Happy Holidays

In all kinds of weather, may your holidays and new year be bright!
This was last Sunday's Sunrise! It was a vortex like no other I've seen, Beautiful!
©Allisonians

NO GINKO TREE FOUND... :/

FELT A LITTLE LOW,
FOUND NO GINKO,
TREE OR SPRITE,
IN THE NIGHT;
IN THE DAY,
THE WINDS DO SAY,
YOU FIND YOUR BOUNTY,
EITHER WAY
©Allisonians

GINKO!!!!

There is a Ginko Tree by me. I got off of work today, first Saturday night off in a year and a half. Got home, and Helped the workers clean up their mess and there they all were, all blew down from some tree...Beautiful golden bounty! Have you ever seen a Ginko leaf? They are beautiful little golden fans. I am quite sure that is how fans design got started, if you asked me. I am going to go find it! Then investigate the processes/uses of Ginko. My new adventure begins! I will take pictures and send them along next time I am by a machine! I do have a new source for that two. Another new adventure! I am blessed, and hope to send blessings to you too! I hope you all find the answers within you that only you can find! Godspeed~ ©Allisonians

I am not able to paste to my blog and keep the formatting. This is such a dissapointment. I can only work in the HTML side of the data entry portion of the posting. The Compose side won't let me in the writing area. I will try to be on here more, but.... Caio for now! ©Allisonians

Christmas Cactus Heaven!

Here is my lovely Christmas Cactus! I have just purchased it... Wow, is my best comment! ©Allisonians

Blueberry Heaven! Sept/Oct Tasks 2013

I am back at the LPL and have got the Thoreau book I mentioned yesterday! All that talk about berries got me thinking. I looked in the deep freeze and sure enough there were blueberries. I don't go out in the mountains far enough for huckleberries. When I was a child up in Auburn, we could go out of my back door and find enough for a pie in 15 minutes. That beautiful cedar forest exists no more, but

my memories do. And blueberry is close enough for me. I also made Gingered Carrot Puree YUM~~~ ©Allisonians

Wild FRUITS, by HENRY DAVID THOREAU WRITTEN IN THE mid 1800's

Wild Fruits By Henry David Thoreau Published in 1999, Norton and Co. NY, NY This is a wonderful resource into the life/livelihood/acitivities of David Thoreau's young life. He died at the age of 44 from TB which they say was a common ailment of the time. He speaks of the Huckleberry and it's whortleberry family. There are wonderful descriptions and drawings. I am not a member of the LPL, but am using their internet today. So, I had a little time to look in my favorite section. the 500's. There is where I found this wonderful book. His sketches and notes published after his death are a wonderful portal into the life and times of the mid 1800's. He had presumably started a surveying busniess that cultivated into a love for botany. By mid-November he'd build a scaffold in his hat to carry specimens and carried a botanical guide. In here, spring 1951, his 'Common Place Book' was born. I didn't get very far in the book because my turn is here. I don't have lending privilages, but will see if my home town card with help. It's worth an ask, but I do have plenty at home. I am studying on my nutritional needs ©Allisonians whortleberry family http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whortleberry

Hello Fellow Blogger/mentees!

I have not posted here since last April in this year of the weird, 2013. It's been an interesting year INDEED.  Wish I could make all well.


                                                           NO R,    NO D


 Challenge.

My herb(s) of study chose me.
Nasturtium is my number one grow. From seed to 8 feet tall in 2 square feet of earth. Thank you mother earth!
I worked also in a 2.5' x 40' flower bed and the Cowlitz River.
I am without internet, get email on my cell; so... I will be slow on tasks and posting...
But I am excited to be here today!

I also had Purslane volunteer in my well worked old flower bed! So, it also chose me!
Missing my Dandelions, but picked some seeds for a new patch!
My eleven year old Mallow Root is SO happy on the island with wonderful friends!
As is my Evening Primrose, which we know I also planted throughout the Ocean Beach Hwy!
I have the seeds, so I will be planting as soon as possible.

Energy. Very interesting time of year and progression.  Will write at home and publish as I can! :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am working with carrot

Some soups...

Turmeric....

Ginger...

Clover..

within the vinegar and oils...

I won't have the ability to add photos for a bit, so WORDS it is!

Green Blessings and,
Love to you all!
Miss Allisonian



©Allisonians

Trillium; On Top of the World! Sorry it's blurry! But you get the gist...

©Allisonians



research list;
not used but interesting;
http://resources.curriculum.org/occ/trillium/tSearch.tcl?BID5=8621&lang=0&searchListType=fullrecordLTL&dev=&a=ok

I found Johnny Jump--Up, first time in a long time since I've been in the hills like these!

