and then there was you

springs late, and so am i says miss faye

Gardening in the rain is great. Dang hard roots come out with soft earth ease. 

hopefully by monday i'll have the seeds all in and my inventory stocked. getting ready for market is much more than just product, i'm understanding. down to tracking miles and waiting around for backorders. not to mention replanting seeds that didn't grow, or sprouts the cat ate; and dissecting rocks from the garden.

so in comes steeping in spring II... anticipation, preparation, strength.

{strength}

^

will to "stay in one's integrity"

so in comes helichrysum: easy Helichrysum italicum. integrating bruising of the subtle body into a more usable medium for understanding. and isn't clear understanding breeding ground for strength? now isn't that a daisy.

reference: The Subtle Energies of Essential Oils, West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy E-Book

Laurel (Bay) Leaf; Laurus nobilis

From William Woodville, Medical Botany

When I tell people the ingredients of my body cream, I often get the response, "Hmm, bay leaf, I thought that was for cooking..." 

While it definitely is a common kitchen spice, it does also have vast medicinal and folk use. (So good news for you bay leaf-in-my-stew folks!)

Laurel Leaf is a heating carminative, stimulant, and expectorant. It has pungent taste. Its action aids in stoking agni, the digestive fire, and burning away heavy mucus that blocks tissue channels; specifically in assimilating nervous conditions, as vata (nerves, anxiety, movement) reigns over the small intestine, stomach, and colon. 

Laurel leaf is commonly used in combination with cardamon and cinnamon, creating a trio of aromatics, The Three Aromatics, using strengthened digestion to enhance the body's ability and sensitivity to react positively, with grace, to other subtle medicines.

In folklore, Laurel Leaf has been used to promote positivity and purification, especially regarding self-worth and self-appreciation.  

In short, laurel leaf is has a strong personality for helping people find peace of mind and peace within the body. It rallies for the self to heal, to get rid of its excesses, and to be ok with the result, and then, as with the baccaLAUReates, are commended for that high achievement.

Not to mention, laurel has a remarkable aroma! A true gift from the natural world. 

Resource: The Yoga of Herbs; Dr. Vasant Lad, and Dr. David Frawley

in the belly of the whale

after the long walk in the rain, she took out her umbrella. 

How Refreshing

to sit beneath a thousand hummingbirds.

                                                                   Mural by Kayla Olson

Split Pea Nettle Soup

Wild tide

boat's not swimmin

take me down

to march mallow town.

This soup is a yummy and nourishing soother. 

+One cup jasmine white rice

+two cups green split peas

+two celery stalks

+four garlic cloves

+1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

+1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

+one tablespoon dried nettle or bunch fresh nettle

+1/4 cup organic half and half 

+salt and pepper

Prep:

Make jasmine white rice; set aside.

Meanwhile, cook split peas in salted water (I use kosher salt).

When split peas are close to soft, add about 3 more cups of water. Bring to boil. Reduce to simmer. Add celery, garlic, cardamom, and nutmeg. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cooked rice, nettle, half and half, and salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving. 

True Spring

 

Tequila Raja

For low-down nights spent with the best of friends (including the furry ones) and toasting to the space in- between. 

Gather:

small mason jar of tequila

 1/4 orange peel

two vanilla beans

two cinnamon sticks

Cut open vanilla beans and scrape inside. Put into tequila. Infuse all other spices and orange peel in tequila overnight. 

The next night, Gather:

one can coconut milk (get the milk beneath the cream. The cream tends to lump up.)

maple syrup, to taste

carbonated mineral water

ice cubes

Strain spices out of tequilla. place ice cubes in each glass. Pour 1/2 of glass full of coconut milk. Add about a tablespoon of maple syrup into each glass. Pour a shot of infused tequila into each glass. Stir well. Top with mineral water.