F is for FoxGLOVE...

Dear Littler B,

Hi there again, in catch-up mode I am actually writing this letter (and hopefully the next 3) while a passenger on a several hour trip to see the only known Tennessee Tardis. Look that up now (TARDIS - see below for pics), you have the ability since it has been around in my time about 50 years so in your time it is roughly 25 years or so. This is going to be a great escape for you when you become my age.
It is a part of a television show that you will fall in love with. Your love for time-travel related anything will only increase exponentially as you become my age wishing I could return to the time when I was you.

In continuing with the vein of information I have been writing to you over the last week and a few days, we are keeping up with teaching you things you will need to know over the next couple of decades. Today, in keeping up with the additional #AtoZChallenge I have reached the letter F, so....

is for FoxGLOVE...

You will notice several times in this letter that “GLOVE” is typed in capital letters and there is a reason for that.

FoxGLOVE, or Digitalis Purpurea is a poisonous flower. It is one of the MOST poisonous plants so when you work with it USE GLOVES!!!!

Origins & Identification

While this plant is generally known to be native to European areas, (mostly Ireland, Scotland and England) it was brought over to the United States as an ornamental garden plant. Originally it was known to the Anglo-Saxons as Foxes Glofa (the glove of the fox) because the flowers look like the fingers of a glove. There are however many folk names for this plant such as dead man's bells, fairy fingers, fairy bells and many more.

While there are several variations, common versions in the US are the purple and white biennial versions which can grow anywhere from 5 to 8 feet tall. Red varieties however are perennial and reach about 3 feet tall.

Practical Uses of FoxGLOVE 

While this beautiful and unique flower can often be found in gardens across the country, it has long been known for its poisons extract digoxin which is similar to a steroid. The flowers bloom from the bottom up and the flowers at the bottom contain more toxin than those going up the plant.  All parts of this plant from seeds to flowers contain digoxin which, even in small amounts can be fatal. This is one of the best examples of the need for herbal supplements to be closely monitored and standardized. In incorrect measurements, you are a goner for sure.

It is ironic that this plant is not only lethal but also a life saver to someone with certain heart conditions. Digitalis can cause the heartbeat to increase. Digoxin is still extracted and synthesized pharmaceutically to use for certain heart medications. One of the most known medications that use this chemical is Lanoxin.

I'm just going to tell you now dear littler me, stick to having it as a pretty flower in the garden.

Metaphysical Uses of FoxGLOVE 

FoxGLOVE is known to have feminine energies, its planetary alignment is Venus and is associated with the element of Water and Isis or Hera. One of its biggest known magickal properties is protection. This is one of the main reasons it is planted near the home.

In the old days, Welsh women would boil the leaves and make a black die to draw a cross on the floor at the entrance of their homes to protect against evil doers coming into their homes. (If you do this, do not be around the steam or smoke without proper masks as even the fumes are toxic!!!)

As we are Irish, I will focus here on the aspect of FoxGLOVE's properties that I appreciate the most, the connection with the Fae and the Fairy Folk. This plant should be planted anywhere you wish to invite members of the Fae. Folklore in some parts of the world say that the "fox" portion of the name because these bell shaped flowers were a gift from the fair folk to the fox so that they could ring the bells to warn others of their kind when danger was near.

It is said that the dew collected from foxGLOVE to be used in ritual to commune with the fair folk and carrying foxglove leaves wrapped in cloth will ensure the fair folk are near and hear your requests. The leaves are said to be used to break a fae enchantment and involve burning however  You will have to do some research on this one because I am not quite sure how to use it correctly for that safely! 

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping 
than you can understand. - Yeats

I think at this point I've given you quite a bit to get you started. I hope it has been helpful, dear little one. I know how much of a soft spot you have in your heart for the fairy folk and are always looking for more and more ways to connect with them so now you know a few more!

Wisely knowing how wise I am not,

Bigger Little B.



PS. Just in case this helps you later on down the road, here is a photo of that TARDIS you are supposed to look up.

The Unexpected Holiday

Sometimes life throws the unexpected at you. Our anniversary getaway in a nutshell.

PLEASE HELP - WE HAVE 15 HOURS TO GO TO SAVE OUR HOME AND ARE STILL $500 SHORT.

Dear Littler B,

Instead of writing a letter to you today, I opted to make a video to show you some of the things to look forward to when you become me. What an exciting adventure that March of 2016 will become for you.

Our adventure took place in scenic downtown Nashville, TN otherwise known as Music City, USA.  Watch the video to learn a bit more about this whirlwind of a trip.

"Together, there is nothing we can't get through."





Please watch the video and share with everyone you can.   Enjoy and keep up the faith, hope, courage and strength. 

