#but obviously mood swings and irregular mood means.... positive too

[marmorenshud]

wanna cry bc I have borderline

[snowdog49]

Saving Mr. Mustang

ROYAI Week 2019

Day 4: Pinned (And picture prompt?)

Rating: General Audience

He’d been gone quite a while. That was the first clue. The young apprentice that her father had taken in was not normally late. Considering that he was the only one to make it past a month of her father’s mood swings and compulsions, she expected more from him. Her brown eyes looked at the heavy grandfather clock. He’d taken the shortcut. She knew because she watched him scurry into the woods with his knapsack and list. Maybe he got lost coming back? She heard her father grumbling from the hallway, so she got up and moved into the kitchen, trying to avoid his wrath. He had been in a particularly sour mood lately, and it was best for anyone to avoid him.

But Riza had grown fond of the young boy. He was older than her but was much gentler than the past boys that had come and gone. He paid attention to her, bringing her a flower, or maybe a candy from the store when he was sent out for whatever her father requested. It was nothing anything significantly special. At first, she thought of it more as a bribe for her positive outlook on him. But she didn’t care for that. She looked past his gifts and onto his habits. ONe significant habit was that the kid was always punctual. Riza’s little fingers scratched her arm nervously as she wondered where he was. She certainly didn’t want another punk to replace him because of a simple mistake. The way her father had been the past few days, she was sure that it would come to that. She’d have to go find him before her father noticed he was late.

Riza wasn’t allowed out of the house without a good reason. Even at 10, she was kept inside with her own studies. Her tutor wasn’t going to come for a few hours, and that left her with a small window to save Mr. Mustang if she could find him. The scrawny boy had probably tripped and sprained his ankle, she thought, annoyed that it’d have to be her to find him. She certainly couldn’t plainly tell her father she was going to rescue the kid that he favored over herself. That’d end well for both of them. She could hear it now. “That failure of an apprentice is worthless.” Her father would exclaim. “When will I ever have a competent person around here?” Riza sighed.

“I might as well try,” she grumbled. “At least we both shall fail together.” She grabbed her jacket and her small rifle. “Father, I’m going out. I’m going to try to get a game bird for dinner.”

She heard a loud mumble from the hallway.

Riza silently mocked his mumbled back at him and turned to leave. She stomped down the trail, glaring at the woods she trekked towards. Her fist tightened around the sling that held the gun over her shoulder. “You better be okay,” she grumbled.

The trail was even, worn from the travels of her and other children through the woods. Game trails, deer, rabbits, and hogs, created side trails like spider webs intertwining between the thick brush and trees. Riza did not consider Mr. Mustang was stupid enough to think a game trail would lead him to the Mercantile and quicker, however, he was rather book smart and not… life smart. He seemed naive at times; like things would eventually get better under her father’s apprenticeship. It wouldn’t. It was only going to get harder.

Coming to a fork in the trail, she stopped to listen, quieting her agitated thoughts. Somewhere in the deep dark parts of herself, she hoped that she’d find him crying. Then she could finally be the one telling him to grow up instead of vice versa. The wind swayed the trees while they moaned. The leaves chattered around her from the bushes. A woodpecker tapped away in his short spurts into a dead hollow tree, and a squirrel chattered madly on the other end of the trail. Riza closed her eyes, listening for any irregularities in the woodland song. Nothing. “I bet he’s still at the store flirting it up with Mr. Culpepper’s daughter,” she muttered angrily. “If he is, I’m leaving him there.”

Her steps were soft, nearly silent as she walked down the trail. There were a couple open areas that she passed, hoping to find him sleeping. He wasn’t there. He was going to make her look more like a fool when he beat her home and asked her why she’d ever go looking for him. “I’ll shoot him in the foot,” she snorted. Just as she puffed out her cheeks, imagining him teasing her, she heard a dog barking. There were a few dogs in the area. Most of the ranchers and farmers had a dog or two. Every so often, she’d come across one that had wandered into the forest, probably chasing a rabbit, but they always returned home. She was about to ignore it and continue when she heard another sound.

“Stupid mutt!”

