on the phone with lobster dealers, hours spent lining up help, hours lost in thought planning out the shifting of gear to be ahead of the lobsters or whatever catch you seek. A good fisherman has the ocean in his veins. This is not a job that someone can suddenly decide to try out and expect to be good at. This is a lifetime commitment that starts during formative years.

To be a fisherman's wife is......not for anyone less than strong. Whether you have a full time job, work from home, stay home with kids or any combination thereof....... excuse my expletives but I was raised with and by dirty fisherman......you must have a bigger set of balls than most men. You will spend many hours alone, lonely, and worried. You most likely will be the home Captain because your fisherman will be, well, fishing. Your life will be unpredictably weather dependant, and so too will be your income. No matter whether your fisherman is an inshore, offshore, or ground fisherman you will be inclined to worry. There will be hours or even days without contact and safety is always an issue.

I digress from the point, beauty is abundant in this lifestyle. The obvious being your level of involvement with the ocean. A true blessing, for me, is to now live with the sight, smell and sound of the ocean out almost every window. The proximity to the beach is the hot fudge on the sundae. This week, in particular though, I found true blessing in the pure deliciousness of the freshest raw scallop you could get without diving on it yourself. Although we are not a scalloping family, we are blessed to have friends who are, and this week we got to enjoy some of their bounty. We have feasted on raw scallops, seared scallops and scallops wrapped in bacon, all week long....

I would like to point out that, every single time, you sit and enjoy a bite of seafood, stop and think. I would dare bet that someone put their life at risk to harvest that meal for you. While they were out at sea chasing that catch their wife, mother, sister, daughter, etc. was home keeping the family rolling and most likely wondering when, and praying for, the safe return of their fisherman or fisherwoman.

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma

Oil Love

If you know me well, you know I love to be helpful. If you know me well, you know I care about the well being of others, sometimes to my own detriment. If you know me well, you know I think WAY too much. If you know me well, you know I will research topics I am passionate about, at lengths, sometimes in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping, but my overthinking, anxious brain has other ideas.......There is a point here, bare with me. So here are some choices I have made, for my family, based on said overthinking and late nights of research: We homeschool, we free range a small flock of entertaining chickens, we eat as organically as our budget will allow, we use doTERRA essential oils. These are choices that we are happy with. These are choices that are right for our family. This doesn't mean I will shove them down your throat or judge you for not doing the same. There is a lot to learn from our differences. So, here is where I am going with this. 1) I think you too might be very entertained by a small flock of backyard chickens, whether you get your own or visit someone else's. 2) Thanks to my new love for essential oils I can now maintain healthy sleep patterns, and I have support for the well being of my family. 3) Eat what you want it is your life, just maybe give your food a little more thought. You may learn something beneficial?? With regard to my essential oils adventure, my number one goal is to help. I am 99.9% sure you would be impressed by these little bottles of plant love. I happened to start this adventure while living on a remote island with a population of 55. So, 9 months in, I really can't say I have turned a profit on this business adventure. Do I plan to? Yes. Is that my number 1 goal? A resounding NO. I hope to empower others with knowledge to support their own well being. When I finally make it to a place of profit, my joy will come from knowing that I have helped others. Here's the other piece of my reasoning. I have opted to be a stay at home, homeschooling mother, wife of a fisherman, in place of seeking a career with my Bachelor's degree. So, if I can find an alternate income source, sharing something I am passionate about, helping others all the while, then why not? So, if I mention the oils to you, I am not coming at you with $$ signs in my eyes, I genuinely believe I can help. I will not push them at you. I will gently share them and my knowledge and leave you to decide for yourself. Just know this, if I didn't believe in these oils, I would not use them for my children. I protect them like a fierce wild animal.

Blessings to you.

Thanks for reading,

Island Momma