MAY is MCS Awareness Month

  Like many canaries, when I go out into the world I wear a mask.  Mine consist of a peice of carbon felt inside a bandana or sometimes a longer scarf, worn over my nose and mouth.  Sometimes a canary can tell someone is curious about his/her mask.  Unable to linger in contaminated places,  I ordered this card to help raise awareness.

DK clued me in when I told him my idea.  He told me to do a google search for free business cards.  I ordered 250 of these for about $5 shipping.

"It's sacred because it's always been here"

Cedar.  That's how a First Nation healer named Mary described cedar to me.  She uses cedar swags in a cleansing ceremony that I was fortunate to have once taken part in at Wa He Lut school, founded by Native American elder, Maiselle Bridges.  Mary visits yearly from Canada, to perform the ceremony at the school, located at historic Frank's Landing on the Nisqually River. Carved into canoes and story poles, weaved into hats and baskets, and fashioned into clothing, cedar has had countless uses and is greatly cherished in the Northwest.

Our siding is cedar.  Some with MCS react to it.  My eyes are sensitive to the dust, but it's not something I react to otherwise.  We are grateful for this magnificent little forrest that will wrap our tiny home in welcoming warmth.  

We are protecting it with Velvit oil.  DK combed the worldwideweb and found this stuff with low vocs and great reviews.  We've tested it and there doesn't seem to be a detectable scent or reaction about a week after application.

And lots of sunny weather in the forecast!

Make Haste to a Safeplace by Anita Breatha Freshair

Where oh where
Are you fresh air?
My star-crossed lover
My biological mother

My long lost twin
Where have you been?
I've been searching forever
We should be together

I'm in deep despair
I long for fresh air
The other day I swear
You were right there

Then gone just as quick
And my stomach felt sick
My head doesn't pound
When you stick around

Chased off by the snuggle bear
My neighbors are unaware
It seems every day
They scare you away

I went out to find you
I thought, what will I do?
I can't live without
I breathe in, I breathe out

Wait a minute what's this?
And my cheek felt a kiss
Fresh air, sweet and tender
To you, I surrender

Restless muscles cry
A tear in my eye
Fresh air's warm embrace
A sleepy smile on my face

Here's where I'll stay
I'll walk here each day
Please always be there
My ghostly fresh air

Happy Earth Day

It was a beautiful day.  We had lunch where we will soon park our tiny home.  We are in love with this land.

We saw 3 Eagles seemingly still in the sky, wings spread so wide, circling, with the bluest backdrop.

A red tailed Hawk drew our eyes up  when he flew over us, making darkness, in a sunny spot.  He was having lunch soon, too.  It looked like a shrew.

The water is running in the creek and there are furry caterpillars and wild strawberry blossoms everywhere.

The air is so fresh.  So soothingly fresh.

We received our cedar siding today and flaws and all, it's so lovely.

Our source of water, Oly's artesian well, was blessed by Dr Masaru Emoto yesterday.

There are many blessings I haven't named.

I am truly grateful.

Thank you Mother Earth.

Future Looks Bright

7 awning windows: 20"x30"

2 loft windows:13"x18"

Sizing up frames

Tigris watches over

and clued us in to this li'l guy

I loved playing with these as a kid

We can't wait to get out into nature

None of us can:)

Visitors

We do not have any visitors. No one is uncontaminated.  I have placed 'Do Not Disturb' signs on my doors, with the explanation of an occupant with MCS.  When my husband and I return home, we remove contaminated clothing and shower.

 I was thinking about what it would take for someone to visit my home or if I was even to meet them outdoors somewhere, what requests I would have to make to make it not an unhealthy experience for me. It seems I am always compromised in some way but it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which I wouldn't be.
A person who wants to be an active presence in a Canary's life really needs to be educated and willing to do things differently. Even if, on the day of the visit, they:
-showered using only an organic soap (like allafia african black soap) or plain old baking soda on the body and hair
-decontaminated their clothing by washing it in baking soda or milk
(probably more than once since the laundry products on the market are designed to have scents that really cling)
-didn't use any products like scented deoderant, hair gel, lotion or make-up
if their home, yard, car, or anyplace they stop on the way over are contaminated, they will be, too.

So if you want a tour of my tiny house, it'll be the blog version.  It is designed to be a safeplace.

I am beyond grateful for my husband, who I just can't scare off, thank goodness.
I wonder if anyone else will be willing or able to have an uncontaminating, healthy visit with me. Usually excluding, (or contaminating)  me seem suitable solutions to most.  But people who come in contact with my husband lack the awareness that his scent (transferred from them) affects me.

I still work. It's really difficult and I don't feel like I ever detoxify. The time I am not at work, I am not willing to be exposed to toxic contaminants that will make me sicker, short, mid, and long term.

I still feel sad by this but don't have much hope anyone can accomodate me, so I am trying to accept that, for now.

Canary song