Johnny Jump-up,
Grab the ladle
Small and ancient on the table.

Rain and snow are gone for a while,
Here comes sunshine in
Johnny Style!

Be it willy, be it wily,
Like the fox and
As the spire!

Comes the sunshine!
Cold will go SOON!
Johnny recalls to us,
We're here for a while!
©Allisonians

John•ny-jump-up

Pronunciation: ( jon'ē-jump'up"), [key]
—n.
1. any of certain violets, esp. Viola pedunculata, having variously colored flowers.
2. a small form of the pansy, V. tricolor.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

Read more: Johnny-jump-up: meaning and definitions | Infoplease.com http://dictionary.infoplease.com/johnny-jump-up#ixzz2QHZjAjRm

Courtesy of;
http://dictionary.infoplease.com/johnny-jump-up

Purple Dead Nettle

I have noticed this plant around for a very long time. Today I cleaned out around a big old tree at a house that I am property managing. I found over 5 pounds of Clivers/Cleavers and this other plant looked so beautiful I took some. The property is going to be mowed so I am lucky I saw it before that is done, in fact I think I will go mow that back part with my little hand mower cause it is hard to get around and I think the tenants need help.

©Allisonians

Here is a link which has a way better photo than mine, so I thought I'd share. It's a great resource too.

http://www.radfordpl.org/wildwood/today/Plant_Spp_pp/PurpleDeadNettle.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nettle03.html

Here is a beer recipe I'd like to try;
Nettle Beer
The Nettle Beer made by cottagers is often given to their old folk as a remedy for gouty and rheumatic pains, but apart from this purpose it forms a pleasant drink. It may be made as follows: Take 2 gallons of cold water and a good pailful of washed young Nettle tops, add 3 or 4 large handsful of Dandelion, the same of Clivers (Goosegrass) and 2 OZ. of bruised, whole ginger. Boil gently for 40 minutes, then strain and stir in 2 teacupsful of brown sugar. When lukewarm place on the top a slice of toasted bread, spread with 1 OZ. of compressed yeast, stirred till liquid with a teaspoonful of sugar. Keep it fairly warm for 6 or 7 hours, then remove the scum and stir in a tablespoonful of cream of tartar. Bottle and tie the corks securely. The result is a specially wholesome sort of ginger beer. The juice of 2 lemons may be substituted for the Dandelion and Clivers. Other herbs are often added to Nettles in the making of Herb Beer, such as Burdock, Meadowsweet, Avens Horehound, the combination making a refreshing summer drink.

A Path to the banks of the Northern Cowlitz River

©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos

Northern Cowlitz River

This is sand is mostly ash from Mt. St. Helen's explosion in 1980.

©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos. Thank you!

Cleavers; or as Clivers. where it took me a while to find in her book's 'A MODERN HERBAL' mRS. GRIEVE TALKS FOR 2 PAGES ON..Of IT'S AROUND 3000 SPEICIES..."Many of these are of highest utility to man..."

Cleavers
Clivers 
                       HAPPY EQUNIOX AND SPRING HERE IN THE NORTHWEST HEMISPHERE


baby cleavers grew arms! 3.20.13

I celebrated the equinox with a small cup of pressed juice (about 1/10 ounce in water and some of it's maceration topically), a good book, and with a good sage smudge and a little A.H.  ...  very nice ... says Allison :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In her book, A Modern Herbal, Dover Publications Inc., 1971 from her work published by Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1931,
I found some interesting information.

~~~~~
Some of the excerpts and my thoughts...

Her Seeds....
...best substitute for coffee....
~~~dry and simply roast on the fire~~~

Dioscorides said that the Greek shepherds used the stems to make a rough seive to strain milk and this is still done in Sweden today. Notes Mrs. Greive.

She says that the dry herb is good for insomnia.
..and the expressed juice is 3 oz. 2 times a day (but cautions it as a 'poweful' diuretic, and so diabetics should not use it), {and I would say that if you are having regular issues of digestion that you look at that first before using this} but it is used this way for scurvy, scrofula, psoriosis, and skin diseases and erruptions.
It is considered a purifier of the blood.

She says that,,, 'the roots will die red and that if eaten by birds will tinge theie bones."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also found some wonderful etymology of my friend, Cleavers, in her wonderful account of the herb.