“Yup,” she sighed. That was him. His scratchy high pitched voice was recognizable in her sleep. She looked down to see little paw prints in the soft dirt, smudged shoe tracks from Mr. Mustang running. “What did you do now?” She followed a game trail over a little knoll which he had shimmied up a tree for safety. The dog stood at the base of the tree, jumping up, lifting its front paws just an inch or two from the ground as it barked. The dog did look a bit angry, but not rabid. If she would guess, it was probably that new dog that the Murphy Ranch took in. It always did seem odd. It chased cars which was the stupidest thing she’d ever seen. However, it looked pretty harmless to her. Mr. Mustang, on the other hand, the alchemic prodigy, was pinned up in a tree, calling the dog names. She didn’t even feel she needed to save him, he could just carve a fancy circle into the tree and save himself.

“Riza,” he called out as he saw her. “Run! The dog is trying to get me!”

Riza raised her eyebrows. Run? It was a barking dog. It wasn’t even worth dropping the rifle from her shoulder. She sighed as she started walking towards the tree.

“No!” He continued. “It’s going to hurt you!” He waved his hand at her, urging her to save herself. Of course, he would. As much as her father made her life difficult, Mr. Mustang would not make it out of her home alive it anything was to happen to her.

The dog turned to see its new target, growling at her, barking a few times. Riza would have none of it. She stomped right up to the dog. “No!” She yelled pointing her finger at it.

The dog barked louder at her, lunging at her in a false charge.

Riza didn’t move. She stood her ground, staring the dog down. “No!” The 10-year-old girl stepped forward. “Go home!”

The dog stopped barking and tilted its head to the side.

“I mean it now! Go on!”

The dog growled a bit more before Riza extended her arm and gave the dog’s nose a good whack.

“Holy shit,” she heard Mr. Mustang exclaim.

The dog shook its head before turning tail and heading home rather quickly.

She turned to see the young man jump from a lower branch, looking at her with complete amazement. “How… How did you do that?” He stuttered as he brushed his shirt off absentmindedly.

“You just have to tell the dog who’s boss,” she replied simply in her cold and even voice as if it was nothing and common knowledge.

“I…I…” He blinked at her, still surprised that she had just sent the dog away like that. “But you didn’t say anything to the dog!”

“I told him I was boss.” She turned and started walking away as if her actions meant nothing. “Come on before Father finds out you’re gone too long. You know how impatient he is.”

Roy shook his head, still in disbelief of his rescuer. “You came to find me?”

“I won’t make it a habit either.”

He caught up to her and they followed the same well-defined path back home.

“What did you do anyway?”

Roy tilted his head.

“To anger the dog,” she continued, becoming more annoyed.

“Nothing,” he quickly replied. “Well…”

They both stopped. The sun filtered through the branches, and the cool hair played with her bangs.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of jerky. “I remembered that when we went shopping last week, you wanted one, but Master told you no. So I picked you up one.”

She blinked. He’d brought her back suckers and little candies. However, a slice of jerky was a bit more expensive. It was still a kind gesture; kind and generous. “It wanted the jerky?”

He shrugged. “And I swatted at it. When it nipped at my leg, I threw a rock at it.” He sighed, handing the dried meat to her. “It obviously didn’t like that.”

She looked at the dark brown dried slice of beef. She started to tear off a piece and gave it to him. “You probably need some after running so far.”

He blushed as he took it, sticking it in his mouth to chew on it. “Thank you,” he mumbled.

“Why didn’t you just draw a circle into the tree?”

“I…uh…” He lifted his hand behind his head with a sheepish grin. “I lost my knife in the run,” he admitted.

“You’re going to be in trouble,” Riza rolled her eyes. “This will be a sight to see. No fancy chalk, no knife… Looks like you are pretty useless without your magic tricks.”

He laughed as he started walking down the trail. “Ah, I don’t need any magic when I have you watching my back.” His strides were long, stiff-legged, as he puffed out his chest in a physical boast. The jerky between his teeth with a wide grin as he looked back at her.

