Some of My Creations of the Green Kingdoms in Minature

I am a lover of this Earth and the Green Kingdoms, I cannot get enough, inside and outside. I was a floral designer for 20 years but am now in some in betwixt state of ''being'' in this world but not of it. For a very long time I was very much into a spiritual life that took me more away from the physical life than it probably should have. I looked deeply at the workings of life on Earth, who is controlling the planet and how, etc. It made me ill. I wanted nothing to do with it but to leave. I found manufacturers extremely irresponsible, the trash of the world building up through wasted materials and disposals, the chemicals in everything and the mutations of every food we have now....the list is endless. I didn't participate because I wanted to be green and not produce garbage and waste from careless consumerism and temptations that come from China and all manufacturing/importing countries. I took myself out of the matrix.

Now I have taken a turn and am back into the material world it seems, complete with fiery passions for organic textures, natural colors, and being busy with playing with all these things. I want to engage this in an organic way, in a green way, as much as possible.

These pics are not good and what I'd do on a gifting level and for a business is much more detailed. 
I have many things I can do, many talents, and one of them is a clothing line. Another is an organic cafe.
Maybe this time I can earn a living from this as my friends have told me throughout the years, but which I always found very distasteful. I'm just not a business person, however...... I begin to play again.....

Throughout this blog is a mixture of my experiences and the things I create and like to play with. 
Health, Sustainability and Beauty always the uncompromising criteria.

crazy beautiful sweet potato vine basket

my ''toy garden box'' with eggplant, swiss chard, tulsi and lettuce

shade garden outside kitchen window

 a terrarium I made for a friends Xmas gift, who I share Sacred Tea Time with....notice the tiny tea set in there? The silver pot looks just like my Moroccan Tea Pot

another gift I ''put together'' for Xmas

miniature terrarium

From the Enlightenend Tooth Fairy

Hello Everyone...


who at some point has not had tooth/mouth problems? hummmm? 
Well this site, as I am, is about remedies. I don't believe in doctors unless for critical things like broken bones and emergencies. All else the body can heal on its own if it is given the right things for this healing. At this point in my life I'm addressing very seriously tooth/gum hygiene and proper care in the natural way. I just had a bridge put into the front and that was nothing but trauma, getting 2 perfectly good teeth drilled down to small things to fit a bridge. I never want to see a dentists office again. The trauma to my emotional body, the noise of drilling for 90 minutes piercing my ears, the horrid expense of thousands of $ and the aggravation of the whole barbaric scene is not for me. So prevention is the cure from now on. 
I've done pretty well mostly, but the bridge was necessary after a crown decided it didn't want to be there anymore after 13 years, it fell out. I had no choice but to replace the tooth. 


So I'm looking into ways to keep the rest of my teeth and gums in excellent condition so I will not have to regret anything later.
I've come up with a few things I do. One is I never ever never use toothpaste with fluoride. If you research that nefarious psychopathic ingredient you will see why. So I make my own toothpaste. I actually do make everything else I use on my body except for shampoo and conditioner......even though baking soda works as a shampoo as does vinegar for a rinse....it really does. Check this out for the ''No Sham''Poo" movement. Some are now saying that clay actually words better and this makes more sense to me and so I will try it out, next time I need to wash my hair.

So today I made another version of toothpaste because the one I usually use, is a mixture of baking soda and sea salt with pure essential oils. I love it, it makes my mouth feel really clean except I still want to see better results with my gums, and somehow brushing seems harsh, never mind the baking soda and sea salt. 
Today I made something I heard about using tooth soap, which is a mixture of water, olive oil, coconut oil, and essential oils. I had the ingredients on hand of course so I made it in a few minutes. I brushed with it and the softness with my teeth felt much better. I feel now this is soft enough to allow my enamel to grow back. 
Here is a good explanation.

I put into a little jar, half organic extra virgin olive oil, half organic coconut oil, and a blend of tooth serum I make myself too....which is a blend of neem oil, oregano essential oil. black cumin seed oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil and extra drops of peppermint oil for flavor. I would definitely have added tea tree oil but I was out and substituted the black cumin seed oil instead. I added about 25 drops of this serum to the oils and it tastes great and was very soft on my mouth.

I will let you know if this new tooth ''soap'' works for improving my gums.


tooth fairy blessings!

I Simply MUST have it

Ok...blogging world is officially making me nuts, crazy, wonky. I've been so spiritually strong for so long, so immune to the material world's temptation, excepting for the low cost must have's in the $20 or less range. But now I'm getting the illness of bigger things, more expensive things and I don't like it much. This below is the latest. I want everything in the picture. My imagination swoons to think of feeling those fabrics! That bedskirt I want as a dress. This has sent me on an hour long trek through the internet trying to find bolts of this fabric. I still have not found anything. I think I will have to make something like this......It's truly been on my mind and in my heart for so many years actually.....I think it's time. I'm tired of ignoring this passion I have for fabrics and making beautyfull things.
and whites...... OHHHHH


http://www.cottagechicstore.com/viewourbeds.ivnu
NEW FOR 2011




"Whisper Linen White Bedding" (Queen)
Headboard Twin: $1,650, Full: $2,000, Queen: $2,200, King: $2,600
Whisper Linen Duvet Cover: 520.00
Whisper Linen Euro sham: 139.00 each
Whisper Linen Standard sham: 114.00 each
Whisper Linen body pillow: 271.00
Linen fitted sheet: 252.00
Linen Flat sheet: 252.00
Whisper Linen dust ruffle: 400.00

You see the prices and why I cannot indulge even if I were crazy enough to want to. Therefore I will need to get sewing....and once I start, I know it won't end. Maybe this could be a good thing.

