55 Comments

Hi Barbara! Welcome to the 70s! I've been hanging out in this decade for a while now. You wrote "70 has wisdom gained through knowledge of self as its priority."

I would agree with that for sure. It's been a real adventure along those lines for me. Better late than never.

I love your photos. Thanks for sharing them. You look like a rascal, a very cute one.

New Hampshire, eh? My brother, another rascal, lived in Troy. He loved to hike on Mt. Monadnock. There's just something about it that looks like it's keeping watch on all the rascals down below.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your birthday post. I'll be seeing you around.

Expand full comment

Thanks for reading, Rocket! :) I was painfully shy and don't think I've ever been described as a rascal but I'll take it! I don't know that mountain but I'll check it out! XO

Expand full comment

Thank you! 🥰

Expand full comment

Happy belated!

Expand full comment

Happy belated birthday!!!!!! I LOVE that photo of you, it's simply darling.

My birthday was on the 18th, I turned 63. So, you're MY big sister, if that's okay. ^_^

I hope yours was terrific and I'm very very pleased to tell you that I now have the Internet back on in my home, as I need to keep up with the goings on of trying to get "custody" of my elder parents so I can get them back into their own house ... No small undertaking, I assure you!

I hope the trees and the snow (?) are listening and giving you all sorts of fun and aesthetic pleasure.

BEST wishes! xo xo

Expand full comment

Irrepressible spirt already present! Yes, darling.

Expand full comment

Happy Belated Birthday to YOU,, Jaan! I hope the new year brings you some breathing room, calm, and Joy. Still no snow here :(. Just lots of rain and fog. Feels like what I envision Washington state to be be like. XO

Expand full comment

Thanks, Lovely.

Yep, lots of rain and fog, but today we had SUNSHINE, and it was sweet! ^_^

XO to you, too, Happy New Year!

Expand full comment

Cap Sun, but I'm a Sag moon, so...whew! I've definitely always felt a connection to you! It's so weird here...moved back to the midwest for snow, and it's 55 degrees and rainy today, Christmas Day. I'll walk in the snow, but the drizzly, soaking rain...? Nah. I LOVE your perspective and get excited when I have an email saying I have a new Quaking Poplar!

Expand full comment

Hi Wendy! That warms my heart that you get excited to open a Quaking Poplar email! Ugh, we have the same weather here in NH. No snow in the forecast. :( Fingers crossed for both of us! ❄️❄️❄️ XO

Expand full comment

Barbara! Oh, the impish grin on your sweet face in that photo!Tells me so much about you...😏

The similarities continue: youngest of three girls, December birthday, love of Asia Suler... I even had furniture in my house that looked frighteningly similar!

Happiest of birthdays, my new friend ❤️

Expand full comment

Youngest of 3 girls here too - interesting - though a younger brother followed.

70 is a great age to be - I already know it - though I'll discover for myself 2030. Let's hope it's all calmed down by then!!

Happy Belated Birthday, (my also) new friend.❤️

Expand full comment

Thx, Kathleen! I loved my sixties. So, you're a fellow Crone! I still can't believe I used that title though! 😳 I'm glad the post has now moved to the side...xoxo

Expand full comment

Aww! Did you already tell my your birthdate, Mary? I love Asia. I spent a couple of weeks at her Winter Intuition School in 2019. She's a dear heart. Have you ever taken her Earth Healing Archetype Quiz? I wonder if we would have the same archetype?? xoxo

https://asiasuler.com/classes/earth-healing-archetypes/quiz/

P.S. The furniture...lol! 😳

Expand full comment

I did... The 29th. Capricorn.

And I just discovered Asia. (Wait. That sounds either clueless or egoic, doesn't it? 😂) I'm an old growth tree. You??

Expand full comment

Well I hope it's not too clueless, since I didn't know Asla at all. :-)

Expand full comment

😂 Doesn’t sound either clueless or egoic. I’m a Wellspring and it is so true for me! My dear friend is an Old Growth Tree.

My North Node is in Capricorn. Not an easy one!

Are you on Instagram, Mary? That’s where I discovered Asia. The platform is gross now but I’ve made so many wonderful friends through it. 🥰

Expand full comment

Just to clarify... saying "I just discovered Asia" sounds like I'm a latter-day Marco Polo.

And yes, I'm technically on Instagram, but I spend zero time there. I hope we don't someday feel about Substack the way you feel about Insta! 😳

Expand full comment

I thought that’s what you meant! 😂 I “discovered” Asia on Instagram, hence my hesitation to abandon it completely. 🩷

Expand full comment

Roger that!

Expand full comment

Petticoat Junction...gosh I can still hear the theme song in my head.

Expand full comment

Yessssss!!! Omg I’ll be singing the theme song all day now! 😂😂

Expand full comment

So soorrry! Ear worms can drive one crazy!

Expand full comment

No worries!! 😂

Expand full comment

Happy birthday Barbara!

I love the darker nights too even though I'm a July girl (well, 61 year old crone haha); I love to hunker down and read, write and study.

Yes, let's hope that they leave nature in peace to deal out the weather as it sees fit rather than having it manipulated.