“Mr. Mustang, you are going to need a whole army watching your back when you get older.” She pulled the rifle up on her shoulder more comfortably, and followed behind him

[mellowsheepconnoisseur]

Do you want to improve the lighting outside your home? If you’re looking for landscape lighting ideas, we’ve got an inspirational guide here!

How many times do you walk away from your home and admire your landscaping?

Maybe you’ve gone to great lengths to invest in some amazing trees or add some impressive architectural features. You might even have created a garden complete with winding paths and a pond in your backyard. We already know that professional landscaping adds tremendous value to your home. So why not show it off at night too?

Draw attention to your home’s architectural features and highlight unique plants and trees at night with landscape lighting.

But after all, where and when to use lighting in landscaping?

There is stressful lighting, which bothers and dazzles. This usually happens when we have too much light directed towards its focal point in space. Of course, you don’t want your backyard to look like a football stadium. So how do you decide what to leave in the dark and what to light?

First, you need to identify what you like most about your backyard. Maybe it’s some uniquely shaped trees, the pool, a small lake with a waterfall, a work of art, etc.

Next, consider the areas that don’t stand out so much during the day. For example, a simple stone wall can become a special attraction at night when illuminated to accentuate shadows.

Finally, think about the role. If you have stairs or paths to travel at night, they will need lighting to ensure the safety of residents and guests.

And that goes without saying – but your entrance should always be well lit. This not only allows for secure entry into your home; it also makes your home more attractive.

Fortunately, there are many different types of lights that professional landscapers use in their projects for greater effect and impact. Here are a few:

·         General Lighting Fixtures

Obviously, you want to create a safe route for your family and guests at night. However, don’t forget about architectural features along the way. Path and area lights are used to highlight architectural details, providing illumination on dark paths, steps or stairs.

Specific types of lighting fixtures such as spotlights, light strings and some types of poles can also be used to light entertainment spaces such as outdoor kitchens or decks.

Landscape lighting professionals recommend robust fixtures made from corrosion-resistant materials, such as those with powder-coated finishes that resist the elements. LED path lights are also highly suggested as they keep costs low with reduced energy consumption and don’t heat up like more traditional path lights.

·         LED Skewer

This type of luminaire is one of the most common, widely used in landscaping lighting in many homes.

It can be used to enhance the contour of small trees, usually up to 4 meters high. Another use of this type of luminaire is to highlight specific parts of the house’s architecture, such as fountains and statues. It can also be used in larger quantities to make indirect lighting when reflecting on vegetation with lateral closure, for example.

There are different types of skewers with different strengths. However, always look for luminaires with an IP67 protection rating, which is resistant to submersion for up to 30 minutes.

·         Spotlights Or Reflectors

The distinction between a spotlight and a reflector comes down to the beam’s opening angle. As the name suggests, spotlights project a narrow, concentrated beam of light. They are easy to adjust and are used to highlight specific areas of interest, such as porch columns, eaves or architectural details.

Spotlights can create dramatic yet positive effects or convey a subtler mood through lighting and are perfect for illuminating specific objects or areas.

Reflectors, on the other hand, have a wider beam of up to 120 degrees to “wash” light into an area. They tend to be more functional and provide security for areas such as sidewalks and parking lots. They are generally sensitive to movement and turn off when no longer needed.

·         Sausages

If you’re looking for drama and atmosphere in your landscape lighting, ground lights increase the visibility of features in your yard. Using the vertical effect of ground light can illuminate an entire tree or large structure in your yard.

At the same time, this form of lighting can be used to highlight less obvious features that can easily go unnoticed. Mixing ground light with spotlights can add an extra dramatic effect – though it works well on its own.

One of the advantages of recessed floor lights is that you don’t have to think about what the real light will look like in your backyard – it’s below ground.

·         LED Strips

LED strips are the latest on the market. These are durable, water-resistant fittings (resistant doesn’t mean submersible, ok?!) ​​that can be easily concealed in items such as handrails, outdoor kitchen counters, bench seats, pillars and window ledges.

If your yard is heavy, professional landscape lighting designers often suggest the grazing method. This involves placing the light near a flat surface and then pointing the light straight up or down to create a dramatic effect with shadows.

