A Decision to Play & PIF

I am playing along in a Craft Giveaway with my friend, the Wicked Step Mom and I invite you to join us.

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me, especially for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

• I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will.
• What I create will be just for you.
• They say I have a year to get it to you. But I promise it will NOT take that long!
• You have no clue what it's going to be. It’s a surprise to both of us at this point.

The catch? You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

Well ... what are you waiting for?

... And the Day Before And ...

What I've been making ... well, the infused calendula oil is making nice progress. I plan to make another batch of soap with - at least - some portion of it, for it is delightful! The gardens should dry up enough to harvest more flowers this afternoon.

I've also been infusing vinegars. I have several in the works, more to get started and jars of various varieties lining up nicely on the shelves.

I fermented some red beans and cooked them up yesterday with organic bay leaf, peppercorn and astragalus root and made a delectable batch of red beans and rice for supper last night.

I've been working on more of my latest "Impressions of Nature" ACEOs, playing with layers of Nature, words and paints. You can see more works in progress on Facebook if you like.

I've mentioned the chipmunks that have taken residence in my gardens and while they are cute they torment my Halley and can be a nuisance. So I made a little magic and called on the spirit of Fox and Hawk - whoever was available - to share a mutual benefit from the natural spirals of life. Well, it's a crappy photo taken through screen and window, but Hawk showed up, on the high post in a central spot in my vegetable garden. Dig it.

An Annual Commitment

Nose to Toe Love

Today I kissed my dog on her booboo nose. But I do that every day. But remember? The chicken coop nose injury? It's healing nicely. It was toenail clipping day and her one little curly nail got over-clipped, only a little, but she was overstimulating it with her medicine tongue so a little extra love was needed.

She's such a good patient. I love her so much.

And I made the time to list my four latest works of love.

 

 

That's what I made today.

Sprials

Today started as I spiraled into the kitchen to strained and cant a couple herbal vinegars. I also started a second maceration of a "fire cider" adaptation and made the first small batch of ground horseradish.

I spiraled into my dispensary for a final inventory check and to review the ToDo board in there.

I spiraled online to order some herbs and supplies, and also list three more new Figures of Love. 

A set of music inspired me to get out my poi socks and see if I could remember how to spin. I could. Barely. But it felt really good to move. Talk about spirals!

I spun into the garden for a quick harvest as I spiraled back into the kitchen to do some light cooking and preparations for supper.

I spiraled to my latest mixed-media ACEO works to check their curing progress. I spun some cleaning, tidying, organizing and even some procrastinating.

There was more ... but now ... I'm spiraling down ...

My Way Into the Garden & Out Again

I made my way into gardens today for a little clean-up and a little harvest.

Today's modest harvest included a few crookneck squash hiding at the bottom of the basket that I'll cook up tomorrow. The zephyr squash and green onion were all grilled for supper and a few tomatoes made the green salad extra special.

The first horseradish roots were dug and cleaned ...

... and will soon be macerating in a nice jar of apple cider vinegar.

I enjoyed the work, the bending, the sweating and the sunshine before I made my way out of the garden.

And my reward was a nice cold hibiscus tea in a fancy glass.

Little Time for Words

Wanderings

Today I wandered the woods and meadows with the dogs. Again. You see, I'm dog-n-chicken-sitting in the deeper - and higher - hills of my region. I don't have my usual connections for photos, so you'll just have to wait 'til I get back home for images.

When I first got here, I went to check on the chickens and Halley joined me. When she spotted them she set forth full-speed ahead, unaware of the wire fence and ::KaDaBoom!:: head first into the fence. She shook it off and ran around their run, only to discover one that had liberated herself. Thankfully, the soft-mouth of her half-lab kicked in as she attempted to retrieve. When I shouted "Drop!" she did and I was able to pick up the "liberated chick" and deposit her safely back into the run with her sisters. In any event, my mind keeps playing back Halley bounding into the fence and I just keep chuckling, wondering - as another has suggested - that her eyesight may be off a bit. Her sweet nose was scraped and it did swell that first night, but all is back to normal now and she's not quite as excitable around the hens. Thank the gods.

Today I wandered the meadows here on this hilltop with Halley, Dakota and Bear. We left the camera behind and simply gathered samplings of nature to press in the early pages of my Book of Mirrors. These will be used for ACEO and other artwork.

After the meadow hike we all wandered down the path into the woods to the pond, where we all cooled off a bit. On our way there I spotted several blooming plants at the woods edge and asked, "scullcap?" The plant said "no." On the way back, the plant taunted me as one that I "should" know. I was drawn to one and said aloud, "Not scullcap, eh?" and as I bent to take a closer look I asked, "then what?" and in a flash the plant responded and I knew ... lobelia inflata. I plucked a piece that the planted offered me and nibbled a flower and a few warm, peppery leaves and assured myself that if it is indeed lobelia, I would know by the time I returned to the house. And I did. For the plant voices were chattering all around me! I also looked it up. It was so good to experience this amazing plant ally again, for it doesn't grow on or around my little acre.

