food instead of sun

I had some goals for this summer.  One of them was to be at the beach a lot.  The weather decided that as of the end of July I would only have been to the beach twice and no swimming has taken place.  Making the best of things I have been cooking and baking and putting up food for the winter months. 

There has been fresh raspberry chocolate chip muffins, banana pecan bread, parsley pesto, farmer's market lemon tarts with whipped cream and fresh blueberries, basil popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, radish dip, and homemade (still in perfecting mode) creamsicles.  I am rather obsessed with all things lemon right now whether it's lemonade, yogurt or the said tarts.  So whether the sun is shining or not the eating around here has been good.  Despite the lack of beach whether my garden is growing along nicely and I'll be back soon with an update on it.  Here's to a weekend of good food no matter what the weather. 

Book of the Month: July

I think I've mentioned before that I'm a Starhawk fan.  I haven't read all of her books but the ones I have read were important steps on my spiritual path.  The Fifth Sacred Thing Starhawk's first work of fiction remains a magical story to me.  It takes the reader on a journey into an ideal city that was so poignant to me when I read it 11 years ago that it has stayed with me.  I borrowed it when I read it back in university and just bought it because it will hopefully soon be made into a movie.  Starhawk is in the process of raising funds and putting together what must be a huge team of talented people to make this pagan work of fiction into a film.  Such a great endeavor and I can't wait to see it.  In the mean time though I'm going to read it again.  There are several places to visit to read more and help out:

Starhawk's blog

Kickstarter fundraising page (including a trailer for the movie)

Facebook page

 After reading this you should also check out the prequel called: Walking to Mercury

My go-to stone

Over the years I've written about my relationship with semi-precious stones.  I have more stones than I've written about but something happened recently that sparked my desire to write about these earrings.

Blue Chalcedony is the stone.  And since I purchased these earrings, 6 years ago now they have helped me through many a stressful situation.  Chalcedony is a form of Agate which is believed to have been formed millions of years ago during volcanic eruptions.  It comes in several different colours.  I love this pale blue and the translucent quality it has.  

A few weeks ago I went to remove these earrings before bed and noticed that I only had one on.  The day had been long and I was distraught.  What would I do without these?  I made a half-hearted search due to my weariness and just put the other one away and went to bed.  If I would have looked closer when I placed the one into my little wooden earring box I would have noticed that the other one was in there...I must have removed it earlier in the evening.  I was so glad when I found both of them safely waiting in their box the next time I wanted them.  It may be silly to be so attached to a pair of earrings, but I take my stones seriously and I appreciate them, especially in jewelry form.

Blue Chalcedony can be used in working with the throat chakra.  It is ruled by the moon and is linked to the zodiac signs of Cancer and Capricorn.  It imparts feelings of optimism and promotes creativity.  As a healing stone it helps the immune system, has anti-inflammatory properties and lowers blood pressure and body temperature.  I wear these earrings when I feel like I need calmness and centering.  I do consider it my go-to stone.  

Poem of the Month: July memories

12 summers ago I drove across Canada with a former boyfriend.  It was a cross off of my bucket list and I wrote from time to time in a small handmade journal.  This poem came from watching rolling hills somewhere in Saskatchewan, the above photo didn't.
 

July 31, 1999

in her golden dress

she dances on the clouds

the vast blue is her blanket

the rolling hills her home

she is the prairie

nourishment's name

time, time, time...

see what's become of me...do you know that song?  This version was going through my head when I wrote that. Not seasonally appropriate granted but the sentiment works for this moment.  This week has been busy, some of us have taken big steps towards independence, there have been meetings, weeding, planting, growing, sunshine and rain.  Full on, it's been full on.

with a backpack that is too big (I carried it for him after this photo was taken) my 3 and a half year old big boy went to his first pre-school class this week.  Pre-school playtime is what it is called, the theme this week being teddy bear picnic.  He was a bit hesitant but there were no tears when I left (on his part).  He was brave and felt secure enough to enjoy his time there, not wanting to leave 2 hours later when I returned to get him.  It was hard to leave him.  I was very emotional about it and in a way I still am.  Friends have assured me that it gets easier every time you drop them off.  I'm not sure that the pace of this growing up thing will work with the pace of mama's heartstrings but I'll be alright.  What was/is important to Dave and I is that he is ready.   We may never be.  There are flashes of time as a parent when your child's life flashes before your eyes, not just the past but the future steps as well.  And that is very full on.  And that happened this week.

Rhubarb forever

There has been some wonderful rhubarb writings in blogland these last few weeks.  I am a lover of rhubarb truth be told.  It still grows behind the barn on the farm I grew up on.  Rhubarb butterscotch pie is my absolute favorite kind of pie (no strawberries needed!) and I was treated to it twice when home this June.  My mom made one and my grandmother made one.  I also tasted my mom's rhubarb relish this year and it is really good with meat.  Rhubarb is that versatile.  In the interest of making my front garden edible as well as lovely to look at I have planted an heirloom variety rhubarb there with the name Victoria (three guesses as to who it is named after).  This vegetable needs to be left alone the first year it is planted so no harvesting this year but I can wait for something this good. 

 This plant is nice to look at too which is a bonus to it being so tasty.  I wanted to share the wonderful writings I've come across about it this year:

growing rhubarb tips

how to grow it and a recipe for rhubarb crumble

rhubarb muffin recipe

Spread the rhubarb love around.  Eating in season is so rewarding to the taste buds!

creatively speaking

That ever elusive spark called inspiration strikes one when you'd least expect.  I both love and hate that.  Love because it sends me places full of ideas and artistic dreams, and hate because it usually happens when the day's chores are stretched out before me with no end in sight.
I know that I can choose to ignore them and make things.  Sometimes I do.  It rarely happens though when you have a young baby.  They just seem to need you at the exact moment you were about to begin.  But as the story has gone since the beginning of time...babies cease to be such in a very short time.  So I dream, take notes (mostly in my head) and let inspiration flow through me without being fulfilled.
A new (to me) blog that I'm loving is Spirit Cloth.  It follows the work of artist Jude Hill from New York state.  Just glorious embroidery and cloth work.  She often lets cloth stain under leaves, flowers and such.  I've been admiring the delicate patterns and how Jude layers her work building a piece in such an organic way.
Some imagery that is inspiring and comical at the same time here.  Don't you love the teamwork?  It's amazing how relevant the chores and fashion are to today's homesteader movement.  Classics never go out of style.
Yesterday Heidi Joy and I spent time at the fabric store.  It is such a pleasure to talk fabric, compare projects and enjoy her company.  I am making new pillows for our living room which is almost complete!  Photos to follow in  few months (let's be realistic here).
Well my time for reveling in the creative world has come to a close for now.  I've had little snippets here and there for the past three months and soon there will be more time.  Here's to the inspiration of summer, cloth and circa 1940's farm girl models.  Happy weekend to you.