Time for Someone Else

In the blaze of life, such as it is, I had forgotten all about the blog give-away of which I was to be on the receiving end. I had forgotten until the mail came today. There amid the junk and the bills was an envelope of a different kind. Hand addressed with a happiness that is so rare these days. An envelope that resonated on a whole different frequency from the rest of the pile. I opened it up and this is what I saw:

I received a 350 Thank You card from the leslie n. crews collection. This is no ordinary card of gratitude. This card is created of handmade paper - 100% recycled paper! And not even ordinary trash paper (like the kind that came in my mail today), but these are made of old undergrad term papers. How cool is that? You can learn more about this inspired artist at the links above, but also at her Blog as well. Give her a visit and leave her some love, will you and help me make a little more time for someone else.

Ashe. Ashe.

Rice Ale & Garden Peas

The Rice Ale, my latest brewing experiment, was ready for bottling today. So nine bottles were primed, filled and capped and sent to the ale cellar to work their magic in private.

The first "real" harvest of peas was realized from the garden today. To honor this botanical event the little green pearls were gently steamed until bright and tender, and served with butter. Just butter.

Life is sweet.

So Good Doodles

When I was a teen I would sit with sketch pad and pens and paints and create for hours. In my twenties I continued within the parameters of young adulthood. In my thirties I abandoned such activities - not entirely, but for the most part - in favor of practical matters. Now, in this final year of my forties I resurrect it and it feels so good. So good.

Doodles!

I made doodles.

Making up for lost time, I guess.

And The Boy made an old cap new again. 

Peace with Pink

Today I woke and made coffee and time for my journal before firing up this electronic oracle and discovering so many responses to yesterday's Win a Whimsy. I made time to chuckle as I delighted in the comments. So, right now, in this moment, I make a gesture of gratitude to you, kind reader, for making the time to play!

I spoke with a friend of mine, a Master Gardener, who is also experiencing below par rhubarb harvests this year, which - for me - means less Rhubarb wine and mead this season. I've typically harvested 60-70 pounds and this year only 10-15 pounds. I managed to make a harvest of another 5 pounds. Slim pickings, but I'm still grateful.

With one of my 5 pound batches, I started of batch of wine. Oh, the drama . . . the drama . . .

Before the early-evening rains of summer tumbled from the sky I made peace with pink.

That's what I made today.

Play Win a Whimsy Wednesday!

Here it is, the first Wednesday in July and - that's right - we're still playing Win a Whimsy! My original intention was to limit this give-away-game to June, but . . . it has been such fun for me and I am - at heart, it seems - a hedonist. But, aren't we all?

So this week I'm giving away one of my Mandala Meditation cards, one fitting to the season.

It's a note card with one of my drawings rooted in sphere, in spiral, in circle, in mandala.

I've been making these OOAK cards for several years now and in my desire to "Doodle-a-Day" I am continuing my Mandala Meditations.

Congratulations fookaDESIGNS!!! You're this week's Win a Whimsy Winner!

Now. let's all visit her to wish her well!

Caraway Kraut & Melissa Ale v.2

I sliced up the small cabbage, mixed it with a bit of sea salt and a generous toss of caraway seed and allowed it rest together so that they could all take their time to get to know one another. Then I gave them a nice massage.

I pressed the party into a jar and already the juice is rising. By tomorrow I'll be able to weight it under its own juices and set it aside for a couple of weeks. That's all it will likely need in this July heat.

Then I'll have a nice batch of fresh caraway sauerkraut. A small batch, but nice.

The lemon balm needed pruning, so some was dried, some was frozen (more on that later) and the rest went into a second one-gallon batch of Melissa Ale, version two. Version two, because I kept to my first "recipe" except that I added the juice of one lime, rather than lemon which went into the first batch. I hope it will be good. I've never had Melissa ale. But of all my brew-trials, I've not been disappointed--yet!

I love pitching the yeast! This is where I sing and cheer them all on, ever so gently--at first, so that they wake in a good mood and ready to party!

Then, when they're awake I give them stir to make sure they're circulating and mingling before their party begins in the their little carboy. Then we rock!

So yeah. Kraut and Ale. That's what I made today.

Thanks & Honor ... Arte y pico

Thank you so very much Nature Manipulated for presenting me with the Arte y Pico Award. This award, originally started by Esey, was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, be it writing or artwork in all medias. And, I must add, to receive an award such as this from a peer and associate makes it an especially special honor. :)

So, kind readers, I invite you to visit each of the five blogs I've listed below and – if inspired – leave them an inspired comment of your own!

To be listed is considered a “special honor.” The Arte y Pico Award is meant to be paid forward to bloggers who are deserving of it. Nature Manipulated has presented me with the award and I would now like to present the award to the following five blogs.

writers and witches, and words...oh my! at http://anniekelleher.blogspot.com/

ArtShapedWorld at http://artshapedworld.blogspot.com/

Spirithelpers at http://miztlee.blogspot.com/

Kittyism is. at http://kittyism-kittyismis.blogspot.com/

Time with Tascha at http://timewithtascha.blogspot.com/

If you have been selected for the award, please pay it forward, following the steps below:

1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.

2) Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.

3) Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.

4) The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the "Arte y pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.


5) Please post these rules!

The Arte y Pico blog is in Spanish. To read it in English, click here. The translation is not perfect.