The idea is to take advantage of the textures of architectural details. So if your yard has lots of regular or irregular patterns, you’re in luck.

·        Beacons

If you have winding paths, your best choice is beacons for lighting. These are ideal for illuminating sidewalks and long stretches of space that get lost in the dark.

Lighting projects that include beacons are crucial. To avoid the airplane runway effect, many designers place light fixtures on either side of the driveway or driveway in a swinging pattern. This creates a nice effect too.

·         Submersible Luminaires

Submerged lights are essentially searchlights intended for underwater operation.

These fixtures can be completely submerged in water to highlight specific outdoor water features such as swimming pools, lakes, fountains, waterfalls, rock formations or aquatic plants.

When installing submersible lighting systems, professionals can recommend LED lights with low energy consumption. They are more robust than traditional tungsten lamps, offering a comparable level of energy at a fraction of the wattage.

Light Your Landscape! Make the most of your investment. Show off your backyard day and night with landscape lighting.

If you need professional assistance, contact team Done Right. Done Right is a specialized company known for installing and maintaining landscape lighting all around Florida. If you wish to know more about them, visit their website.

[sherristockman]

Drug-Free Ways to Help Balance Female Hormones Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Essential oils have been used for millennia to treat a myriad of health concerns. Given their potency, versatility and effectiveness, it comes as no surprise that essential oils can be useful in helping you balance your hormones. Many women have been successful in applying essential oils topically to alleviate premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual cramping and other symptoms. Some enjoy essential oils aromatically by diffusing them into the air, while others combine them with Epsom salts for a therapeutic bath. Evidence continues to emerge suggesting essential oils can play a beneficial role during menopause. This is certainly a topic relevant to many of my readers and may be worthy of consideration. Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy Although you may think of menopause as a season of life, it is medically defined as marking the cessation of a woman's menstrual period for 12 months. Menopause signals that your ovaries are producing less estrogen and you no longer have the ability to become pregnant. While some arrive at this stage earlier or later, the typical range for menopause is 45 to 55 years of age. The average age is 51, but most women experience this "change of life" at an age similar to that of their mothers.1 Previously, women going through menopause had limited options for managing the wide range of signs and symptoms that accompany it. One of the primary treatments — hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — has been linked to some forms of cancer. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI), which involved a landmark study of 160,000 postmenopausal women, showed that hormone therapy involving estrogen and progestin may not be suitable for all women. In fact, for women who had not had a hysterectomy, HRT dramatically increased their risk of breast cancer, dementia and strokes. Signs and Symptoms of Menopause If you have already reached menopause, you are likely familiar with many of the common signs and symptoms that accompany it.2,3,4 Keep in mind some of the following concerns may also arise during perimenopause, the transitional phase leading up to menopause, which may last as long as 8 to 10 years. ✓ Bone loss and brittle bones ✓ Libido impacts, particularly a decreased interest in sex ✓ Sleep changes, including insomnia ✓ Hair changes, including texture or thickness, or increased body or facial hair ✓ Mood changes, including anxiety, depression and irritability ✓ Vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse ✓ Hot flashes ✓ Muscle loss ✓ Voice changes ✓ Irregular periods during perimenopause ✓ Night sweats ✓ Weight gain, particularly around the waist Beyond HRT, doctors will often propose treatment or medications to target specific symptoms that arise before and during menopause. Rather than attempting to treat a collection of individual symptoms, I recommend you devise a treatment plan that addresses menopause as a whole — not bone loss, hot flashes or the like individually. Fortunately, though I am told menopause symptoms can be annoying, with proper treatment, they generally should not diminish your overall quality of life. That said, some women may experience horrifically debilitating symptoms before and during menopause. If that is you, please consult a physician before undertaking any form of treatment, especially prior to experimenting with alternative remedies. Conventional Treatments Versus Essential Oils If you are among the growing segment of women who feel uncomfortable with the idea of using conventional HRT to treat