I found a fairy swimming hole!

Happy Saturday friends!

Wow, I got a slew of emails from you guys this week, apparently a lot of you are also “neurodiverse!” Did you know that between 30-40% of the population are neurodiverse? Honestly that makes me happy and I hope it does you too, we aren’t as alone as we thought! So many of us hide our idiosyncrasies from others but just think of how many like minded people we would find if we didn’t!

Embrace your neurodiversity! It makes you awesome!

In doing a little research I found a few things that I didn’t know:

People with ADHD often have other things that go along with it, who knew?

Approximately 1 in 2 people with ADHD have dyslexia.

Approximately 1 in 2 people with ADHD have dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is impaired coordination of physical movements, deficits in fine or gross motor skills.

2 in 3 people with ADHD have autistic spectrum traits, and people with ADHD are 8-fold more likely to meet full criteria for an autistic spectrum diagnosis.

Now THAT is interesting to me as I’ve been listening to a book on Audible called Aspergirls by Rudy Simone. Turns out, like ADHD, Asperger’s is diagnosed less in girls because surprise surprise, it doesn't look the same as boys, and as all the reasons behind that are being discovered, more adult women are being diagnosed.

You can read about Asperger’s vs Autism here at the Autism Society.

If you’re curious about symptoms of females with Aperger’s, look at this checklist. It’s an eye opener. 

And if you’ve heard that Asperger’s is no longer a DSM diagnosis, you’re right. It’s all been lumped into Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Curious as to why? Read about how Dr. Hans Asperger wasn’t who we thought he was—yikes. 😳

•••

Last week I was out mowing the parts of our property that aren't yet fenced for animals—the large areas around the pond and around the house. I was mowing along in the little strip of backyard and wondering why B-Rad hadn't been mowing around the patio...the weeds there are mostly this kind of short grassy bamboo, crappy stuff that no one, even the goats, want to eat. Not even considering the "why" behind it, I (impulsively he would say) drove the riding lawn mower right up to the edge of the patio and began mowing it down.

And then I heard this horrible grinding sound...

I turned the mower away and it stopped. I figured it must have been a rock and continued on.

Down the other side and another horrible grinding sound...

As I turned the mower away I saw...

Oh dammit...

A garden spotlight. 💩 With a strip of silver ground off across the top of it's black body.

Sigh.

I told Brad about it and we were both bummed.

A few days passed and I was talking to him about weed eating the patio and he mentioned how he had heard this horrible grinding sound from inside the house and I laughed and said, "Yeah, that was sucky to hit those lights, I totally forgot they were there!"

B-Rad, looking horrified, said, "It's not funny!"

And I'm like, "Well, it wasn't then, but it kinda is now!"

As I continue to recognize my own idiosyncrasies, I do realize that I find things funny that others just don't. As I get older I have learned to let go of some of the self-flagellation and find the humor in it instead. To others, this can look like I don't care. It's really not that I don't care, I'm bummed about the mistake I made—I will remember those lights next time, but I'm not going to beat myself up or feel shame over a mistake. We all make them!

This made me laugh and laugh—"missing sustained motivation" 😂

•••

Ooooo yummy! These beauties came off our grape arbor on the south side of our property. I had only heard of Muscadine grapes but had never tried them until last year. They are AMAZING. Unlike any grape I’ve ever had and weird to eat but amazing all the same. Rub one off, stick it in your mouth all warm from the sun and pop! The taste has been indescribable until yesterday when someone new came out to the farm with her 8 year old. He said they were like candy. They really are! We gathered a shirt full for him to take home and this morning I went out and gathered some too. All I have to do is give them a good rinse since they’ve never been sprayed with anything.

Do you remember the grape Bubblicious bubblegum from the 80s? Honestly I think that the mad scientist who made it must have lived in the south and must have had a muscadine in his yard. It’s what it reminds me of most. That 8 year old said, “It’s almost like it has artificial flavors in it!” Exactly, that’s how intense the flavor is, so sweet!

