Little Bottles of Love

I spun more cords today. I did some doodling. I did some healing and some meditation. I threw some cards and I bottled some some ...

Life is sweet.

This & That & More

Today I made lists. I made time for healing. I made time with a friend. I made beef stew. I made time to watch/listen to Enron - Smartest Guys in the Room and Super Bowl XLII - NYG (Tomorrow I'll watch Super Bowl XXV Champions - NYG). I also spun some new Spirit Cords and have more pendants to spin tomorrow. 

That's what I made today.

A Label Draft

Today I made, among other things, a drawing that may become the label for my backyard flower essences. I still need to scan and crop and size it, and print a prototype to see if I like it and - perhaps more importantly, if the spirit of the plants approve. 

That's what I made today.

A Nice Dinner

And an appointment with a D.C.

That's what I made today.

Love with Numbers

Phase one of tax prep begins with the blessing of pressing deadlines ...

... and I see it as the sacred work that it is ...

... and I celebrate the day of sacred works with singing and dancing to the sensual voices, rhythm and music of R.I.S.E. (Rising Appalachia).

That's what I made today. Ahhhh . . . 

Peace. 

green peace

Today I made peace with my limitations.

You see, my lower back has been having a very heated conversation with me in a language I'm yet unable to fully understand. Granted, the attempt to convey only started last night and a dose of modest herbs and some reiki enabled me to create a position suitable for mostly-restful sleep. Even so, this morning the old girl was still mad as hell about something.

I did my best to sooth her in the morning hours with gentle yoga stretches, a very hot ritual healing shower, more herbs, and more reiki. These efforts helped me get through my Pamper class with minimal discomfort and for this I am grateful.

I was blessed with the opportunity to give reiki ... and any reiki practitioner knows that when you give, you also receive. I felt pretty good too! Until I tried to do ... something, I can't even remember what ... and the old girl roared. And I shared some fierce words with her as well!

At last, I thought, we're coming to common ground, a place where we can begin to create relationship and understand one another. "Not until you relax" I heard, and swiftly all my plans for the afternoon shifted. 

"Relax?" I replied. "Relax? You want Relax? OK, you'll get Relax!" So out came the big-green-guns in synergistic combinations and while my lower back is still quietly growling, I AM relaxing and making peace with what feels like limitations in the moment ... but what I know will be something of value when I emerge from this forced and heavily-(heavenly?)-green-medicated abyss.

In the meantime ... I dream of the warm, the loving, the healing and green memories of summer ... 

More Preparations

Today I made more preparations for tomorrow's Pamper workshop, as well as some items for a couple of clients ...

And I've got more still to make! Somehow friends fell to the bottom of the list. Tsk. Tsk. 

I made my blog background black again - we're still too deep in winter for all that light. And besides, I love the dark.

And don't forget to play Granny Annie's Super-Awesome Giveaway!

And join us at iPeace!

Peace.

A Call to Play!

Play Annie's Super-Awesome Giveaway!

Every time you leave her a comment between now and her 599th post, you'll earn an entry in her Super Awesome Giveaway ... a basket of 13 Essential Things to Survive a Long Cold Winter. Become a follower and earn another!

Final Touches

I made time for a healing breakfast with a friend this morning. I made time for sacred grocery shopping. I made some pamper items for Saturday's workshop. And I made the final touches on my Inauguration day visual meditation ...

Prints are available at my Etsy shop!

A Late Start

I had a bit of an eye-in this morning ... one sip too many of my celebratory Obamatinis being the catalyst. So today I make a late start and with an early dinner gathering with old friends at Abigail's Grille, it's likely I won't make much more by day's end. I will finish that drawing and post it tomorrow.

Peace.

Serendipitous Discoveries

If you've been following this foolish blog at all (bless your heart) you're likely aware that I've been sifting-n-sorting though all that fills the little room that I call my dispensary. In this room are shelves of bottles, and they're the least of my concern, at least as far as this particular sifting-n-sorting task goes. Also in this room are client and student files, current and not ... formula and recipe notes, both tried-n-true and not ... class and workshop notes, past and present ... books ... materials ... supplies ... and more.

I'll keep it brief. I was going through a file, when a string of serendipitous events occurred ... I found an old and useful Reiki/chakra chart that I used to use with clients, and I have such a client this Saturday - she called for that appointment earlier today ... I found old hand-written notes for a workshop series on Plant Spirit that I had done a few years back, and this week I have to write up my Plant Spirit workshop and bio for this year's HerbFest (I better take a look at those old notes before submitting anything!) ... I found a medicine pouch that held a very special maple pendulum that has been missing for quite some time ... and I found - are you ready? - my copy of Formulas of the Melissae and all my mead-making notes from 2005-2006!

