Gypsy Trader

Journeys

2017-06-25T08:58:00.001-07:00

Sunday, 25 June 2017

Warm night, cool clear quiet morning, promise of still heat for the day.

An exercise in patience as my app keeps shutting down while I write.

I've not had my shop for over two months now. My time slows. I heal. I push. I surrender.

I struggle with this collection of belongings that provide an income but also weigh me down.

A truth in itself and metaphor for the rest.

Spiral Dance

2016-08-03T04:42:00.001-07:00

My dreams have returned.

My morning cup of coffee tastes perfect in its balance of roasty darkness.

I can hear the plants speaking to me again.

My clients are reconnecting with me.

My world is far from perfect but the universe has shifted, released the pressure, lifted the lid, whatever.

I am grateful.

Leap 2016

2016-02-29T07:13:00.001-08:00

My sleep patterns align with the seasonal darkness.

It rains, pours, showers, hails, gusts, gales, it rains.

The oceans tides are high and fierce. Jewels lie bare, sea-drift shores.

The moss covered winter trees lean heavy to the side, soil is mud, hold on great friend, go deep.

The little sprouts peek out, daffodils wave in the wet winds, chickweed and dandelion live strong.

My back aches, old chair, soft bed, indoor lighting.

Accounting for my past year to strangers of authority is an annoyance.

I was fooling myself again. Trust lost. Lessons learned, relearned.

Gratitude is for bliss-ninnies, Respect is my thing.

Quiet feeds my creative spirit.

Nature feeds my creative spirit.

Travel feeds my creative spirit.

Work feeds my creative spirit.

2016

2016-01-02T14:14:00.001-08:00

Cold and sunny in southwest Washington state.

After working in the gypsy shop non-stop through all the holydaze I decided to take a week or so off.

Note to self, if you want to go to the desert for the winter, just do it. Never mind how, just pack and go.

I'm feeling anxious about having to return to work, I don't feel rested.

My creativity has returned. Missed her.

So I return to work for two solid weeks then I have another chance at escaping the cold, wet, unpredictable PNW.

Change is in the air.

P.S. For all you folks who want to move to Portland cuz it might be cool, let me save you some time and money. It sucks. The traffic is horrible, always. The rents are raising so quickly that generations of Portlanders are fleeing the city, ( they are what made Portland what it was, it leaves with them ). Do you really want to be the person who joined the wave that displaced all those people?

Cocoon 2015

2015-03-18T07:52:00.001-07:00

Warm friendly winter, early spring brings much needed rains.

I spend my days tending the vintage boutique, repairing garments, pricing collectables, treasure hunting in tiny towns, bookstores, garages, second hand shops, downsizing donations.

I love to save things from the trash ..... shine, fix, mend ..... and send them on their way to a new life.

Kind of like finding the beauty and nourishment in a weed that most would poison rather than eat.

I save a few treasures for me. Fabrics, books, muses, they get passed on eventually, because a gypsy travels light ..... and we are forever growing and changing, yes?.

February 2015 Washington coastline.

A walk through the woods to find this at the end of the trail.

More muses ....

Books read and reading.

February Snows

2014-02-09T08:01:00.001-08:00

Domestic dog and clepto cat have been marooned under human roof for days. Days of white stuff falling and accumulating, days of so cold it's hard to breathe, days of bickering over who gets more attention, food, water, playtime, nap time ..... It's still out there now, shoulder high to a black lab. Winter wonderland, crispy fluff, branches crack under the snows weight, buried solar lights and rosemary bushes, signs of raccoon and deer.

Travel van is warm and cozy at her favorite mechanic shop, getting her spring checkup.

This weather reminds me my dream of a winter desert rat existence is not such a bad idea.

I've been doing laundry, mending clothes, tagging and pricing merchandise for the shop, FOR DAYS .

King Cole has no gypsy soul and that's alright by me .....

2013-03-11T07:28:00.001-07:00

It's time for me to admit it. My black lab is no gypsy.
He hates to travel. He hates to camp. He hates my driving.

He does love the beach.

The vet gave us some pills to calm his travel nerves and what I got for my effort was a stoned dog fighting off the drugs looking at me with that " I don't feel so good" look.

We cut our beach trip short.
After spending the night with an 87 lb unhappy comatose dog piled on top of us we called it quits. He was crammed in a tiny van, drugged and feeling like a doggie without a safe place and really just wanted to go home and see his gramma.

