So it was time to take a break from everything else to just make something fun...So I made a Mooncatcher......Now if this cloud cover would just move out so I can see what it looks like under the Moonlight...
There were a couple moments of sun so I know how pretty it looks with that part of Nature...even with the clouds the light was good enough to make it look very magical...
With the Honeysuckle & Crabapple flowers right outside the window, this is nice to look at in my meditation room...
It was easy to make....a piece of driftwood, white sea glass & a Quartz crystal that are wired, chain, fishing line, a small Amethyst crystal which I will hang some Moonstone on when they arrive, a couple silver bead, a & a long string of crystal seed beads to drape on the driftwood...attach with jump rings to the chain & tie the sea glass with fishing line...
Hang in the window & enjoy...
Now to wait for the Full Moon on the 25th.... the next question...will I be able to get a picture with it under the moonlight...
I love this time of year...Lots to do outside...Gardens, cleanup, my new chicks & harvesting "weeds"...
Everything is greening up which makes the girls happy because their favorite hangout is under the Bridal Wreath by the front door...now that the canopy has filled in they are pretty content...
My Bleeding Heart made it which I was happy to see...the girls had decimated it last year so I was afraid I had lost it...I have had this one since 1996... I was pretty happy to see these little hearts the other day...The plant was 6 times this size so it may take a couple of seasons to recover....it is now safely ensconced in the walled garden out of the reach of beaks...
My crab apple is blooming more this year so I am hoping to see more crab-apples on it this year.... Everything is so pretty right now....
Things are busy inside too...I am getting to projects that I have posted about...Now I am getting them done...like my pillows...had to do a photo shoot in the Mediation room...:)
I have had a huge crop of Violets this year...they have spread everywhere..the girls had a hand in that....hard to believe this was 1 small plant about 4 years ago...So I have been collecting them for the last couple of weeks & have 12 cups of these beauties....so not only will I be able to make the syrup but I am going to try a batch of jelly as well... I will post on that when I make them with the recipes...In.. the meantime they are safe in the freezer......
Not to forget the Dandelion...I made Dandelion Tincture....the two jars on the left & Dandelion oil which I will make into salves for aches & pains....It is simple to make & after reading what a few people have learned from doing this I used some of their tips ...I collected the flowers and spread them out on newspaper over night to let some of the moisture dry off them...when making oil you want to do everything to prevent mold from occurring which is a problem with the oil..so the less moisture you have to deal with the better....I also added a Tblsp of Vodka which I use for my tinctures & this will help prevent bacteria from growing in the oil.......Just fill a jar with flowers, cover with Olive Oil add the alcohol & place in the sun...I do not cover the jar with a lid...I have a screen that I put over it to keep bugs out...If you fill it halfway as I have, wipe out the jar when you see moisture collecting on the sides...Leave this for 2 weeks & strain then compost the flowers.....I have already done this with this batch so I did a second infusion of flowers today & will leave this for another two weeks...This makes for a much stronger oil...I am also drying some leaves for tea...
For the tincture I followed this young woman's instructions...
I do believe more than ever its time to get back to the Garden....Mother Earth's garden...
I want to wish all the Mamas out there a very Happy Mother's Day... This one is special & I have waited to tell this news today because of it... especially after last week...the Yin/Yang of life......
We are going to be Grandparents!!!! My Baby Girl is having a Baby Girl!!
We are all smiles & our hearts are full...You have no idea how happy this makes us...I know my daughter & son-in law will be such fantastic parents....
This little one will be our little Flower Child...
Sorry it has been awhile since I posted....It has been a hard week...Last Thursday I had to put my precious little girl Hattie to sleep...she was worn out...her kidneys & liver were failing...she was 19 years old...She lived a long life & we were lucky to have had such a wonderful loving little cat that long...but for me it wasn't long enough...I wanted her to live forever.....I miss her terribly....My heart is utterly broken....
So It has been a busy couple of days...Lots of digging, moving stones & raking tons of oak leaves & so many branches from the winter storms this year.....great fire pit wood.......but the first part of this garden is done....I am really happy with it so far....
First it was transplanting the rhubarb from this little garden,, moving the soil to the side... then digging down to create a trench...Lots of help with this from the girls...a smorgasbord of bugs was enjoyed by all...
Then out came the moon gate...an old wagon wheel rim I have had in storage...& setting it in place.... this is a moon gate that is more for children which is what I had in mind... then filling in the trench & adding some flat stones on top to begin anchoring the wheel...
My creative Hubby made this moon a few years ago from the other wheel rim.....This hangs on the end of the house...he still wants to do a bit more with it...But I love it as is......
meanwhile the girls start on the leaves down below the gate in the woods....
Then it was a matter of building up the stones around the rim on the base which is where I was going to stop but then started to fan out the stones like a walkway...but then that became two round gardens & the Moon Garden was born....
