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| ©Allisonians Dan can De be Lion Shinin' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Friday, April 6, 2012
Climbing the ancient wild rose; Honeysuckles journey
Honey Suckle loves to hug!
The rose, she likes to bite!
But somehow they can climb and climb,
To reach the highest heights!
Wish I knew how to get along like that,
But they do go their seperate ways at the top! :D
But they do go their seperate ways at the top! :D
©Allisonians
Clover; Red Clover ~ Trifolium pratence: and Dandelion ~ Taraxacom
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©Allisonians |
.jpg) |
| ©Allisonians |
One of the most interesting parts of herbalism, TO ME, is that there is a whimsical magic that adds mystery and imagination.
Two things I have noticed; The first is that I have always known, but didn't know where to put it. I have noted this from time to time when I am talking about herbs and my favorite and why that is. I notice that I don't remember the medical jargon. I am not privy to medical language. Nor am I too excited about medical social structures that are set here these days. I know there are wonders upon wonders, but there is also a very serious dark side. I know there is a dark side to the magic of herbs, but it feels more natural.I am very imaginative, so I think of being in this forest. The forest of my dreams. I was fortunate to toddle in a great red wood forest where we lived when I was 3 until I was 8 years old. There I fell in ABSOLUTE love with the sound of the forest. Entering it was magical. I dreamed of things that I wasn't sure later didn't really happen or not. Those were great dreams. I have been back to that area and am sad to say that the forest was risen to develop more of the Boeing suburbs apparently needed at the time. ;(
So, relatively, I remember some old story about Dan de Lion. The cover had a white background which was minute compared to the rolling hill of a field of dandelion with Dan de Lion emerging henceforth. I knew it wasn't really ABOUT dandelions. It was about a lion. There were pastures of dandelions and if you looked just so, you could see the lion, who became the main character. This was a children's allegory about character building or some such. (I do need to see if I can find it.) But what is interesting to me, is that I am pretty sure it was a real story from my youth. The doubt created a wonderful mystery and the thought of writing a story myself. And whether or not the story(if it was for real) had only to do with character, or if the lion and the dandelion were only happenstance, or were they chosen? I know; who knows? But my point is that the question is exciting and magical!
I have written a couple of little shorts in feiry(fairy) language which were full of allegory. My last computer or the one before that or one of my hundreds(or so it seems) of journals has a couple of the stories. I made fairy houses and wrote stories to go with. It was a great pleasure!
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©Allisonians |
©Allisonians
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Honeysuckle
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| ©Allisonians |
Sitting there waiting for the right time!
The beauty of it's foliage sitting on the vine!
Makes me know that it's just about rhyme!
{Not always reason}
©Allisonians
Genus/latin: Lonicera
Species: periclymenumfound these other second names for the genus;
Lonicera japonica
Lonicera caprifolium (noted in use as an essense)
And the wild old wiki says;
Widely known species include Lonicera periclymenum (European Honeysuckle or Woodbine), Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle, White Honeysuckle, or Chinese Honeysuckle) and Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, or Woodbine Honeysuckle).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeysuckle
Oh, and they talked about the humming birds liking them, which is a very good thing because the neighbors cut down the wonderful charished trumpet vine that my bestie planned before I lived here. God Bless her soul! I miss her. I did get some mallow that her and I planted 11 years ago. It will travel with me and I have already planted some on the island back in November. It wintered soo well! :D
Note to self; look these up.
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| ©Allisonians |
Red Clover, red clover; Send your beautiful buds over! :D
Here is my favorite life long herb!
The photo was taken 03.11.12. I haven't had a chance to look at it since. I don't think it is doing anything yet. And to my dismay, my little red clover field looked like it didn't even have one mound yet. Strange! IDK~~~Just roll with it then, right? :D
I remember driving to a big festival called the Further fest.
We went down toward the southern Oregon Coast. It was just about an hour past dawn and the dew was evaporating in an already warm summer day.
We drove over the crest of a rolling hill among many
When a whiff of something otherworldly divine hit me!
I was transformed, but had to stop to see what it was.
I squinted to see that the field was a total field of red clover!
It was instantanious love!
Thank you God! Thank you MOTHER NATURE! You are divine!
©Allisonians
The photo was taken 03.11.12. I haven't had a chance to look at it since. I don't think it is doing anything yet. And to my dismay, my little red clover field looked like it didn't even have one mound yet. Strange! IDK~~~Just roll with it then, right? :D
I remember driving to a big festival called the Further fest.We went down toward the southern Oregon Coast. It was just about an hour past dawn and the dew was evaporating in an already warm summer day.
