Friday, October 24, 2014

this moment

right
this very
moment


 on my way
home

an everyday moment
that i never
tire of.

:)

happy friday!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

speaking of which

or is that
witch
as i continue
preparing
today
 a concoction
or rather decoction 
of elderberries
that when blended
with
cinnamon
clove 
and ginger root
resembles a 
good ol' fashioned
brew


a brew whose purpose it is to
prevent cold and flu
with its antiviral
properties
or if needed
to ease cold symptoms

yea
you had me at hello


after simmering the above
ingredients
in 2 cups water
until it is reduced by half
it's time to strain


pressing out all the
goodness
from the elderberries
and finally adding
the golden elixir


ah
honey
sweet, delicious
honey
that will coat your sore throat
if needed
and taste great
while doing it

then
ever so carefully
pouring the
Elderberry Syrup
into a jar


to be stored in the frig
when cooled

just a spoonful of syrup
each day
to keep the bugs at bay
or
1 tablespoon an hour 
if symptomatic


i've gotten in the habit
of dating my 
medicinals
because
as we know
time has a way
of sneaking
slipping
ticking
running at
breakneck speed
by.

To make your elderberry syrup
go to you tube
for a great mountain rose
tutorial.

(Although it is said that it keeps for
2 weeks, respondents claim
it is good for
the winter...which is my
experience)

To your health
my pretties.

Monday, October 20, 2014

preparing

as i challenge myself
to find
just the right word 
for this time of year
preparing
seems as good as any



our days
are filled to the brim
with
a battening down
of the
hatches
in hopes that the
hatches will
hold 

last minute details
to secure the fort
from the cold
that has slowly ebbed its way
in
causing a roaring fire to
appear each
 morning
and
night 
since i stubbornly refuse
to turn on the furnace
which sucks precious
humidity
from our home
and causes a shock wave
when the bill appears
so 
stoke the fire
i say
 right along side
closing the pool tightly
storing lawn furniture 
sealing the drive
painting the trim on the porch
( a job that summer couldn't be
bothered with)
trading petunias for pumpkins
replenishing the dogs straw bedding 
hoses and spades
taking a break while the
rakes and shovels 
clock in

even the baby shower
of yesterday
speaks of
what's to come

preparedness
like readiness
so not to be caught off guard

what would we do
without
those jiggly bouncers
that imitate mom's arms!?

hmmm...

funny
when asked to share 
a pearl of wisdom
with the
mommy to be
i wanted to say
forget all those silly shower gifts
you already have all you need
instead
i told my sweet niece
to ignore the naysayers
because
the family bed is the best
way to ensure a full night's sleep.

i think i hear the
amen sister
from all my 
attachment parenting
le leche league
supporters
of yesteryear.

sadly
by its very nature
preparing
can steal away from 
the now
of things
thinking too much of what's
to come
rather than 
what is



for today
i vow
to look out my window
and see
beauty on the golden path
that lies at my feet
rather than
see the raking that need be done
before
the snow arrives.

another challenge
that i will
take on
boldly.

Monday madness.
Meatless Monday.
Make a Memory Monday...
yeah,
let's go with that one.

Friday, October 17, 2014

this moment

right 
this
very
moment


upon
opening my door
to welcome
fall

happy weekending!


Friday, October 10, 2014

this moment

right 
this 
very
 moment...


won't you 
sing along?

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

take heed

a cautionary tale
whose beginnings
were founded
in the leaves of a book


a book that spoke
to my
natural tendencies

spoke to the healer
within


the nurturer

the earth mother

one who follows
her intuition

or so i thought.

Maybe the telling was in 
the simple desire 
to purchase a book
on 
healing remedies
and an innate
need
to learn more about 
the power of 
botanicals


and so i studied.

taking it in
gathering essentials
a modern day 
wildcrafter


foraging

and then
on a warm early fall day
headed out to clean the yard
when a small voice warned
these are not the right shoes for the job


and i responded
defiantly and went about the
work.

which came to an abrupt 
halt
when my foot
met up with


a 4" galvanized nail
two inches of which
found its way into the arch of
my foot

and i turned into a 5-year-old
with a boo-boo
face

quickly followed by
rinsing
soaking
bandaging
and a next day
doctors visit for a tetanus shot
and a bout of antibiotics

ah,
but the tale ends
not there


one week passes
and i go for a
walk/run with james
(whom i wish were as young as
the pic above...damn that ticking clock!)
all is going well
we just left the gym
feeling strong
deciding to incorporate a cardio routine
on this beautiful fall day

the

is within feet
and again i hear 
that voice 
which 
 tells me to remember
this trail has a black walnut tree
up ahead
and maybe i should...


and that quickly
my ankle gave way
to a nut
and i had to be escorted
to the car by my
(thank God he's grown so big and strong!)
teenage son.

R.I.C.E.
rest (yea, right!)
ice
compression
elevation
and
more ice

Lavender Ice.

which aids in healing
bruises 
reduces swelling and pain.

all that is left is the wondering

why did i stubbornly ignore
a simple warning?

Is it to prepare me for
something i must
not disregard
so lightly?

a not-so-gentle reminder to
pay attention?

 and so
i take this lesson in
listening
as if foraging a wildflower

and carry it with me
for
i will most definitely
be listening
to that
still
small
voice.