Wishing you a peaceful Alban Arthan.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Ingrid!! I had to look up Alban Arthan. I've never heard of that festival but will be reading up on it. I have a friend coming to visit this week and I'm going to build a bonfire that night. She just sent me "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Arthurian Legends" knowing how drawn I am to them. :) 👑 xo

Expand full comment

Happy, happy birthday, sister! Mine is Monday! I forgot we are both December babies as well. I love your musings. They inspire me and remind me to get out in nature…which I’m going to do right now! Love you, fellow Crone Goddess!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Wendy!! Is that still Sag or is your sun in Capricorn? My North Node is in Capricorn. Happy Early Birthday to you! 🎂 I'm headed outside right now, too! THANK YOU for reading my musings! 🩷🩷

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday 🎈

Expand full comment

Thank you, Sasha!

Expand full comment

Red is my least favorite color too…though as I age…some red cheek or lip color can help me look alive. It’s come to have a place in my minimal makeup drawer for when I go out! Your photograph certainly could have been pulled from my album…did you also have a crank handle refrigerator and shag carpet? Lol. I really just wanted to share what I once read in college. That the sound of your own name being said is the most beautiful sounding word to your ear. I believe that is likely to be true. I have a difficult name to pronounce in the English language and so I rarely hear it said correctly. Yet each time I meet a new person who repeats my name back perfectly, it takes me home. It feels right. All the best this birthday, holiday and beyond, Barbie.

Expand full comment

Thank you! I think I keep asking you what your name is because it's not on your About page! Sorry to ask again! I love that about the sound of our own name. I should embrace that more. I was never very fond of my name and it wasn't until I was in my fifrties, I think, that I found out that my grandmother's Polish name translates to Barbara in English. I never knew my grandmother and my sister always told me she named me after a figure skater. Seriously?? 😂

Expand full comment

Another good story! Sorry, I should fix my profile page. My name is Heide, pronounced hi -de(t)…but with a silent t. Confusing, I know. I discovered that the e sound as in edible, etiquette, etc is always followed by a consonant in the English language. Therefor a friend once told me to add another letter…but tell folks it is silent. Does that help? My name was supposed to be Astrid, which is the sister name to Ingrid, my older sister. Then my aunt told my mother that Astrid is an ugly bird in America. Sheesh. The Heide in German is the alpine….the place on the mountain above the tree line where the meadow and wildflowers grow. Now you know way more than you ever wanted to, take care!

Expand full comment

I have always compared this Heide pronunciation to the indigenous people of the Pacific northwest---the Haida. Would that be a simpler way of explaining? Just wondering...'hello girlfriend'

Expand full comment

I am originally from NY but moved to the Pacific NW in 1977...to go to college. And stayed. I have heard that reference a number of times, but the pronunciation is a bit off. I told you I'm difficult.

Expand full comment

Hiya, my best friend at college is an Astrid and her older sister an Ingrid, i didn't realise it was a thing, that names came in sets.

Expand full comment

Now I am curious. I'm having a hard times thinking of other names that might fit the bill. Names like Victor and Victoria seem obvious. I remember 3 sisters named Billy Jo, Betty Jo and Bobby Jo from an old tv series. I'd ask your friend, perhaps she can verify this? Happy Holidays

Expand full comment

I have no idea! Those names sound familiar - what was the TV show??

Expand full comment

Oh, what a beautiful meaning your name has, Heide! Thank you for answering my query. :) Lol...your aunt! Guess you were destined to be Heide. It's perfect. xo

Expand full comment

Hi Barbara! Wishing you peace and joy and much love for a Happy Birthday season 💗

Expand full comment

Thanks, Maureen! Happy Holidays to you! xo

Expand full comment

Greetings, birthday girl and co-conspirator of the vata realm; I 'celebrated' my birthday this month a few days before you and yes, I have never been a big party-till-i-drop-character eater, in fact I didn't say a word to anyone, and I have had a nice and quiet day [or week] because of.

Expand full comment

Happy Belated, Jeanne! I didn't tell anyone either and then decided to blab it on the internet! Writing a blog is funny sometimes. This was one I almost deleted. Anyway, glad you had a quiet one. I love quiet. xoxo

Expand full comment

well, writing a blog s a special deal, so happy you did not delete.

Expand full comment

Thx, Jeanne. :) xooxo

Expand full comment

Happy 70th birthday Barbara 🧚🏻‍♂️✨🌿 I'm experiencing the same weather as you. The gusts and downpours are intense.

Yes let Mother Nature be back at the helm 🙏🏻

I turned 66 on the 14th.

Sending you love!!!

Expand full comment

Happy Belated, fellow Sag! 6 is my favorite number. 66 sounds like a good year to me. Balanced. Much love to you, Elizabeth. xoxo

Expand full comment

Thank you Barbara.

Aaah, a balanced year... when all falls away and we step into being empowered, completely.

🙏🏻❤️

Expand full comment

Thanks for sharing! Sending a windswept Happy Belated Birthday! ❤️

Expand full comment

Thanks, Ethan! It's calmed down a bit and it seems like most of the trees are still standing. :)

Expand full comment

Love that you shared this!!!

I like to be reminded that this is a time for hibernation, I don’t have to be “ON”

Expand full comment

Thanks, Nancy! I love your profile pic! :) The bears are onto something. 🐻 xo

Expand full comment