Cleo

This is the view I was greeted with when I opened the front door this morning to let Katy out and to begin my yoga practice. Isn't she beautiful? She's an Egyptian Mau/Tabby mix. My Cleopatra.

Garden Delights

The Bee Balm (Monarda) was host to a lovely butterfly as well as lots of bumble and honey bees. Isn't it beautiful? I just got some red bee balm last week, unfortunately it is just a tiny plant, no blooms yet.

This is my Mugwort,(Artemisia) it is as tall, if not taller than I am!! It is gorgeous and I am so happy that it is doing so well. This was a small pot that I got from the local herb garden shop last summer.

Isn't she lovely? Great Spangled Fritillary. She really enjoyed the bee balm, the bees didn't frighten her at all.

In all it's glory, Bee Balm.

Sophie's carrots, she can hardly wait to pull them. We checked a bit under the soil and they are about as big around as the tip of my pinky finger. Not just yet, I'm afraid. But soon.

A Bevy of Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Cody, he turned one year old on June 10TH. I can't believe its been a whole year since I helped his mama, my little sis, bring him into the world.

Happy Birthday to little John, who was three on June 12! He is my daughter Laura's unofficial step son. We hosted his birthday celebration at our house on Friday. What fun he had!





Happy Birthday to two sweet boys!

New Yoga Poses

I have recently added two new poses to my yoga practice. The first one is Parsvottanasana, a forward bend that looks easy enough, but gives a powerful stretch to the hamstring, calve, and quadricep muscles. It is tougher than it looks. But feels wonderful!
I am enjoying getting a little looser with it each day.

The second pose is called Pigeon Pose and it too, looks deceptively easy. The balance is the thing with this one. It opens up the hip joints and creates amazing flexibility in the hips and thighs. Yummy!

Give them a try.

Delicious Yoga!

I am really enjoying my yoga practice outside. The morning is the time I like best. Since turning forty last year and doing a lot of gardening and running after a four year old, I often wake up with stiff joints and sore muscles. My morning usually begins with a bottle of water and yoga on the porch. There is noting like stretching into downward dog and several sun salutations to wake up those muscles and get my spine loosened up for the day. It gives me such a sense of well being. I am so thankful that my body is able to do yoga. There is nothing so delicious in the morning. Except maybe this;

Oatmeal~Yogurt Cream

1/3 cup[ finely chopped almonds 2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 cup rolled oats 1 1/4 cups creamy plain yogurt

grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon or orange 1 tablespoon chopped almonds

heat the broiler. Mix together the chopped almonds and the oats. Spread out on a baking sheet and place under the hot broiler for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently to brown evenly. Leave t cool.

Mix the lemon or orange zest with the maple syrup ad stir into the yogurt. Fold in the almond mixture. Spoon into individual glass dishes ans chill until required.

Top with toasted almonds and enjoy!

*from The Yoga Cookbook *

Wheel of the Year

Here, finally is a picture of the finished wheel of the year, that I had painted on the temple ceiling. I have to thank David, for the idea and painting the outline; Mare, Emily and Josh for adding some of the color. I am very happy with how it turned out and it serves to make the temple even more unique than it already is. Thanks and blessings.

Thoughts on Belly Dancing

Belly dancing has been a passion of mine since 1999 when I took lessons with a Nigerian student at UT. She was a very good teacher an taught me the traditional artistic folk dance along with the modern American version. I really enjoyed dancing and practiced it studiously for some time. When I divorced in 2002, I let some of my dance time go, as a new love interest and new job took up a lot of my time. When I became pregnant with Sophie I began dancing again, though not regularly, it helped with the aches and pains of being pregnant at 35! After she was born, I continued dancing and included my little poppet by dancing with her in my arms. She took to belly dancing as soon as she could walk and still loves to dance to this day.

However, I have not danced an actual dance in ages. The last time I did was a ritual dance in honor of the Goddess. Belly dancing is a wonderful way to honor and celebrate the joy of living the Goddess path. I always think of the way that a woman's body is used belly dance and how that is so akin to the way it is used during sex, and during childbirth. "All acts of love and pleasure are My rituals", that is from the Charge of the Goddess, and I believe it is the truth. There is no better way to honor and serve the Goddess than by using your Goddess given body in rituals and fun. So with that in mind, I have decided to dust off my coin belt and give the Goddess the honor She deserves. Join me!

Here is a beautiful and informative link to get you started; Visionary Dance. Enjoy!

An evening stroll in the garden

Yellow Day Lily

The Hydrangea is pink this year, due to the ash of last year's yellow jacket nest burning, I guess.

More yellow day lilies, so pretty.

The vegetable garden, corn, potatoes, squash.