But where to find bolts of these fabrics?

My First Cookie Ever

Ok. So as I mentioned before I was greatly inspired by some bloggers who do so many things, taking care of kids, decorating, cleaning, baking....and I was inspired by one who made cookies to give to neighbors. I, thought, for some reason, I could do something so new and simple and just be neighborly and bake something.
I had to find a simple recipe and a video that demonstrated the whole process and I found this video, a demonstration by Laura Vitale. I thought it would be simple, I'd be done in about an hour, have them wrapped and with ribbons, in no time. 
Well it didn't work out that way and to describe my process would be a very very long blog which I cant do, plus I cannot remember every one of the setbacks and challenges I came across, one of them being that one cannot use whipped butter in recipes calling for butter in the baking world because whipped butter has much less density and doesn't amount to the same as stick butter. Then there was the baking pans, which I had to buy, but when finally ready to put them on I realized my roommate didn't buy nonstick ones, so I had to butter them, but when I did, I saw the silver come off on the napkin, so those had to be rewashed and put back into their plastic to be returned, and I had to borrow one....on and on it goes, but that was only the end challenges, there was the beginning ones where the butter wasn't melting with the sugar because I didn't use regular sugar but a natural organic turbinado one. 

Well it goes on but I'll end it here. I did however develop a passion in spite of the aggravation, I guess I was challenged lol, and it is for a snowflake cookie I saw in google images which originated to Paula Deen's snowflake cookie which is one of the most beautiful edible things I ever saw. I want to make a healthy version and I will.

Paula Deen's sugar cookie

Suffice to say, I did finish them, and I did decorate them simply after trying 6 different ways of doing so. 

Each gift was only 5 cookies and I know that is not nearly enough, but I had no idea how many would actually come out in the end and I simply could not stomach another batch LOL. 

But to those who received them, they were smiling very much and very appreciative anyway.

these were simply stenciled with powdered sugar

here they are being sprinkled with green sugar going to be wrapped in biodegradable dishes in background, then wrapped in clear cellophane and ribbon

almost done wrapping

finished

The Feminine Home Magazine

Ooohhhhh this magazine reminds me of the older Victoria Magazine, but purer in its essence, sans advertising or writings, but pure feeling, purely evocative. I NEED this magazine, I don't want it, well....yes, I do....but I need it more than want it. But at $37.00 per copy plus $10.00 shipping? Not sure I can do that.

It will give me life and I'll feel a pulse when I think I've gone to flatland.
This picture is basically how I truly feel inside. If I could wear these ephemeral fabrics that flow in the winds, you would see my truest inner self.

Organic Seasonal Fragrances

Today I woke up wanting to smell things, beautiful things, seasonal things. What came to mind was doing it naturally with what I have, what is seasonal and organic. I still have to have my windows to the home closed unfortunately, though I do air the house daily, but the humidity is still so high I need the AC on. But I want to smell wonderfulness. 

For some reason I thought of pomanders to scent the home and quickly realized it might work well because it was natural and the smells were seasonal and wonderful and they were pretty,  but I never made them before, but how difficult can it be? (Don't ask me about the ''simple'' sugar cookie recipe!) I don't know if they are truly scent-ful or not. But I happen to have some nice oranges only I needed more cloves than I had. And I knew I needed some cinnamon sticks because my friend asked for something Christmassy when she comes, so I knew our tea would have to have cinnamon. A nice Christmas Chai would be perfect. But I needed to buy the cinnamon sticks and since I decided to make some orange and lemon pomanders I'd need some more cloves. 

I also thought of the pine branches I have in the back of my car. I had gotten them from the Xmas tree man when they trim trees and he said I could take as much as I wanted. I took some very happily thinking I'd make wreaths with the grapevines I have sitting in the backyard waiting to be cleaned and turned into pine wreaths and give them to the neighbors as gifts, but my roommate cut them one day and the pile overwhelmed me so I never did it.

