Garden Beauty

More from the garden; this is the bed of thyme, don't we all need more thyme? It has went a beautifully crazy this year, I am so pleased.

Blooming St. John's Wort , not caring that it is May and not Midsummer.

Primroses, spearmint and Russian Sage. The primroses can be seen to follow the sun as the day passes. The spearmint is taking over, somebody help me, I knew better. LOL The Russian Sage is just beautiful, I only got it last year so it is trying to establish itself this year. Go Sage!

These are a symbol in my garden of the senseless waste that our city and I am sure the whole country indulges in. This is four of five Geranium plants that David fished from a dumpster. Their terra cotta pots had broken and so instead of repotting them to sell, they were thrown out! I simply plopped them into some new (old) pots gave them a deep drink of water and some sunshine and here is my reward! Haha! One is pink, the other four are red. Red Geraniums are know for their protective qualities in the pagan community. Lucky for me!

Herbal Studies Begin~Lemon Balm

This weekend Sophie and I began studying herbs using "A Kid's Herb Book" by Leslie Tierra. Sophie has always been very interested in the plants of Mother Earth and when I came across this book on sale last year I knew we had to use it. Sophie is very open to reading about herbs and then studying the ones we have in our garden. I thought I would share some of what we learn here for any one who wants to share it with their children. We began with Lemon Balm or Melissa officinalis. Lemon Balm is used for fevers, colds,flu,coughs, nervousness,whining or crying, wounds and sores.

Touch and feel the stem of a lemon balm plant. Feel for all four sides. Do you feel the square stem? Lemon Balm is in the mint family of plants. All the mints have square stems. Pick some lemon balm leaves. Now rub them between the palms of your hands. What do your hands smell like? Bite off one leaf and chew it. What does it taste like?

Lemon balm's name comes from the Greek word meaning "bee." The sweet-smelling oils of the leaves attract bees that in turn produce a wonderful honey. The popular name of the oil in lemon balm is balsam,

which when shortened becomes "balm." Science has discovered that the balsamic oils of plants give off protective ozone that promotes the healing and stops infection.

Use the sun to make Lemon Balm tea! We filled a quart jar to the top with fresh, clean Lemon Balm leaves, then filled it with water and set it in the hottest part of our garden. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight to make a strong enough tea. Once its finished, strain it, add a lemon peel or juice, if desired, sweeten to taste.

Sophie and I had a picnic lunch while we read. It certainly was a beautiful day for a picnic.

Lemon Balm leaves are the part of the plant that is used. This is a very mild and safe herb. You can drink several cups of tea a day. For fevers, colds and flu, drink 1/2-1 cup every two hours until the fever breaks.

You can make a tea, tincture, syrup, bath, capsule, sun tea, pill,powder, dream pillow, mouthwash, poultice, potpourri,sachet,slave,steam,foot bath,fomentation, or oil from lemon balm. Wow!

*if you look closely in the top photo, you can see the green lemon balm in her teeth*

Yoga!

Oh I love yoga. I have finally gotten back to my routine and I am feeling really good. This morning I practiced in a sun~filled room that when I opened my eyes afterward, was washed in rainbows from the crystals that hang in the windows. Just beautiful. I also tried a new yoga/meditation incense, lovely. Very uplifting and relaxing at the same time. It is nearly warm enough for me to move my practice outside. I am so glad it is the most natural thing for me to practice yoga in the wonders of nature. viva la yoga!!!

The Star is Shining

My star/pentacle is finally up! Well, actually, it's been up for several weeks and I have just now remembered to take a photo. Isn't it great! It is in the center of the front of the house. The window on the right is the temple. How sweet!

Flashes of the future

I snapped this one of Sophie and her cousin, Becca, the other day. When I looked at it, I had a flash forward to the future...to two young teen girls sharing laughter and tears over all of life's issues. They look so much older than four and six....there is a wisdom in Sophie's eyes that is beautiful to see. These two had spent the entire day lost in make believe and having fun in the sprinkler. They came in a dressed a like in Hello Kitty shirts and denim skirts, it was just too cute. My little poppet is growing up so fast. She is going to preschool this fall and I am more nervous than she is. LOL

Why........? Freeganism indeed!