We drove over the crest of a rolling hill among many
When a whiff of something otherworldly divine hit me!
I was transformed, but had to stop to see what it was.
I squinted to see that the field was a total field of red clover!
It was instantanious love!
Thank you God! Thank you MOTHER NATURE! You are divine!
©Allisonians
Friday, March 23, 2012
fr; astrology.com and iVillage
According to agricultural seasonal calendars, parsley is the herb most associated with the month of March as it is plentiful right now. Many holistic practitioners advocate chewing on parsley for halitosis or bad breath. But did you know that eating parsley is also believed to provoke a lusty libido and enhance fertility? Legend tells that the ancient Romans would tuck a sprig of parsley into their togas in order to promote its protective properties. The Romans also placed parsley on plates of food in order to safeguard from poisoning. In Feng Shui philosophy, parsley is often used in purification efforts, particularly in a detox bath. Bathing in parsley is believed to ward off evil and put an end to negativity, bad luck and plain old misfortune. If you want to change your luck, add two cups Epsom salts and a handful of fresh parsley to bathwater. Soak for at least twenty m inutes in order to cleanse and clear your aura and to send bad juju down the drain! astrology.com
©Allisonians {'tis my silly parsley photo, not my words}
©Allisonians {'tis my silly parsley photo, not my words}
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Violet Sundry
I will have to build it a new, bigger spot! It has lived on my stairs for 6 years!
I have divided it once, and see that it needs some dividing and refreshing asap!
I will attempt a tiny bit of violet syrup tonight! Cheers!
Then it's off to use my bramble root for vinegar!
3 Cheers!
And we're having a baby tonight!
Congratualtions, or nearly, to the PROUD new parents! I cannot wait to meet her!
With Love, Allison
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| Tiny Treats! I could live in a field of violets and johny jump-ups! |
From the Garden Weeds to the Kitchen please; this pleases me sooo much!
Well I have to say that my two weeks with guests(in and out and about) was quite lovely! I have a bit of a void as they now have left!
So, I had collected some cleavers and had them in the fridge for a couple of days. I used them in a vegtable soup that was devine. I cooked the veggies (anything in the fridge soup style). I used, carrots, cabbage, onion, potatos and soysauce.
Boiled this.
Then into the blender per serving I added fresh cleavers, chickweed and garlic with the boiled soup. I used more veggies than broth to thicken it and visa versa for a thinner variety, and the fact that the veggies were gone and I wasn't done eating! It was amazing!).
I then added a tiny bit more soy sauce.
I must say that it was just what I needed.
So, today I made a veggie blender juice with
LOTS of
Cleavers,
a little water,
Some
Carrots,
an Apple,
and
an Orange.
It was very thick!
I thought, "Oh, this might be good to use in a carrot cake(muffin for quicker baking time)! And IT WAS~!
To my Muffins;
I also added,
apple chopped,
raisins,
orange rind with a tiny bit of the orange attached,
and
wheat bran.
I used the carrot cake recipe in the Moosewood Cook Book. I will find the link, or put the recipe in post haste, but it's off to work I go for now!
3 Cheers!
I miss you sooo much Jay and Kay!
Heaps and Heaps! As they say!
©Allisonians
So, I had collected some cleavers and had them in the fridge for a couple of days. I used them in a vegtable soup that was devine. I cooked the veggies (anything in the fridge soup style). I used, carrots, cabbage, onion, potatos and soysauce.
Boiled this.
Then into the blender per serving I added fresh cleavers, chickweed and garlic with the boiled soup. I used more veggies than broth to thicken it and visa versa for a thinner variety, and the fact that the veggies were gone and I wasn't done eating! It was amazing!).
I then added a tiny bit more soy sauce.
I must say that it was just what I needed.
So, today I made a veggie blender juice with
LOTS of
Cleavers,
a little water,
Some
Carrots,
an Apple,
and
an Orange.
It was very thick!
I thought, "Oh, this might be good to use in a carrot cake(muffin for quicker baking time)! And IT WAS~!
To my Muffins;
I also added,
apple chopped,
raisins,
orange rind with a tiny bit of the orange attached,
and
wheat bran.
I used the carrot cake recipe in the Moosewood Cook Book. I will find the link, or put the recipe in post haste, but it's off to work I go for now!
3 Cheers!
I miss you sooo much Jay and Kay!
Heaps and Heaps! As they say!
©Allisonians
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Evening Primrose and Cowslip; hm.....
Transplanted late last fall.
In the evening I will call you
lightly, slightly calling back
Do you see me in the darkness
Bring your good dream knack!
