Happiness

Happiness is warm sun—ha, ha! Well, happiness is a lush garden, a beautiful sunset, a wonderful smell of rain in the air, a laughing child. I'm thinking this morning that now at the end of the year, happiness is a goal. You all know I've been through hell this last year with the divorce and move, etc. And I've had lower than low points emotionally. And now, I'm free. In my freedom I at first thought I might go wild. Be like a teen again, but now, I'm feeling different energy. Perhaps like a growing plant, reaching for sun and water. Or perhaps like a child, discovering new each day, or each moment even. So now as I experience happiness, I want this to be my way of life. Even if it isn't every moment that I feel happy, I can aspire to more strung together.

AMAG, the chaneled Masters. say that this brilliant state of joy is our natural state. I know I experience joy or bliss from time to time, but not all the time. What would that be like? Something to taste, maybe slowly, taste every day, more and more. Ways to taste this bliss, think of the grandbaby running his fingers through my hair when he turns shy meeting new friends, or discovering a bloom on a orchid, or having my cat curl on my lap, laughing with a friend, hiking in the snow, listening to the birds, sitting with a crying friend. Yes, even that last one has an element of joy in it. Whenever we feel our hearts connect and it is beautiful.

Now I know this is a contrast to what I was writing back in August. I was just hanging in there. I've done multiple things to heal: Vit D, writing, sitting with friends, therapy, acupuncture, exercise, art. You name it, because it takes everything to get over loss. And it is still here inside of me, like a bulb underground, and it could grow, if I gave it something to grow on. But right now, here at the new year, I'm into happiness and I'm inviting you to try it out too.

Hugs, Flower

Winter Walk

Yesterday I walked around Lake Padden with a friend. The snow was still a foot deep near the top of the trail and very wet, puddles beneath it in places, but it was a sunny day and the air smelled so good and the company was good. The maples were dripping tannin-like substance, staining the snow beneath then. Winter wrens were chirping. The moss and the ferns were bright green against the white. Nature in winter, ah so good to get out. It isn't always possible if you live in a place where it's blowing and very cold. But here, we get those springier days, even in winter. And when the sun comes out so do the people. And people were out on the trail with their dogs, walking around the lake on the icy trail, passing by the lake with its skim of ice close to shore. We took the high road, which was snowier and easier to walk. Stopped once to listen to the wrens. My friend is an ornithologist, so I got some instruction on the birds in the woods at winter.

And when we dropped around to the lake, a number of ducks were feeding near shore. He pointed out the canvas back, the ringed neck duck, the grebe, merganser, and of course the one I know, the mallard. Ducks aren't my forte, although I know many birds. I guess we're more familiar with the birds we grow up around: crow, robin, sparrow, swallow, owl.

I've heard that ducks and geese make good weeders for fields of mint. Have you ever driven past a field of mint? Ah, the aroma. When I had ducks and geese, I didn't find them good for the garden. Their feet were too big and they waddled through the seedlings, mashing them. The chickens were okay, although sometimes they got too exuberant in the newly sprouting garden. I'm sure you've seen them really going at it, scratching the soil to find the bugs. They loved the tomato worms, those big worms that look like they have huge eyes. Very disgusting creatures that eat your tomatoes like crazy. Fortunately, they are easy to see and pick off.

Must go now, as I have the grandbaby today. Happy all most New Year.

Flower

Chinook Winds

When I was growing up in Spokane we, even as children, would speak of the Chinook winds. The winds that would come from the south, warm winds that smelled like spring, blew through the night and when we awakened in the morning, all, or mostly all of our lovely snow was gone. So now, we are having a Chinook. I looked out there this morning and mostly all of the snow is gone. I'm close to sea level, so up hill it will remain, I'm sure. But here we are back to our usual weather, which is both a good thing and a sad thing--I didn't get out on my skis like I'd planned. But the sledding was satisfying in a way that nothing has been in a very long time. There will still be ski opportunities, this winter.

As we come up on the end of the year, some reflection on the past year usually happens and then some goals are usually set. What I like to do is keep an on-going journal for New Year's Eve celebrations. Usually I spend some time writing down what I did during the year--significant things. Of course, 2008 was my divorce year. And then I make some intentions for the following year--for instance this year I want to find a new place to live. A place that I can really move into and feel comfortable. This place of 525 square feet is like living in a hotel room. And I pay for monthly storage fee as well--which seems to be a waste of money. To have all my belongings here would feel more settling.

Now that the snow is going I can make a plan to get the leaves on the garden. Mike has a truck, which is a good thing to have when you need to move leaves or top soil or manure. I'm glad I'll have his help with my plot. Plot sounds like underground real estate. Funny--that's what my mortician friend used to call it. I'll say pea patch from now one.

Okay, have a good day and begin thinking about the positive qualities you'd like to bring to life this next year.

Peace, Flower

Back At It

Gosh, there is so much work and emotional stuff leading to Christmas day, and then it's over. Perhaps you overspent, or overate, or maybe you didn't pick up the phone and call a loved one, but there is always time for making the moves you didn't make. Today you could call. Today you could eat less. Today balance your checkbook--make a plan to save some money.

Sometimes I get in a funk thinking life isn't worth living, but really, I have so much good in my life. Just take my sweet grandbaby. I wonder sometimes why I can't stay focused on my good. I read the other day that if you list a range of feelings, say from ecstasy all the way to deep depression, and you locate yourself on that list, you can raise yourself up a notch at a time and begin to settle where you would like to be emotionally. One way to do this is to think of an time that was happy, so that you can focus yourself on the scene when you're down. For instance, the laughter of a child, or a particularly hilarious moment with friends. Jeep thinking of the situation, and you'll see. You'll bring yourself up.

Yesterday we sledded at my daughter's house. They have a new home and their yard is steep and so is the cul-de-sac. We started at the side yard and ended in the street down below. It was some fast and windy run. Very fun. After we tired of this, and were getting a little sore too, we built a snowman who's head looked more like a wolf than the traditional round-faced guy. It was completely fun.

Okay then, happy happy--and if you find nothing to do today, look at seed catalogues. Perhaps plan some gardening that you can start early. Peas and potatoes, not far off. Imagine turning over the dirt, working up a sweat. Imagine all the flowers in bloom.

Peace, Flower

PS In the picutre, the grandbaby is eating the raisins we used for the eyes and buttons on the snowman.

Merry Christmas

This is Fairhaven in Bellingham. This is an unusual amount of snow for us. See how much is on top of the cars. Unbelievable. Now it sounds like it's raining. It will be a sloppy mess for awhile.

Today I'm baking cookies, listening to Christmas music and cleaning house. At the end of the year, I like to sum things up. Clean up and put away--make a fresh start. I wish I'd down a little better job with getting to the leaves at the garden, but alas, I'm easy on myself for a change. The new soil I turned over in my life--to be gentle and happy, we all must be, really. Why be a Scrooge? What is so important?

Okay, happy happy. And if you are in snow, have some fun. If you are with family, love them fiercely.

Merry Christmas.

Flower

Solstice

A group of us celebrated Hanukkah and the solstice last night and it was good. Lots of laughs and good food. A fire in the fireplace and champagne. We made some affirmations for what we want to explore during the darkness and other wishes we'd like to manifest. Later I drove home through the falling snow, dropped my friend at her place and came home and watched a movie.

We have more than a foot of snow here. Amazing, and so close to Christmas. Definitely a white Christmas this year. There will be no leaves blanketing the garden for awhile-since now the leaves are buried under all the white stuff. But that's okay, this weather will pass. Generally there isn't snow on the ground all winter in here.

I'm thinking of fetching my skis. They are in Ferndale in the storage unit. Wish I'd planned ahead. There have been lots of skiers and snowshoers out and it looks like fun. And I hear cars on the road--how the roads are today, I'm not sure. Last night it was slippery. Probably the same today.

