Google+ What I Made Today: June 2012

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Food for our Heart Flames


Oh, how busy our lives can get. Am I right? I've been busy on many fronts these past … several days. The gardens are set now for the "growing" season and I only have succession seeding and harvests to which to tend. Only.

I've been busy, too, with creating … and recreating. My art has transformed these past few months into a form of rich and valuable exploration. I have to thank Effy Wild for playing such a key role in this transformation. My artwork has always been "good" Medicine for me, an avenue to self expression that has served and benefited me since childhood. Yet, something has shifted during my stint in Effy's Premium Book of Days program, a program of art journaling.

One BoD exercise involved exploring my Gifts. What are they? How do they make manifest in my life? How do I share them with the world? And if I'm unable to share them, they're not Gifts, are they?

So I started by giving mySelf a Gift. A Gift of delayed obligatory travel. This resulted in 6+ days that I was able to refocus and recommit to me, to my world, and what I truly value within it. It has been a gift that has revealed Obvious Secrets to me, the kinds of Secrets that are known in the mind, but not integrated into the whole and holy. Know what I mean?

These Obvious Secrets are assimilating now, integrating with my being, with my place in the world.

As I sat with my Gifts, I regarded all the things "on my plate," all those things on my ToDo lists, and I saw those tasks with fresh eyes, with vision more clear than I can recall. I look forward to more clarity.

One of the tasks on my June ToDo list jumped out as a Gift, even with the challenge of disjoints that it  offers to my core values. For, indeed, it is a "Good" work, offered from a place of compassion, a place that feeds my Heart Flame.

That Gift is "Create for the Kids," a fundraising event for St Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event is this Saturday, and folks from all over will be offering hours of creative expression, in any form, with intention for the children of St. Jude. I am committing 10 hours to creating and I invite you sponsor these efforts by making a donation of compassion, anytime this week, to "Create for the Kids."

It will, in turn, feed your Heart Flame.

When you make your donation, in any amount, $1, $10, $100, for every bit helps, return here and leave a comment to let me know. You'll be entered in a drawing to win an item of your choice from my ArtFire shop. The winner will be selected on Monday, June 25th.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."
~ Flora Edwards

Peace.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Rhubarb Preserves


Today I made my way into the gardens. I planted more. I harvested more. Some of my harvest was more rhubarb, and I made some rhubarb preserves. I added organic, dried rosehips and orange peel and am pretty happy with how it came out.

And I have a surprise for you. I actually measured and noted what I did, so here's as close to a recipe I can offer:

Rhubarb Preserves 

16 c rhubarb, chopped
1/2 c dried rose hips
1/4 c dried orange peel
4 c cane sugar

Combine in a pan and bring to boil. Simmer until soft. Pack into half-pint/pint jars. Seal. Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes. Let cool. Check the seal. And, enjoy, of course!

I also managed my final preparations for the lecture I'm offering at tomorrow's Connecticut HerbFest Country Fair. I'll be there all day tomorrow, so if you're in the area, stop by, introduce yourself (even if we know each other, it'll be fun!)  and join the merriment of HerbFest!

Sunday I plan to plant a little more and relax with some arting, getting back to my Book of Days and other artful projects I've got going. So … I'll see you then!

Peace.