It has been a month since our beloved family dog died. He lived a long, happy life after we found him in a local dogs’ home. We have no knowledge of his origins, only that when he came to us, he was very nervous, and he had a terrible reaction to loud noises like smoke alarms and timer alarms. He would literally have a panic attack, and we would have to calm him down.
Baxter was terrified of water when we first brought him home, but with some gentle coaxing from my husband, he began paddling in the river near home, and he adored visiting the coast and swimming in the sea. He even went for a swim in Lake Bala in North Wales once upon a time.
We have so many precious and wonderful memories of our boy, but now we are lonely.
#MummyMonday For the Love of Dogs
For the Love of Dogs
I have found it incredibly difficult working from home every day and being so alone. I miss the tinkle of his collar as he trots around the house. I miss watching him in the garden while I work in the kitchen. I miss him walking by my side along the canal path and the riverside. I miss our nightly cuddles on the sofa, after we get the children to bed. I am lonely, and our house is far too quiet.
But are we ready to bring home a new dog? I don’t know. Part of me wants to go out and adopt all the local Staffies that nobody will have. But we have visited a few animal welfare homes during the past few weeks, and we are not quite ready. Our next dog (or dogs) is out there, somewhere. I think I am ready to bring them home, but my husband needs a little more time. Let us see what autumn brings.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
For the most stylish and beautiful gifts under £100 that are perfect for all sorts of occasions from Christmas to weddings and birthdays to anniversaries why not take a look through a selection of perfect Wedgwood gifts.
Vera Wang Photo Frame Wedding Gift from Wedgwood
Perfect Gifts under £100 at Wedgwood
Tea Garden Raspberry 3-Piece Set: Tea Garden Raspberry 3-Piece Set. Celebrate the art of tea drinking with the Tea Garden Raspberry 3-Piece Set, a gorgeous trio from a collection inspired by Wedgwood’s intrinsic link with tea flavours. Our Price £85.00.
Tea Garden Blackberry & Apple 3-Piece Set: Tea Garden Blackberry & Apple 3-Piece Set. Explore Wedgwood’s historic link with tea infusions with the Tea Garden Blackberry & Apple 3-Piece Set. Exploring the rich fruit flavours, this trio of pieces boasts a beautiful deep purple backdrop finished with delicate floral and fruit decoration. Our Price £85.00.
Vera Wang With Love Treasures Aquamarine Seashell Treasure Box: Vera Wang With Love Treasures Aquamarine Seashell Treasure Box. Each piece in the Vera Wang With Love Treasures collection celebrates a global expression of love with a unique colour and gold charm as fond remembrance of our most powerful emotion. Chosen for their symbolic representation of love across time and around the world each charm and colour tells a story of love. Our Price £55.00.
Tea Garden Lemon & Ginger 3-Piece Set: Tea Garden Lemon & Ginger 3-Piece Set. The Tea Garden Lemon & Ginger 3-Piece Set is the perfect imitation of the tea flavour, featuring a bright citrusy colour and a sweet edge of decoration. Our Price £85.00.
Vera Wang Love Always Photo Frame (Photo: 8x10inch): Vera Wang Love Always Photo Frame (Photo: 8x10inch). Present beautiful pictures in delicate design with the Love Always Photo Frame (8x10inch). Perfect for all occasions including birthdays, anniversaries and Mother’s Day, this frame is silver-plated and features a beautiful folded heart motif. Our Price £95.00.
Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!
During my research about modern witchcraft and holistic care, I have realized that the two subjects are quite closely aligned.
Popular culture sees the witch as a mythical old hag or a woman who is cast out from society for being different. Perhaps she lives alone, is unmarried, or has a physical deformity. Maybe she can no longer provide support within her local community, so she is banished to a hovel in the forest. That is the stereotype I grew up with.
But the modern witch has evolved into something far more complicated, becoming immersed in society, and even turning him or herself invisible. That was me. Maybe that still is me.