My plan is to go to the studio and work. Perhaps get so sketches going for a series I want to work on. Something about the heart and all the objects (objections?) it holds.

More later. Flower

Plenty of Snow

Well, I don't know how much it snowed last night, but there is plenty of white stuff out there. I think I'll get up and going and step outside, take some pictures, wander around a bit. This is unusual weather for us, this much snow may be record. When we were kids we were thrilled when it snowed. We had the sleds out right away and the ice skates and headed for the park across the street. Here, down at the slough there is ice, which is interesting because salt water comes into the estuary and salt water doesn't freeze. There is an open stream still, running through the ice covered mud. I walked down there yesterday, cold, cold cold. Today, as well as my jaunt outside, I'm going to do some inside things, then dinner with friends. My cold seems a little better today. I will lie low with one more movie to watch, lots of tea, and more chicken soup. It's the garlic that heals.

Speaking of garlic, Growing Great Garlic will tell you how to prepare the beds for all the varieties you might plant. Try out a bunch of them. I didn't have luck with garlic, I already told you that. But some elephant garlic grew. I'd say try that to start, if you want to venture into the garlic business. Elephant garlic tastes different, greener is how I'd describe it. It's the easiest to grow.

So yesterday I learned how closed off my heart has been. This makes me sad, because I was thinking that my grandson had helped me open it. But then this gentleman joined me for a Sufi concert and the combination of his attention and the devotion of the whirlers, popped my heart open. Then this interesting thing happened, my heart had some grouchiness in it. Can you imagine that? I thought that when the heart opened, then I'd be spewing forth warmth and good feelings. Not entirely. I felt the snarl, I felt the tears, I felt the joy. It was all there in one cracked open heart. Could be garlic will help with this condition. And I'm thinking heart breathing, that's when you breath in and out of the heart; it's partially imaginary. Anyway, plenty of time to do such things on snowy days. Plenty of time to open the heart.

That's all for now. Enjoy.

Flower

Weather

Another storm is coming in. I heard at four this afternoon and I'm thinking movie and tea and garlic chicken soup will be for me, since I now have a full blown cold. Which I thought was only a little tickle, as I thought I'd had a little cold for awhile. When the grandbaby gets colds, so do I. So staying in and working on the Christmas cards, the class proposal for spring, and perhaps a little work on my book. And also, I'm thinking now, what do I want in life? Since we are coming up on the new year, knowing what I want in life will be good. Since life should be interesting, not drudgery. I am still doing some things that I'd consider drudgery. Even the art becomes that at times.

At the end of the year I like to take time to review what I've done all year and see what new things I want. There is the divorce, that is what is old and done now. And there are new possibilities for love. That is what I'd like this year to encompass. A love interest. Speaking of which, I met an interesting man last night. We went to a sufi concert in the neighborhood. It was interesting to be in a building covered on all the interior walls with rugs. These are imported from Iraq and Iran and Persia: different places. It is a huge space and once inside with the music etc, I just felt transported. And then I wanted to continue to be transported. That makes me happy, moving in my mind to someplace else, trying out all the good feelings.

So today, I can transport myself with art and music and movie, good food. And I can figure out what will happen for the new year. Gardening, friends (love) and good writing. Of course there will be more loss too. I feel something coming. Aged parents, friends, other things. I hope not too much more loss. It is hard on everyone. We could make a pact to envision good for the planet and thus ourselves. To imagine what we could each do for each other and the earth, a commitment for the coming year. I'm going to ride my bike and take the bus. And I'm going to follow through with my art projects, believing in my creativity as the source of my happiness.

Ciao! Flower

More Snow

Well it's coming down, still. I went out last night to the Allied Arts Membership Soiree--which was fun, but the setting wasn't as intimate as the time before when we met at the Chuckanut Winery. This was at the Allied Arts Holiday Show. Which was sparkling and smelled good. Lots of jewelry, pottery, stained glass, baskets, paintings, etc. And good music, a one man band with banjo, harmonica, and foot drums. I like the one man band, so much music coming out of one fella.

So getting there was a risk, since it had snowed all day. Many folks took the bus. It's pretty easy getting from Fairhaven to downtown, on the bus. I may start doing this very thing, given winter is upon us with a vengence. I'm curious if the schools are closed this a.m.

I woke this a.m. with a slightly sore throat. I have an event tonight, one tomorrow night, the following night and the solstice. A busy social girl, which is the only way I'd have it. Sometime I feel a little guilty to be so busy, but hey, what's a single girl to do? I say, have some fun.

Well there will be no gardening today, but sharpening tools is a good idea. And if you have broken tools, such as shovel handles, replacing them is a good idea. A neat winter job, start up the grinder and fix those dented edges on the hoe and shovel, and on the broken tools, remove the pin and pull out the wedged in wood. I hear you can burn it out if you can't pry it out. Then put the new handle in and nail in the pin. Simple. And cheaper than buying a new shovel. Clippers can be taken to a sharpener and things with moveable parts, oil or use WD40. Clean the garden shed, make sure all your seed is put away so the mice don't get it.

Happy snow day,
Flower

Snow Again

In the PNW, when it snows, even if it is as little as an inch, it can turn to a sheet of ice in a minute. There's just so much humidity, so that is what has happened now. A little snow, more than an inch, with ice beneath here in Bellingham. Driving on the main roads is fine but if you're off on the side roads, you can plow into something easily, slip sliding away. The road outside my place is steep and solid ice. I came down it last night after a tango lesson and slipped all the way to the bottom of the hill. Even the brake-tapping thing didn't work well. Fortunately there were bare places, pavement near the bottom of the hill.

Now, let me tell you about tango. I was the only student in the beginning class--because of the snow--and it was a thrill. At first I thought, oh my gosh, what am I doing. He's going to be teaching just me--but then it turned out beautifully. The tango step, the tiny turns, the chest to chest connection. The lead, the man, subtly shifts your weight so to guide you where he wants you to go. I got it, the feel of waiting until I knew precisely what his intention was for me. He said, in tango, the woman is the queen. If she doesn't look good, the shame is on the man. He's made her look that way. This will be a good experience for me.

Okay, I'll now clunk off in my rubber boots through the snow, huddled in my down coat--which is so not tango beautiful, but I will work on letting my feminine beauty show itself despite the weather.

Stay warm, Flower

Feed the Birds

There are many tiny birds that scrounge for seed in the garden in the winter. Even when there is a skiff of snow, they are out there scratching like chickens looking for a meal. Tossing them some millet is nice, so they don't have to work so hard. A feeder with black sunflower seeds for the tiny birds, like the gold finches, the purple finch and the chickadee. And then there is the mix of grain, millet, sunflower seeds, etc. Suet will put a little fat on their bones. In Kingston, we had two bird feeders: black sunflower seed, and a millet mix. We also hung suet. Now we had a problem with raccoons climbing the tree and pulling down the feeders, so we tried those poles, and wires to hang feeders from the eves. The crows where a stitch, landing on the suet feeder, hanging upside down, getting a few pecks in then falling and flying off. Even the flickers would try this acrobatic feeding pose. If you have cats, put bells on their necks. You always loose a few birds, which is sad.

Now having piliated woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers around is great. Only the small wood peckers would ate at the suet, but the big ones seemed to come around when there was lots of activity. I didn't like it when the starlings came in—always such big flocks eating everything.

Now, I don't have a bird feeder, but planting sunflowers in the garden provides food for the birds. Just leave the stalks there and let the heads dry. The seed will dry and the birds will come. It's so sweet to see a chickadee on a big sunflower head picking out the seed. Other seed that's good in the garden is weed seed. Now you know I'm the bad gardener, although Mike is going to help me get the plot together, then there won't be so much seed for the birds. It will be pristine. Now the snow and ice is on the garden, but that's okay—it won't be here long. And very cold weather is supposed to kill certain bugs that can become pests. So a little good cold is fine for the garden. And you can sit inside and drink tea and watch the birds.