I got tired of looking at the tangled mess and told him to take it out to his composter friends' place. But soon after telling him that, and the grapevine were in the back of his truck, I felt terrible, my stomach had pangs of something wrong. I immediately realized it was the grapevine and told him to bring it back, because my spirit wants it for some reason. I thought deeply about it and wondered then what I'd do with it.....and came up with a lovely decorating idea for the front porch! I have now other plans for that grapevine, so stay tuned :D

So the wreaths and garland never got made but I was really happy with the pine branches in the back of my car because the smells were divine every time I got into it! I thought I'd never remove them. 
But today I wanted fresh pine. So I took the ones in my car and placed them with the reindeer in the front, to add to the woodland scene, and they look cute bordering the edges. I didn't put them inside the bed because I grow veggies in that bed and I didn't want pine needles in there because I believe they are acidic and I don't need that in my soil. I left the pine branches on the outside and when we have our one cold day of the winter, I can burn them in the fireplace. 

 

So then my mission was to go to pick up some more fresh cut pine branches to fill my car, so I can simmer them on the stove to scent the house and pick up cinnamon sticks and cloves from the Indian Market, which I did. Now the stove is simmering with the pine and the smells are heavenly.

Here is a pic of my first pomander and I think I'll make one of lemon.........

 

It is pretty, we'll see if it gives off a scent. I have it hanging right by the entrance on a hat rack. There is sheer mosquito netting panel on the door because on cooler days I like to leave the windows and doors open, but for some protection from little flying things that bite, I put the mosquito panel on the door but when its closed I drape it on the rack. It both offers a bit of protection and looks dreamy.
Blessings,
Lady

More Xmas Beauties

Hello Everyone,

I've  been sooooooo inspired by so many bloggers, hate that silly word, but the women are multi-talented, all professional homemakers, which is like saying a professional master of all crafts. They do gorgeous homes, in designing, decorating, maintaining, caring, upkeep, cleaning, organizing, tidying, and beautifying and making it a caring functional and cozy sanctuary for their families and for themselves. I've been inspired by them, and thankfully I did find some passion still left in my bones. It's been a very rough year and I thought I lost myself. If I can find myself ''only'' in refreshing the environment and ambiance of my own living space as opposed to saving the world as I believed my whole life, then so be it. And I have. I wish I could do more as in changing the looks for the seasons, but alas, no space or funds for that. BUT ! I am very happy with what I've done today and my only goal was to finish an indulgence in mercury glass that I got into only because the sales were 70% off and I'm almost embarrassed to say what I paid for these things, but they are no less extravagant in their look. Even my roommate came out to tell me he noticed, which is saying something. I will show you here. Apologies for bad pics, but I'm not a professional photographer and I'm grateful for the simple digital camera I was given years ago because it is still alot of fun sharing pictures whatever the quality, even if the date and time and year are all off.....it seems every year the numbers goes backwards lol.
This first is one of the buys of today, a small cakestand, my first in life, and I wonder how I lived without it. I had no idea what I would do for the table, only that it needed a new beautiful seasonal look using the mercury glass and candles. I'm not fastidious about design, as in themes of one texture or color or tradition etc.....only that I need to like it in the end. I used what I had mixed with the finds of the sales, and this is what came out. I decorated the small cake stand with the mercury votive holders and added fresh mood moss and tiny pine cones which I've had for a while. Then I added the rest. At the last minute when I saw the cloche bell standing in the kitchen alone, I glanced at the tablescape and simply placed it over the fresh poinsettia. After a minute of pondering, I added the pearl strings I had sitting on the sofa for some odd reason, then the metallic fruit which were sitting in another cache pot I keep out all year. Done.

This mini cake stand is about 6 inches round. very cute! There was a glass dome cover that did not have a bottom that I've been eyeing in the store for weeks now and finally I asked if they could sell it, and the first person told me no, but I sought out another manager myself and she was gracious, and sold me the dome for only 4$. It fits perfectly over this cake stand. I'm happy. Now I have a happier way of presenting sandwiches ! LOL what fun !

But for now this dessert stand is for the season of Xmas.

without flash. In the center is the incense holder, which looks mysterious and ancient with smoke wisping out of the openings on top.

with flash and before I added the metallic fruit. The tall thing in glass with colorful balls is a Galilean Thermometer. When it gets cold, the balls rise, when it gets hot, they fall. The gold drops at the base of each ball contain numbers which tell the temperature in Fahrenheit. cool gadget. Even thermometers in my home must be beautiful as well as functional.

a detail on the left

detail of the right side with fresh white poinsettia 

I'm almost done with my Xmas arrangements and I didn't think I'd do anything at all this year! I'm happy.

Happy Xmas!

**Christmas Beauty **

There is so much I should be blogging and maybe I'll catch up with all the ''amazing'', to me, stories and little things that have been happening in my world of late. But I cannot find myself spending time writing when I'm really into creating and imagining. So here I will post pictures I've been taking, as they may say alot more than I can. I will put some captions to explain some of them. Please do not mind the date and time, it is totally retarded, it goes backwards every year. LOL
Enjoy ! My favorite of the moment is first here, I find it sooooo beautiful.....please note the exquisite electric blue in the background as I took this picture around twilight.

This is my Lemurian Priestess accompanied by the milk glass and lites, cache of moss, Xmas tree outside and brilliant sky in background.

father time greets those who enter at eye level :D

I love my tree at night, but especially in this picture as the lights glow!

front of house

There is more to come........