For supper I made an egg yoke sauce with garlic and fresh sweet basil, you know, like a Hollandaise-type-o-deal and poured it over some cooked orzo that was mixed with corn. When suppertime came. I popped it into the oven to heat through and then under the broiler to brown the top. This, served with a marinated four-squash salad and a cucumber salad and the rest of Gayle's melissa mead, made for a rich and delicious meal.

That's what I made today.

My way into the Woods

I was blessed - and cursed - with a morning hike. A blessing because this is something I love and haven't done much off these past couple of years, and something my body and spirit needs, and because I met some fine new folk in the bargain. A curse because I was up late the night before, sitting around a fire, sipping a bit more ale-n-wine-n-mead than was wise, leaving me dragging and dehydrated. It was hot this morning and hiking quickly became a challenge for me. I summoned the elements and found that air and earth and fire were quick to respond and that it was (surprise, surprise) water that was hiding from me. I did my best to work with what I had, occasionally chewing on a leaf of dandelion to kick up enough saliva to lick the salt from my lips.

The company I was with was gracious, hiking with no expectations outside of enjoying some time in woods and meadow and for that I was very grateful. I foolishly left my water bottle in my ride's car, but we shared some carried by another before one in our company split off to head home by another path. I sweated like I've not sweated in years. I climbed up one wee bit of rocky hillside which offered slick footing beneath the leaf cover. I quickly recalled the value of exposed roots and saplings, though I'm not as agile as I was. But who is?

We paused here and there along the way to take in some sweet vistas, visualize a little, and cool down in the shade. I had to ask to rest once, when we were mere yards to the entrance where we parked.

When I got home my water bottle was empty, my clothing drenched, my face remarkably flushed and I can't remember a shower that felt so good as the one that welcomed me home. The nap wasn't so bad either.

That's what I made today.

Kitchen Magic & Garden Love

Yesterday I made angel food cupcakes with a decadent bittersweet chocolate icing. I admit that they are not pretty, but they are really-really-really good and I plan to perfect this recipe. Even though this may be a "brown food" in "Eating the Angel Way," I am confident that the angels approve of this little sweetness!

I also started a small batch of sauerkraut. This will be one of several that I am making for my October 10 demonstration-n-lecture for the CT Herb Association.

I also made time to wander my gardens and continue the never-ending work that resides there. What a glorious place to work it is.

Now that I'm caught up on yesterday ... let me get manifesting my today!

Healing Blends & Harmonies

Yesterday dandelion was offered to a medicine bowl. This morning a pouch of "unknown" contents was added. It was a hops. A second mystery pouch was piled on. It contained sunflower petals and cedar tips. Then I reached for a flower essence and my hand returned with dandelion - not only do sense a theme, but this is an essence I often describe as premier in supporting healthy release of emotion from the body.

The next morning blend engaged garlic and brown sugar as I set off to adapt a recipe that caught my eye in the latest issue of Food & Wine. This was followed by curry powder, lime juice and fish oil. This odd - yet deliciously harmonic blend - has been macerating with cabbage all day and will join our pork dinner as a side dish.

The past three consecutive days have offered me a request for a tarot card reading, a follow-up to a custom tea blend, and a combined tea-n-tarot proposition. I pay attention to threes and so I've acted on one today, and will do the same with the others over the two days that lie ahead of me. I will also give extra attention to tarot and tea in my daily life.

Yesterday I foolishly acted on a prayer made from a place of frustration and today Spirit delivers an undeniable response - not in a form of my making - but in ... hers. I am grateful, so grateful, that I recognize it.

It has been a productive day of managing inventories, of continuing-n-completing started-tasks-n-acts, of cleaning, purging and organizing. A day of inviting harmony where dissonance once rang. Ashe. Ashe. Ashe.

Room for Bitterness

I'm generally among the first in line to say that bitters are very helpful with digestion. Well, I hope I'm right.

You see, certain aspects of life are getting pretty difficult for me to digest. Hey, I'm doing my best to nurture a positive attitude, despite the dark clouds around me. I've held these dark clouds at bay for some time and my strength, mighty though it may be, is wearing down. I'm fucking tired.

My life thus far has taught me so much and I am grateful for the challenges and feel that I generally greet them with grace and appreciation. So don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, my life is still quite charmed and I am grateful for all that I have and I do my best to leverage that - if not every day, then most days. And I'll tell ya, it irritates me to no end when I see others wallowing, whimpering, sulking or bitching and not bothering to leverage what's right in front of them.

Today I want to throw something ... pound something ... scream from the primordial root of my being.

These are bitters that will be added to my cauldron. I am confident that the resulting stew will be palatable to me ... others however may gag, whither and die. But that's not my problem, is it?

As an old friend of mine used to say, "... but I'm not bitter!" And we would laugh!

Dinner

Veggies, steamed and grilled. A little grilled ground sirloin. A nice ale. That's what I made today. You?

We'll See

Halley had a fine time in the woods at Forest Folk Pi getting muddy, swimming to clean off, running free, resting around the fire, welcoming attendees and chasing off marauders. Even so, despite the fabulous time, she too is glad to be home.

I'm still pulling the homefront together after being on the road and in the woods these past two weeks. Hut and gardens all need my attention and I'm unclear where to turn first. So let me get to that and I'll report back later.

In the meantime, if you want to see pics of Pi, you can view mine as well as those of other forest folk at my facebook. Peace.