menopause or perimenopause symptoms, especially given the outcome of the WHI studies, you may want to consider essential oils. While more studies are necessary to validate their efficacy, essential oils may be useful to help you manage certain menopause-related symptoms. Obviously, each woman's body is unique and will respond differently to any form of treatment, including oils. For optimal results, I recommend you work with your doctor and other holistic health practitioners to find the remedies that will best address your concerns. With proper medical supervision, essential oils may be the missing ingredient your body wants and needs. Essential oils could provide you with the "best of both worlds" by helping to relieve some, or all, of the nagging and bothersome symptoms of menopause, thereby avoiding potentially harmful, conventional treatments. For certain, the risks of adverse outcomes are significantly reduced when using natural substances like essential oils. Essential Oils Believed to Have Positive Effects on Menopause Below are some of the essential oils believed to have the ability to ameliorate menopause symptoms.5,6,7 As you begin to work with these oils, I advise you begin with a small dose of an individual oil and proceed cautiously to higher doses and additional oils. Ideally, work with a qualified medical professional or essential-oils practitioner who has experience with hormone balancing. ✓ Clary Sage: Known to alleviate PMS pain, relieve hot flashes, soothe stressful feelings and improve hormone balance ✓ Geranium: Has been shown to help balance hormones and improve mood, as well as promote menstrual cycle regularity during perimenopause; also thought to have antianxiety and antidepressant effects ✓ Lavender: Long known to promote relaxation and sleep; now thought to aid in balancing hormones, easing cramps, soothing stress and alleviating menopause-related headaches, heart palpitations and hot flashes ✓ Pine: Believed to help reduce bone loss and protect against osteoporosis ✓ Rose: Proposed as a strengthener of the uterus, which may result in improved mood and a reduction in hot flashes ✓ Vitex agnus-castus: Also known as chasteberry and Abraham's balm; long professed to help with irregular menstrual periods and mood swings You may want to use these oils aromatically by diffusing them into the air, which will enable you to realize their many benefits without the potential safety risks of applying them topically or internally. Essential oil diffusers are readily available online or from your local natural health store. It has been shown that combining three to four drops of clary sage and an equal amount of lavender in a diffuser is a wonderful way to relieve PMS symptoms.8 Many women find it beneficial to incorporate essential oils into massage, which can be timed to support your body's needs around your menstrual cycle. When using them for massage, it's best to dilute essential oils into a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. While peppermint oil is not specifically recommended for menopause, it has been shown to have a positive effect on headaches.9 If you suffer from headaches during your monthly cycle, you can apply peppermint oil directly to your forehead by hand or with a roll-on applicator. Essential Oil Blends That Help Soothe PMS Wellness Mama shares several recipes for essential oil blends designed to promote a sense of well-being around your monthly menstrual cycle by adding them to a soaking bath or massage oil.10 PMS Bath Blend: Mix 3 drops of clary sage, 2 drops of chamomile, 2 drops of geranium and 2 drops of lavender essential oils into 1/4 cup (85 grams) Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) before adding to the bath; soak in the water for as long as you desire PMS Hormonal Balance Blend: Mix 2 drops of clary sage, 1 drop of geranium and 1 drop of ylang ylang essential oil into 1/4 cup of Epsom salt; soak in the water for as long as you desire Menstrual Massage Blend: Mix 6 drops of lavender, 3 drops of clary sage and 3 drops of rose essential oil into 4 teaspoons of a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil. Use this blend as a massage oil to rub on your abdomen, back or all over your body Risks and Cautions Related to Using Essential Oils It almost goes without saying that simply because essential oils are natural, does not mean they're safe for you in every instance. Formulations, dosing and quality vary widely. Avoid taking essential oils orally, even if you're convinced they're high quality. Essential oils are exceptionally potent and may cause mouth, esophagus or stomach irritation. Other more serious consequences may also occur. Some oils can irritate your skin, even in small doses. For that reason, it's best to treat essential oils like any other medication by taking the following precautions:11,12 Adhere to the dilution instructions provided by the manufacturer and avoid using more than the recommended dose Contact your local poison control center if you accidentally use too much or believe you are having a negative reaction to an oil Perform a patch test on a small