My first EVER cookies I made in the spirit of Xmas thanks to some of the bloggers, women who work so hard for family values, their commitment to beauty, comfort, and nurturing, and who are masters at many crafts all at once! it boggles the mind.......and on my part, just a sense of long awaited freedom blossoming into cheer of the season for the first time in a long time.

And coming soon, some more pictures of my new creations working with the Green Kingdoms of the woods, my new great love, Mood Moss!

stay tuned, and many blessings for your own comforts and beauties!

Lady

Fairy's at Play Again....

Good morning all you beautiful people!

I'm in a very playful and peaceful place this past month. I'm not questioning it, just running with it :D and I'm enjoying it for every moment it offers, and when I lose it, I go back and re-member the place and begin to recreate it again. I have done this today. I seemed to have lost the glorious day I walked into when I awoke on Friday, and today I deliberately conjured it up again. What I did was begin to play with some of the beauties I have sitting around in my home, decorating, and making new beauty....which makes everything refreshing, and new, capturing, and captivating, inspirational, and evocative.....all of it.

What I did today was play with the milk white glass I had, that I had brought out in the middle of the night before yesterday because I could not sleep. Let me tell you the story.

3 nights ago, in the evening, I was thinking very much about my friend Yvonne. I cannot describe her accurately, but to say how magical and sweet, and creatively divine she is doesn't cover it at all. I adore her. I was very sad because I remembered all the times we spent together, especially the sleep overs in either her magical house or my magical house because I knew when I woke up she would still be around and I had more time with her, and how we played just like fairies, creating and inventing, squealing and laughing the whole time and with no less beauty than they can! And yes, as grown ups :D We especially love to go the Renaissance Faires together....what fun! 

I wondered where she was, why I don't hear from her, if I should call, would she answer, is she OK, or worst of all, if she was not into playing anymore due to hardship. It was a difficult time contemplating these things. I wished somehow over the years I could find a way to keep us together more often.

2 days later, I could not sleep so I browsed online to see some who blog, create, cook, decorate and oh so much beauty and joy and well organized lives of beauty these women create! I'm in awe of woman yet again. One vase in particular caught my attention.....a pure white creamy pitcher. It was either the picture or the photo or the combination, but it reminded me of a simple and pure feeling, one that I had within, and one that was expressed in some of my possessions, including the milk white glass. 
I had first fallen in love with milk glass when my friend Yvonne had a collection she displayed on a wooden mantle, with all the many milk glass vases glowing from within with candlelight. There is very little more magical than that. She graciously gave me one from her collection. It has been stored away for years with another I had received in a floral arrangement. Well this middle of the night before last, I saw that white pitcher and remembered, the feeling again, and again thought of Yvonne. I went into my cabinet, pulled out the two I had and thought dearly of her, who I haven't spoken to or heard from in over 10 months. My heart pained. I was sad for her and some of the events in her life and a bit afraid she may have been changed so much as to have outgrown me. I felt nostalgic for all the things we did and shared for she is the most magical person I have ever met. When we get together we become like two little girls who only know how to play with each other and make each other smile, with our tastes for beauty, creativity, comforts, joys, purity, innocence, and laughter. Only she is my equal in my life in this magic. 

I pulled out the 2 vases and thought of her. I wondered what I could do with these two vases, making them fit into the landscapes of my home as it is without making it more cluttered....it must be just right. I didn't know at the moment but said I would play with them during the day when I could think, and continued to browse online until I could sleep.

Then next morning, 10 minutes after awakening, as I lay on a bed laughing hysterically out loud at some of the funnies in the Readers Digest I was looking through to find out the planting lunar days, I heard a little girls voice calling my name through my open window......I got up thinking it was the little neighbor next door, but this voice was on my porch peeking into my window......it was Yvonne herself! Talk about squealing and laughing with joy! and magic......

I did it......with my thoughts and sentiments, I conjured her up right to my door, reminiscing about our magic together, the milk white vases, and all the talents she has, and here she is, at my door. I love her sewwww...mueeshhhhhh! 

When I'm with her, I'm not 52 years old, I'm 12 lol. 
I told her my magical story of how I thought of her and brought her here. I explained the whole thing, from the 2 nights previous thinking of her to pulling out the white glass she gave me and how she showed up 8 hours later at my window. Enchanting. This was yesterday.

Today I woke up a little happier having spent time with her in my own home, and having delicious healing orange blossom tea and sharing our latest events, I was very happy to find out she had not lost her magic, and neither did I and that we were the same together again. Very happy!

After Yvonne left yesterday I 'put together' the white vases simply in that I added a bunch of clear white quartz crystals to one vase, added a tea light, and the other vase I only added a tea light and put them on the window sill. Yvonne came back in the evening to pick up something I made for her, and the white glass vases on the window sill were quite magical! She loved them.

view from outside window

But today again, I wanted to play with the vases some more to find them their permanent spot....but because I loved the look of them glowing with tea lights as Yvonne requested while having tea, worked beautifully! lol...., I decided more tea lights would go into them and stay on the window until I could think of something better. So I added the tea lights to both vases, including into one quartz crystal cluster tea holder I always add one to every morning . I left the two vases on the window sill, but soon came back to find that the one in the crystal filled vase was already out. When I looked at it, it was empty, burned out while the other one was still full.....I had only lit them 15 minutes ago, they had 5 hours to burn! I thought maybe it had fallen over, but nothing had touched them and there was no wax anywhere, it was simply burned out. This is not normal. But I added another one, moved them to the table to be with the low crystal cluster, and walked away. 