Apparently the gift left for the Faeries the other day after my initial Discovery had a greater influence than I intended on those frisky little angels of the underworld - and on me.

I wonder what discovery I'll make tomorrow?

Upcycled Beginnings

I've been craving a new crochet project, but had no yarn. Then I thought, silly me! I have a boat-load of plastic bags that I claimed this past earth day, so I started two new projects. Here's one ...

I used up all the plarn I had prepared, so now I'll have to make more to continue. Not a problem - I'll be getting that boat-load of bags out tomorrow.

Time & Space

I was fighting off something today so I made time and space to rest ... sip tea ... take a long, hot decadent shower ... cheer on my immune system ... slurp some penicillin soup, watch a favored feel-good-get-better-kinda-movie, and to feel much better before feeling worse.

All in all, it was a pretty groovy day of self care.

How was your day?

PS  I love my immune system!

A Discovery

I made several discoveries today as I sifted and sorted through the Mess of my dispensary, but the one discovery that most delighted me was finding an old moleskine pocket notebook, titled, "Plant Spirit."

This little book contains scribbles of interactions with and guidance received from many of my rooted allies. These experiences were collected some four-five years ago during a pretty intense period of green journey work. I thought this little book was long gone, buried somewhere under layers of leaves in a nearby forest, somewhere within grasp and out of reach.

And I swear to you - it was. For as I opened it to that title page, I could catch the distinct scent of sweet earth and rotting leaf. It was a scent of pure gratitude.

I also made myself useful in helping The Boy install the "new" kitchen counter. See it here.

That's what I made today.

A Mess

I spent most of my day in my dispensary ...

This is what it looked like when a started ...

I don't dare show you what it looks like now! 

I have a lot of work ahead of me tomorrow.

Mermaid Goddess

I sat down with the idea to add a pink layer over the pale green of yesterday's mermaid goddess. The voices piped up and anyone who knows me at all, knows that I do what the voices tell me. Creation - of every kind - is a spiritual act, and so I honor the spiritual support that guides me, and I heed their counsel. So out came the art pens ...

I may still add that layer of pink over this. But they tell me to sit with it for the moment. And so I will.

I spun a new spirit cord with one of my impressions of Nature pendants and got it listed You-Know-Where. This one is wild carrot (better known as Queen Anne's Lace) with hemlock on the opposite site.

You can see more of it here.

That's what I made today.

Forward Motion

Today I made forward motion in a few arenas ... 

I made significant edits to my "old" Holistic/Herbal Pamper class notes and have more updates to complete before I teach it again on the 24th. I managed local errands and was blessed to cross paths with my friend Laura in the local health food store. I made a large batch of Aunt Mary's Sweet Geranium Spray and prepared six bottles for a very special order. I placed my first layer on my Mermaid Goddess, remember her? I'm using my gloss gel medium to layer lime green tissue paper. I may be doing some writing on her ... or I may collage printed words ... but I do Know that I have PINK tissue paper ready for an upcoming layer! 

And remember that zen-like-zone when I spun these page savers? I listed them today.

That's what I made today.

Green Goodness

I measured and ground herbs to make a fresh batch of my Cool it Down incense ...

I made some finishing touches to this sweet little Cinquefoil wall plaque. I'm looking forward to spring when I'll be able to start making these again ...

I made some "final" touches to my latest Suzi Blu Be.Divine. class project, my Green Triple Goddess shrine - and I thought I'd share it with you. I may add a bit more, but I'm letting it gestate for now ...

That's what I made today.

Time for Spirit

Today I made time for two significant readings ... one live and one long-distance. I also have a reading in process for myself. I plan to see it through tomorrow when I feel a bit more present. It's been a great week for readings.

I have floss organized to spin some Spirit Chokers for some recent orders. Like with my reading, I want to feel more present to spin those lovelies.

Unlike healing work, readings sometimes leave me feeling spacey. It's not a "bad" feeling, yet it is a "negative" feeling, if that makes any sense. It's as if some piece (or pieces) of me have receded and have gone MIA. It never ceases to amaze me. Usually a good meal, a good night's rest ::knock wood:: and simple prayer pulls me back in to where I feel whole and full again.

Does anyone else experience this?

Anyway, I have a homemade pizza in the oven now, my own sauce ... mozzarella ... pepperoni, and a green salad prepped. That should help ground me a bit. Now ... back to the ball game ...

A Day of Art

I made great progress on my Suzi Blu class project, yet that is for sharing with my Suzi Systers, when I finish it - well, this aspect of it, for I see this project as a two-sided task. Looks like tomorrow I'll put the finishing touches on it.

I worked on that page in my journal, but the warm light of evening makes for photos that don't please me. Alas, no pics for you today. 