©Allisonians
So the Primrose and the cowslip are very similar.
Cool.....Beautiful..... THIS PHOTO IS EVEING PRIMROSE.....
Violets in March 2012
Violet SoloViolet from my Father's home
Are all that I have left
Of a time that is in my mind
And in my heart will stead
Violet from a time gone by
To a time of new.
Do you know the day that I
Fell in love with you?
©Allisonians
These are some of the violets I will use
to make my violet syrup with bramble root vinegar.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Taheebo; Pau d' Arco
Taheebo
You grow some in Florida and some in South and Central America, but mostly known to those from the Incas, Aztecs and Indio tribes.
Your flavor is definitive.
The taste and fragrance of wood in it's dry hut otherland which places itself on the back of my tongue(and back sides of my tongue).
Your unusually sweet wood flavor is unique of the volcanic pebbled beaches that I imagine.\
My wood in winter use;
I took the tea of Taheebo for about one month every day about three time a day.
The first few days brought me to a clearing in my head. My body responded and calmed itself.
After about 3 weeks I had guests and my routine was changed. I stopped using the tea. Then I offered it to my guests one day and had some myself and realized that I had gone back to some unease I had had before I started using it. I returned to using it again about once a day.
I am most grateful for Pau d' Arco [Taheebo]
©Allisonians
reference link;
http://www.paudarco.com/
You grow some in Florida and some in South and Central America, but mostly known to those from the Incas, Aztecs and Indio tribes.
Your flavor is definitive.
The taste and fragrance of wood in it's dry hut otherland which places itself on the back of my tongue(and back sides of my tongue).
Your unusually sweet wood flavor is unique of the volcanic pebbled beaches that I imagine.\
My wood in winter use;
I took the tea of Taheebo for about one month every day about three time a day.
The first few days brought me to a clearing in my head. My body responded and calmed itself.
After about 3 weeks I had guests and my routine was changed. I stopped using the tea. Then I offered it to my guests one day and had some myself and realized that I had gone back to some unease I had had before I started using it. I returned to using it again about once a day.
I am most grateful for Pau d' Arco [Taheebo]
©Allisonians
reference link;
http://www.paudarco.com/
Chickweed; today I found chickweed on the island! I also found a bit of cleavers!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Cleaver, Blackberry, Clover, Lemon Rind Cream adaption from Eczema Cream
Allison's Adaptation of the eczema cream;
from tea to skin cream(the best kind of abc's)
Allison's ClocleViBB~~~Skin Cream~~~Made by Hand at Home
(my accronym name is to help me remember the ingredients w/o thinking about it, if you were wondering.)
4 tblspoon herbs
(I used a tiny bit of violet, my fresh blackberry (I'd made tea and poured it off to heat the other herbs), 3 tablespoons of cleavers, a bit of clover, and a 1/3 of a lemon rind.)
1 tspoon bees wax
3 tblspoon coconut
1 tspoon olive oil
2 cups of water(fresh boiled)
1. Add water to herb
2. melt coconut oil and beeswax
3. Strain herb from tea
4. Whisk tea into melted oil/wax mixture until the consistency of mayonnaise.
(This is a brief variation of Sarah's Eczema cream recipe. I didn't bother to add some of the details that are the same) I will post them here at a later day, lest I forget. If so, and if you need to know, please comment here. Thank you for your time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had more fun than I can say and am reaffirmed that this is one of my 'Things' or 'callings' and very budget friendly to say the least. It's about a 1:9 ratio if not more. Since the only other cream I like escalated to $18.00 US for 1.5 ounces. It was around $7ish when I first started using the bought cream. I made this homemade cream for almost free! I am much grateful to learn this skill!! I think I am sooo blessed to have the opurtunity to learn in these times. I hope to teach/share learn with others as well. :D
Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also want to be sure to thank Karon for the warming oil information and prompt too! She told me about it on a cold day when I got a chill. The kind of tired worn out kind of chill and that oil saved me! It was amazing! I also just used it on my tension spot on my neck! Nothing compares, REallY~~~It works way better than the store bought heat creams/and ointments I've ever used, BY FAR!!! Such a blessing! I am honored for this comrade and community that is being created!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I reused my favorite/only cream jars from bert's bees. I love the container and for the price I thought I'd better keep it. For one, at first I needed to remember what it was once I could afford it again, and two, I like to recycle as best I can and these are very small and affective.
Up to this point I have only made salves. I think I've made 3 batches. I used a bit extra beeswax once and that was affective for travel use. It won't spill/melt in a purse, car(in warm weather or backpack when it's a bit firmer AND you just scoop a bit out with the top of your finger(nail) then it melts with just a little rub of the hand in a really great exfoliating and/or obsorbing way! I love it.