Counting our many blessings,

Bigger Little B

Please click here to Help Support Toby's Journey

Chicken Poop For The Soul

Dear Littler B,

I have snuck out of the hospital room after my patients finally wore thin enough to make me want to be bristly. Promise me in the years ahead of you from your time to when you become me that you will do everything and take every class you can to learn to have patients. (The birth of your oldest will bring you a long way, haha)  In his progress and healing, walking way from situations are the right course of action.

via GIPHY

Here are the facts of where we are to today, since I think the last letter may have come off as a pity party moment.  We have been fully immersed in a completely stacked daily schedule of therapy.  Multiple sessions in turn of physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

The Physical Therapy is helping him to learn to stand again without falling over, learn how to walk again, learn how to coordinate his thought with motion.  His left side is very weak unfortunately. That has been a struggle for him as he is a lefty. He has done exercises from learning to walk with a walker, throwing bean bags into a basketball net, using parallel bars to using a Wii to try to work on all of the issues misfiring in his "broken" head.


Wii was his favorite without doubt. You will learn what that is in many years but the best explanation is take your Atari, add full color picture (no more pixels) and motion control via a unit that looks like an exercise step (a "balance board" as a replacement for the joystick) and integrate that with the game via standing on the board. It has games like bowling, soccer, archery etc where the motions of your body will actually play the game through pressure points activated on the board. The guys of this time are all macho (no different than in your time) but they like the intense graphics of other game systems. The Wii will be your favorite because you actually feel like you are doing something with your whole body involved.

Speech Therapy has been focused around a couple of things as the stroke gave him trouble forming words. The location the stroke occurred usually takes away the ability to speak, however he has been lucky. He is only slurred as you have seen from previous posts.  She is also working with him on cognitive reasoning. That one has been a struggle. Your husband, though usually quiet is a very intelligent man who can figure any puzzle, riddle or test.  At the point of this letter, he is not that and it gets him frustrated. He is getting so much better though and will continue to improve with support, love and patience.

Another thing that his therapist is working on is appropriateness of speaking because unfortunately he seems to have lost the filter that is supposed to be in place between his brain and mouth to tell you "hey, maybe that wouldn't be a nice thing to say". He has been a little bit verbal with me and only a couple of the nurses at times in a way that the real Toby wouldn't.

He doesn't mean to be, but when he starts getting tired and confused he gets edgy. You will have to pay attention when you get to be me to notice those signs and walk away at those times so that he knows when he is being inappropriate or rude. ie. instead of being the old Toby saying "hey, could you get me a soda" or something like that he will say "It must be nice that you can walk down and get a soda, some people can't". That is his way of saying he wants one.  It's not all like that but nights are rough. Sometimes I think he does it to be funny though like teaching our favorite little munchkin to say "chicken poop" where ever he goes - then he blames it on his broken brain.

"Sometimes You Just Have To Say Chicken Poop"

I have to admit you will have a soft spot in your heart for his speech therapist. The whole therapy team is going to be absolutely amazing, as well as the nurses - however she is sassy and spunky in the particular flavor that resonates with you.

The last piece of therapy is Occupational Therapy. This is where they will work on things like teaching him to shower and shave and all of the personal things he has to relearn. This has been the easiest of the challenges here in the hospital (maybe not the shaving) because they have all the tools like a seat in the shower and wand for water. They are also the ones helping him deal with his eyes and the double vision as he no longer has control over his one eye. (as you saw from the video in my last letter).

There have been other forms of therapy as well that come via the non-medical folk. There is a wonderful woman named Kathy who brings her dog to visit those here in the hospital. He is absolutely missing our baby, so this lights him up to no end.

A couple of angels in the form of blogging colleagues put together a GoFundMe site to try to keep our house which has been a constant worry for him as he is not able to work, nor will he be for a long time if ever.  I love those girls so much! Heidi of WomanPulse & Miranda of JKLMNAdventures.

Aunt Sis made a quilt to bring down when Mom and Dad came to visit, and your oldest sister made a card and actually mailed it to the hospital.

Mom and Dad also came down from NY and that meant so much to him. His family is local but they are very different than our family. They are not close and as of yet have not visited. Try to keep him away from the subject if you can, it will be a hot button that messes with his b.p. Moving on in a Thumper moment...

Mom & Dad got Toby a hat to match Dads. He LOVED it so much! When he is very happy, his mind almost turns a switches on and he becomes almost childish giddy/happy. (like the video I shared with you in the Random Acts of Kindness letter)

I have to say dear young me, there are more good moments than there are bad. You can handle that even on a bad day, and you know it. You are strong and always find the sunny even in the darkest times.  Most of your life you will wonder what that gift is that you have....

You know, some people have the gift of voice, sports etc. You will always look for that one thing that you are good at, I think I have finally found it. You can find the good in any situation. Not that that will make as much money for you as Michael Jordan earns but it will make you a more pleasant person to be around most of the time, and you will become friends with some of the most amazing people because of it.  I don't regret a single moment, so neither will you.

What kept my ears and vocal chords busy during this letter