#WitchyWednesday How Modern Witchcraft includes Holistic Care
How Modern Witchcraft includes Holistic Care
I do not have time to learn everything about herbs, spell-casting, runes, symbols and everything else you find in modern witchcraft. I do not identify with a particular strand or belief system. I suppose you would call me a polytheistic witch, believing in different systems and traditions based on my instincts. I have a particular interest in Celtic history, and this may be ancestral memories, I don’t know.
My life is busy because I am a wife, mother and carer. The caring mostly involves my husband, children and pets, but it also includes our wider family and friends when it is needed. Since I qualified as a reiki practitioner, I have received many requests for treatments, but so far have not been ready to take on everyone and their problems. I will approach my offer of reiki treatments slowly, because I am mainly working on myself. I cannot care for others if I do not care for myself, at the end of the day.
Holistic care aligns with modern witchcraft
Holistic care can include so many aspects that align with modern witchcraft. There is the practice of reiki healing, which is essentially the use of energy magic. We use aromatherapy oils to relax our bodies, ease muscle pain and fatigue, and many other ailments. We resort to fresh foods, herbal tea, and a specific diet to combat the effects of a society raised on processed food and artificial ingredients. For me, providing holistic care can simply mean holding space for a person.
Life is so busy and hectic that people are often wrapped up in their own drama. I recognize how important it is to sit with children for at least half an hour in the evenings or on the weekends, not talking about schoolwork or chores. And I know that my husband would like to have time where he doesn’t need to worry about work, finances or the challenges of adulthood. I also try and make time for my retired parents, in-laws, and friends that need support. There are a lot of people that need help!
The work of the modern witch
This is the work of the modern witch. She might be a nurse or professional carer, she might be an early years teacher or childminder. She could simply be a housewife, those women who are perceived to have the easy life. The witch could also be a man, let’s not forget. Modern witchcraft is everywhere. We just need to recognize that it doesn’t always involve a spell book and a black cat. Blessed be.
LGBT fantasy book series set in Cornwall. “Eye of the Tiger (The Redcliffe Novels)” #4 by Catherine Green.
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
I joined the social network for A Chronic Voice earlier this year because I needed to find people who understand what life is like with chronic pain. Today I have written a post using the September link-up prompts, to show my experience of living with a chronic pain disorder.
Click here to find other blog posts from fellow chronic pain sufferers, or #spoonies as we call ourselves online.
How Chronic Pain Impacts on Life
How Chronic Pain Impacts on Life
Finding: Having been diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disorder at a very young age, I grew up not knowing I was different from other children. I mean, yes, I had a lot of time off school to attend hospital appointments and to have surgery, but my parents never made a big deal out of it. It was just part of my life, and part of me. As I grew older, I found that I was different from other people. I slowly began to recognize that something was wrong with my eyes, and that perhaps I should speak to the doctors about it. But they never seemed to understand my chronic pain. They simply dismissed it as unimportant.
Researching: When I got to university, I decided I should try and learn more about my eye condition. I wanted to know if other people had the same condition that my brother and I had. It took until my late teens to get an official diagnosis from the doctors. They knew what they were treating when I was a child, but they seemed reluctant to tell me the name whenever I asked. I gradually learned that I have a condition called Lymphodoema Distichiasis, but I also have severe Dry Eye Syndrome and chronic Blepharitis, all connected to my genetic condition where I grow a second set of eyelashes on the insides of my eyelids. I bought some books about eyes, and tried to learn about my condition, but all I could find was reference to Dry Eye Syndrome. Even now, in 2019, I have not found a single other person aside from my brother and my dad that has Distichiasis (double row of eyelashes).
Dating: I have been with my husband for nineteen years, married for ten. Back in the early days of our relationship I regularly had hospital visits for eye treatment. I remember him bringing me flowers after one of my routine eye surgeries. He was still trying to impress me! Nowadays there is none of that. I even have to drive myself to hospital for check-ups because he can’t possibly take time off work for me… But still, I don’t remember my eye condition affecting my ability to date when I was a teenager. I think back then I was largely in denial and I simply tried to get on with my life, living with the pain and ignoring it as best I could. Mostly when I meet new people, they are unaware that I have a chronic pain condition until I tell them. But I am still self-conscious about it.