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
from tea to skin cream(the best kind of abc's)Allison's ClocleViBB~~~Skin Cream~~~Made by Hand at Home
(my accronym name is to help me remember the ingredients w/o thinking about it, if you were wondering.)
4 tblspoon herbs
(I used a tiny bit of violet, my fresh blackberry (I'd made tea and poured it off to heat the other herbs), 3 tablespoons of cleavers, a bit of clover, and a 1/3 of a lemon rind.)
1 tspoon bees wax
3 tblspoon coconut
1 tspoon olive oil
2 cups of water(fresh boiled)
1. Add water to herb
2. melt coconut oil and beeswax
3. Strain herb from tea
4. Whisk tea into melted oil/wax mixture until the consistency of mayonnaise.
(This is a brief variation of Sarah's Eczema cream recipe. I didn't bother to add some of the details that are the same) I will post them here at a later day, lest I forget. If so, and if you need to know, please comment here. Thank you for your time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had more fun than I can say and am reaffirmed that this is one of my 'Things' or 'callings' and very budget friendly to say the least. It's about a 1:9 ratio if not more. Since the only other cream I like escalated to $18.00 US for 1.5 ounces. It was around $7ish when I first started using the bought cream. I made this homemade cream for almost free! I am much grateful to learn this skill!! I think I am sooo blessed to have the opurtunity to learn in these times. I hope to teach/share learn with others as well. :D
Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also want to be sure to thank Karon for the warming oil information and prompt too! She told me about it on a cold day when I got a chill. The kind of tired worn out kind of chill and that oil saved me! It was amazing! I also just used it on my tension spot on my neck! Nothing compares, REallY~~~It works way better than the store bought heat creams/and ointments I've ever used, BY FAR!!! Such a blessing! I am honored for this comrade and community that is being created!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I reused my favorite/only cream jars from bert's bees. I love the container and for the price I thought I'd better keep it. For one, at first I needed to remember what it was once I could afford it again, and two, I like to recycle as best I can and these are very small and affective.
Up to this point I have only made salves. I think I've made 3 batches. I used a bit extra beeswax once and that was affective for travel use. It won't spill/melt in a purse, car(in warm weather or backpack when it's a bit firmer AND you just scoop a bit out with the top of your finger(nail) then it melts with just a little rub of the hand in a really great exfoliating and/or obsorbing way! I love it.
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
Evening Primrose writing attempt #1 in the rough ?Could the moon do all of this?
Evening Primrose you sing to me;
Of the days before I knew you.
Evening Primrose you shine on me;
At night in my darkest hour.
Evening Primrose you're sent from beyond,
the greatest gift of ever and all.
Evening Primrose you light my way;
In the darkest of dark to the brand new day.
Evening Primrose you're my best friend,
From one that transended from beyond the bend.
With my fullest gratitude I ask for your bounty
With appreciation of our common ground!
(Now I am off to draw this, my partner and my friend)
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
Of the days before I knew you.
Evening Primrose you shine on me;
At night in my darkest hour.
Evening Primrose you're sent from beyond,
the greatest gift of ever and all.
Evening Primrose you light my way;
In the darkest of dark to the brand new day.
Evening Primrose you're my best friend,
From one that transended from beyond the bend.
With my fullest gratitude I ask for your bounty
With appreciation of our common ground!
(Now I am off to draw this, my partner and my friend)
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
Blackberry Root and Plantain Root
My biggest roots of the day! I was amazed!
Blackberry Root
known for it's tannin's, astringent and tonic;
Dried root is safest.