Okay, happy gardening and be sure to remember the birds. See A Guide to Pacific Northwest Birds for identification.

Flower

Snow, where are you?

A big storm was predicted yesterday, and the news folks went wild, like some big wreck or other disaster had just happened. So everything got canceled, and here we are the morning after, no snow, at least not here in Bellingham--and it was supposed to come in during the night--3 inches--and more than that to the south.

I'm wondering if this kind of broadcasting could be toned down a bit. Perhaps if when the weather folks get excited about something, they could just say, you might want to stay home tonight, but we really don't know what this storm will do. Unless it's a hurricane or something. I mean, it so excites everyone.

It's like what has happened with the stock market these last few months. The news folks shouted fire and we all started running. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be a lemming. I don't have any desire to be like everyone else. I do know that being individual takes a lot of courage. One has to be willing to let go--yes, that's it, just let go of the collective mentality.

So if we hadn't all canceled--Eileen would have gone to her lovely singing class, I would have gone to my lovely party, so-and-so else would have... But then again, what happened is just what was supposed to happen, right? That's what the new age thinkers say anyway. Or maybe not new age, but the thinkers that believe in the "now." Everything is happening in the now, and that's just what it is. So experience it and be happy.

I was awake until at least 1:30 in the morning. I had many adventures of the mind during that time. This morning I've vowed to get a practice going that will settle my mind down. I'm such a worrier. I worried about the garden, about what I'll do later this evening, about gaining a pound from all the cookies I've been eating, about love, about loss; I wrote a essay in my head and almost got up and turned on my computer, once I got up and ate cookies and watched TV. This really isn't necessary, is it? All this unsettled energy? Was it the full moon? Was it the gentleman I met at the neighborhood potluck? Was it the art show I'm having today? Was it the snow? I don't know, but I think I'll refer to a well known sage for some good advice: The Miracle of Mindfulness: Thich Nhat Hanh

Okay, so today, I'm having an art show in my studio in Fairhaven. Come by if you get a chance. Love to chat.

Peace, Flower

Full Sun All Day

When I was married I had to stake my claim on my garden space, if I didn't, my favorite space would be hoed up when I wasn't looking, or turned under while I was waiting for some pretty plant to dry so I could use it for a bouquet on the kitchen table.

It was an ongoing quarrel we had. You garden there; I'll garden here. Don't cross this line! Remeber as kids digging our toes in the dirt, making the line. I didn't realize that everything was going this way--I mean, work, house things, friends, etc. Always my line was ignored.

Now I know that what he really wanted was to do everything himself, and at the same time, complain that he had to do everything himself. I'm throwing my hands in the air thinking about it. But what does this have to do with the garden?

Well, now that I have a garden space all my own, I'd be happy to share, since I can't do it all myself. Last night at a Christmas party a fellow gardener asked to share my space. That makes two now that would like to share it. He would be a good one, since his plot is so much in the shade. I have full sun all day. Which is nice. But I don't need to be the full sun all day--another words, we can all be in the limelight part of the time, or maybe just being humble is good. Just being a little garden growing quietly.

What can you do with a person that has to be the shining sun all day, every day? Nothing. There is no relating to that person. There's just no way around it, you stand in there light, and that's it. I wonder if there can be two suns on my planet? I think so, but how to convince someone that you are a sun as well. This has been my question, as a woman, as an artist, as a soul trying to make a difference on this planet. How can I shine brightly, being in my fullness, without trying to outshine someone else. Is it just competition? Or is it control?

I think the answer is to be alone long enough to really take root. Something that is well rooted can't be taken over, like mint. It's usually there for keeps. You've heard of the batchelor who's been alone so long that everything has to go his way. Maybe women should be that way too.

Okay, I've gone on long enough. Today, instead of the grandbaby, I get to celebrate with writing friends from the Kitsap Peninsula. We like to periodically do an art project together. We'll be making masks this time. And we'll eat, always, we eat well and have a lot of good laughs. We are all working on being our own suns.

Happy Day, Flower

Endings

Everything comes to an end. This is a painful process for me and I've had my share of it this last year with the divorce and all. Leaving my home on the water. Leaving old friends behind. Even my cat Scooter stayed with my ex. But I have a new home, which is the amazing thing about life. Things wind down, and then they come back again. Perennial. And in the garden the same is true. Letting soil rest is important. Restoring it essential. We all know this. And letting ourselves rest is valid too. I'm thinking now of how I expect myself to be on all the time. Now I know I need to rest. At least enough to recoup my energy and gather my thoughts. So as we approach the solstice, rest is something to give our attention too. Settling into the ending before we go puffing off on the next race. And with the economy the way it is now, perhaps everything is coming back to some point of quiet, some reforming place, so communing place with nature and each other.

In the creative process, it happens like this also. The energy is used, then it needs to gather again. A friend once told me that there is ingathering and outpouring. You need both. And if you don't give yourself the time to gather, there will be nothing to out pour. I'm thinking that the darkness is the time to do this. It is the time to rest more, to drink tea, to let the garden rest, to hibernate. Perhaps read or paint a little or enjoy friends and watch the weather, eat well. It is a resting time that will heal us. It's a natural thing to do.

Well, now that I've said that, I have an incredibly busy rest of the week and must get to it. After this week, my goal is to settle in and do less. To consciously mark off time on my calendar to rest. Let's see if it works.

Happy holidays,

Flower

Party

My grandbaby calls candles parties. And this is a party time of year, right? and it can go overboard, or rather I can, with too much sugar. The Redbor kale plant is like a party in the garden. And it isn't full of sugar, highest in calcium of all the veges you eat, and when surrounded by snow, so pretty, just looking out the window thinking about it is like a lovely wrapped gift at a party. Don't even have to eat it--which is another gift.

The Rebor the Ripbor and the Red Chidori are fairly expensive kales. All upward of $10/gram. Red kale in the garden however, is astounding and hardy to below freezing, so it may be worth it. I've never grown the expensive ones. I've grown the Russian Kale, that has such a pretty purple tinge to the stems.

When I first started growing kale in Indianola, we had a hard freeze and I thought, well that's the end of that. The leaves looked frozen. But it warmed up and the leaves looked normal and on it went, growing through the winter. If you pick off leaves along the stem and pinch out the top occasionally, you'll have kale until spring.

Today I'll enjoy my writer friends, a party with a toast and a little food. I won't be serving kale, although I could. I am serving green beans and sliced beef—a little bubbly and cookies. So that's all for now. Got to get finished up here. Oh, for orders of kale, see territorialseed.com
Ciao!

Winter Veges

I've told you about wintering over your carrots and chard and kale, now cabbage and bok choy and chinese cabbage also will last in the fall for awhile, but it will get eaten by slugs. I love the way a tattered cabbage looks, but if you want to eat it, you may want to keep those baby slugs away. How to do this? Especially in a rainy climate? And if you have pets and don't want to pollute the watershed, perhaps give up the idea of chemical slug bait entirely. Iron, well it is a chemical too, but not the kind that hurts the birds and fish and cats and dogs, is good to use. And it works. I have found that when it rains, you have to reapply--which means in our area, that's lots of iron. I don't know if there are long term studies about iron in the garden. You could look it up on the internet

A lovely dish in the fall is chard and lentil soup. It's warming and flavorful and great with hunks of winter bread, that hard crusty bread you have to work for. Last night I ate dinner with my daughter and son-in-law and grandbaby. We didn't have winter soup, we had meatloaf and chicken--both store made. Once I wouldn't have eaten something store boughten--all my food had to come from my garden, or something I made. Yesterday I talked to a woman who makes all her own food and grows all her own vegetables. She said her guy buys vegetables at the store--she was appalled. She grows her own and eats her kale from the garden.

