What I Made Today

Reflections & Refractions

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:13:00 +0000

This morning I woke a bit agitated. Anyone who has experienced this knows that if not promptly shaken off it can stick with you the whole day. So I fed my dog - the dog that woke me with her Granny Annie squeaky toy. While she ate I stepped outdoors into the brisk healing air of morning and regarded the quarter moon, the puffs of clearing clouds, the scant dusting of snow that fell as I slumbered. My eyes were drawn to the eyes of Nature ... eyes that regard me everyday from countless places ... but today they gazed at me from the native lumber wall of my deck. Eyes so close to home.

The eyes of Nature asked me to look around, to gain perspective, to find my balance and to seek and honor the message in that agitated awakening that I had experienced.

I returned to my little kitchen to break my fast with a bowl brown rice, shoyu and ground beef from a happy cow. In this simple nourishing morning meal I realized how blessed I am to have a freezer filled with countless cuts pasture fed beef and garden harvests ... even if my pantry is a bit bare this year. And then some.

I went back outdoors to offer a bit of cornmeal, tobacco and rose petals for the gift that quelled my angst, then returned indoors to begin tackling the chores that awaited me. With love and gratitude solid in my core.

Ashe. Ashe.

Roasted Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:51:00 +0000

... from a local farm, stuffed with homemade bread, garden leeks and sage, onion, pepper and carrot ... served with mashed potatoes, simmered carrots, gravy, horseradish-cranberry sauce and a spinach salad. Life is good. Ashe. Ashe.

A Morning for the First Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:38:00 +0000

I wandered my little acre in the quiet of this snow covered morning ... just taking it in.

Taking it all in.

All that has passed and will be again.

All that weighs me down and lifts me up.

All that sustains and nourishes me.

I took in the last of the baby leeks and some sage that will find its way into a beautiful farm-raised chicken that will be roasted later today. And there's still a little more in the gardens to sustain me for a while ... even as the snow falls. Peace.

My Way Back ...

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:12:00 +0000

I've been home for a few days now from my Thanksgiving travels and find myself struggling with really settling in at home.

Motivation is generally second nature to me ... not this week, it seems.

Yet I am grateful for my journal, for it is a tool that supports me through such necessary struggles.

Ashe. Ashe.

Tracks of Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:59:00 +0000

I'll be traveling over this Thanksgiving holiday, so it is that today I point myself westward and make tracks along the highways and byways. Blogging will not be on my agenda until I return. I will miss you and I truly hope that you have much to be grateful for in your life - today, tomorrow, and every day.

I thought I'd leave you with a few images to gaze upon, ponder and - hopefully - inspire.

Be well. Be grateful. Be joyous. Peace. Ashe. Ashe.

A Day for Football

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:05:00 +0000

Hey, what can I tell ya ... it's what I do on Sunday's in this "season."

Simple Preparations

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

I prepared an upcoming page in my journal, but not before blending a little discipline and friendship into the cauldron. Bills and paperwork were managed, more calendula-confetti rolls were made, and a vegetable rice soup was prepared. A couple of hours were shared over tea with spirited friend who came by to pick up some herbals and our conversation scattered everywhere while remaining remarkably grounded ... reminding us both of how All is connected. I sat outdoors to watch the sky fade into darkness as the crescent moon appeared to offer even more blessings to the day. That's what I made today.

MySelf Feel Good

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0000

My mother asked me for more of my herbal cream and since I'm visiting her next week I figured I'd better get on this task. So today I made a water infusion of organic calendula flowers (dried and fresh), pink rose petals and green tea leaves as a preparation to my luscious winter skin cream. I blended the oils of infused calendula, coconut, a bit of lanolin and castor oil, and bees wax.

The strained infusion was blended with the warm oils, and essential oils (of carrot seed and patchouli), and vitamin E were also added to the mix. The finished product was lovingly poured into jars where they cooled. They were capped, labeled and are now ready to nourish and protect my skin, and my mother's, as the drying winter season begins creeping in.

The best part to making this cream is taking a nice shower, then slathering my body with all that I can scrape out of the blender vessel. It feels so good. So very, very good. That's what I made today.

Herbals & Sustenance

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Today I started two (overdue) tinctures, both handy medicinals to possess during flu season. One of Eupatorium cannabinum, commonly called boneset and another of Sambucus nigra (fuctus), the european elder berry. I tried something a little different this go around with the elder berry. I simmered some berries first, allowed it to cool and then added it to the maceration jar with more dried berries and enough grain alcohol to compensate for the water to make about 40-50% alcohol ratio. I'm not sure what my peers will think of this method, but as I often say, "I just do what the voices tell me." Or as my friend Kate says, "what the Rice Crispies tell me." I have a good feeling about it.

I made a couple-few hundred capsules of glucosamine/MSM for my mom as well as some Salix alba (white willow bark) for a client. Capsule making is very Zen.

I harvested a little green onion, sage and calendula (yep! It's still blooming) to go into the roasted turban squash puree, which will be served as a pasta sauce. The pasta is about to be served with a nice green confetti salad topped with a homemade garlic-ginger-flax seed dressing and a few calendula petals (thus the confetti!). That's what I made today.

Tea-n-Art

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:30:00 +0000

That's what I made today.

Words, Doodles & Cocktails

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:06:00 +0000

... 'nough said.

A Dispensary Day

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Today was a Dispensary day. I made several balms for winter skin care from the oils I had infused this summer. I blended a fresh batch of wood cleaner-n-conditioner and actually polished some furniture. I pulled out my recipes for creams which I'll review and revise for a batch I plan to whip up in the next few days.