Last night I watched a movie that inspired me to recall in some way every syster I've ever known in this life. I suppose I'm still at it. It inspired me to honor - yet again - the feminine divine and all that is strong and powerful, willful and unwavering, forceful and gentle, creative and destructive in every woman that I've known. Strangers in Good Company, a beautifully understated Canadian film released in 1990, is a little gem worthy of seeking out.

Ashe. Ashe.

Acts of Spirit

I was in a very good, zen-like zone for most of the day today. I managed some practical matters as if they were sacred works - and they are. I continued to make progress in my dispensary, slight though it was. I separated and sorted and measured cotton floss so that I might spin some new cords. I made several page-savers and one spirit cord. As soon as I have a day with natural light that I can work with, I'll be taking photos and listing these in my Etsy Shop. 

I made progress on the shrine/altar I'm making for my Suzi Blu class. My goddess figures got sanded and are now ready for priming.  I laid a second layer on that art journal page from yesterday and will apply at least one more layer before this day ends. 

I completed the whole package for my Aunt Mary's Sweet Geranium Spray, got a bottle in the mail to my mom and the listing up on my Etsy Shop. 

Lastly, allow me to remind you, just in case you're looking for it, that my blog give-away, Win a Whimsy Wednesday, is no longer a weekly event. I will still be hosting a give-away, and it will still be on a Wednesday, but it will be monthly ... on a random Wednesday of my choice. So - at least - check in on Wednesdays ... just in case!

Have a beautiful evening!

Progress ... I Think.

Today I made time with a friend. For the second day in a row  found myself sitting in friendship, sipping hot tea.

I made progress on a number of things. I think. Ya know? It was one of those kinds of days. Errands and shopping took over as a priority when I learned that snow and ice would likely consume the next couple of days. The progress on the kitchen renovation spurred some new chaos with displacement of the contents of the lower cabinets. I added some smoothing layers to those sweet little goddess figures that I'm making. And I started a new page in my art journal. 

I'm looking forward to building on this!

Soap

Well, actually yesterday I made soap. Two batches. 

Today  I cut them. Both batches are made with water infused with calendula and rose petals.On batch is a blend of infused calendula oil with coconut and castor oil, lard and is scented with essential oil of patchouli. The second batch is made with the same water and solid fat base, and infused violet leaf oil, and scented with essential oils of tangerine and lavender. I have a strong sense that I will be making much more violet leaf oil this coming growing season.

I'm still learning and the lessons delight!

Fingerless Gloves & Goddesses

The boy and I are cooperating and multi-tasking this evening. He's preparing the salad as I type and I will get the scallops with rice noodles ready once this is posted. And in between cocktails, dinner prep and online foolishness, I'm teaching him to crochet and what fun that is! 

Today I finished a quick and easy project, a fingerless glove, made from an unworn scarf I unraveled. I LOVE fingerless gloves and have been wearing them long before their current trendy popularity. Tomorrow I start the match to this one - as best as I am able. I rock-n-rolled the "pattern" to this one and my notes are sketchy at best, but - hey - I kept it super-simple and these are utility gloves to me, so perfection of pattern is hardly a concern.  As long as they keep my chubby little croning hands warm!

I made three goddess figures today and I'm already anxious for the next. One is specifically for a lesson in the Be.Devine. class that I'm taking, and the other two just followed. These are the sort of projects that awake me during my sleep and beg attention.  

Can you see why? These are just formed and drying and will be sculpted further tomorrow, after I make at least one batch of soap. Then they'll be ... painted, collaged, embellished, loved ... we shall see ...

That's what I made today,

Love

Enough said.

Meaning & Value & Tea, Oh My!

I made bean soup, a new year's day tradition that was never, in my opinion, fully integrated when I was growing up with it. I have taken it now and simmered the meaning that comes from this annual habit to extract the value that makes it a true tradition. To use what is too often defined as without value, to simmer and render richness of flavor and nutrition, to add beans of abundance and winter vegetables of plenty. To take virtually nothing and make something of it. Magick, this is ... kitchen magick ... and a fine way to start a collective fresh start with the world.

A while back I laid a foundation in my art journal which today I "finished" (a word of seemingly little meaning to me). I chuckle that I laid in the hearth upside-down and wonder what this goddess is trying to tell me. Does anyone recognize this particular hearthside fire?

I made a new hand-drawn label for my White Sage Liquid Smudge . The Sweet Grass is next. And I seem to be addicted to those Pages I removed to make the up-cycled art journal ... and these are only a few of the goddess images I've been doodling.

And warm, spicy tea for the pagan-folk that will be visiting my little hut in about an hour's time ... we'll be discussing Paradox. That's what I made today. Happy New Year!!!