Fermented Summer Squash, Dig it

Today I started a gallon batch of summer squash fermenting on the kitchen counter. Dig it.

I had four squash, on the larger side. I cut them, trimmed out the seedy bits, cut them into bite sized pieces, tossed them into a gallon gar with some pepper corns, mustard seed, celery seed (none of it measured) and covered them with a 3.6% brine (2 tablespoons sea salt to 1 quart of water). I had lined the bottom of the jar and then covered the top with horseradish leaves to add the tannins that support crispiness and that hold the squash bits submerged under the brine. I weigh it down with a jar filled with water and then cover it with a cotton dish cloth, just to keep un-wantables out. Dig it.

This batch should be ready for cold storage in 3 to 5 days, depending on the weather. And for munching too. Dig it.

These should come out akin to "half-sours," not too salty, ya know? And with the pickling spice flavors. You can make a stronger brine if you like them a bit saltier (3T sea salt to 1 quart water = 5.4% brine). Who knows, I may add some honey to them when I pack them in the smaller jars. We'll see. I'll keep ya posted.

Dig it.

Peace.

Sabbatikos

I honor "threes." I pay attention to patterns of three. When the third person asked what was going on with my blog because I'd not posted in so long, I thought I'd better pause to share where I Am.

April and May felt hectic to me. I felt pressure and rattling stress. I felt frazzled, tired and worn out. I sat with those feelings until I sunk to their roots. My roots. There, I looked up and saw that trimming was in order.

I cancelled planned travel and a few other activities, as well as tabled other projects I had ready for scheduling. I stayed tuned-in to those roots and continued gazing into my world, and began pruning life-foliage, my visible life. Know what I mean? And I've been witnessing and trimming ever since, recreating my upper world in a way that my roots can support.

It's true that this removes me from some aspects of life that I realize as valuable. It's not (necessarily) easy, simple or enjoyable. Yet, I acknowledge that even a life made manifest in the most intentional of ways can grow beyond what can be healthfully supported, no matter how charmed or blessed it may be. So even charms and blessings must be clipped, like this space I share with you here, among others, until the roots are tended, nourished and can carry the new-growth-to-come.

And it will.

That is all.

For now.

::wink::

Peace.

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.

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.

30 of 29 Faces and More

Today I got another 18 tomato plants in the earth, 18 cucumber plants too. I still have more tomatoes and tomatillos and peppers to get to, and more basil and parsley too. And onions and leeks. And still some seeds.

I did more preparation for the lecture I'm offering at this Saturday's HerbFest Country Fair, harvested a boatload of rhubarb and did some grocery shopping.

I inventoried my 29 Faces and realized I missed posting the little face at the top of this post, a tiny entry in a multi-day spread. The green-eye flower girl and the three (possibly unfinished) sisters from these past couple of days catch me up and actually surpass the 29 Faces in May commitment by one.

These faces filled up my Book of Days, titled, "Connections." So today I finished the cover for my next Book of Days art journal, and it pretty much continues the theme, only … different. Sorta.

The Boy has the next few days off, and we're sure to get a lot done, what with the magic of synergy and all. Saturday I'll be at Holcomb Farm in Granby, Connecticut celebrating and enjoying the HerbFest Country Fair. I sure to see some of you there! 

That's what I made today.

Peace.

Flowers, Butterfly and Face #25

Today, among a host of other garden tasks, I caught up on yesterday's intention of harvesting the sage flowers and giving my sage bush a nice May trim.

While I was photographing the basket of sage blossoms I spotted this lovely swallowtail butterfly fluttering and feeding. Like an angel, it is.

And I did get a batch of infused sage flower vinegar started. But take a look at that chive flower vinegar I started yesterday. How 'bout that color? Gorgeous, isn't it?

And I managed a quick sketch in my Book of Days to get another face created for 29 Faces in May. Four more to go!

That's what I made today. You?

Peace.

Chive Flower Vinegar and Face #24

Today I did something I haven't done for years. I can't remember the last time I used white distilled vinegar, other than for cleaning and weed maintenance, that is. I don't think I've used white vinegar for any culinary use in something like 20 years. But today I harvested the chive flowers, remembered the beautiful pink, fragrant and flavorful vinegar that I used to make in my first 10 years of organic gardening and thought, "What the heck." 

Infused vinegars are simple to make. Just fill a jar with a delicious or nutritious botanical, cover it with vinegar (I usually use apple cider), cap it, and let it macerate for several weeks, then strain, bottle, label and enjoy.

As I made the infusion I recalled friends, loved ones, old and new, and found myself organically offering love and gratitude to the process. I have some clear bottles in the ready, and they're sure to make a nice gift or two. I think I'll do the same with the sage flowers I'm about to harvest. Sage flower vinegar rocks a meat marinade or homemade barbecue sauce.

I made face number 24 for 29 Faces in May. She's in my BoD journal, offering the observation of the annual incessant whine of a neighbor's pool filter.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

Face Number 23

Today HerbFest was on my mind and in my heart, so I added an update on the Connecticut Herb Association blog, did some networking about the event, created some biz cards, and labels for my lecture take-away. I'll be continuing this theme tomorrow.

I made time and art in my Book of Days and created yet another Face for 29 Faces in May. I worked on other artful projects too.

Dinner is prepped, so now I think I'll head to the gardens before dinnertime creeps in and see about getting more plants into the earth, where they will be happy … and I will too.

Peace.