Sophie's first fire fly catch of the night.

Red geraniums from the trash! Pagans know that red geraniums have protective properties for your home. I have five pots of them!

Cleo, following me through the garden, blurry because she would not stay still.

Buddleia, butterfly bush, yummy vanilla scent.

Garlic blooms, gorgeous!

The tomatoes, one lone sunflower, spinach, carrots and broccoli and peas.

Taking it outside

This morning I took my yoga mat out onto the porch for the first time this year. It is finally consistently warm enough in the mornings. I really enjoy practicing yoga outside. The combination of bird song, fresh morning air, sunlight and the tinkling of the wind chimes makes for a delightful practice and it easy for me to relax and focus on the poses and breathing of yoga. This morning and yesterday morning, Katy joined me with her own version of the authentic "downward dog", right on the yoga mat. lol Beautiful!

Creek Adventuring

Yesterday, David and I took Sophie to the city park with the creek. They took a little net and caught some minnows to observe in a jar, as well as a few crawdads, (cray fish). There were many wild plants growing along the creek and I snapped a few shots of some of them.We also harvested some of the clay that is in the creek bed. It is a beautiful grey/blue, we will see what it turns to when cleaned and dried. (Look for a post on doing that very soon.)

Yellow Dock

I thought this was a kind of water cress but I can't find it anywhere, anyone know what it is?

Curly Dock (I think)

Family Full Moon Wish Spell

Today is the Full Moon. In honor of Her loveliness this night, here is a sweet Full Moon Wish Spell to share with your children.

Family Moon Wish Spell

Time: Any Full Moon

Tools: Bonfire or fire pit (or small cauldron)

Scraps of white paper

Silver and blue markers, pens, colored pencils, or crayons

Herbs: jasmine, rose, lavender & rosemary

1. Set out a bowl of the mixed herbs for each member of the family who will be participating.

2. Gather in a circle around the bonfire or cauldron. Hold hands and meditate for a moment, mentally casting the circle. Have someone call each of the four directions.

3. Pass around the paper and writing instruments. Have everyone write down everything they wish to manifest by the next full moon. Do not hold back on this step, even if it seems ridiculous, put it down.The younger members who cannot write yet can draw pictures or have older members help them. Remember to vigilantly watch anyone younger than ten around the fire.

4. Welcome the Moon Goddess by saying:

Tonight we welcome the Moon

Round as the mother's womb

We send our wishes out into the night

To be heard by the Goddess bright

From full to dark then full again,

Please grant us our wishes by then.

5. Have everyone throw their wishes into the fire, followed by a handful of herbs to seal the spell.

6. Clasp hands again and watch the papers curl and burn. Meditate on the idea of your wishes soon being fulfilled.

7. When you are ready, break the silence and open the circle.Do not forget to thank the Goddess and God.

8. Bring out snacks and drinks and enjoy the fire. Feast and talk.

Red Clover!

I finally have Red Clover growing in my gardens! I am so happy. I have tried ever since we moved here to get some to grow~we have tons of white clover, but no red. I gathered some seeds last year and tossed them around on the back bank, and tada! Beautiful, glorious Red Clover!

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is one of the best detoxification herbs and respiratory tonics, red clover is especially useful for easing chronic chest complaints such as coughs, colds, and bronchitis. Red Clover is rich in minerals, most notably calcium, nitrogen, and iron. It is used for all skin conditions, as it is an excellent detoxifier or blood purifier. It is commonly used in anti tumor formulas. It is mentioned as a folk cancer remedy in Jethro Kloss's Back to Eden. It is one of the ingredients in Hoxsy, a formula used at alternative cancer clinics in Mexico.

Red Clover is found in pastures and gardens. Leaves are trefoil shape, sometimes mottled with a paler shade. Flowers are purple-pink (not really red) globes and are richly honey-scented. Considered by herbalists as being a Goddess-given remedy. A pleasant tasting herb,red clover is beneficial to young and old.

Red Clover flowers are the part most often used, although the leaves are beneficial too. A small amount of the flowers may b eaten raw, shredded into a salad. Make red clover tea by infusing a heaped teaspoonful of the flowers in water just off the boil, allowing to steep well and then sweeten with honey. Red Clover makes a delicious tea. Blend it with other herbs, such as mullein, for persistent respiratory problems. In addition, you can use the tea for building blood and improving the skin. The tea or tincture can be used when there are growths on the body such as cysts, tumors, and fibroids.

Caution: Hemophiliacs or people with "thin" blood should not use red clover regularly, as the herb can exacerbate the condition.

*Sources: The Family Herbal, Common Herbs for Natural Health, 101 Medicinal Herbs*