Uses; for diareah and for sore throats and coughs
http://www.ehow.com/list_6597490_uses-blackberry-roots.html
is said to be used in whooping cough in the spasmotic stage.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/blaber49.html#med
Plantain Root
Dried powdered root is said to ease tooth ache. (Modern Herbal)
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/placom43.html#med
©Allisonians
Monday, February 6, 2012
I just found the tasks in my spam folder. I am soo glad I looked. It seems to be placing things there randomly, ahhhh the mysteries....By and by
So Theoretically;
I happen to be looking into skin and blood issues on my own, as I was born with eczema and we are dealing with some acne issues as well. We started some spiritual and are working on diet and research. Will tell as this information gathered is put into one place :D. Cheers. :D Interesting, for sure. :D
Researching Some herbs for psoriosis as well(which I believe some might help with eczema as well, I am cross referencing for my own use here) (there being severel considerations, health, diet and mental state, climate, history)
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
I happen to be looking into skin and blood issues on my own, as I was born with eczema and we are dealing with some acne issues as well. We started some spiritual and are working on diet and research. Will tell as this information gathered is put into one place :D. Cheers. :D Interesting, for sure. :D
Researching Some herbs for psoriosis as well(which I believe some might help with eczema as well, I am cross referencing for my own use here) (there being severel considerations, health, diet and mental state, climate, history)
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
Ah February~~~In my space grows cleavers, Chickweed and Nettles AND MUCH MUCH MORE~~~evening primrose, dandelion, prunella GALORE
As soon As I read them, I was instantly transcended to a time (or two) where I first discovered these greatest of God's gifts. This memory(s) it has not been of conscience consideration other than that it happened. I took my Mom for granted a bit. Her constant complete love was so constant that it felt like air, which is also easy to ignore until it smells funny. :D
My Personal History of Nettle
My Mom taught us about nettles when I was nine years old. We'd moved from the suburb to the country, my mom's mom's old farm. We went into the wonderFULL woods and picked nettle. As she showed us the known sting, she told us when we made it for dinner it would taste like spinach. We discussed the sting and how the water took the sting out as it was boiled. I remember it clearly, it was such a lively, interesting discussion. I am glad to have had it. We took our magicla nettle home and put into a pot of boiling water and wah lah! It was delicious! I haven't had that magicla nettle fresh much since, but am determined to harvest it ASAP!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY CLEAVERS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well my cleavers was a gift of last season! It was the funny kind without words. I looked up the herbal info and it was something I needed on all levels and then I found it and it was like instant love(the kind of childhood puppy love), strong and innocent. Purity, that I was drawn to like something I cannot put into words. I hung it out like a wreath(it stuck together so well that way and in fact when wound came up very well too!) and would look at it in a kind of awe. The kind of awe of knowledge that my ally would bring. Here I am with my big bountiful bag of my friend now and I am transformed and my life has taken a turn that somehow is connected, yet I haven't had the benefit of the herbal use yet. IDK...just had to say...
I think I ran across some cleaver burrs out in the woods today, but bigger than mine from last year. I will have to keep track. I know there is more than one kind of burr plant(?)(I thinks I will just keep an eye on the spots I was in).
I trod out into this new ancient woods as I am getting over my well loved woods. Moving on and bringing some of mine with me. So I was clearing out a spot for my transplants and ended up with little burrs. No plant. But I have photos here of some I harvested last season! And had to quick make me a cup of cleavers tonight as I read my months plans! I love cleavers if I hadn't made that clear. When I grab into my HUGE bag of bountiful cleavers, I get a little bit stung, little pricklies really; and it, oddly enough, reminds me of a nettle sting. I call them kisses, really. Natures little kisses. Nettle is a BIG kiss. :D
I just had to share because upon reading the tasks I had to jump up for my latest and greatest! I was instantly inspired. I thought, aw I've got this. It's not exactly it, but it is close enough for me.
It speaks volumes to me when this kind of taste is acquired. The Helpful regime of little natural creatures(plant style) is something to be reckoned with
I will get into the chickweed briefly here. I was introduced to chickweed sometime back (5 yearsish). I searched and searched and by and by I found some around the light pole when I was dropping off lunch to my daughter at high school! I grabbed some. Then the next spring it was annoying my mother-in-law, so I weeded it out of her trough planters and tired to get it to grow. I should of just ate it all, but wanted to make it grow. It didn't. not so far. But I love it too, and will continue looking around for it.
~~~
What I, myself, am most interested in is what comes in of it's own accord! I have been looking around for years because of it. I heard a saying about 17 years ago that says, 'everything you need is in your own back yard.' Even those who might not have a back yard, something that you notice growing around where you live is what is meant.
So, I have dandelions galore, found evening primrose this year near by; red clover, self heal(prunella vulgarus), herb robert, St. John's wort, plantain broad and narrow leafed, off the top of my head. I am truly blessed.
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing. Thank you! :D
My Personal History of Nettle
My Mom taught us about nettles when I was nine years old. We'd moved from the suburb to the country, my mom's mom's old farm. We went into the wonderFULL woods and picked nettle. As she showed us the known sting, she told us when we made it for dinner it would taste like spinach. We discussed the sting and how the water took the sting out as it was boiled. I remember it clearly, it was such a lively, interesting discussion. I am glad to have had it. We took our magicla nettle home and put into a pot of boiling water and wah lah! It was delicious! I haven't had that magicla nettle fresh much since, but am determined to harvest it ASAP!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY CLEAVERS
Well my cleavers was a gift of last season! It was the funny kind without words. I looked up the herbal info and it was something I needed on all levels and then I found it and it was like instant love(the kind of childhood puppy love), strong and innocent. Purity, that I was drawn to like something I cannot put into words. I hung it out like a wreath(it stuck together so well that way and in fact when wound came up very well too!) and would look at it in a kind of awe. The kind of awe of knowledge that my ally would bring. Here I am with my big bountiful bag of my friend now and I am transformed and my life has taken a turn that somehow is connected, yet I haven't had the benefit of the herbal use yet. IDK...just had to say...
