Deborah J. Martin's Blog, page 22

Taking a Chill Pill

Stress … everyone feels it to one extent or another.  Science knows that stress affects not only mental health but bodily health as well.  Long term stress can weaken your immune system, making you vulnerable to infections, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other problems.  Although they haven't figured out exactly why, people experiencing chronic stress are more prone to viral infections.

Lately I've been feeling more stressed than usual, thanks to a family member. I thought I...

The Darker Side of Fairy Tales

I stole the blog title from a thread title on a forum. I'm shameless that way.

That particular thread tied in nicely with some research I'd recently read on baneful herbs. (I really am working on book number three in between tax returns.)

First, you have to remember that the Brothers Grimm didn't write their tales, they collected them. These stories had been scaring kids for years before the Grimms published their first book in 1812. (Please read the Grimm versions, not the Disney ones...

Sharing Magic

A Facebook post by a friend got me to thinking …

She was asking if we (her friends) think magic should continue to be kept secret or if all the sharing of spells, rituals, etc., on the Internet and in books is a good thing. To my way of thinking, it both is and isn't. It is because those who don't have access to a teacher can learn on their own. It isn't because this path isn't for everyone; and performing a spell that almost but doesn't quite fit your need; or when you're not really sure of w...

Old Year, New Year … and Thank You!

I spent a very quiet New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, trying to distract myself with munchable novels but not quite succeeding. I was more ruminating on the last year and thinking ahead to what 2012 would bring.

As you get older, the years sort of become a blur and also with age, shit just happens:

My mother's health is declining rapidly and has become very worrisome. Because I'm an only child, I have had to change or even cancel plans to accommodate her illness. (This is why you haven't...

Pretty, Common & Deadly Rhododendrons

I posted a little something on my Facebook page last night about honey made by bees from the flowers of Rhododendrons being potentially toxic. It created such a firestorm of "whoa", I thought I'd share some more of my notes.

First, you need to know that there are more than 850 species in the Rhododendron genus, growing mostly in northern temperate regions. This includes Azaleas! The toxicity varies from species to species but all are considered highly hazardous … and all parts of the plant...

Seasonal Meditation: Holiday Trees

I bought our holiday tree yesterday. (Yes, damn it, in this house it's a HOLIDAY tree. We celebrate the Winter Solstice with it; a few days later, Christmas with the Christians in the family; and several days after that, Yule.) As I was putting it up in the living room, I got to thinking about the tree, its symbolism and its usages when it's done being a decoration.

Although our tree is a Fraser Fir, many types of "Christmas trees" exist. I prefer a Scots Pine for its longer needles but I...

What Makes Your State Great – Georgia

If you didn't read my posts on "What Makes Your State Great" or the great state of Minnesota, please do. That way I don't have to explain it all again. I'm lazy that way.

Today I pay homage to my adopted state of Georgia. As much as I bitch about living in the backward South, Georgia really does have some great things going for it. I moved here more than 25 years ago and am still discovering new things.

One of the things that's great is in about five hours, I can go from forested wilderness to ...

New Orleans: What Fun! (& Learning Experience)

I'm still recovering from my whirlwind trip to New Orleans and the 2011 New Orleans Witches' Ball. What a blast! My hat's off to Cairelle, Sarah, Camille and the rest of the committee. Didn't make it this year? Save up for next. It's worth it! They had a couple of bands

An interpretive dance

Folks dressed in really cool costumes

A "non-denominational" ritual at midnight (which, of course, I didn't take a photo of), and too much food & drink.

A few things I learned this weekend:

1.  Never, ever...

For Geeks Like Me: 18th Century Herbal

If you haven't seen my Facebook page or Twitter feed in the last week, you missed my post that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow have scanned an 18th century herbal, thought to be from lowland Scotland. It's obvious this is someone's personal herbal – not a physician's. It's information compiled over many years … it's not well-organized but the RCPSG has kindly indexed it.

Almost as soon as I found the link, I dug in. It took me about 2 hours to read it. Then again...

What Makes Your State Great – Minnesota

Today, one day in advance of the DC40′s prayer over the state of Minnesota, I pay homage to the place I still call "home". For the "fun facts", head on over to Kallan's blog or Sosanna's blog. They do a good job of ferreting that stuff out.

I wasn't born there but I was raised in the heart of Minneapolis, spent the first half of my life there and am the third (and last) generation to graduate from my high school. So, to talk about the North Star State; or as I know it, the Land of 10,000 (and ...