So, my dog is no gypsy, he's happy at home with his scheduled walks, morning biscuits from gramma, warm giant bed, toy box, bones box, the kitchen where the good smells come from, his trees and grass he marks as his own.
He'd prefer the world doesn't move on wheels.
He'd like it if the beach was closer.
The waves are fun but you can't drink the water so it's not a big loss.
The Columbia River will do just fine.

It's not just an old wives tale ....

2013-01-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

pg 77

The gipsy's advice was this: ' Ah, my lady, just you make a tea on they yellow dandelions in the spring and summer. And drink half a cupful of it fasting for three mornings running, then stop for four mornings, and after that you takes it again. It'll clear away all yellowness from your skin and make your eyes bright. And why does it do all that? Why? because it clears all disorders out of they body. And there's something else as the dandelion will cure, and that be warts, though I 'llow them only does that in the summertime. But if so be as you've got warts in the summer, and come to that I wouldn't say as this wouldn't do in the late spring and early autumn, all you've got to do is gather a dandelion leaf or flower, because it don't matter which you uses, and just squeeze the broken stem. A drop of milky juice will come out. Touch the wart with that and leave it to dry on. That's all you've got to do. I don't say as you won't have to do that there two or three times, but it won't be long before the nasty wart turns black and then it'll fall off and leave nice clear skin where it used to be.'

Checking In January 2013

2013-01-22T19:48:00.001-08:00

I seem to be posting almost daily on Facebook. I'm so busy and my life is so full, I seem to never have the quiet time to sit down and think about a blogpost. I find myself getting back to my roots of what makes me happy and balancing the unusual busy-ness of my life. I have projects galore floating around in my crowded brain and I can't wait to make them real and share them with you all. My point being, if you're wondering what I'm up to or wish to check in to say hi or ask questions or chat herbs/tarot/crystals etc you will find me daily on Facebook. I know they are constantly changing and I hope they remain a reliable place for me to connect with you, so consider "like" ing the Gypsy Trader page for more frequent info, chats, festivals & events .
Be Well Gypsies!

Meg She Was A Gipsy ....

2013-01-14T18:30:00.001-08:00

Meg Merrilies by John Keats (1795 - 1821)

Old Meg she was a Gipsy,

And liv'd upon the Moors,

Her bed it was the brown heath turf,

Her house was out of doors.

Her apples were swart blackberries,

Her currents, pods o' broom;

Her wine was dew of the wild white rose,

Her book a churchyard tomb.

Her Brothers were the craggy hills,

Her Sisters larchen trees:

Alone with her great family,

She liv'd as she did please.

No breakfast had she many a morn,

No dinner many a noon,

And, 'stead of supper, she would stare

Full hard against the Moon.

But every morn, of woodbine fresh

She made her garlanding,

And, every night, the dark glen Yew

She wove, and she would sing.

And with her fingers, old and brown,

She plaited Mats o' Rushes,

And gave them to the Cottagers

She met among the Bushes.

Old Meg was brave as Margaret Queen*

And tall as Amazon;

An old red blanket cloak she wore,

A chip hat had she on.

God rest her aged bones somewhere!

She died full long agone!

SEE YOU AT THE FLEA

2013-01-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

Yay! I'm BACK!

So excited to get back out there and have some fun.

FLEA MARKET This Friday 9-3

AWPPW Hall
724 15th Ave.
Longview WA 98632

If you're in the neighborhood, stop on by!

WORRIED ABOUT THE FLU ?

2013-01-09T07:15:00.001-08:00

Take charge of your health. Protect yourself and your family. Read Susun Weed's article.

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November04/healingwise.htm

AN APPLE A DAY ....

2012-10-11T04:34:00.000-07:00

DEEP & OLD, FOSSILS & CAVES

2012-10-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

THIRTEEN INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS

2012-09-10T04:53:00.000-07:00

☀The messages of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, are timely in their admission. WOMEN...PLEASE READ EACH QUOTE THREE TIMES...Understand what we need to teach the children...from the "THIRTEEN INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS"...

“Women must ...wake up this great force they possess and bring the world back to peace and harmony.”

“Personal healing is the essential first step toward healing the world.”

“Women united in close circles can awaken the wisdom in each other’s hearts.”