But something was nagging at me...why did one burn out so fast? I went back to look at the candle to make sure it didn't fall over and melt over the crystals, and no it didn't. Somehow, this tea lite decided to burn in quantum time and when I thought about it, I saw it was the one filled with quartz crystals and looked truly other worldly, and I remembered my Fairy Friends who like to borrow things from me now and again. Then I knew they had taken the one, used it for one of their Fairy events or balls, and because of the strange thing that happens with time on either of our worlds, the candle was already burned out. I do admit it is beautiful enough and worthy for them, and so did they, so they borrowed it as they do sometimes with my lipgloss in a shade called 'champagne'. I love that we share things. lol.

And my favorite picture of them all........

Ginger Coconut Juice

Hello Everyone!

I found a new love! It happened when I was feeling lost and forlorn. I decided to go the Farmers Market and buy some gorgeous roses which had scented my home the week before. Some beauties named Light Orlando

But this week they didn't have this kind, so I bought another. But before I could get to the rose guy, there was a booth with a woman looking like she needed something to do, and I was starving so I bought a hot croissant sandwich and cappuccino from her. I sat and ate and it was quite satisfying. The cappuccino was amazing so I bought another. :D Not a good idea I realized later because I don't drink coffee normally as I get the geeby's and it wasn't until much later that I realized I was speeding LOL as I spoke to a friend on the phone really really fast, but he found it entertaining and laughed delightfully. 

But I was full and went on to buy olives, etc....when a juice stand caught my eye. The man behind the stand handed me a sample of something with Hibiscus in it and it was pretty good! Then he handed me another and I thought I was too full for another drop but the Tamarind was really good too! I looked at it more closely and saw they used only the real thing. Then he handed me another called Coconut Ginger, and this is when I felt like I woke up, was reborn! My eyes flew open and I made noises and gestures that made others laugh....including the man who handed it to me....He grinned and said.. 'ah!, you like that one!' .....yes! alot!.....I bought a liter. I sipped some before I got into the car to see if this was as delish as before and most definitely yes, it was definitely true love@! I knew I could not go back to Market every day to buy this, as they are only open on weekends anyway, and I didn't want to drive every weekend for this so I knew I had to make it. I hoped he told me what I needed, and that there wasn't some secret ingredient, but it did taste pretty basically like coconut and ginger. I wondered why it never occurred to put these two ingredients together when I have them on hand all the time! Certainly a portion of my brain disconnected! 
But I did buy some ginger to make lots, and more coconut milk. I went home and tried to do this. I simply peeled and cut up about 1/2 cup of ginger, put it into the blender, added a bit of water to help it to liquefy, then I added the coconut milk and tasted. It needed sweetener, so I added a bit of turbinado sugar to a little water since the coconut blend did need to be thinned a bit, and I tasted again. It needed more sweet so I added honey. I prefer the honey and will use only this next time. I then strained it, tasted it, and yes, it was love again. 

I've also been having a thing with Lime Juice and I kept envisioning this blend with a bit of this so I cut open a lime and added its juice to my glass.....and YES, this was more than true love, it was soul love! LOL.....I cut more lime and added it to the rest of the juice, bottled it into a pretty jar, and now I have something that causes me great joy and smiles and grins and happiness inside when I drink it! It wakes up my lagging spirit and feels like excitement. Its gorgeous! both inside and out! Nothing less than divine. I will post a picture when I make my next batch later today!

Try it.

Love, Lady of the Woods

Missing/Returned/Borrowed Things and the Elven Folk

December 21, 2010 post elsewhere......

oh I had a little fairy/elf here 2 weeks ago.
I have a lipgloss called "Champagne" I keep in a little zipper pocket in my purse. I usually don't misplace anything as I'm very organized and I hate to spend time looking for misplaced things so I don't do it.
My lipgloss I use about 6 times a day and I can reach into my purse blindfolded and pick it out which I do often. One day it wasn't there when I had used it just an hour ago. I looked everywhere. I emptied my purse inside out, moved the bed, looked in the car and called my friend to look for it there. It was gone. I replaced it with a new one, and had used it for a week in the little pocket in my purse. One day I reached in to use it and there were two. The one that was ''taken'' was ''replaced'' exactly where I had left it, in the little pocket.
No, no one else lives here.

August 24th, 2011

 It happened again folks.....this morning.....same thing.