This is from one store!!!! Can you believe the waste? Most everything was still within the expiration date or just past it.....however, they don't call them "non perishables" for nothing. Ridiculous! I will post a tally of what all was here once I have time to go through the FOUR boxes of food. This was the gourmet section of a local grocery store. The waste is disgusting.

Laundry detergent.......WTF?.......it doesn't expire!

Garden Wisdom and an update

~ Garden Wisdom~
Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul
Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness
Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be happy *rows of corn, squash, spinach & potatoes*
Lettuce really love one another
No garden should be without turnips:
Turnip for service when needed
Turnip to help one another
Turnip the music and dance
Water freely with patience and
Cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden
Because you reap what you sow.
To conclude our garden
We must have thyme:
Thyme for fun
Thyme for rest
Thyme for ourselves

~Author Unknown

*more spinach and broccoli & carrots*

*garlic and comfrey,flocks & day lilies

*tomatoes, peas, spinach,broccoli & potatoes*

*the herbs~

yarrow,

thyme,bee balm,

catnip, tansy,

mugwort,rosemary,

chocolate mint, lemon balm*

A Lovely Afternoon at the Park

After so much rainy weather we were thrilled when we finally began having regular warm sunny May days. Last week, after school we took the kids to the local park near the library. It's a beautiful park, the one in which David and I married in five years ago this month.

While David, Sophie and the boys tooled around in the stream, I wandered around the park taking some photographs of the scenery and nature.

A shy hatchling, who flew at the click of the camera.

Minnows! There are literally thousands of them living in this stream. They rushed to and fro when they saw my shadow. I'm sure they thought I was one of the Great Blue Herons that frequent this stream bed.

This is our own local Gnome Residence. At least that is what Sophie and I think......:) It is big enough for a four year old to go right inside and play house. Though she was busy int he stream and didn't try it today.

Water rushing over grasses......beautiful.

Here is my poppet exploring......

......with daddy.

...the grand (mother) cray fish or crawdad, as they are called here. It was huge!

Sophie and some friends playing at the playground.

With dad and a friend.

This is the International Friendship Bell, where David and I were married. This is the second time I've been back since the wedding. The architecture is so gorgeous I had to snap this photograph.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Josh! My daughter, Emily's boyfriend and a member of the family as far as I am concerned. He is a multi talented kid, who finished high school witha 4.0 GPA, despite numerous roadblocks, even up until graduation week. We are very proud of him. The future awaits!

Questions Before Bed

Do caterpillars have belly buttons?

Can I be a mermaid when I grow up?

Willl you just read one more book?

Does Mother Earth have a sister?

Can worms swim?

Will you read just one more book?

Can Jane (her doll) hear?

I love you mommy.

(asked by Sophie as she is going to sleep)

Happy Anniversary

.........to us........i love you, david.......

Update on life

Hi all, sorry for the silence of late. We have had much difficulty with our wireless internet. It is so sporadic, and the weather seems to knock it out, so all this rain has done that. All is well here, we are gearing up for the end of school, only 5 weeks to go. All the kids have done really well this year, considering they all transferred to a school system that requires a lot more out of their students. My kids have risen to the challenge. I am proud of them all.

We have our garden in, all but the beans and sunflowers. And we are hoping that this rain has not drowned anything, everything is up so I am hopeful. Though the corn did take a beating.

Still working on spring cleaning and doing some sewing projects for selling. We are still flea marketing, at least on those days when the weather is clear.

Last week I hosted a blessingway for a friend and that was a blessing to me as well. Every time I look at the red string around my wrist I think of her and send her love and positive energies for her impending birth.

I hope to have more garden updates up soon. David and I will be celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary tomorrow, so more on that later.

I hope you all had a fabulous Beltane.

Blessings.