☛Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim… Takelma Siletz (Oregon)

☛Grandmother Bernadette Rebienot… Omyene (Africa)

☛Grandmother Flordemayo… Mayan (Highlands of Central America/New Mexico)

☛Grandmother Margaret Behan… Arapaho/Cheyenne (Montana)

☛Grandmother Rita Ritka Blumenstein… Yupik (Artic Circle)

☛Grandmother Tsering Dolma Gyaltong… Tibetan Buddist (Tibet/Canada)

☛Grandmother Mona Policca… Hopi/Havasupai/Tewa (Arizona)

☛Grandmothers Rita and Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance … Oglala Lakota (South Dakota)

☛Grandmother Maria Alice Campos Freire… Santo Daime (Amazon Rain Forrest of Brazil)

☛Grandmother Clara Shinobu Iura… Santo Daime (Amazon Rain Forrest of Brazil)

☛Grandmother Aama Bombo… Tamang (Nepal)

☛Grandmother Julieta Casimiro… Mazatec (Mexico)

Please Share

Summer Storms on the Washington Coast

2012-08-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Cape Disappointment, Washington State

Kite Festival

Fall is already in the air, just as summer started to come out to play.

This has been another disappointing Pacific Northwest summer.

I've been squeezing in short camping trips in the new gypsy wagon while the weather holds

and I can get time off from my busy schedule.

Of course I camped at Cape Disappointment (will I ever learn?) and awoke to darkened skies and cooler temps. No worries, right? Just head into town for fresh roast coffee and see what the world has to offer.

KITES ! LOTS OF KITES !

Colorful kites in all sizes,.. hundreds .., amazing site to see over the grassy dunes. I feel better already!

A camp of homes on wheels to the right and vendor tents set up, selling their wares. Whahoo.

Wind, clouds, surf and what's that I feel, ..... raindrops.

Wait 5 minutes the weather will change (that's the motto here in the PNW).

Changed to more rain, larger drops, darker skies, stronger winds ..... it was time to move on from the magic of a sky filled with colorful kites.

I returned, soggy and chilled, to the campsite and listened to the storm gain strength.

Waves crashing on the rocks, winds roaring through the trees.

Me, warm and dry, hot soup and a good book.

Love my gypsyvan!

A New Mode of Travel

2012-07-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

Gypsy Van

My first little trip was to the ocean, of course ....

before me lay this

behind me, this ....

to my right, this .....

LIFE IS GOOD !

PLANT LOVE

2012-05-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Mugwort / Croneswort (artemesia vulgaris)

rugosa rose

mullein, california poppy, blueberry

volunteer bronze fennel, more california poppies, bamboo

A Change Will Do You Good

2012-05-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

YES, it's been awhile .... I know. So many times I've come here to chat, sat here at this keyboard and thought better of sharing. Things change, life goes on, troubled times and joy walk hand in hand, I don't need to tell you that. I'm ok .... I've joined the ranks of the working masses (for a while) ... I've gained a kindle, iphone and roku box to test my tech savvy. My creativity is stuffed in a 12 by 12 room, a floor to ceiling jumbled mess (much like my current state of mind). I miss spontaneity ... discovery ... I dislike the dramas of suburban life .... good thing we can always rely on change!

GOOD WINTER MY FRIENDS!

2011-12-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

May your bills always be paid,
May your hearth always be warm,
May your pantry always be full, and
May your heart always be at peace!

Good Winter!

No Shopping Christmas

2011-12-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

Summer's Bounty

2011-09-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh, the decadence!

To place an entire bowl of freshly picked tomatoes on the dinner table and eat every last one of them!

FLEA MARKET SAT SEPT 3rd 9-3

2011-09-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

AWPPW Hall

724 15th Ave

Longview, Washington

Sat. Sept. 3rd 9-3

Closing out ALL Summer Clothing & Much More

Super Deals

Don't miss this one!

SALE THIS SATURDAY

2011-08-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

SALE - THIS SAT - $5 Closeout price - 10 available

These are last seasons garden flags, designed and handmade by me.

They are made of all natural biodegradeable materials.

I fashioned them after the Tibetan Prayer Flag idea;

"Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all."

SATURDAY SEPT 3rd 9-3

AWPPW HALL Longview WA

WARM

2011-08-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's warm, warm, warm here! Charging my (human) batteries in the daily sun.
Woke up this morning to the sound of the well pump, still on after turning it on yesterday for 2 hours to water the thirsty plants. Little worried about that, dry well, hot pump ... what the ? The little air conditioner has been turning itself off the last 2 nights and the cable stays on even after I turn it off ..... hmm ... I'm gonna write it off as mercury retrograde finally ending and hope for the best.
Have you been out picking Blackberries yet ? They're big, ripe and sweet around here.
I've got Kombucha brewing in the kitchen and still trying to perfect the flavor.
Getting ready for the flea market on Sept 3rd.

And I'll leave you with this;