I think I ran across some cleaver burrs out in the woods today, but bigger than mine from last year. I will have to keep track. I know there is more than one kind of burr plant(?)(I thinks I will just keep an eye on the spots I was in).
I trod out into this new ancient woods as I am getting over my well loved woods. Moving on and bringing some of mine with me. So I was clearing out a spot for my transplants and ended up with little burrs. No plant. But I have photos here of some I harvested last season! And had to quick make me a cup of cleavers tonight as I read my months plans! I love cleavers if I hadn't made that clear. When I grab into my HUGE bag of bountiful cleavers, I get a little bit stung, little pricklies really; and it, oddly enough, reminds me of a nettle sting. I call them kisses, really. Natures little kisses. Nettle is a BIG kiss. :D
I just had to share because upon reading the tasks I had to jump up for my latest and greatest! I was instantly inspired. I thought, aw I've got this. It's not exactly it, but it is close enough for me.
It speaks volumes to me when this kind of taste is acquired. The Helpful regime of little natural creatures(plant style) is something to be reckoned with
I will get into the chickweed briefly here. I was introduced to chickweed sometime back (5 yearsish). I searched and searched and by and by I found some around the light pole when I was dropping off lunch to my daughter at high school! I grabbed some. Then the next spring it was annoying my mother-in-law, so I weeded it out of her trough planters and tired to get it to grow. I should of just ate it all, but wanted to make it grow. It didn't. not so far. But I love it too, and will continue looking around for it.
~~~
What I, myself, am most interested in is what comes in of it's own accord! I have been looking around for years because of it. I heard a saying about 17 years ago that says, 'everything you need is in your own back yard.' Even those who might not have a back yard, something that you notice growing around where you live is what is meant.
So, I have dandelions galore, found evening primrose this year near by; red clover, self heal(prunella vulgarus), herb robert, St. John's wort, plantain broad and narrow leafed, off the top of my head. I am truly blessed.
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing. Thank you! :D
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Evening Primrose; This is my herbal ally for this year, Although I am working with other HERBS;
I have chosen Evening Primrose as my herbal ally. I discovered that it is growing wild just a block away and have started cultivating it since I discovered it last fall. I will be working with other herbs that are my allies as well. I chose Dandelion, Red Clover and Cleavers for my humorous regime and will be working with them for this year and always. I have loved Dandelion since I was a child and remember a story and plan to write several stories about him! Red Clover, too, goes back to my childhood and life long love of bees. Cleavers was a hidden treasure, I've always known it was there, but only discovered its beauty and abudant loving nature this last spring. I am also working extensively with Marshmallow(Mallow) learning about her bounty and gifts is beyond words. I have just started working with elder and have several herbs that I am excited to meet and learn more about. More later! Cheers©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
Here is a link for Evening Primrose for my reference. Elder is there as well.
http://www.indianayurvedaonline.blogspot.com/2010/09/evening-primrose-oil-oenothera-biennis.html
So, if it isn't apparent in my blog which is my ally, it is, I must admit, because I have more than one. :D
Here is a link for Evening Primrose for my reference. Elder is there as well.
http://www.indianayurvedaonline.blogspot.com/2010/09/evening-primrose-oil-oenothera-biennis.html
So, if it isn't apparent in my blog which is my ally, it is, I must admit, because I have more than one. :D
SamSaRic; the cycle of life; my morning commute(yesterday); An article that wraps it up to a tee
Have a great day, and remember, when all else fails Be A duck! :D
From Lemon Lavender Polents
"...Maybe it isn’t possible or preferable to have a clean break.Maybe the whole point isn’t to not miss places, but to experience them with every fiber of your being, and then when (if) you move on it will be without regrets. Maybe the pain doesn’t come from being away, but from trying to hold on to what is no longer there. From the tension created by trying to be everywhere at once instead of exactly where you are, wherever that might be. And with that in mind, with the nuances of my garden hanging out with the lemons from the desert, I understood: you can be somewhere and let go at the same time. Love it without holding onto it. And each time you do, you get just a little bit bigger. Maybe even a little bit wiser. And that, to me, right now, is what it’s all about. ..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All I can say is that this article touched me in several ways. Leaving things, and Lavender and of course communing with myself via my liver. I am going to go check my muchie lavender patch. We got 6-10" of snow in about 4 hours that melted within 12-16 hours. It is raining that cold chill your bone kind of rain now here in the valley, but the mountains are still interesting, or so I hear. Hybernation is the nation I want to be in.