There's a good book about winter gardening that can be had for a not much coin. Try it, winter gardening that is, you'll be surprised at how much you can grow, easily. Be sure to cover the carrots with leaves's if you haven't already. Four Season Harvest
Ciao! Flower

Potatoes

Those little fingerlings are good to eat about now, with the cold weather here, and the desire for more carbs. It's December and the ground isn't frozen yet, so this means go out and dig the rest of the spuds. I love how crispy root vegetables are in the fall. We always ate sliced potatoes with a bit of salt. Dad would do the peeling for dinner and that's when we got the treat. We thought it was a treat, anyway. I'm thinking that any carrots and potatoes that you eat this time of year have more moisture in them, that's what makes them so crunchy and delish.

When I lived in North Carolina for a couple of months in the early 70s, the potatoes the neighbors grew where as big as bakers you buy at the grocers. I grew disappointing potatoes this year. They are small and gnarly, but it's so rewarding digging them anyway. I've heard from many folks that the gardens did the worst ever this year, so no worries, right? There's always next year.

And now I must tell you about the fabulous sunrises and sunsets we've been having lately. And great walking days. Huh, did someone push the scramble button on the weather, or something. Yes, 50 degree days and sun. Lovely weather to sit on a hunk of sandstone by the bay. If we can get our vitamin D in the winter, this is good. I take it daily, but getting out in the rays is even better.

So back to potatoes, they come in many varieties. I like the yellow fin. Very sweet and good baked or mashed. Also the regular russet is good. And red potatoes are nice in the spring. You can plant peas early, early and cook them with potatoes. I even think you can plant peas in the fall for a spring crop. They could rot, though. Experiment.

And one of my favorite cookbooks Yummy Potatoes: 65 Downright Delicious Recipes has a great potato, onion, and tomato dish. Try it.

Ciao! Flower

Applebutter

In the fall when all the great apples are ready I make applesauce and applebutter. When I was young I'd make soup pots full of applebutter, a beautiful sweet condiment to spread on toast and bread. The sugar in the apples and the brown sugar I added cooked and cooked until smooth and thick. We adored it--we being my first husband and I. I peeled the apples, usually wild that we found on land where we rode the motorcycle. Wild apples were tart and worm ridden, but we cut away anything bad and then cooked it all in a big pot. The house filled with fine smells of cinnamon and sweet sugar. And the tart apple smell, sort of roselike in ways. At the end of the day when it was done, we turned it through the food mill, removing cores and peel and stems and then the thick butter went into jars. We poured paraffin on top to seal them up and set them on the shelf.

Later I learned a simpler way to make apple butter. Peel and core the apples and put them in a baking dish in the oven. Of course the sugar and cinnamon are mixed in and the heat is low so it cooks slowly. Every so often the mess of butter is stirred. Not so romantic, but after a few hours, one has nice thick apple butter—just as good, I believe.

If you have orchards and store your apples in a cool place, you may be having some varities that are getting soft. These are the ones to cook. For more apple recipes see Apple Recipes

Peace, Flower

Indoor Gardening

If you have a nice sunny window, a box of herbs for you meals is a good thing. Also, I've grown lettuce in a little greenhouse in the winter. If you have a way to keep a sun room warm enough in the night for your little plants, you could keep yourself in greens all winter. I think greens are the best vege for me. It's so easy to throw spinach in with my eggs in the morning, or for a salad at lunch and dinner. They are great in soup or just steamed. Kale is great with raisins for winter, and in the spring with garlic and green onions. Growing green onions or chives indoors is realistic. Keep your little thyme plant for seasoning, and perhaps a little oregano. Of course rosemary will usually winter over--although I've had a few plants die during colder winters. I'm thinking about cilantro as an easy indoor grow, and how about mustard. You can also just do the sprouts and have lots of nutrition easily. Sunflower sprouts, mung bean sprouts, lentil sprouts, etc. Just get a sprouting jar. I'm onto this now--can't stop me. Sprouting Made Easy

Holy moly,
Flower

Long Division

You can still divide carrots. I was talking to someone on Friday who'd been lying in her garden, thinning carrots. She gardens like me: toss out the seed, let the beasties grow until they're pressing in on each other, then thin, transplant, eat, etc. This way you get a lot of plants to work with. See Victory Garden

Yesterday it was lovely again. I thinned my carrots in my dreams and then sat by the water for about a half-hour and watched some kind of duck swim about. My friend said they were buffleheads. I don't know ducks--but I loved how they lifted off them landed again. Their little feet were so cute, sticking them forward like a cartoon character coming in for landing. On the way, we walk the rails to Post Point, trees were full of singing birds. It was lovely. And there were many kayakers out; the water so calm and the kayakers gliding along. Ahhhh, hopefully more sunshine will return today. So nice compared to all that drizzle we had last week.

So back to transplanting. I always transplant the minitures. It works well for me. Although I'm sure there are the planters who dish out the seed along rows in units. These folks have their ways too. Giving garden gifts for Christmas is a good idea. Once a got a little cart that I could pull around on wheels. I could sit on it in the garden and inside were my tools: trowel, pronged thingy, digging thingy, seed, string, knife, iron slug bait.

Always in love with life,
Flower

Hone the Vision

At one point in my life I thought I could live off the land. I thought I could grow and put by enough fruit and vegetables to have food all winter. I could buy the grain I needed and grind my own flour, bake my own bread. I could buy meat from farmers and freeze it, or raise my own meat.

Only one problem with this scenario--although I'm glad I worked as hard at it as I did--I couldn't kill animals and it was exhausting to do a large scale garden with only a shovel and a pitchfork. Oh, and husband. So, I'm grateful for the farmers. For the truckers who bring the food. I'm grateful for all those who work hard to make our food safe, to support organic gardening. I'm grateful for the folks who work harder than me to keep organic food on their tables, to use and reuse, to buy locally.

It seems like I'm very far away from the vision I had back in my early twenties. I even tried to garden on the lookout tower outside of Grangeville. I dug up some land down by the weather station, and planted who knows what. Nothing came up--we where at 6000 ft., which may have been one reason. And I had to haul the water on my back in a black bladder. But I had other successes. I baked my own bread--there was a propane tank; the forest service road made it possible for our tower to have gas--so we had a tiny stove and refrigerator. And did I saw we hauled our water from the stream. Can you imagine drinking from streams now? That was back in the early 70s, when gas cost less than a dollar per gallon.

Yes, things have changed, and I think we were right, the hippy vision back then. Live off the land, depend on community, love everyone. It was a little skewed, but vision takes work to hone. So lets continue to hone the vision. Let's make it a prioity--to live well and to love well.

Peace,

Flower

"Australia"

I went to the movies today with my friend, Eileen. It was an excellent movie, a real tear-jerker, and a saga, which was nice for a change. You know how the movies these days kind of follow a theme or a format. This movie had good twists and lots of excitement. Love and loss. Fights and mystery. Just all around great. I cried off and on throughout the entire movie. So did everyone else.

Then we came back here and had turkey soup and pumpkin pie and chatted about finding true love. We both decided to sing for our mate to come to us. You'll see why when you watch the movie.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, have you every grown a yam vine or a sweet potato vine? When I was a kid we would poke toothpicks around the middle of a yam or sweet potato and then sit it in a jar of water. The jar would fill with roots and the potato would grow a lovely trail of vines. I adored those plants.

Hope you got out and shopped today. And if you didn't, hope you had a leisurely down day. For me, the movie completed the holiday.
Ciao, Flower

Happy Thanksgiving

Well Happy Turkey Day. Yesterday I had acupuncture and when I asked my Chineses Accupuncturist if she had a family meal on Thanksgiving, she said there is no Thanksgiving in Canada and there is no turkey in Chinese food. Ah, yes, I said, thinking about the noodles and the bean sprouts, eggs and vegetables. Very good food, with pork and chicken. But no turkey.

