snowglobing

We snowglobed our version of Anthro's last week in between cooking and snacking and catching up. It was a good time, and doable for all ages, three and up.

Plus a few more the next day.

shake a leg moonday

Last week we again crafted and cooked and watched football. We talked and ate and toasted our blessings with heartfelt emotion.

Here is some of what still remains with a new season nearly upon us . . . 

Today is a waxing moonday in Aquarius. Airy Aquarius is associated with community, open conversation, imagination, movement, and control. That control part is something to observe -- even though we may be drawn toward the warmth and connection of community, we might not be in a place of wanting to give up control simply to do so. Like a breeze of wind, we may blow in and out, here and there, soft and hard.

Aquarius rules the legs -- conditions of the legs, as well as healing them, are at the forefront now. One of my first childhood memories is of my legs aching at night. To a lesser degree, this has continued throughout my life. I realize now that I probably needed more minerals, magnesium in particular. Drinking strong medicinal herbal infusions and using herbal vinegars help to raise my mineral intake making those leg aches less of an issue these days. Taking a magnesium supplement would help, too, I have no doubt. Interesting that varicose veins can be caused by lack of movement, both of the circulatory/digestive systems and actual physical movement -- more Aquarian aspects in play.

Yet even as the old still falls away, the buds of new life appear.

the last dark moon

Today is the last dark moon before Winter Solstice. Tomorrow on the new moon MST (where I live), new plans, projects, and ideas will be set into motion. On this dark moon though, I'm still letting go with my whole being -- of everything I can. I even wrote myself a pep talk this morning because it's crystal clear that the enjoyment of life is affected by what a person carries around day in and day out. And some serious shedding seems to be in order.

We will be eleven at the table tomorrow -- twelve if I count the new soul due to arrive any minute. We'll gather for a meal made by all of us and shared with love, in deepest gratitude. 

Happy weekending. xo

skeleton leaf

We're fast approaching that bare-bones time of year. I look outside and see beautiful skeletons everywhere -- vines, shrubs and trees -- trellises and fences -- even the patio furniture without cushions. 

Instead of making real skeleton leaves, I thought I'd stitch some. Linen on eco-dyed silk.

a year and a day moonday

They had an egg again this morning. A year and a day ago, I sat down in this exact spot and wrote about feeding the crows an egg for breakfast.  A year and a day is considered to be a significant amount of time, both legally and otherwise. After that length of time, something has been learned or established.  Now, after a year and a day has passed, is a fine time to reflect on this blogging journey so far and then think ahead.  So, we'll see what comes up.

Today is a waning moonday in airy Libra, the sign of balance, connection, creativity and beauty. You may find yourself wanting to join a group of friends for coffee, lunch or dinner -- although deciding when and where to meet is another thing, being Libra causes indecision as well! Around Libra's key aspects, what rises to the surface for me is that while I've learned quite a bit about allowing my creativity to emerge in the past year, even more so I've learned to allow more open connections with people. And maybe that's really about creating a kind of balance, the ebb and flow, giving and receiving.

Libra rules the hips, kidneys and bladder. The hips help us to balance and stabilize so that we can move forward. There are many approaches to strengthening the hips and this is a good time to pursue a healing pathway for them. I knew as soon as we'd entered the sign of Libra -- I still have an occasional aching from an old injury that flared up. And I woke up this morning thinking about seeing an acupuncturist for it and, heck, maybe I will.

The crows and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for coming by. xo

out of the dye-pot: reconstructed deconstructed avocado

After nearly three months in the compost pile, the reconstructed deconstructed avocado was once again deconstructed to reveal a gorgeous new silk organza scarf (the scarf photo is unedited).  It's been heat set with the iron, but not washed -- I don't know that it even needs to be. The only problem is it measures just 41" long and that's a touch short for a scarf. At least the way I'd want to tie it. Lesson learned. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas to extend the length? Short of making another avocado bundle, that is.

Happy weekending! xo

And here's the last of it...

Additional Note:  Lest you think I'm a total slacker --  for a minute there, I forgot this had been in the compost because it didn't look or even smell bad -- I washed it!



herbal ritual: echinacea tincture

Making echinacea tincture to ward off colds and flu is another one of my herbal rituals. I don't need to make it every year, only when our stock runs low. The last batch was made in 2008 and we're down to a few drops in the last jar of that batch. (A tincture will last indefinitely as long as it contains at least 25% alcohol.)

My method has evolved over the years. At this point, I tincture the whole plant of homegrown fresh echinacea purpurea and purchased dried echinacea angustifolia root separately and combine them later to make a super-potent echinacea tincture. The flowers, leaves, seeds and roots of fresh echinacea purpurea are all used, each tinctured at their own best time, and added to the mix. I use 100 proof, or 50% alcohol, vodka as my menstruum.

The healing energy of echinacea sinks into the roots in the fall so the beginning of the next batch has been made. The roots of several plants 2-3 years old have been dug up and brushed off, swished briefly in cool water, dried, and chopped. A jar was filled with the roots and then filled again with vodka, to be infused for at least six weeks. In the next few days, I'll also be starting a brew with dried echinacea angustifolia roots in a separate jar. In six weeks, the two will be combined and we'll be able to use the tincture as medicine. Next year, I'll tincture fresh flowers and leaves, seeds, etc. adding them to the mix as I go.

I find it's better to make as much as I can so that we're free to use it as generously as is needed. Say you pay $10 for a bottle of tincture -- first of all that's a lot of money, and second of all that's not very much tincture. Depending on the specific herb and dosage, the bottle could be used up in a few days. When people say that herbs don't help them, I often wonder if the problem was they simply didn't take enough because of the cost.

If you use echinacea tincture even once in a while, it is worth every penny and every minute to grow and make your own.