Time to get busy planting white flowers typical of a Moon garden all around now that the frame work is done...I am transplanting a few white plants I have into the garden...Moon flowers (Morning Glories) will be grown over the arch....creeping thyme between the stones in the walkway...I transplanted a Bridal Wreath bush to the left side that will look nice there when it blossoms....
This is the back side going down into the woods.... I want to plant Lily of the Valley going down the slope but for now will wait to see what comes in here naturally....I cannot wait for the canopy to grow in through the woods...
I did one last thing today with the help of the Hubby & that was to place this huge stone in the front... There is a special reason for it...but that will be revealed later.... Now to plant.....
I know... it is an ongoing theme for me...I love the Moon....& I couldn't imagine a better time to start this...This idea came to me over the winter as I was looking at these pictures...I have had this "portal " hanging around for awhile & was not sure what to do with it...then it came to me...It is not the same material as these but I think it will be just as nice...and it is a great re-purpose for it...I would love to have a stone moon gate some day though...covered in moss!!
So these are my inspiration...I am starting the project today & hopefully by Sunday I will post the results....I am excited about this one...& it is a beautiful day to be outside.....So stay tuned for my Moon Gate....& where does it lead to????
Has arrived!!! This is a great time for the Hubby & myself...yeah we are both Scorpios....I have been reading a lot of how intense this time is but actually the Hubby & I seem to be going with the flow...Of course, Intense is a good definition for us.....ask anyone...I have also read about an "intense" Karmic flow & again we have had many things happen over the past few weeks that have been very karmic...all very very good...
I am just going to mention some of my feelings as we enter this period.....This Full Moon is special to me...this resonate with me personally ..... Over the last few weeks as we have been clearing out material items that cannot be reused ......applying the Feng Shui techniques (Yes it is becoming an annual event sometimes biannual).....the useless, the broken, the un-fixable has been removed from the realm......things that we have needed but couldn't afford especially for the Hubby have been given to us by generous friends...who are also cleaning out.......things that will be well utilized in making our shop items... the result of Karmic action....
Regeneration & Rebirth like the Phoenix rising from the ashes (*I love this painting*)...Meditating daily has helped me release many things, things that will never be allowed back in.....Done....I have written many things & released it by fire as well..that is very cleansing...Each time we let of go of that which does not serve us, we receive good things that do... people & experiences that are healthy & supportive...& who you can return that support in a balanced way...Yin /Yang
Healing from the past & Letting Go......a good spring cleaning....not only of material things but of the past...of the negative & toxic...of the "corrupt & diseased" ..I read that somewhere & thought it was apt for what I am going through..... to stop taking personally others issues & emotional problems that they try to lay at your feet because they cannot face the truth...
Truth.....Digging deep for the truth...those dark secrets & lies that are hidden will be revealed....Things you don't want to face as it takes you out of your comfort zone.....Your life can even be impacted negatively by others trying to hide their secrets & lies....Now is the time to walk away from it & not get drawn in ...Believe me.....You have enough to deal with already.....For me it was a matter of reclaiming my power & paying attention once again to my intuition & insight...It is always best to follow that one... Intuition...Gut feelings......If it doesn't feel right, it probably is not good for you...... Time now for a ridding yourself of the old & moving into a new time or place...
Lets not forget there is a partial Lunar eclipse involved tonight as well...I like what Mystic Mamma posted...
“Lunar Eclipses symbolize an ending of a chapter, time of letting go, surrendering and closing of doors so to speak. You can see this is a great time of shedding the past, at least whatever you are ready to, and really diving into it and letting go. Don’t over-analyze it. Release the grip and set yourself free to heal and move on. Honor whatever it is or was and let it go on all levels of your being. Wherever area of life the Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio activates for you, consider it a time of serious letting go for deep transformation and reclaiming your power. You may find you free up some stuck creative energy in the process!”
I have to tell you this one...The Lunar Eclipse will create a "shadow cast" which I thought was weird or maybe symbolic when I read that since we adopted a new family member this past weekend....Her name is Shadow... she is a Celestial Cat...*wink*..Isn't she pretty sitting among the stars...very mystical...(I can hear my kids laughing right now)...
This is what she looks like on Earth....& seems to be fitting in with our little family quite well...
Last night's moon was beautiful & I can't wait to see it tonight....I don't think we will be able to see the eclipse in the Americas unfortunately so we will have to rely on the pictures taken.....The Hubby & I have a couple of things planned to make it special....(if the wind calms down so you know fire is involved)....... Thanks for listening to me ramble on.....Hope those of you who are Moon followers have planned something special as well.......I am off to do some Moon salutations, a Moon Bath ritual & some meditation time...
"If we would lead outside our borders, if we would help those who need our assistance, if we would meet our responsibilities to mankind, we must first, all of us, demolish the borders which history has erected between men within our own nations — barriers of race and religion, social class and ignorance."
Robert F Kennedy
People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead. ~ James Baldwin (1924-1987) Nobody Knows My Name (1961)
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