On Chinese New Years, she said, they eat dumplings. I said, Stuffed with pork? Yes, and boiled. I was getting hungry. And on birthdays, lots of noodles; noodles for a long life. Very interesting. And then she stuck a needle between my eyes and I went to sleep.

I don't eat dairy or wheat--so I make a rice stuffing--so to speak. I cook a rice that has mulitple grains in it--because it's pretty. Then I add sauteed celery and onion and a teaspoon of poultry seasoning. It's very good.

As for desert--I'll share my pumpkin pie invention with you. Make a cookie dough with rice flour--any sugar cookie recipe will work, but I use Fanny Farmer's Butterscotch Brownies--see Fanny Farmers Cookbook and substitute rice flour for wheat flour. And margerine for butter--if the milk in butter bothers you. Spread the dough into a pie dish (it doesn't roll). Now mix your organic canned pumpkin with coconut milk--and all the spices and sugar, etc. Pour in and bake the same way you would a pumpkin pie. It's better than the regular pie, trust me.

Okay then, love everyone and have a great day. Flower

Fearless, Wake Up!

This is my advice for the days we are in: be fearless. Everywhere I turn I'm hearing things like, Not in this economic climate, things are bad right now, You know, the downturn, and yes, there is the market settling out, and the folks who bought the ARM loans losing there houses. This could have happened in the 70s or the early 80s, when we had other downturns.

But things aren't the same now. There is a spiritual flux at work now that is more powerful than before. Yes, now we must work on other levels, that is, because we're waking up. What happens when you wake up? Do you look around and say, My house is a mess. I better clean up. Or do you say, My, the house is a mess, I think I'll panic and abandon ship...

I got frightened at the beginning of this financial settling out, partially because I was in a divorce and was already frightened for my survival. I was worried about how my life might turn out--was I destined to live on the street? Well, no, I don't think so, but the fear was there. Fear is a bad thing. Fear makes more fear. Better to think about what you want than what you don't want. This is a universal truth.

What would happen if we all go shopping Black Friday--make things better. It's statistics that is running the market and the media. If we do most of our holiday shopping Black Friday, then we can help the climate say, "It's a sunny day. We're not afraid." Then, after the holidays, get in there a work hard for truth, happiness, for health, for equality, and for love. Yes, for love. Gratitude and generosity, too!

Yes, all you fearless ones, Wake up! And stand tall!

With Love, Flower (and little helper)

Christmas Tree

O Tannenbaum, o tannenbaum--across the street in the apartment building I can see a Christmas tree all lit up. It's too early, right? Well, who knows these things. Lots of folks are holiday shopping at the book store. Tonight I read at the open mic at Village Books. The funny thing was I couldn't find anything to read because it's all to sexy. So I read from my novel--which is also sexy. SO I decided I'm a sexpot--what can I do. Anyway, sexpots garden, right?

Yes, and I have many plants in my condo too. Now I have a palm, and my cat is already chewing on it. I have many African violets, some I've been carrying around for twenty years, not literally, but I've carted them from one place of residence to another. They grow well for me, flower regularly. Do you know that you can root a leave easily. Just make a couple of slices perpendicular through the stem and lay it on some potting oil. Kind of cover the leaf, but not entirely. Then water it regularly. You can even cover it with a bit of saran wrap to make a little greenhouse. It won't be long before it send out new little leaves, turns into a new plant. You can have as many violets as you want--viola, more violets. See Growing African Violets for help with these plants.

This year I'm going to decorate for Christmas. I've been a Scrooge for many years. Just got tired of the mess--or just tired, or depressed. Probably that later. Depressed, then you don't do anything and the excuse is you're tired. But now I'm wired--the opposite of tired. And happy--well mostly. And divorce--completely.

That's all. Ciao!

Tiger Milk

Remember Tiger Milk and having a Tiger in your Tank, and Tony the Tiger? I have a saying, Take a Tiger for a Walk--which means, go with your wildness. I'm open to my wildness, to let it be free and spontaneous, although sometimes I embarrass myself. I like my wild side and being in nature enhances it.

Next to me right now on the bed, my cat is curled, sleeping. I was in Carolyn Wright's poetry class all day yesterday, so he was wild when I got home. He doesn't like me leaving him for long periods of time. And he's addicted to kitty treats, and I ran out. He kept going to the corner that he likes to scratch, which he knows drives me crazy. He'd scratch it, then run away. Over and over as I tried to watch a movie. Still no treats. I did capture him a few times and brushed him and held him. Anyway, he finally settled down and now he's here beside me.

Tiger in the garden. I don't think so, but perhaps roaming nature spirits. Have you ever read that book All Good Things, or something like that. I'll look it up. She talks about talking to the nature spirits to help your garden. Say if you have too many moles, just talk to them, ask them to stay over in the common area, or on the paths. It worked for her. There's also The Findhorn Story to check out.

Well, all for now-happy day, Flower

Chameleon Tulips

You can still plant tulips, you know! And when you go to the tulip store or to the catalogue, say Territorial Seed Company, you'll find some lovelies you can order. I like Antoinette tulip, also known as a chameleon tulip. Get this, it blooms yellow and then begins to blush like a maiden—that's what the catalogue says—and eventually it turns salmon-colored. Very pretty both in the garden and on your table.

At my ex-house I planted the darkest purple tulips I could find--almost black. Next to them I planted yellow tulips. Ahhh, breathtaking. I have never grown the chameleon tulip, but my ex said (when I met him) that he was a chameleon—what I didn't realize at the time was that he meant it. He would be what someone wanted him to be at the drop of a hat. In my case, I wanted a loving husband that would be there, stand beside me, be playful, good cook, hard worker, smelled good, etc. What I didn't realize is all those years he was too busy for me was because it is hard to hold the form--you know, like the lizard people they say run the government.

Remember how on Star Trek the shape-shifter eventually lets go and returns to the slithering mass he really is. Well, the slithering mass of my ex is refreshing now. Why? You might ask. Because I couldn't ever get it why he was so testy and the look he always gave me—sort of a not-on-your-life look. But now, I'm divorced—free at last. And I have a legal name, got the drivers license changed and new checks are on their way. I'm good to go. And I don't have to interpret what is going on.

What is love really? I think I've been asking this question for a very long time. When I have my hands in the dirt and I'm focused on weeding around my vegetables, I don't think much about love. I just have this wonderful feeling of wholeness and goodness inside. Other times I'm wondering, can I love, have I loved, am I lovable? It's a tough one for me, and perhaps for others. I think the answer is yes to all of these questions, and the right guy will come along, eventually. I also have asked myself if I'm a chameleon. Maybe a little. But faking it doesn't last long for me—I'm not a good actress nor a good liar. Nor do I return to a shivering mass. I do blush like a maiden on occasion.

How about some tulip shopping or daffodil shopping for the holidays. Spring flowers are just so enlivening. Happy to see them push through the ground because it says spring is not far off. Here's a book to help you grow them-- Gardening with Tulips

Happy, happy,

Flower

Plot Next Door

I overheard the woman in the plot next to me saying her husband was good for nothing. Those might not have been her exact words, but she was complaining about how much there was to do, to garden and to keep house and to sell the dahlias she grew. Her sister was there with her and she was commiserating, also having a ner-do-well husband. And I'm hoeing away, recalling my ex saying that he wasn't going to have a honey-do list and me saying, what's that? And he has a scrunched up forehead as he blurts, you know, me doing this list of things that the wife says to do. You and all the others are all the same. I laughed. Because I was the mechanic and plumber and electrician of the family. It was the way I was raised, wiring panel boards at my dad's office, fixing my sink drain when I lost a contact, rebuilding the duel carbonators on my Volkswagen hatchback.