I use the same lipgloss/balm, keep it in the same little pocket. It disappeared 2 days ago, and I said 'oh no, how could I lose this?? or maybe the ''elves'' borrowed it again? Cannot be!''
I looked high and low. Emptied the purse, squeezed it, refilled it with emptied contents, looked under the bed, side of it, car, all over the house. I thought I misplaced it. After 2 days, I replaced it with 2. Jokingly I said the elves took it again, but I really thought I lost it.
This morning I had a dentist appt and didn't want lipgloss on but I took a pink one for when I come out of the dentists and put it in the little pocket and left. Once out of that horrid procedure, numb and in shock, while at the receptionists desk, I opened my purse to put it on my poor dry lips, and there were two!.....the pink one I put in 2 hours earlier and the one that was lost.....yes, the very same one, half used.....sitting right on top of the pink one I put in. Soooo.....from the time I threw the pink one into the little pocket and ran out the door and the dentists reception desk, the ''lost'' one was returned. This is not normal. :D....I like ''not normal''......I just wish they'd explain themselves and show up!

Herbal Medicines in Tinctures

Hello Everyone!

Its the midst of summer here, hot and humid,,,,rather yucky imho (*in my humble opinion). But there are some things about summer which I do enjoy alot and that is some of the things that grow and fruit in this season.

However, this is about medicines, in tinctures. How I decided to embark on this is a bit of a long story, but suffice to say I needed something to calm me down and quick. I had begun to take some Chinese herbs that help to lose weight, not that I'm fat, but I want to lose a very obstinate 20 lbs, and without all the work I used to do as a bodybuilder and jogger. I know, not likely, but I do believe in miracles and am holding out for one! So I had taken these before and felt nothing and did lose the size, but they were pricey. I found them again in a Chinese market for much less but these made me so jittery and speedy and way too uncomfortable. I checked the labels and they were identical, but I responded so differently this time and felt like I was on another planet. (well...that's up for debate). I am hyper sensitive to any medications or anything, and these felt like I was on way too much Benadryl and caffeine both. I drink coffee rarely for this reason too. On top of that another herb I was taking was also ''energizing'' me and I had a really rough few days let me tell you! I decided I was having a major ''issue'' (before I realized it was the herbs), and decided I needed some serious medicines and decided to make some natural calming infusions. I looked into my favorite herbalist and forest witch Susun Weed as she always offers the most practical and simple ways to do things with the natural plant kingdoms as living conscious beings, so I love her and her work. She now has her own youtubes for demonstrations. 

I went to the healthfood store armed with my herb list for the bulk herb section and the blessing was that all the herbs were just restocked, fresh, fragrant and rich in color. I spent a full 20 minutes picking the various ones, labeling them and bagging them and got some extras....like Rose Buds!  

Even the rose buds were fragrant which I had never experienced with any previously dried roses either in bulk or bag anywhere! I buy rose buds from the Chinese store and add a drop of pure Rose Otto essential oil to the bag, shake it up and they all become infused with the pure scent which does carry over into the flavor of the tea. So I got some for my tea collection, and they were large buds, and when next I had tea with my friend, I added one for each individual glass teapot......the tea softened them and they slowly expanded grew and opened, it was sooooo beautiful .........a pure soft pink rose open and gently wavering in the amber liquid tea!......it was not one of the beautiful flowering teas that are made to perform beautifully in tea pots.....this was just a large dried rose bud and it worked equally well!.....but I'm drifting.....sorry ....lol......

So..... I made an infusion that looks beautiful in a large 2 quart mason jar and have been drinking it, before I realized once the herbs wore off, that the anxst was the herbs. 

However, the infusion made and gone by now, I also made 2 tinctures, one of Valerian root and one of Elder Berry. Tinctures are different in that they are made with a solvent like Vodka which extract the medicines out of the tougher parts of the herbs which are usually dried roots or berries as in my case. Which meant I had to go to an liquor store LOL and that was a funny/strange thing because I don't drink and those who do ''feel'' funny to me. The man behind the counter was an ''intellectual'' trying to impress? describing the various textures of the vodkas available. I sure needed help! seeing the whole wall filled with all kinds of vodkas and had no idea how to choose. I assured him this was not about taste or flavor because it was for making medicinal herbal tinctures. He stopped in his tracks LOL and blinked quite a bit, obviously never hearing that before in all his years, but I had asked for a good quality one which is what I heard recommended for tinctures. After all his long schpeels, I chose one, but when I went back online to make sure I had the process right, I realized I needed 100 proof vodka, and had to go return the one I had and buy another. My previous ''intellectual'' helper came in just after me for his shift, saw me there, inquired as to the health of my herbs lol and I told him I needed 100 proof vodka. I got the large bottle this time. When I was back at the register to pay for my bottle, he shooed the cashier there away, to ''take this one''. I smiled. He again asked how the herbal process was going. I asked him if he knew how to make wine out of Muscadine Grapes because I had quite a crop this year, and he said no....but asked if I would sell the tinctures once made. I said if they were really good, probably not....because I will need them, but if I had extra, yes.

These will be ready in August.

