Star Alignment Retreat

 

For about a year, I've been a member of a CE5 Washington group on Zoom. Our group is composed of like-minded folk, who curious about 'what's out there' and are actively seeking contact with all that is extraterrestrial phenomenon. Many, if not all of the group are also into new age enlightenment. 

After a year of group meditation zoom meetings, the group, it was a total joy to meet many members of our collective in person, up front & oh so cool!

Our 'fearless leaders' are Garret and Maria, both of whom arranged the retreat and had it stuffed with loads of amazing activities. Over the course of the weekend we had daily guided  meditation sessions, an energizing Qigong session barefoot in a grassy, tree lined venue. We got an incredible yoga session (who knew I could bend in the middle like that without snapping in two!) and even a past life regression group hypnosis.

Maria led us in a cocoa drinking ceremony, which made one's soul and tummy feel loved.

Garret presenting cocoa to all

Cool lady in cafeteria, reading an eerie tome

Lovely ambiance for meditation

Of course, the bit I was most looking forward to was the pair of evening sky watching. Each began with group meditation in  a grassy, tree lined meadow. I was a bit perturbed with myself because I forgot to purchase and bring a 'zero gravity' chair which lets you sit or lie completely prone: the better to spot stars and UFOs. Also, the laser I brought to the meet was better suited for teasing kittens, than pointing out aerial phenomena. I shall do better next time.

Getting comfy before dark

Each session began with a group meditation session. The goal of the meditation is to invite extra terrestrials to be viewed - in any form that ET might prefer. Yes, of course it sounds bonkers, but most of us in the group have had some sort of UFO or other experience, and we're done with pretending such things do no exist. Most had green laser light sticks, used to point at constellations or pointing out satellites tracing their way across the velvet night sky. No orbs showed up this weekend (rats!) but we did get numerous 'blinkers'. Blinkers are brilliant lights, high up in the night sky, that pop on and off in, singularly or in groups. Don't know what they are but they are awe inspiring.  It was arguable that the blinkers responded to our verbal calls for a light show.

My photo of Star Link (or Starling?)

Interesting, the first night of the sky watch, we were meditating and I heard some group members break the silence with giggles. I opened my eyes and followed the beam of someone's laser up to an astounding view, what looked to me to be a giant, rod shaped thing, lined with bright white lights. 

I was just on the edge of wigging out, when I heard someone say 'Starling', and being a birder I thought,  'why are you commenting on a bird when a big-arse something is up in the sky!

Well, silly me! I hadn't ever heard about 'Star Link', strings of multiple low altitude sattellites. The satellites provide internet service to many countries. YIKES! When did technology advance so far I find myself still wallowing in the dark of ignorance? Anyway, I had a good laugh over my 'very nearly almost' having spotted a massive UFO. 

Here is a short video of Starlink, as it passed overhead both of our star watch lookouts. 

The weekend was a wonder. It was great to see the people I've been seeing on weekly meditation zooms for the past year. Yeah... next time I will have the right chair and laser, lol.

Pups on Parade - the Sequim Dog Show

 

Judging 'Best of Breed' for Cirneco Dell'Etna

I am totally not ready for a dog just yet. My back yard isn't fenced, and I'm not sure I'm up for dog walking just now. Even if I were ready to find my next doggie, my favorite breed - Afghan Hound - was not one of the many breeds represented at the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club dog show. So I contented myself with staring longingly at happy pups and pondering which ones I'd take as a pet if push came to shove (Border Terrier puppies), and which one's I'd be more inclined to send to live in a farm 'up state' (any of the 'bully' breeds). 

Cirneco Dell'Etna

Shortly after arriving at the show, I spotted a couple of ladies standing by some sighthounds. I asked them if I was looking at Pharaoh Hounds. I was told, I was looking at Cirneco Dell'Etnas - a breed totally new to me. The Dell'Etna's resembled slightly smaller Pharoah Hounds.  Later in the day a bit of research revealed they are Sicilian sight hounds (my favorite dog type) and they are sparse as hen's teeth in the U.S.A. Cool seeing a dog breed that is totally new to me.

I spotted another strange dog and asked the owner if the dog was a Spinone, and was tickled that I was correct in my ID. The dog was a beautiful cream color and sooo very sweet, a joy to fuss over.