But if I had a honey-do list, it would read like this: Hold me, feed me, tell me I'm beautiful. Make me feel safe. Bring me breakfast in bed. Oh and turn over the garden. Please add the right mulch, and those leaves at Brenda's, haul them please. Ha, that's not much though compared to what I do, feed and feed and feed. But that's my work, to love unconditionally. The psychic told me, unconditional love is a good goal for a soul. Just spread it around like sweet jam.

Well, I had acupuncture yesterday and still my head hurts. But I slept deeply and dreamed of this large open boat going down these waters; there were lots of us aboard and we were standing up, admiring things. Other boats where they grew great bunches of oysters and the walls of the river, if it was a river, where rock and covered with plants. The guide told us to sit down and then there was a crack and the boat started to sink. I started to swim and the guide said not to swim. And I imagined crocks. So then this ugly guy was climbing the rock wall. I was climbing after him. I just didn't know what we were going to do next. And the alarm went off.

Okay, gotta go. The grandbaby is coming today.

LOL, Flower

Swiss Chard

There are many varieties of Swiss Chard. Some, like Bright Lights are so colorful in the garden. They light it up all winter long--in milder climates, that is. I've grown Golden Chard and Rhubarb chard, too. And the common chard of course. (Sorry, this is kale, didn't have a picture of chard.)

One of my favorite dishes is French Lentil Soup with Chard. I took a recipe, it might have been Martha Stewart's originally, and I changed it, as I do. Here is one of my favorite dishes. Saute onions and carrots until tender, add a cup of french lentils and a can of stewed tomatoes. I like the Italian seasoned. Then add some water and simmer until the lentils are tender. Then add chopped chard or kale. Ah, this soup is so flavorful. I like to drizzle olive oil on top. You can dunk crusty bread in it and serve with a salad. Good for cold winter days. 400 Best Soups Ever

Today it looks like rain. Yesterday everything was way frosty. Now that I have a handle on this dark early thing, I think I'll be doing more garden reading.

Ciao! Flower

Down Coats and Warm Blankets

Well, now it is so cold I'm wearing my down coat to take my walks. But I can't complain, because we're having sunshine. Shine on! And last night I couldn't sleep as the trains kept whistling all through the night, and now again this morning--train whistles. It is interesting how the conductors blow their whistles. Some, it seems, play with the echo across the bay. I'm betting this, as it really is a sort of music as they push and back off on the whistle. And then there are the conductors who lay on the horn straight away. Like I do my car horn when someone has turned in front of me. Yes, you know the drill.

If it hasn't started snowing where you live, you may have leaves to rake yet. These leaves are one of the best mulches and aerators for your garden. Pile them on in big heaps instead of bagging them and putting them out for the garbage men. This is my job still--are I pathetic or what? No, just too busy. Last night I laid awake, groaning from too much dinner. I picked up my grandson and then drove through rush-hour traffic--it's nothing in Bellingham compared to other places, but it was busy--even in Fairhaven. We headed to my daughter and son-in-law's new home. They just moved in yesterday--I was surprised at how organized everything was. They had lots of help--which is good in a move. And we ate some dinner and looked around. All those warm blankets on the beds, a good thing. I heard on the news on the way there that the Obama girls--Milia and Sasha --have been invited to star on Mili Cyrus's show. I was thinking that these girls will be interesting to watch. Perhaps more public than most White House kids. Is there a vegetable garden at the White House? A pea patch close by? Fall leaves to rake? There's a good book about fall that all kids will like Fall Leaves Fall! A good gift for Thanksgiving. Ahhhh! Turkey and stuffing.

Well, I'm off to editing and to see my naturopath. Happy day. Smile, the sun is shining. Flower

Getting it Done

All gardeners really want is for things to be beautiful, for plants to grow, to sit at the table with a plate of steaming vegetables after a hard days work. I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to put food by, how easy it is to dry fruit—pears?—with a food dryer, to steam and freeze vegetables—if there are any left. Sour kraut from your cabbage—you could still have some cabbage left in the garden. I made sour kraut once. It was the best thing I’d ever tasted. Not like this stuff you buy in a can or in a jar. It was just salty enough and just tart enough. I made it in a crock. I don’t know where I got a crock, but I had one.

It was the first house that Jack and I owned—my first husband—and my kitchen was awful—a stove, a bit of counter, and a farm sink. All this on one wall, on the opposite wall, the refrigerator, the door to the basement, the door to the back porch. The other two walls, door to the dining room and window to the yard. So that was it. My kitchen in the condo has more counter space. I think I had a rolling table, that’s where I kept the kraut, by the window.

So all you do is chop the cabbage and salt it, put it in the crock. I think it makes it’s own juice—cabbage is juicy you know. You weight it down with a plate and wait. Everything has to be super clean. If not, you could grow mold and nothing else. Well it worked, and then I baked rye bread and made corned beef. Jack and I ate this meal more than once, as I grew lots of cabbage. I also made pickles this way. I wanted to farm, but it didn’t work out so well this lifetime. It's just too exhausting.

A psychic once told me that Jack and I had been together for four lifetimes. Once I left him, once he left me, once we stayed for the whole shabang. We were farmers. And here we were in this life, living on mini-farms, making pottery and selling it at craft stores. Up there where the council sits and observes us humans (theoretically) they’re nodding, yes, they did it again.
This sounds weird, but it’s early still, what can I say? I’m tired. Yes, and it’s about time for my spinach and egg omelet. Today is a writing day, tomorrow a garden day. And the weather, still holding.
Ciao! Flower

Fall Sky, a Delight!

I started to write this morning, but then my internet was being a pill, remember when everyone was a pill, or was that just in my family? Anyway, I couldn't get it to save anything, then I couldn't get the blog to come back up. Then I lost what I wrote. Now I don't recall what I was thinking, but I can tell you the light now is fabulous, during the morning and evening that is, that pink and blue sky we get around here. It is particularly pretty when the color lights up the peaks, I guess they call that Alpine Glow. I just learned that recently. When I lived on the water I fixed the spyglass on the Cascades, where the peaks were covered with the most snow and then when the sky turned pink as the sun went down, wowsa, it was fabulous. That same color colored the garden, the big maple, the yellow flowers on the kale, ahhhhh! I'm a sucker for color.

Last night I went for a long walk on the boardwalk that scoots out over the bay where it touches into shore in Fairhaven.It was cold but oh so beautiful--perhaps prettier than I've seen the sky in a long time. And it was so cosmopolitan--german, russian, american, french, you name it, the language was floating on the boyant air. Good moods everywhere, sunny and warm on a fall day. Fab.

Okay, so I'm including pictures of Taylor Dock and shots toward the ferry terminal where the Alaskan Ferry comes in. In the distance you can see Lummi Island and beyond, Orcas.

Ciao! Flower

Garlic

If you live in the Pacific NW you could probably still plant garlic. It's is a fall planted crop, which gives it lots of time to grow. Territorial Seed Company has many varieties. I had a friend once who grew and sold many different varieties. It's amazing how the flavor from one to the other is so different. Some are easier to peel than others, and the elephant garlic, a gem.

If you buy local garlic, peel it and keep it in a jar in your fridge—rather than buy big jars from China, you will be doing local economy a favor—and with all the poisoning coming out of China these day, perhaps doing yourself a favor too. Try Chet's Garlic, Fireball, or Purple Glazer. There is Elephant garlic and Northern White. Garlic is high in good antibiotic-like qualities. It will keep you well. When I get a cold I make chicken soup with a 20 cloves of garlic. This is a healing remedy that works. I even have heard that sticking a clove of garlic in your ear when you have an earache, it will do the job. I'm not going that afar, but garlic is good. Last night for dinner I had sautéed leeks with garlic. Yum! Don't forget keeping the vampires away.