I'm facilitating an Essential Oil Basics workshop tomorrow and so made a final review of my notes, pulled together my demo items, browsed through some of my books, made copies of the handouts, all the while sipping tea - cup after cup after cup ...

That's what I made today.

Structure from Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:59:00 +0000

I invested most of my day in my dispensary. If you've visited this room lately you will know it has been as outta control as its even been. Granted, it is a work room and so is always in a state of flux from project to project, research to research, task to task, and on occasion it can really get out of control. Managing this room with the harmony it (and I) deserve is a thorny challenge in this physical realm of mine. Well, the realm of home and hearth.

So today I sorted and organized and cleaned. I created a sense of structure where chaos once ruled and restored that fluid sort of structure that serves me so well. Now that my workbench is cleared and cleaned I'm ready to start measuring, mixing, blending, and re-growing those thorny vines of work and love, and love and work.

A Spirited Harvest

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:18:00 +0000

There's still plenty of swiss chard and kale in the garden, and that pleases me. I'll be able to continue harvesting the kale even in the snow. I did pluck the final few carrots and more dandelion root. I left the last of the cabbages in place for today since the weather is still cooperating ... the leeks too. I'll get them another day. But most of the sedum is cut back now, along with the bee balm, mints, sweet peas, peonies, and a host of other plants. Mulch was spread and my little acre is starting to look ready for winter. But as I cut back what was left of the Artemisia vulgaris stand I salvaged a bit of new growth, a final late-season offering to dry and use ... when the spirit moves me.

Kitchen & Fiber Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:06:00 +0000

Today I made bread, pasta sauce, chicken soup. I jarred up the sauerkraut that is ready for cold storage. I pickled some cauliflower. I strained the calendula oil, not without incident, but we don't need to go there. I got some beans soaking so they may ferment over the next couple days. And I finished these two little crocheted bags and have a pale green one in the works.

That's what I made today.

☮Peace☮

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:56:00 +0000

No matter where you look ...

... there it is.

Acknowledge it. Honor it. Ingest it. Absorb it. Nurture it. Express it. Share it. Be it.

A Wee Pouch

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:29:00 +0000

For some wee cards.

Peaceful Creations

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Every November I revisit my relationship with Peace. Through writing and other artful expressions I explore its meaning as it relates to my life and the choices that make. I reflect on my own peaceful actions and choices as well as of those I share this life with. I ponder the ways that I might enhance its presence in my world and in the lives of others.

One thing seems certain, peace is born deep in the flames of the hearths of our hearts. If we don't nurture it there, we will not find, tend or create it elsewhere.

That's what I made today.

Peaceful Preparations

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Today I made preparations for BlogBlast for Peace. Hope you'll be joining us- - November 5th!

☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮

Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:04:00 +0000

Heads & Hands & Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Heads to be ... Hands to heal and light the way ... Heads to open, honor and to ponder ... Heads and hands to create our worlds ... and a Happy Happy Halloween!

A-ha! Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:04:00 +0000

Today I willed myself to learn to make these crocheted stars. To the seasoned crocheter, this is pretty remedial, but I've tried to make these several times over the years, following the written instructions in one of my needlework books. Reading those cryptic patterns is very challenging for me. Today I had one of those magical A-ha! moments that finally enabled me to understand and execute.

I love learning new things. Even when I have nothing particular in mind to which the lessons may apply.

I also made a yummy roasted vegetable soup from some garden harvests too.

That's what I made today.

Apple Starts

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Today I went apple picking with a new and rather wonderful friend. You know, those rare folk with whom you feel a subtle, yet undeniable connection. So I came home with apples. Many apples, and now have many apple-ish projects lined up for the days ahead. But today I made the first batch of brandied applesauce and started - what you see here in the photo - a batch of apple-cardamom brandy cordial.

That's what I made today.

Acts of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Yesterday and today I worked on some new little pieces of art and love. I enjoy the process of creating these Impressions of Nature so much - from wandering the wild places and collecting the trimmings and pressing them, to choosing the leaves and words that belong together, to mixing the colors and mediums, to working them into the layers of love that they will become.

That's what I made today.

Headway

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Today I tackled a number of tasks of the variety that hold little appeal for me. Today opted to be my day of responsibility, so I made a bit of ceremony to help put me in the frame of mind that I felt was needed to clear what I perceived as a hurdle. I prepped and smudged my workspace and invested several moments with my frame drum to further clear the space and ground my intention.

I took up my tools and commenced to catch up on things that had I let go a bit too long with a solid sense of satisfaction. I managed other impending deadlines with a grace that rather surprised me. I even got ahead on some work and planned my tasks for next Thursday and felt a cool sense of satisfaction wash over me - all before noon.

I recalled my corporate days when I prided myself in my capacity to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and assorted foolish tasks, pride that I wore like a badge of power. I found myself honoring that old badge with all its hard, razor-like edges, and also honoring the difference between then and now. Then I wore that badge most every day, now I need only risk the cuts of its adornment once a week.

The day was magnificent so I rewarded myself with hot cup of tea on the deck, under the warm October sun and felt a part of me open - a part that has been wriggling lately - to both release and take in a sense of Knowing that I had not felt in several months. The trees whispered to me, clearly. I felt an infinite points of connection. I grabbed my Tarot cards and flipped through them ... each one singing in a voice I have not heard in a while.

Something in this day of contrived balance offered headway in so many ways. And for this I am grateful. Ashe. Ashe.