"Italian Spinone', a dog breed, not a type of soft serve ice cream

I had my eyes open specifically for any sight hound breeds. What I love about them is they are rather cat-like, as opposed to being all slavishly up in your business 24/7 as are other breeds such as Labradors. Ugh! I've had a Whippet and an Afghan and they were totally wonderful. 

What else was at the show? You just name it!

Mastiff 

Saint Bernard - WAY the hell larger than I remember...

The opposite of gigantic - the Japanese Chin

Cute Basenji - an African hunting hound (A sight hound!)

Flat-Coated Retriever (I first learned of their existence in Scotland)

Clumber Spaniel - the only spaniel breed that traditionally hunts in packs

A Droop of Bassets

Official judging of 'short & squat' category,
Cardigan Corgis (the Corgi breed with a tail)

Both of these beauties were in the Junior Showmanship category (Golden Retriever)

German Wire-haired Pointer

Cane Corso Pup

This little cutie to the left is a Cane Corso puppy. I was surprised how cute the pup was, and sad that in America its still OK to chop off puppy tails and slice up puppy ears. I'm happy that at least in the UK, dogs are not sliced & diced so over there, for example, you can see Rottweilers and Boxers with tails and Great Danes & Doberman Pinchers with full, floppy ears. I will get off of my soap box now. 

There were a zillion other breeds on hand for me to gawk at: Borzoi, Standard Poodles, Britany Spaniels,  Border Terriers (Puppies, soooo cute!), Mini Pins, and such. Viewing all these dogs has put me on a firm path to getting my backyard fenced so I can have a dog of my own to parade around. Afghan Pup, I'm coming to get 'cha! 

Happy Birthday Judy

 

A long time ago I promised my friend  Judy that I would make her some gluten-free Indian fry bread, because it was a treat she very much enjoys. I put it off for quite a while, but as her birthday was this month, I decided it was about time I honor my promise. 

So today Judy and Diane drove to Flown Piggies Farm for a little birthday lunch. Judy looked colorful in her flower laurels and she wore a sash that blinked on and off, announcing she is THE birthday girl. Darn right she is! I know the wee girl she used to be, long ago in Bavaria, would certainly love her future prospects. 

Her daughter Diane provided the birthday gal's pink Champagne Cake which was a heavenly delicacy enjoyed by all (and I forgot to bring out the ice cream, darn it!).

Hockey Pucks, pre-air frying

The week leading up to Judy's birthday celebration,   plenty of friends on hand to test out different gluten-free fry bread recipes.  The first batch was a fail - the fry bread batter was air-fried in my oven and... um... although my dear friends assured me the fry bread was tasty, they kindly omitted the fry bread texture wise were reminiscent of hockey pucks. 

The first batch being a failure, I channeled my inner Indigenous Auntie, settling on a recipe that seemed a little closer to my fry bread goal. The winning recipe was indeed, gluten-free, and it used both yeast and baking powder, and better yet, going full Navajo, this time the bread was deep fried. 

Ready to flip...

Flipped over, golden brown

A little history here: my introduction to Fry Bread was when I was a docent at the California State Indian Museum. The main food for the day was Fry Bread and I had a ball dishing up Indian Tacos for honored elders on their special day.
Fry bread is to Indigenous Peoples in the USA, as is soul food to African Americans, which is to say, making the best of something that was never really an honor in the first place. By that I mean, taking crap food you were given (in the case of fry bread, Indigenous people trapped on reservations were given salt, flour & oil, none of which was recognizable to them as food from their normal diet> They'd been promised meat, but didn't get any. They made the best of it and soon enough, Fry Bread - the only thing you can really make with what they were given - became a tradition. 

Behold, the Fry Bread Taco, piled high with ground
beef, black beans, lettuces, tomatoes, sour cream & more. 

Judy and Diane had tried their first Fry Bread at a Washington state Pow Wow and the fry bread tacos did indeed wow them. It was my pleasure today to serve up hot, fluffy-ish fry breads. Happy Birthday and many more to Judy, who is certainly an honored elder from another land.  

[Post Script: here is a link to a fateful 'Honored Elders Day' at the California's Indian Museum celebration back in the day. When the elders pouted a bit because some people decided Fry Bread Tacos weren't good for elders. HA! Fry bread, every once in a bit, does not kill anyone, and it does hit THE spot.  Fry Bread or not Fry Bread... that is the Question]