The Valerian Root is for calming, is sedative and relieves anxiety and helps insomnia. The Elder Berry is known for colds, flues, coughs and the like, actually boosting the immune system. I usually dont' have those, but just in case I bought them because they were fresh, and because they were so pretty lol and I'd heard how wonderful they are. And when I saw a little girl making the tincture herself I just thought I needed to try it myself because it is too easy, and such a powerful medicine. So, if I ever need it I will have it.

Healthy Blessings to all!

Summer and Mango Sorbet

Well this is summer and mango trees are everywhere and as many as there are they are coveted by their owners for their precious fruits, for their taste off the tree when ripe is like nothing else. It is by far my most favorite fruit. I have finally my own tree, grown fully in just 5 years but he only gave me 2 mangos. 

Luckily I have two neighbors whose trees give of dozens and dozens and I've had my share let me tell you! I've received even way too many that I could eat, freeze and store for future smoothies which go beautifully with pineapple! So as I had already a dozen on my table, my neighbor came to me with a dozen more! And I looked at them as his granddaughter stood next to him, and wondered what to do with them, yet I didn't want to refuse those perfect fruits! So, I had to come up with something delectable and practical with no waste! What's a Fairy to do? I decided on the spot to make Mango Sorbet. I can use them all and it will last a long time frozen. I can have the taste of Mango for a lonnnnggg time ! LOL. So as I accepted them from him I said, ''then I will have to make some Mango Sorbet! Do you like Mango Sorbet?" He said not him, but his granddaughter there does and she's standing there smiling in agreement. So I asked her directly with an impish Fairy like smile....."do YOU like Mango Sorbet''? and she smiled yes. That was it. I was to make some with all his mangos and give the Sorbet to her. 

So....researching online for simple recipes which do not need an ice cream maker I found plenty and it seems they only require a few basic ingredients, and many even ''strange'' combinations including tarragon?....but still the basic is what I was after and finally simply decided to forego any recipe and just mix what I wanted and see what happens. I did just that. I knew I wanted a creamy texture as opposed to just a crystal or icey one, so I knew I had to add something creamy, so I used the organic goat milk yogurt I had. I also knew I wanted a bit of sugar syrup which I made from organic turbinado, I wanted Rose Water, lime zest, and lime juice. There's the ingredients ! lol....whatever I wanted. I did spend the morning making it then putting it in the glass container and freezing it and the next day I sampled it and it was quite amazing!

Once I had the container of Sorbet for the little girl Liyah, I made a label for it saying "Mango Sorbet'' from Serena for Liyah. And she loved it so much, she made me a pink card she made herself with card stock, with pictures, and brought me a perfectly matching pink rose with it! What a divine gesture! She said ''I didn't like it, I LOVED IT!" lol......She doesn't know she has more coming :D

However, despite my greatest passion and intensity, I have sadly discovered there is such a thing as ''too much''....lol....and I had way too many mangoes still. They sat there sadly turning older and getting black spots and I just could not eat another one. Soooooo I decided to make MORE Mango Sorbet! It can always be kept frozen and enjoyed at any time, it was just doing all the work again with such a tiny food processor which I have for 25 years. But today was the day...sooooo......I put the music on and began. I had zested the limes, and juiced them. The Rose Water was ready as was the turbinado sugar syrup. Next,  I opened the can of coconut milk, but it was stuck and the can opener wouldn't open it so I had to use a knife. By some wierd accident, the stuck place gave in, but it splashed so much coconut milk all over me and everywhere else too!...the counter, the floor everywhere. So....what's a Fairy to do? I took the milk that has splashed on me and rubbed it into my skin! LOL.....it was the perfect moisturizer....and the rest of the splattered milk I could grasp I spread onto the rest of my skin. *grin*....all else was wiped up.

However, I HAD to figure out how to make it all in one bowl, in one batch as that would surely make my life easier than making the many smaller batches I would have had to with over a dozen mangoes!

And lo and behold, a Christmas gift I had given to my roommate proved my savior. I had a huge wooden bowl in which I mixed all the mangos and then all the other ingredients sitting pretty waiting to be added were there....well.....just needed to be added, and the Smart Stick is a tool that you can use to mix right in the bowl. It was so easy! Next I tasted it, it was perfect. And all I had to do now was put the Sorbet in their containers which I did. Tomorrow I will enjoy some more, hopefully with a creamier texture with the added coconut milk.

Tomorrow I shall have a luscious beautiful Mango Sorbet, peach colored, delectable and divine, exotic and reminiscent of Paradise or Heaven.....to serve anyone who needs a bit of Magic of Nature! as of course, I always have that! and plenty of it too!

Ascension Mechanics

Hello Everyone,

Greetings and infinite blessings of joy to all.
It is with some reticence that I post anywhere of late, due to the uncertainty of the current chaos we live in, who is reading, and how what is read is received/understood. So I have decided to try and post only that which may be of help, and hopefully useful or uplifting. I have learned that the usual way of participating in group forums has not really produced the hoped for results, so I am being extra studious.
That said, I wish to share some information on the one thing we all (?), I assume, are wanting......and that is ''Ascension''. This is also my greatest prayer. 