Love you all, Allison
©Allisonians Please ask me if you would like to use my photos or writing. It's really only vanity. Hugs. I know what you're thinking. Or, can only imagine. :D
From Lemon Lavender Polents
Lavender, Letting Go and The Liver
link; http://www.cauldronsandcrockpots.com/2012/01/lemon-lavender-polenta-cake/"...Maybe it isn’t possible or preferable to have a clean break.Maybe the whole point isn’t to not miss places, but to experience them with every fiber of your being, and then when (if) you move on it will be without regrets. Maybe the pain doesn’t come from being away, but from trying to hold on to what is no longer there. From the tension created by trying to be everywhere at once instead of exactly where you are, wherever that might be. And with that in mind, with the nuances of my garden hanging out with the lemons from the desert, I understood: you can be somewhere and let go at the same time. Love it without holding onto it. And each time you do, you get just a little bit bigger. Maybe even a little bit wiser. And that, to me, right now, is what it’s all about. ..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All I can say is that this article touched me in several ways. Leaving things, and Lavender and of course communing with myself via my liver. I am going to go check my muchie lavender patch. We got 6-10" of snow in about 4 hours that melted within 12-16 hours. It is raining that cold chill your bone kind of rain now here in the valley, but the mountains are still interesting, or so I hear. Hybernation is the nation I want to be in.
Love you all, Allison
©Allisonians Please ask me if you would like to use my photos or writing. It's really only vanity. Hugs. I know what you're thinking. Or, can only imagine. :D
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Herbal Ally. I have not prepared my list for submission and am adding this as a note and reminder for me. I found it from Moozle who found it from another, which we also receieved as a January Task for the Apprenticeship. I also have some other notes on the subject and may publish them and/or organize them from Reference purpose. :D
When reading in moozle '
Their Friday, 30 December 2011Herbal Ally Post.
Finding a herbal ally
(taken from Kristine Brown’s blog Dancing in a Field of Tansy http://fieldoftansy.blogspot.com/2010/12/herbal-ally.html )
The idea of a herbal ally comes from Gail Faith Edwards in her book, “Opening our wild hearts to the healing herbs” She says
"Pick a new plant each year to focus on. Be sure to grow the plant, or meet it in the wild, observe it, make different medicines and foods with it, use it in many ways, consume it regularly, or use as applicable as often as possible, and constantly observe. Noting all you observe. Keeping your own notes is critically important. Learn to meditate with plants. Learn to take care of them, learn to process and use them, one by one. Fall in love with each and every plant you work with, one by one. Recognize the living being there, the spirit of the plant. Respect its power. Open your wild heart to it."
Susan Weed suggests “Choose a plant that grows very near to you ... no more than a one-minute walk from your door. You don't need to know the name of the plant, or anything about it. You will be sitting with your plant every day, so, if possible, choose one that grows in a quiet and lovely place ... in a pot on your balcony is just fine ... in a park is great ... so is an alley ... or a backyard. "
Susun offers six different green ally exercises to get to know the ally more intimately.
1. Meditate/sit and breathe with your green ally for 3-10 minutes a day
2. Make a detailed drawing of the ally as accurate as possible. Next make a soft, impressionistic drawing
3. Find out what parts of the ally are typically used. Find out if other parts are useful. Make oils, tinctures and vinegars of all the useful plant parts (separately)
4. Observe the conditions the plant chooses to grow in.
5. Write a story from the point of view of your green ally. (If you have trouble getting started, write a warm up page praising your green ally and telling him/her how much you like him/her and why.
6. Introduce a friend to your green ally. Tell them all about your ally.
You may wish to include these other exercises
· write a song about your green ally
· write poems about your green ally
· if edible, eat your green ally as often as possible
try your ally in tea form
· start some seeds of your green ally so i can watch him grow from a seedling into full life
· harvest your ally at all stages of growth
· sketch, draw, paint your ally at all stages of growth
Their Friday, 30 December 2011Herbal Ally Post.
