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Handmade Gifts

Today through Tuesday I offer you free shipping on all purchases that are destined for the U.S. and Canada. Just use coupon code "CYBERMONDAY" at checkout at my ArtFire Studio or my Zibbet Shop.

While you're visiting, be sure to check out all the other wonderful handmade, vintage items and supplies at ArtFire and Zibbet too!

A Wish for You

May abundance be yours today … and every day.

Peace.

A Universal Observation

It's the little things.

Peace.

Carrot Goodness

There really weren't enough carrots to do a heavy mulch for winter harvesting, so yesterday I dug up the last of the garden carrots. Today I washed them and some were grated into salad, some roasted, some simmered and a few were simply nibbled. Some will be pureed to go in to tonight's polenta sauce, with garden sage and freshly grated nutmeg. Some will hit the freezer. And some will sit in the refrigerator crisper until they are summoned.

That's what I made today. Peace.

Horseradish, Carefully

Yesterday The Boy dug up some of the horseradish from the garden.

I trimmed off the greens and washed the roots - outdoors. I don't know about you, but I don't want all that sandy soil going down my drain. Better for it to return to garden in a direct way.

Today brought the cleaned roots into the kitchen and scraped the skin and any imbedded earth from the small-to-moderate sized roots. I love the aroma at this point, it is decidedly horseradish, warm and stimulating, but not biting. Not yet. I chopped the roots into even-sized pieces, placed the pieces into the food processor and chopped them up a bit. Then I added some apple cider vinegar and sea salt (I eyeball it) and let it whirl again, until it was quite fine, because that's the way I like it.

I carefully removed the lid and carefully transferred it to a canning jar and carefully capped the jar with a plastic lid.

Carefully, because the aroma at this point will knock your socks off and send your sinuses into orbit. A plastic lid, because a metal one will corrode from the vinegar.

That's what I made today. Peace.

Pumpkin Custard

Today I roasted one of my pumpkins, pureed the delicious pulp, froze two fat quarts …

… and made pumpkin custard, which I served with a little coconut milk, since some was left over from the ::gasp:: recipe.

Yes, contrary to usual mode, I (mostly) followed a recipe to make this, an adaptation of my old herbal friend, Cindy Baker's recipe from her book, The Get Real Cookbook.

Pumpkin Custard

2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin

1 cup water

6 egg yokes

1 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup sugar

2-3 cups of pumpkin puree (I don't measure, I eyeball)

cinnamon

ginger

clove

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and allow to sit and dissolve while you … in a sauce pan, whisk the egg yokes into the coconut milk over medium heat, add the sugar and continue whisking until thick. Blend in the pumpkin puree, remove from heat and add the gelatin water and spices (to taste) and blend well. Pour into individual servers, or into a pie plate (for a crustless, pie), or into anything you like. Refrigerate until firm. Serve in anyway in which you are inspired. Makes 8-10 servings … or less.

That's what I made today. Peace.

Sencha Tea

Lately I've been more human doing than human being. So today I set intention to pause at mid-day, much my like Nono used to do, to make a cup of green tea, to sit quietly and to be. It was downright joyful!

Then the busy-ness commenced. That's what I made today. Peace.

An Artful Reproduction

I've been so darned busy this past week and I see no end in sight. Well, I do, but not until we get much closer to winter. I'm not complaining. I actually enjoy being busy, and it makes downtime that much sweeter and luxuriant. Among the many things I've made over the past few days, I resurrected the image of an old favored Artist Trading Card by having lovely giclee reproductions made on nice watercolor paper. Needless to say it's called "overjoyed" and I'll be overjoyed when I make some of that downtime!

You can find these prints and other handmade goodies at my ArtFire Studio and at my Zibbet Studio. Peace.

Dona nobis pacem

Last November, for BlogBlast for Peace, I offered a simple reflection of how I see and acknowledge ☮Peace☮ everywhere. I know this to be true no matter the circumstance, no matter the challenge, peace is everywhere, for peace is a "peace" of that from which we are made.

I do my best to apply compassion in all that I experience, meager and mighty. I may not always be as successful or as graceful as I might like, but I am willing to act from a place of love and to do my best to see it, honor it, be it, and express it to the world.

Be it in memory.

Be it in the gardens.

Be it in "work."

Be it in "hobby."

Be it in relationships.

Be it in collaborations.

Be it in life.

Be it in death.

Be it in rite.

Be it in creation.

Dream it. Do it. Make it manifest.

Peace. ☮

My 1st BlogBlast for Peace Sighting of 2010!

Gemma's ~~~~ "Greyscale Territory" ~~~~ Poetic Songlines: BlogBlast for Peace ~ I Began Blogging for Peace in 2008

Peace.

Headway on a Fresh Project

Today I made headway with a fresh project - like I need another one. A couple years back I made myself small embellished notebooks à la mixed-media, the kind of notebooks that you toss in your purse or pocket and always have to jot down ideas, ToDos and ToGets … you know - notes! I have only one left, after I use up the one that's in my purse that is.

Over the past few weeks more than a few folks noticed it and commented how much they liked it and one asked me why I don't offer them for sale in my shops. It was a fair question - made me wonder. So, if I'm happy with the way any of these turn out they may just show up at my Zibbet shop or ArtFire studio … we shall see.

So along with some braising greens still from the garden, that's what I made today. Peace.