Reusing: I’m currently battling with my demons about the amount of single-use plastic I consume with my medication. While I don’t need drugs specifically, I do rely on artificial tears, ointments and lotion to sooth my eyes and ease the pain. My minims come individually wrapped in plastic packets, and while my husband says they are recyclable (he’s a Chartered Waste Manager), I am still unsure how they are processed by our local authority. My Hyabak eyedrops are in small plastic bottles that I can put in the recycling bin, my Xailin ointment comes in a plastic tube which I think is non-recyclable, and I also use a bottle of lotion called Blephasol, which again I recycle when it is empty. I suppose all I can do is be mindful and reduce and reuse where possible.
Recounting: Wow, reading all of that reminds me just how time-consuming my eye condition can be! I suppose I never really think of it as something to deal with. It is simply there, my body doing what it does, and I have learned to live with it. But I can recall lots of events throughout my life where my eye condition has restricted me. For example, there are many careers that I couldn’t pursue because of my eyes. I have to limit my driving sometimes when I am struggling with the pain and discomfort. During the past few weeks I have been in excruciating pain because I cried a lot when our dog got ill and subsequently died. All the crying irritated my eyes. And now I have lots of very fine, small eyelashes growing inwards and scratching the surface of my eyes. Life goes on.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
Several years ago, I discovered the world of shamanism. Before then all I knew about it was the stories that came from Native America, and they were few and far between. I assumed that shamans were simply Native Americans. I was naïve and knew nothing about our world.
I still don’t fully understand shamans, but I have reached the conclusion that I can be a shaman here in the UK. Perhaps British shamans have been assigned different names. Perhaps they are druids, pagans, or an ancient people whose history has died out through generations. Perhaps shamanism lies in our blood, and those of us who feel the call will find our way.
Shamanism and the Modern Witch
Shamanism and the Modern Witch
How could I call myself a shaman when I don’t practice ancient rituals, when I don’t have a mentor or teacher, and when I haven’t officially been inducted into this deeply mysterious and spiritual world? That is what I thought when the voices began calling me home. It was the same when I began to identify as a witch. I had never been in a coven or met a priestess, and I was unfamiliar with anything besides history and Hollywood stereotypes. It took a long time for me to call myself a witch, but I know that I felt it from a very young age. I just didn’t know how to express it. And now it is the same with shamanism.
I recently watched some online discussions as part of the Shift Network Summit, and one speaker struck a chord. She is a shaman from somewhere far away and seemingly far more exotic than England. She has a world of life experience that I could never imagine. But something she said resonated deeply with me: We as shamans learn to accept all elements of the world, and how to integrate and separate where necessary. I can be a shaman. I am a shaman. I am simply finding my own path and doing it my own way.
Sometimes I might speak silently to the trees that I walk past. Sometimes I sit in meditation and converse with my spirit guides. Other times I get together with friends and enjoy a night of drinking and dancing. It is all part of being a shaman, knowing when to let go of control, and knowing when to step away from the human world. We learn to adapt. And yes, we can be shamans in the UK. Come forward and join your friends. We are waiting!
Contemporary adult Gothic fairytale “The Wolf and the Fairy” by Catherine Green.
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
I feel trapped. When I had my first child, I made the decision not to return to work after taking maternity leave. The job I left wasn’t a career. I simply worked part-time as a retail assistant (in a high-street store that has now closed), tiding me over while I tried to make it as a freelance writer.
Seven years later I have had another baby (now at school), and I am still trying to make it as a freelance writer. I have attended online training courses. I joined a government funded initiative that would teach me how to build a business, but it was completely irrelevant to my needs. I have no trade skills, no official business knowledge.
I have what was once called a “burger-bar degree” because it gave me no prospects. A regular job is a distant dream for me, though not for lack of trying. I dread to think of the number of jobs I have applied for during the past fifteen years, and still I cannot find something secure that will fit around school and allow me to find suitable, affordable childcare.
