First the good news, or is the confirmation of my insanity?   I've been suckered into accepting the position of Clinic Director, in addition to rehabber and trainer, at the wildlife rehab group I work for.  So while I thought I was home free with rehab this winter ... not so much.  But it is all good and I have big plans for additional training and teamwork stuff.

And now the plea - PLEASE don't send in a permit request to keep eagle or falcon feathers or some part of a protected species because you are pretty sure you were native American in a past life!  Gods people!  US Fish & Wildlife and the state environment offices are not about to buy that, nor can they assume that it is for real and simply hand out permits to everyone that says that!  They are charged with protecting our native species and I know that you would mean no harm but you cannot imagine the horrible things we have seen.  People will do frightening things to wildlife in the name of religion, finance, and "need".  Hell, they'll even do well-intended but scary things believing that they are somehow helping.  Please keep your rational mind in gear.  The feds don't need any more reasons to come down on us!

I just added a new page to my website on home education www.kristinmadden.com/Homeschooling.html   It is part blog, part resources and it should be just as useful to parents that don't homeschool as it is to those of us that do.  What is posted will just depend on what we are doing at the time. 

 Right now, our big focus is the Bill of Rights.  Do you know what is in there?  Do you know what your rights really are and how certain pieces of legislation may very well affect you?  We are certainly finding a whole lot to talk about and explore - and learning a ton in the process.

Enjoy!

Kristin

Many of you may already know about this but I thought I should bring it up,  just in case.  I would certainly like more information on this but it does seem to be a choice to exclude Mrs. Stewart, particularly since his parents were invited and other widows were as well.  This is from Circle Sanctuary (cut a bit for space)

Circle Times: Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Please send healing support to Roberta Stewart. Please pass this press release below on to others. Thanks!

Wiccan War Hero's Widow Excluded From President Bush's Meeting With Veterans' Families.  Rev. Barry Lynn Demands Presidential Apology

On Tuesday, August 28, following an address to the American Legion's national convention in Reno, Nevada, President George W. Bush met with northern Nevada family members of soldiers who have perished in combat.  Roberta Stewart, a Wiccan whose husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was killed in combat in the war in Afghanistan, was not invited.   In 2006, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) sued theUS Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in federal court representing Roberta Stewart; her church, Circle Sanctuary; and others. AU argued that the VA's refusal to recognize the pentacle as a symbol of faith violated the religious liberty rights of Wiccan service members and their familiesand subverted the separation of church and state.  Earlier this year, the VA settled the lawsuit andfinally added the pentacle to its list of religious symbols thatare permitted on the gravestones it issues to honor deceased veterans.

See also these other reports released August 29, 2007:

Las Vegas Review Journal: Wiccan Practitioner's Widow not invited to Bush meeting  http://www.lvrj.com/news/9441071.html

KTVN Television: Wiccan Widow Says Wasn't Invited to Meet Pres. Bush  http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=7000560

Americans United Protests Presidential Snub of Wiccan War Widow:  http://www.au.org/

So apparently Pagan men and women are good enough to send to war and die for their country but not worth honoring in life or in death.  Someone needs to review the Bill of Rights with the current administration (and their supporters) - and remind them that we are All The People!

I was just invited to speak at the Seventh International Conference on Shamanism in January 2009! Check out the site at www.bizspirit.com/shamanism/sh_index.html

YAY

 

 
If you've ever heard me talk about our birds, or have ever had the joy of meeting my wonderful husband, you've heard his silly stories of being dive bombed by the birds that live here. Well, I suppose screech owls do have that mean streak, especially after dark. And Poppa roadrunner does get pretty territorial during breeding season. And the hawks have been known to ... well, anyway, they're just silly stories!

So last week, an education raven spent a few days with us since I had a raven program to do and her "mom" was out of town. What a sweetheart she is! She sat and happily chowed on strawberries at the birthday lunch for my dad and husband. But when she first came out of her carrier, she decided to take a short flight - and she happened to head straight for my husband's head! Landed right next to him. Of course, I think she was just saying hello but he now has another story about a bird attack. Sheesh! Next thing we know, he'll be insisting that the hummingbird tried to mug him!