When I was younger I remember seeming to be born with the mantra ''I am here to help Humanity, to help Earth'', and I have lived by that to my best throughout all the storms and rug-pulls and WTH's of my life. I kept the mantra believing it defined my purpose and who I was. I have no clue what the past 50 + years have done in that regard, so recently I have decided I can change it to something that may produce different or better results, after all these years. I'm working on my new mantra, it is the wordless hearts desire for Ascension or Light Body Activation for, yes.....gulp.....myself (a seeming selfish desire).....however, I am OK with it now :D.
And so with that, I have recently come across some works who speak of this Ascension process, its mechanics, very elegantly and inspiringly....and the first is William Henry's "Morph: The Secret of Light Body Activation"  DVD available from his website. I agree with all he says oddly, and I believe he comes to his information from his personal power of thought, through his own investigations and unique piecing-together process, and I like the results. He is called The Investigative Mythologist for good reason. I've not been able to find/watch any of his videos online anywhere, and someone recently gifted me a set of his DVD's. I'm just finishing the 3rd CD of this title and plan on listening to them over and again, because I keep feeling the Lights turn on within me like ' I CAN DO THIS!'.... like I can actually intend myself into a Light Body, which has been what I've wanted most secretively for as long as I've had a body, I seem to want to get back out of it and ''return to The Lightness of Being''.
A comment from his site: "OUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO MORPH.......Throughout the Ages the wisdom schools have taught that our true selves, our true potential and our highest purpose involves Transfiguring, Metamorphosing or “Morphing” into the next level of human evolution as light beings. The light form is composed of finer vibrations than our physical body. It gives form to our physical body. It’s been termed the immortal body, the Christ body, and the Etheric body among other names....''. ~ end.

The other is a talk given by Jim Self "Ascension: What is It? What is Possible and How to Get There". I took one of his weekend workshops and was impressed a bit. He seems to get better with time. He is definitely ''plugged in'' as they say, and ''in tune'' with the Higher Realms, I find he speaks alot of Truth. In one of his talks he is also speaking about the mechanics of Ascension, how to do it according to the ''archangels'' with whom he speaks. ''They'' are saying now is the time, and time is running short....but that now is ''the time'' to create our Ascension.....we can 'Ascend ourselves'.

There are many others speaking about Ascension and this can be researched with a caveat of high discernment.

I'm feeling that a lifetime of a mission of helping Humanity and the Earth is well done. 

The Earth and Humanity is on a set path now, and I'm now feeling a distinct responsibility to my Self. A lifetime of assisting in unknown ways has come to an empty end and it is for me, a time to ''return to innocence''. 

 
But I'm also seeing this with alot of other wonderful people who I feel are sadly channeling their energies outside in events of the world, the outer noise, and thus are feeling a great frustration and lack of movement on their/our path. I think this is due to a focus expended in a non regenerative direction, non nourishing, and non replenishing..... the outside, the noise..... resulting in an emptiness and ever expanding void......causing a leakage of precious energies, as opposed to an inner focus of watering our own seed of ascension potential, where we are desperately each one of us needing to bring in more energies of a nourishing kind, a sustaining blessing we can give ourselves......which always elicits a degree of elegant inner peace and personal power....in a sacred silence filled with possibilities. 

 
I also feel that in focusing on our inner transformation, not just inner peace, but a real and utter transformation, we are setting in motion the very alchemical process most needed for this planet, for the resonant effect of our transformation on a molecular and DNA level always affects everything around us physically as well.....and this transformation is the ultimate thing we can do for the planet now, in my opinion. It is as William Henry says, the true Holy Grail. The truth of that is dizzying.

I'm sensing there is a desperate attempt by the poopy-pants/divergent forces to keep our attentions, down to the last drop, directed away from the true ''powers that be'', namely our personal Inner Diamond Lights, and surely most of the stuff we are reading/hearing is not only being repeated in redundant ways, but more ''stuff'' is being created, literally created, to in fact, keep our focus and feelings tied up in the smokescreen of their illusion, away from the Jewel which is our own Inner Transformation, our Inner Diamond as I'm now calling it. This is the real sabotage. It makes no sense to keep track of chaos or the decomposing world.

And so it is with great sobriety and sincerity that I entreat the luminaries here and elsewhere, to assist a Divine Calling that we gather our strength, our wits, our magic and yes even pixie dust, to activate our Diamond Lights, ignore the fruitless outer noise, and with great devotion and intention, and a collective effort on all our parts, begin the act of our True Divine Calling, the transformation of our Selves, now.... while we are getting the ''current assistance'' in doing the very thing that is the ultimate and final purpose of our being here on Earth.
This, is what I feel we can do for Goodness in all directions, a complete 360 degree wave of Illumination for All.
Infinite Blessings,
Serena
Lady of the Woods

"Credendo Vides"
By Believing, One Sees.

Walk in Beauty
She Who Walks in Two Worlds
"Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo"
"a star shines upon the hour of our meeting", an Elvish greeting.
Love the Mother with all your heart, and you will know Love.