Finding a herbal ally
(taken from Kristine Brown’s blog Dancing in a Field of Tansy http://fieldoftansy.blogspot.com/2010/12/herbal-ally.html )
The idea of a herbal ally comes from Gail Faith Edwards in her book, “Opening our wild hearts to the healing herbs” She says
"Pick a new plant each year to focus on. Be sure to grow the plant, or meet it in the wild, observe it, make different medicines and foods with it, use it in many ways, consume it regularly, or use as applicable as often as possible, and constantly observe. Noting all you observe. Keeping your own notes is critically important. Learn to meditate with plants. Learn to take care of them, learn to process and use them, one by one. Fall in love with each and every plant you work with, one by one. Recognize the living being there, the spirit of the plant. Respect its power. Open your wild heart to it."
Susan Weed suggests “Choose a plant that grows very near to you ... no more than a one-minute walk from your door. You don't need to know the name of the plant, or anything about it. You will be sitting with your plant every day, so, if possible, choose one that grows in a quiet and lovely place ... in a pot on your balcony is just fine ... in a park is great ... so is an alley ... or a backyard. "
Susun offers six different green ally exercises to get to know the ally more intimately.
1. Meditate/sit and breathe with your green ally for 3-10 minutes a day
2. Make a detailed drawing of the ally as accurate as possible. Next make a soft, impressionistic drawing
3. Find out what parts of the ally are typically used. Find out if other parts are useful. Make oils, tinctures and vinegars of all the useful plant parts (separately)
4. Observe the conditions the plant chooses to grow in.
5. Write a story from the point of view of your green ally. (If you have trouble getting started, write a warm up page praising your green ally and telling him/her how much you like him/her and why.
6. Introduce a friend to your green ally. Tell them all about your ally.
You may wish to include these other exercises
· write a song about your green ally
· write poems about your green ally
· if edible, eat your green ally as often as possible
try your ally in tea form
· start some seeds of your green ally so i can watch him grow from a seedling into full life
· harvest your ally at all stages of growth
· sketch, draw, paint your ally at all stages of growth
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Mighty Columbia RIver with the majestic Mt. St. Helens in the background.
"On a Day of New Beginnings
And The same day of letting go;
I do sail with imagination to the place(s) I want to go!"
Allison :D
Roll on Columbia, Roll On!
©Allisonians Please ask me for permission to use my photos or writing
And The same day of letting go;
I do sail with imagination to the place(s) I want to go!"
Allison :D
Roll on Columbia, Roll On!
Tiny House Drafting
There are some simply stunning little homes on this site! I love the Gnome home;
Linky;
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/gnome-home/
ticking the title takes you to the site as well. I have been forgetting to say so when I publish this way. :D
Linky;
http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house-concept/gnome-home/
ticking the title takes you to the site as well. I have been forgetting to say so when I publish this way. :D
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
My Clover Patch in Winter! It was a beautiful day here. Standing in Kelso, WA facing South the background hills are Rainier, Oregon. :D
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SOURDOUGH STARTER with WILD YEAST
Wild yeasts exist in the air around you and to some extent on the wheat berries. There are wild yeasts on grapes (unsulphured) and apples and other fruits. It is those wild yeasts which are 'captured' to make a sourdough starter. The process takes from 3 to 5 days. I wish I had specific amounts for you, but you could start with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour and mix in enough warm (not hot) water to make a thin paste. DO NOT make it too soupy. That, in fact, is the trick to a good starter, according to the French bread makers, and I think they should know. And after you've fooled around with the flour and water thing, you might wish to branch out into adding those unsulphured grapes, apples, sour milk, etc as a catalyst in order to capture other strains of yeast. Each of these strains has a slightly different taste. In fact if you move to another area, you might end up with a starter that produces an entirely different flavor. For instance, San Francisco sourdough bread is well known and has a distinct taste due to the wild strains in the air there. On day one you mix the flour and water (and add any catalysts to encourage fermentation) and place in a warm spot. After 3 days, the dough should be moist, inflated, and slightly sour. More flour and water is added (mixed in) and left to sit in a warm spot. After 2 days the process is repeated. Then the next day it is done again. Note the order: 3 days, 2 days, 1 day. At this point you should be able to make a loaf of bread using part of the starter and adding back what you took out in the form of more flour and water. Rule of thumb: Use about 10% starter to size of loaf. In the case of a 2 lb loaf this is a bit over 3 oz of starter (3.2 to be exact). For a 1 lb loaf 1.5 oz would be used. A book that describes this process in great detail is The Village Baker by Joe Ortiz, copyright 1993, published by Ten Speed Press, Berkley CA. If it's not still in print, try the used books stores, that's where I got mine. Or try your local library. If they don't have it, they might be able to get it for you. ©2008 by Ernestina Parziale
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