Origin of it's name;

"...very old origin,.."
Anglo-Saxon
Hedge-rife

Greek
Plianthropon

Greek
aparo(to seize)

"Specific Name"
aparine  {derived from the Greek name)

Loveman {is the Anglocized version of the Greek as well)

Goosegrass is in reference to the fact that it is known to be a fond food of theirs and other animals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Greive's says that, "the valuable drug, quinine,{a link with some caution info;http://www.ehow.com/about_5380885_benefits-quinine.html } , is furnished by several species of Cinchona, a Sourht American genus,"

She has much information on several varieties and looks to me as though it was widely used as such in her time and before.
The British version is of a different character, sounds like the cleaver that I know of.
Mrs. Greive says that,  '...the British representatives are all herbaceous plants, with slender, angular stems, bearing leaves aranged in whorls, or rosettes and small flowers. From the star-like arrangement of their leaves, all these British species have been assigned to the tribe Stellatae of the main order 'rubiaceae. All the members of this tribe, numbering about 300, grow in the Northern Hemisphere.
   Of the 15 British representatives of the tribe Stellatae, eleven bear the anme of Galium (the genus of the Bedstraws), and perhaps the commonest of these is the annual herb Galium aparine, familiarly known as Clivers or Goosegrass, though it rejoices in many other popular names in different parts of the country." (p.206)

©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos &/or writing

CleaveR Babies; A much betteR pictuRe, I have a few fRom last week that aRe exquisite, but am keepiNg them foR my peRsonal scRap BooK

baby cleaver buds among dew dropped grass blades...
 

CLEavERs
{TWoH}
PARTS USED; Aerial portions
ENERGY & FLAVORS: bitter, cool
SYSTEMS; AFFECTED: bladder, gallbladder
BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: A glycoside, asperuloside and other iridoids{...a class of secondary metabolites found in a wide variety of plants ...} also anthraquinone{is an aromatic organic compound with formula C₁₄H₈O₂.} derivatives
PROPERTIES: Diuretic, alternative, aperient, mild astringent
...one of the most effective diuretic blood purifiers known...
...treatment of all urinary, reproductive-organ inflammation, as well as hep., and vd...enlarged lymph glands, cystitis, psoriasis, and skin dis-eases and eruptions..."
the way of herbs, byMichael Tierra, C.A., N.D. 1980,1990 pocketbook health

my same baby cleaver patch today! ~~
 

 I believe that,,,,
Benefits of a given herb, or health/healing matter, written down from yesteryear onto the present per personal testiment; have different perspectives from different sources and their own little maps and lives and journeys. This intrigues me. I always love to map out the contrasts(to a point of conclusion or question answered, not to do it for sport). Their etymologies, as it were, with, not only it's(and all herbs', not to mention the links with creations and energies) name and origin, but with it's etymological development or demographic of sorts.
So, Mrs. Grieve, D.C. Jarvis, Jethro Kloff, Cascade Anderson Geller, J.D., John Kallas, Lee DuBelle(on eating style), several local herbalist and spiritual sources have helped develop my way of looking and have formed my personal etymology. {the list is not complete, just a top of my head way}.
SIDEBAR: and so the journey of me....I find this...{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic}...during my rewrite to add definition and source to my study....
One of the most important progressive word style and usages that I circumvent as a stand toward a new way of communication,,, the not said,,,which is a form/development of MY etymology, and, for what ever it is worth, my cleavers have been around a long time and so has it's use. From then to now is my process and the magic flows like this beautiful photo!  

The 1910, 1st edition, People's Home Library, The R.C. Barnum Co, Toronto, Canada
Cleaver p.319-320
"Action,--Diuretic, Aperient,
      Anti scorbutic"
            "{http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Anti-scorbutic}"

"Uses--Suppression of Urine, Kidney Troubles, Gravel, Tumors, Freckles, Erysipelas, Scarlet Fever, Measles.
 ...one and a half oz. herb to a pint of water, steep 2 hours. Take 2 to 4 ounces 3 to 4 time a day. Can be sweetened with honey or sugar. Take equal parts of cleavers, maiden hair, and elder blows (blossom) and steep in warm water for 2 to 3 hours and when cold drink freely for erysipelas, scarlet fever and measles. The tea made with cold water is good for freckles when applied locally several times a day."
Green praises to you Miss Green Cleaver~
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos &/or writing

Baby Cleavers! I have found cleavers at my newest haunt on the Cowlitz~

baby cleaver

ye ol cowlitz

looking north up the ye ol cowlitz

©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing

Salve; home made; using infused olive oils, fresh and dried herbs and pumpkin oil