All is well if the garden is well, Flower

Unagi Don

Seasoned eel on a bed of sushi rice. Strips of julienned Daikon radish. Wasabi & pickled ginger. Yummy! No not the babies dinner, the mean Eileen and I had last night in Canada. We drove to Canada, about a 1/2 hour drive from here, to listen to another friend, Elke, talk about spiritual discernment. This was in regards to following spiritual teachers—like Eckhart Tolle--or new ones that will be coming out of the woodwork. She was advising us as to how to know if a teacher is right for you. She talked a bit about cults and those who wish to have power over others. And those of us who wish to give up our power.

Discernment is mainly a function of trusting the inner messages—hearing "walk away " and following the message is one way to listen to the self. Feeling ill may be another message to walk away or finding yourself checking out. I know both of these well but didn't link them to my situation—which wasn't a situation with a spiritual leader—but was a situation with someone who wanted power over. So eventually, after getting very sick, I walked away. Perhaps it's easier to listen and act--no big deal.

Now back to the meal. It was a Japanese place next door to a metaphysical store in White Rock. The food was excellent. We drove up, crossed the border without too much trouble. I still have junk in my car from moving, and the guard questioned it. He was a bit imposing, but then said, "Goodbye" like the woman says on that show, The Weakest Link. Is that still on? Well, that's beside the point. Anyway, it was a nice evening and the food was great.

Today I'm cleaning out—yes, I told you about Peter Walsh. Cleaning out is the way to get free in life. Okay—I'm willing to try it. First the closet. Yes, then the dresser. Yes, then…. So get Peter's book and see how getting rid of stuff (gurus and husbands too) will set you free. It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff And if you go to Oprah.com you can sign up to get assignments from Peter. We can clean up together.

All for now—LOL, Flower

Raccoons, Rats, and Bears

Cats and squirrels, chipmunks and starlings. Dogs. Sea otters. Opossums. Bear. Yes, I've had all of these in my garden. And as far as I know, it's only the raccoons and deer that cause real problems. Raccoons will dig up table scraps, so if you are the type of composter who digs your bucket of scraps into the soil everyday, and then you find it dug up the following morning, you may do better with one of those black bins with a closing lid. Animals of all sorts are drawn to compost. Once I opened the bin and there was a rat sleeping on top of the compost. It's warm in there, right? Once I headed to the garden and a blind raccoon was digging through the compost. When I hollered at him, he stood on his hide legs and squinted, weaving back and forth like a drunk. Once I came to the garden and saw that I'd lost all my peas to the deer, and once I came to check on my new seedlings and the cats had dug them all up—ah, new kitty box.

Well, some of this just can't be prevented. The most important thing to prevent is rats nesting under your house. That also happened to me. If you have this problem, get an exterminator. Rat poo causes a disease that is deadly. They got into our crawl space, and then nested in the furnace. Eek! The stink!

Okay then, the grandbaby is coming today and hopefully it will be sunny.

LOL , Flower

Too Late?

In the case of November 12^th, I stayed up too late. Was it the full moon? Anyone know when it is? Today? Tomorrow? I generally hear from my favorite astrologer, Stephanie Austin, but I didn't. Let's see, are we in Scorpio? Is it a Taurus full moon? The full moon is opposite the sun. And the sky last night, fabulous with a big old moon.

So what was I doing up so late? I was listening to Peter Walsh on Oprah yesterday, who is challenging us all to clean up and organize our houses. He says to put your kids and grandkid's art into photo books. So I was making on on line.

He says that people who have messy homes also have problems with their weight. This is interesting to me, because I've gained a little since I've lived in this crowded little condo. Things are messy here. I have years of stuff loaded on my shoulders and in the closets and under the bed and couch. I'm making it a plan to clean out. It's not too late for that.

I have a lot on my plate today, so won't stay long. So clean up your garden, the yard, the back porch. Then start on the hall closet and the bedroom closet. Get rid of stuff you don't use or want. I think Peter gave it six months—if you haven't used it, get rid of it. Go to Oprah.com and sign up for his challenge. He'll give you assignments. I'm doing it. I'm getting free of stuff.

Over and out, Flower PS That's the grandbaby on Halloween.

Blanket Mulch and More!

Save your old blankets—the holy ones and cut them up to lay down between the rows—or build a raised garden bed and put gravel between the rows. My ex loved to put cardboard everywhere. If it is on a path with bark over it, it will become majorly slippery—I know this from experience.

If you want to use burlap, that will give you an old-timey feeling—which may be nice. If you are old-timey, you may have that feeling without hunting down burlap. You could use garden cloth—it is black and is made from some weird fiber you wouldn't want to wear. My mother once wore a burlap bag as a dress, she was poking fun at the shift, the straight dress that came out in the 50s. What happened to the waistline she wondered?

You can use newspaper between the rows and read snippets of headlines while you pull the pigweed. You can use black plastic—this one I abhor because it cracks and breaks and eventually you have a lot of shredded black plastic in your garden. You could use old beach towels, or leftover placemats, you could use rug remnants, this one is a very good idea, especially if it is indoor-outdoor and looks like grass. Astroturf. For more ideas see A Way to Garden.

Invention is fun! Flower , aka, Nancy

Acrostic

Yesterday I wrote that I'd made up an acronym, but I had the wrong word. Although GLAD is an acronym, but not like USA. An anagram for divorce might be Cover ID, so to get into Singledom you have to have all the signed and sealed papers. Now an acrostic is when the first letter of a word represents something: GLAD = Giving, Loving, Acting on Intuition, Devotion. Now this pretty much covers what I'm after. Except I could also use Doing Art, Eating Well and Resting Well, which would be GLADDER—Nancy Pagh suggested this--which could be my word for the year. The dictionary describes it this way: feeling joy or pleasure; delighted; pleased: glad about the good news; glad that you are here. Which I like, so I could be glad to be here and feeling the joy while giving, loving, acting on my intuition, devotional practice, doing art, eating well, and resting well. This seems to be a good singledom decree. I'm on board with my Cover ID: Single

Well, I feel celebrated. Nancy Pagh, Brenda Miller, Katie Humes, Barb Crowley, and me, Nancy Canyon—yes this is my legal name now, all had great food and wine at the Hearth Fire last night. (The picture was taken at North Cascade Institute--That's me on the left, Katie above, Brenda on the right) Katie gave me a bag with singledom items including a three minute timer for pining over my lost marriage, a blue bird of happiness, and a post card of a mean looking owl to scare off everything bad. Brenda gave me chocolate. I gave myself a silver necklace, an open circle connected by a silver chain to a solid circle with the word PEACE stamped on it. One slips through the other to connect it around the neck. It is my singledom gift to myself. The circle representing wholeness.

Okay, did I tell you about AMAG, the ascended masters who said I'm here to learn about unconditional love. I knew this when I met B, only I was young then, so I only called it love. Now I know about conditional love, and it feels bad, let me tell you. They said I could continue to love unconditionally, since trying not to love is what hurts so badly. So here I am open hearted, loving him despite everything that has gone down. I told him that so many times as we came apart.

Okay, it is blowing like gangbusters out there, whistling around the condo. There will be no mulching and winterizing today—I'm such a baby. I'm doing my writing instead.

Gladder,

FLower

Piano Mover Needed

I have this piano, see, and it needs to be moved from Kingston to Bellingham. It is the last detail of my divorce, which is final today. I can't believe how long it has taken. If you think it is a quick process, think again. Well, maybe it isn't too bad if you have an annulment or if you've been married a short time and have not assets together or children, and not many memories. Memories are big things to haul around, as are pianos. If you know a piano mover, send them my way.

So this morning I was thinking of a acronym that would remind me of my focus these new days of single life. It is GLAD--which means Giving, Loving, Acting on my heart's desires, and Devotion. These are the things that will change my life--gosh, in a bad marriage, one just contracts, hurts, becomes bitter and withholding. Bad news. Now, things feel open, I have all possibility available to me. And rest, which isn't in the acronym, but can be one of my heart's desires, is very much needed.