Trapped in the Housewife Hole
Trapped in the Housewife Hole
And now I am trapped in the role of housewife. On the one hand I know I am incredibly lucky to have had this time with my children. I have friends in successful professional careers that have missed out on special times with their babies. But then those friends have the satisfaction of work and the prospects of financial security to balance it out. Nobody will pay me for being a housewife. My husband pays for our household expenses, and I cannot even buy myself a car, which makes me feel humiliated. I hate having to ask for his permission to buy something.
What happened to the confident, independent woman I always saw myself as being? I am still confident. I am angry. Why doesn’t the world recognize the skills I bring to the workplace? Why can’t literary agents and big publishers see the potential in my fictional work? Why do I even bother trying?
My days are taken up being a carer
My days are taken up in caring for my children and husband (who has a severe mental health disorder), supporting family members with their own health challenges, applying for jobs, networking in a vain hope that I might sell a few books, and keeping the house clean, tidy and safe. Oh, and I do the grocery shopping, help with school trips, deal with extra-curricular activities, arrange play-dates, organize birthday parties, keep the wardrobes up to date so that our children are properly clothed and clean. And now I am embarking on a program of home redecoration to modernize the house we bought last year. But none of that matters. Nobody cares. And it certainly doesn’t earn me any money so that I can be independent.
Life goes on, in all its ups and downs. Some days I am grateful for my situation. Other days I hate it. And always I am applying for jobs, trying to better my prospects, trying to feel valid in a world that doesn’t care. Thanks for listening, folks (or not!). My pity party ends here.
LGBT fantasy novel set in Manchester, England. “Return of the Vampire Hunter” by Catherine Green.
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
My children have returned to school after their summer holiday, and finally I have some free time for myself. I tried to find ways of being alone during the school holiday, but it didn’t quite happen the way I expected, as these things rarely do.
It seemed that whenever I had an hour or so without children, I had other more important tasks to complete, and meditation fell by the wayside.
#WitchyWednesday Back to School, Back to Mindfulness
Back to School, Back to Mindfulness
Today I am making time for meditation. I have a session to attend as part of a year-long course I am taking, and then I will visit my mother-in-law to give her a reiki treatment. It will give me the opportunity to practice reiki on myself without the aforementioned kid interruptions.
This week I am taking a step back, not worrying about my to-do list, and I am practicing self-care. I need to process the loss of my beloved dog and adjust to life without my companion. I need to rest my eyes, since all the crying has triggered my chronic condition and I have been in constant pain and discomfort for the past three weeks. I simply need to be quiet, still and peaceful. There are other life challenges looming ever closer, and I know that now is the time to prepare, if we can ever truly prepare for loss and grief. Take care of yourselves, my friends. We only answer to ourselves, when all is said and done.
LGBT fantasy novel set in Manchester, England. “Return of the Vampire Hunter” by Catherine Green.
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
Dogs are unsung heroes in a human world. Here in the UK we have a huge dog-loving community, and that extends around the world in many places.
I have grown up in the company of dogs, and I always feel an affinity with these beautiful creatures.
The Dogs that Save Our Lives #WATWB
The Dogs that Save Our Lives #WATWB
Dogs offer unconditional love to those that welcome them as part of the family. My family is grieving for the loss of Baxter, who died just last week. He was a wonderful dog. We found him in a dogs’ home eleven years ago, and he did so much good for my family and my friends. He has been a constant companion, giving cuddles and reassurance when I felt lonely and stressed. He helped my husband through mental health challenges. He helped to keep our babies safe, played with the children when they were toddlers, and never once snapped at them. He was patient, caring, and loving right to the end. Baxter was known in our town as the therapy dog, because so many people in our community came to him for cuddles at the school gate, or walked him at local events, or said hello to him at the shops. He was a carer.