I met Prunella, also known as Self-Heal and All-Heal, etc.,  several years ago. I went on a hike with an herbalist and met Prunella then. When I went home, I found it everywhere and within that year it flourished un-abound! I was in heaven and dried, sun tead, and tinctured to my heart's content. Since then it's become my ally.
      So, today I took some of my dried Prunella and used double infused olive oil.
   I had two different infused oils.
            One was infused lightly with Cayenne.
           The other, with lavender. The lavender was exquisite! I anguished using the last of it!
  I combined the two oils and added a bit of my
                       Potted Papfamiliarius Violet Leafs,
                       Prunella,
                      Calendula,
                      Kelp and
                      Fresh Ginger.
  I super saturated the herbs, i.e. I used more herb than oil.
  I, then, quick infused it.
  Meanwhile, I grated about an ounce of Bees Wax.
  I strained the oil from the herbs(I save this to use as incense and fire starter).
  At this point I make sure my jars (3-3oz. jars) are ready. (Clean and dry)
  Heat the oil at Medium Low.
  Add the grated Bees Wax to the oil.
     It only takes a few moments for the Bees Wax to melt and it's ready to pour.
     I poured off the oil into my clean, dry jars. Then I added to only one of the jars a bit of 
               Pumkin Seed oil(about 2 Tablespoons).
~~~SO, I HAVE TWO KINDS OF SALVE. YEAH ME! ~~~

Prunella, Calendula, Ginger, and Kelp double infused with ceyenne and lavender olive oil SALVE. Copywrite Allisonians 1.23.13
 

 Culpepper;   , explaining the name 'Self-Heal whereby when you are hurt, you may heal yourself,'  A Mondern Herbal, Mrs. M. Grieve, Dover Publications, Inc., NY, 1931, 1981

©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos and/or writings, thank you!

A Sunday

Oats tea
Lavender wash
Went to the River
walked with the dog,
Walked around the neighborhood
Frozen, bright
       Day
Frozen black night.

©Allisonians

January Tasks that I have going, but not a completion;
My ally this year is dandelion, and my new earthly neighbor and friend Dock, and plantain galore.
I  am also sub-studying Prunella, cleavers, chick weed, marshmallow, mallow, cayenne, lady's mantle, evening primrose and honeysuckle.,.. and all of the earth's inhabitants that she reveals to me..
for now,,,
Working on gathering items for imbloc gift exchange...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
note to self; find your string! :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I made Gypsy Fire Water mash/salsa 12.27.12

This is my version;
I use~
Onion, horseradish, ginger, garlic, cayenne;
 I use my blender and have learned that you blend the toughest parts first(horseradish and ginger)(I also add the acv to help it blend together.)
 Cover with REAL apple cider vinegar(acv), read your labels or make your own...
Bottle this in a good size bottle. What I mean by 'good size' is an appropriate size to fit your mix. I usually leave a few inches because I can ladle it out without spilling and I can add to it if I want to...
    As Lisa, my friend that taught me this says;
  Use any amount and quantity that stikes you! Then it makes it your own, customized. Many friends  and colleagues use all sorts of other ingredients, but I'll let them tell you about it. Please leave your GFW version and link if you'd like. thanks and. Please comment with your combination(s)! Thanks!
Lastly and most importantly;
To Store and Usage;
Refrigerate 2 to 4 weeks, but I use it right away too. So I make sure to make enough mash and vineger to have the fire water too.
At 4 weeks(I, personally, have waited quite a bit longer and even left it as mash water mix)
STRAIN the mixture and Bottle the liquid, I GUESS you can discard the mash, but I use it! It's amazing stuff

{I can't add photo's or I would here. Once I can add photos again, I'll add them to this,, wish me luck}

~~~BUT~~~
I, myself, use the mash right away and after it's sat. I have used it up to 4 to 6 months old. It is amazing. I just always scoop out what I need. I go to the refrigerator with my cup and don't even take the mash water out of the fridge ever, or only for the moment. It's kept at the refrigerated temperature always.
It is good for so many things, marinade your food, use as medicine... I added it too my gravy tonnight. You play with it and you will see!

I made a tiny bit of dock/tequila tincture to honor my new land/space on earth. It is very good too. Dock is a wonderful herb and easy to find information on. I will publish more in the spring...
There are many varieties of GFW and tincture/elixirs etcs..
©Allisonians

It's not my recipe! It's the Gypsy's, but I am one step closer to the Gypsy spirit for using it! It is good.

Today I am
Reaching, stretching,
Singing, Stretching,
Poised and here.

No competition
No inhabition
Listen
Quiet
Go
I

©Allisonians