Okay, today, blustery, the leaves are blowing around. If I were you, I'd stay in. Make tea, read a good gardening book. I like the ones on gardening ideas, I'm always ready for more ideas. Or how about read about new plants you'd like to try. Surf the web for gardening sites. Have some down time. Watch a movie. Meditate.

Okay, grandbaby is coming.
Love you all to pieces, Flower

Tide Turning

Tomorrow is my first day of singledom--that is, it is the final day of the divorce. The light at the end of the tunnel. When you get divorced in Washington, there is a 90 day waiting period after one files. There are many things that can happen in 90 days. Some folks decide to stay married. Nothing happened for me, well one little thing that could have become a bigger thing--he didn't like the agreement--but that quickly went by the wayside. Why? Because a contested divorce is way more expensive than an non-contested divorce.

Now is a time for rest and recovery. And gardening. Bring in the cold sensitive plants. A lovely row of plants by a sunny window, what could be better. And be sure to mulch cold-sensitive plants that stay out doors. Roses for one, and the rhody plant. If you have root vegetables you want to winter over, cover the rows with leaves. If you are planting a cover crop, it would be a good time to do that.

Oh, and put in your garlic now. There are so many varieties. Try some new ones. I really love elephant garlic.

Well, wish me a good night sleep. It's hard to sleep during highly charged times--divorce being one of them. Now it should return to me.

Happy happy! Flower

Brocolli

Brocolli head
Originally uploaded by kschwink

Did you know that a serving of brocolli has more calcium in it than a serving of milk? As do other greens, such as kale, the leafy vegetables are very high in calcium. If you are like me, dairy intollerant, than greens are a good bet to keep your bones strong.

Brocolli is easy to grow for the organic gardener, but can get aphids. To take care of the problem, be sure to water well, keep your plants healthy with lots of organic fertilizer and if the plants get attacked, hose them off. Often, only one or two plants will have a problem. I keep the problem planst separate, by using the plants around them first. I was told a long time ago to plant for myself, to plant for the bugs, and around here, to plant for the deer. That way everyone stays happy.

The grandbaby will be here shortly, so if I have time today, I'll say a little more about brocolli. Aren't you just on pins and needles? If not, I'll see you tomorrow.

Happy Gardening

Fiddling With Life

I'm wondering if we can fiddle with things and then life will go a little more smoothly. Like a recipe, every time you make it you decide what you can tweak that will enhance the flavor. A little more salt or a little less—a little more spice. I could use a little more spice in my life and better sleep. Those are the two things that I could do to improve my existence. Today I will listen to AMAG; a woman who channels the Ascended Masters. They have a lot to say about owning our lives, knowing that what we think is what we are and what we see. It is true, this think therefore I am thing. I've had experience with synchronicity, I guess it's the same thing. You see things play out like you expect. Like the election. Now I'm working on a good job so I can rest easy about my income. And I'm working on a true love. Has this not happened to me yet? I guess not. Obviously these relationships are not the end all. I'm getting old, so the end all better come soon.

Yesterday I had a fabulous acupuncture appointment. Ping Rice in Bellingham is a great Chinese Acupuncturist. I slept through the whole appointment. That's why I went—I haven't been sleeping well. She put about five needles in the top of my head and one between my eyebrows. There were a couple in my belly and ones on my legs and feet and hands. The most painful ones—the one on the top of my head, my hands, and legs. I could feel the pain in these points before I went. Now it is gone.

I went to the movie "Changling" last night. It was very good and intense. I enjoyed it and was worn out afterwards. The protagonist lost something precious to her. What could be more devastating? Sheez.

Well on to the garden. I saw my new garden partner yesterday and I have leaves waiting to take to the plot! I'll get it together next week, as this weekend I'll be in Kingston with some buddies from Crab Creek Review.

Ciao!

Whoo-hoo!!!!

I love it that we're here on earth while history is being made. I'm proud to live in a country where people are growing and changing and accepting new things. That people are willing to work hard, to embrace diversity, and to grow spiritually. I was listening to the news this morning; it wasn't so long ago when African-Americans couldn't vote. Women couldn't vote. We are changing for the good. And last night, at an election party, we watched skyp, folks checking in from around the world, congratulating President-elect Obama. Is this fabulous or what? This is stuff I dreamed about when I was a kid. I'm completely giddy with a feeling of hope, that the changes we are experiencing in our lives are leading to good. And it is always best to focus on the good.

As you all know, I'm in my own changes. I will be officially single on the 10th--I thought it was the 11th, but papers came yesterday naming the official date as the 10th--which in numerology is a 1 or new beginning. Perfect. Somehow, last night seemed to be a turning point for me as well. Maybe because we are all at a juncture; maybe there is truth in something larger at work. It seems that way to me, that the universe is alive with possibility and change. That anything is possible. That we can effect change based on our own desire. So what are your desires? What is it that you want the most? What do you not let yourself do or be?

For me, it's art. I've wanted to be a productive and known artist since I was a child. Now, I'm writing like crazy and facing the push/pull relationship I have with my visual art. Really, all creativity comes from one place. This block I have around painting is not a block, it is a fear of failing. I know from gardening, that if you don't plant the plot, only weeds will grow, and plants that reseed themselves, of course. Kale, for instance.

So it is better to choose, than to have a whole plot of kale. Millions and millions of kale plants. One can only come up with so many kale recipes, right? Well here is one of my favorites from http://www.glutenfreemamma.com/

BRAISED KALE WITH SESAME SEEDS
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 bunch of kale
squeeze of lemon juice
1/2 cup vegetable stock or broth
1 Tablespoon of gluten-free Tamari Sauce (not sure how much for reg. soy sauce)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
DIRECTIONS:
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until almost translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute more. Stir in the kale and the vegetable broth. Cover and cook until the kale is tender - about 10 minutes. Squeeze with lemon juice. Stir in the sesame seeds.
Serve about 4.

Have a great day!

Ciao! Flower

Rain, Rain, Go Away On Election Day

Well, now we're back to our regular time and I'm surprised by how dark it is—seems like all the time now—dark, dark, dark. Of course the last few days have been so rainy—which makes it even darker. I have a full-spectrum light that I sit by when I write. This is during the low light season, so it is time to start. That and Vit D for mental health.

So today is the big day. I'm sure you don't need to be reminded to vote—it is everywhere you turn. And the TV ads have upped their intensity. I know one thing for sure, being a political candidate would be impossible for me. Too highly stressed of a job. I think the attack ads should be banned.

Plenty of sleep is the answer to stress, and exercise and fresh air. And eating right and doing the work (art, writing, etc). I've been putting together a book on marriage and divorce and if I rattle on about it, it is because I'm constantly trying to figure out how I really feel about the whole thing. I recorded the deed to the condo in my name yesterday. The 11^th is supposed to be the final recorded date of the divorce (if he signs the divorce decree, that is). All these transitions bring up new levels of pain. This one, the completing one, means I'm alone completely now—of course I was before too. At least it looked like I wasn't. Alone is not something I like. Therefore, community garden, community writing classes, etc. etc. Community. I believe this is something we need more of--community. If we all had to stick around our villages and towns, that would happen. We've sprawled and that has disconnected us. I love the town I live in because it is relatively small.

In the picture above, my friend has mulched much of her garden with burlap bags. This is something I need to start doing, keeping the rows between the plants weed-free with burlap or cardboard. It works, except the slugs congregate beneath all that covering. I'll try it next year. I think the beautifully weeded gardens attract more deer. Mine, with it's weeds, hides the plants from their munching. Okay, I'm short on words today. So much going on in the collective.

Best in life, Flower