Eating them outside is ideal and eating them with children is even better because then you can spit out the skin and the seed, which are sour and maybe even have a spitting contest! Some eat the whole thing, depends on your tastebuds.

•••

The Polar Bear had to go to the vet, the humidity wreaks havoc with floppy eared dogs and she had an ear infection. Turns out she had one last years around the same time too. Now I know to put some cleaner in her ears every so often in the summer. Nowadays there is a one time application magic potion which is a Godsend for doggies who have owie ears!

Brad called me in a panic on Wednesday, "The horses are not in the pasture!"

I ran for the door. Turns out he had accidentally left the gate unchained and they sauntered off. We found them at the big barn next door :-) Now, I know you guys, and I know you're thinking, "Look it's just the horses, little Sweetness must have stayed in the pasture like a good boy." Haha, he's with them and he likely was the one who opened the gate as he's figured out if he pushes on it when it's not chained that it will just swing open. Little monkey!

•••

Little Lu has taken to waiting for me outside my bathroom at night. As soon as I get done brushing my teeth she's looking at me like this. Who can say, "I'm too tired." to that face?

•••

It was the first week of school for ManChild and it's been a bumpy ride. The first day I got this:

Lots of homework Tuesday and Wednesday but Thursday was a little better and he started finding his groove. Friday was absolutely no fun at all when he thought he bombed a test (I doubt he did.) It's been a roller coaster ride for sure and I couldn't have been happier to pick him up for an early release day on Friday. We are all looking forward to the long weekend! If you're a praying sort or an energy sending sort, please do so for him, and for us too!

•••

A few pics from around the farm this week:

Do you see it? 👇🏽

Here's a closeup:

This is a Black Staining Polypore and they are edible! Apparently the younger leaves are good sauteed or in stews. This is a younger one.

This is an older one, I guess they are fibrous and stringy.

The American Beauty Berry bushes are putting on their finest pink pearls:

•••

Forest Finds:

It's a fairy swimming hole!

I'm working on growing my community this year so this week I’m going to ask you all for a favor. Would you pretty please forward this email to a friend that you think might like it? Thank you!

MEMES OF THE WEEK!

Apparently TikTok is showing a bunch of girls doing this lately. Good gawd. How pretty, and sweet, and... possibly deadly should that horse flip out. Don't braid your hair with your horse's tail! Jeez!

My daughter Nichole definitely belongs on the left, I'm on the right:

I thought this was understood:

An oldie but a goodie, it will always make me laugh:

This was practically a mantra for me this week with all of the first week of school drama. ManChild did not find it funny:

Carpet or "luxury vinyl" isn't any better:

•••

If you'd like to work with me:

I'm a life coach and partner with horses to help people heal—schedule an Equine Gestalt Coaching session.
Or, schedule a NeurOptimal Neurofeedback session.

Buy a tshirt or a print with my artwork.

Out of state?
Call for Zoom or phone coaching (feeling anxious, stuck, or out of sorts?)  Remember to forward this email to a friend and Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Deals:

If you are in my area (Apex, NC and surrounding areas) I'm offering a special deal for you to come try out neurofeedback, coaching, and Reiki!

Half off your first neurofeedback session ($35 for 45 minutes instead of $70)

$25 off your first Equine Gestalt Coaching session ($100 for an hour instead of $125)

Half off your first Reiki session ($45 for an hour instead of $90)

Please take me up on these—and yes, you can use all three, in fact I encourage it! Doing neurofeedback or Reiki before a coaching session puts you in a regulated state which the animals love and is ideal for the work. Doing neurofeedback or Reiki after helps you process your session :-) so it works either way. The coaching setting is beautiful with the horses, donkey, and goats and in my air conditioned neurofeedback room you have a view of the pond and the wildlife that surrounds it. We are in a covered barn for coaching so are in the shade and out of any rain or weather. Reiki can be inside or outside in the barn, depending on weather and client wishes.

You can read about neurofeedback here!

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