area of your skin prior to using essential oils for massage and other applications Introduce only one essential oil at a time until you know which ones your body can handle, otherwise, if you have an allergic reaction, it will be difficult to determine which oil caused it If you already know you are allergic to the plant from which an essential oil is derived, it is safe to assume you may also be allergic to the oil; therefore, you should avoid it If you are pregnant or nursing, be sure to consult your doctor or essential-oils practitioner prior to using oils. Some essential oils have been known to cause cramping and uterine contractions during pregnancy.13 Other Ways to Naturally Balance Your Health and Hormones As I have often suggested, whether you realize it or not, your lifestyle choices have a tremendous impact on your overall sense of health and vitality. What you eat, how much you exercise and the quality of your sleep will have an effect, positive or negative, on your hormones. Besides using essential oils, women who wish to avoid HRT may also want to consider the following lifestyle remedies:14,15,16 ✓ Adopt stress-management techniques such as controlled breathing, meditation, prayer and yoga ✓ Avoid processed foods, which often contain chemicals and toxic additives that may interfere with your body's ability to regulate hormones ✓ Eat a healthy, balanced diet centered on whole foods, including organic vegetables and fruits, grass fed dairy and meat, and high-quality healthy fats ✓ Get regular exercise and make sure your program includes a variety of activities, such as core training, high-intensity cardio, peak fitness, stretching and weight training; avoid prolonged periods of sitting and remain upright and active as much as possible during non-exercise hours ✓ Limit your caffeine and sugar intake ✓ Maintain a healthy weight ✓ Quit smoking ✓ Reduce your intake of processed vegetable oils, some of which are genetically engineered, and balance your intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fats ✓ Sleep according to your body's age-related sleep needs As mentioned above, it is vital you consume plenty of high-quality, unprocessed fats as part of your daily eating program. To learn more about this, please see my latest book "Fat for Fuel." I would also emphasize the importance of optimizing your vitamin D levels. Omega-3 Fats Are Vital to Women's Health As mentioned above, omega-3 fats are an important part of the equation if you want to naturally balance your hormones. A study published in the Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey17 underscores the importance of omega-3 fats to women's health. Some of the potential benefits of omega-3s researchers cited include: Facilitate chances of pregnancy in infertile women Lower the risk of premature birth Increase the length of pregnancy and baby's birth weight Support the development of the baby's brain Help stabilize triglyceride levels, which often increase during hormone therapy The study authors also noted:18 "There is also some evidence that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids might help to prevent preeclampsia, postpartum depression, menopausal problems, postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer." I have spoken often about the importance of choosing a high-quality, animal source for your omega-3 fats, such as anchovies, sardines or wild-caught Alaskan salmon. If those are not options for you, you might consider supplementing with a high-quality fish oil supplement or krill oil, which is my personal favorite. The Benefits of Bioidentical Hormones To avoid leaving you with the impression that all hormone therapy is bad, it's important to note that many women have found relief from menopause and perimenopause symptoms through bioidentical hormones. Because bioidentical hormones are readily available through a compounding pharmacist (a doctor's prescription is required), I recommend avoiding all synthetic and animal estrogens for hormone replacement. Three types of estrogens are commonly used in bioidentical HRT: estradiol, estriol and estrone. A commonly-prescribed formulation known as Tri-est includes 80 percent estriol with 10 percent each of estradiol and estrone. Estriol is considered the safest of the three and is the most commonly prescribed. It has been used safely for decades, and I believe it's particularly useful if you've had a hysterectomy. I also recommend using natural progesterone in lieu of synthetic progestins. There's reason to believe synthetic progestins are responsible for many, if not most, of the detrimental side effects of hormone therapy. Natural progesterone is made from a substance called diosgenin, which is commonly extracted from wild yams or soybeans. Even though it may be extracted from soy, it is a highly-purified hormone that contains absolutely no remnants of problematic soy substances. Whether you choose essential oils, diet and lifestyle changes or natural hormones — or a combination of all three — I hope you will recognize you have many healthy options available to support you before and during menopause.