Not just Baxter
And it isn’t just Baxter. A close friend had her dog trained to help when she was diagnosed with hearing impairments. He went everywhere with her, helping her navigate a busy and confusing world, offering her silent support when she felt lonely, and being there through the ups and downs of life. My previous dog, a snappy little Yorkshire Terrier, was by my side when I celebrated passing my school exams, my driving test, getting engaged, and a whole host of other life-affirming events. Then there are dogs who are trained to help in the military and the police.
And then there are medical detection dogs. My aunt and uncle sent a condolence card in memory of Baxter. On it is a portrait of a dog that helped detect cancer. No doubt she saved a good many people from the pain of this horrific disease. And let’s not forget those strong, sturdy dogs who help in mountain rescue and coast guarding. Dogs are intelligent, beautiful, loving creatures. For this month’s entry to We Are the World, I salute our canine companions. Shout up, dog lovers. I hear you!
We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB)
We are the World BlogFest (#WATWB) focuses on positive stories no matter where they’re found. It is all about spreading peace and humanity on social media. All participants post on the last Friday of the month, sharing a positive news story that contributes to making our world a happier, safer, and better place to live.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
Our family dog died while we were on holiday last week. He had been ill for a couple of weeks before we went, and he had only been discharged from pet hospital five days prior to us leaving. I had to take him for a check-up on the morning before we set off to the Solway Coast, our location for a peaceful week away.
I think he wanted to go on his own terms. When he first got admitted to the pet hospital, the vet advised us to euthanise our boy because he was seriously ill and didn’t seem able to fight the infection or inflammation that he had contracted. He decided otherwise, however, and made a seemingly miraculous recovery.
#MummyMonday In Memoriam for a beloved family dog
Not the Holiday we Expected
We took him on holiday as planned, but it was a long week with sleepless nights as we nursed him, and stressful days as we tried to coax him to eat through a syringe. He was very weak, and he was ready to leave this world, but he did get one last visit to the beach, one last paddle in the sea, and one last family day trip on a steam train, which is something he loved to do.
This week my family and I are in mourning. We have been looking at photos and videos, remembering all our special times with Baxter. He was a brilliant dog. He came to us from a local rescue centre in Stoke-on-Trent and had been found in North Wales. Nobody wanted to consider him because he looked scruffy, but on that fateful day, my mum told me to come and look at a dog that stole her heart. Although she already had a dog at home that didn’t like company, she told me if I didn’t take this big bundle of fur home with me, then she would. He was so gentle, quiet and cuddly that I couldn’t refuse.
Baxter changed our lives for the better
Baxter came home, and our lives were forever changed for the better. Now the house is too quiet, the garden feels empty, and I miss my boy following me everywhere as I do my chores. He used to sit pressed against my legs while I worked on my laptop, or he would watch me from the sofa. He would sit in his basket in the kitchen while I washed dishes and sorted laundry, and he was always there to catch bits of food that dropped when I prepared meals. Our doggy dustbin is no more.
We will always remember him, and when the time is right, we will open our hearts to another homeless dog who needs a family. Baxter will guide us. Farewell my gorgeous boy. Go and play with your animal friends over the rainbow bridge. We will always love you.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
This week my family and I are holidaying on the beautiful Solway Coast in Cumbria. We always bring our dog on family holidays, and we like to explore new places, new areas in the UK that we haven’t yet discovered.
#MummyMonday Vitamin Sea Family Holidays in the UK
Vitamin Sea: Refreshing Family Holidays in the UK
Last year it was Northumberland, the year before it was Norfolk. This time we chose somewhere a little closer to home, straight up the M6 motorway, not quite as far as Scotland. We can see the Scottish coastline across the bay, which is gorgeous, and the small town we are staying in is perfect for a quiet getaway.
Our dog is recovering from life-threatening illness just over a week ago and has only been home from hospital for a week, so it was lucky we had chosen a nice, quiet place for our holiday. My father-in-law has a brain injury and is disabled, so we are always mindful that he needs somewhere less crowded when we go away.
And I just needed a break! All I want is some time to relax on the beach, read my book, and allow our children to play in the sand and paddle in the sea. Delightful!
Excerpt from Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel) by Catherine Green
Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England. Click here.
SpookyMrsGreen 