PUMPKINS DO GROW IN POTS
August 23, 2023
BIRDS! BIRDS! BIRDS! I LOVE BIRDS
August 22, 2023
When I first got sick in 2018 one of the things that helped me get through the mental challenge of my illness were the birds. I've always enjoyed birds but there was a point where I couldn't even walk so I would sit out on the deck and just listen and watch them flitter around the yard. I was content in those moments. They got me through some very difficult times. The following are some photos I took of my wild bird neighbors visiting recently.
PLANT FOR THE GARDEN - PRICKLY ASH
July 24, 2023
To start off I'll talk about Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americium). The first time I tried prickly ash was quite the experience. My daughter nibbled on a berry first and said her lips tingled, her tongue was a little numb and she couldn't stop drooling. She handed me a berry and I nibbled and nothing happened so I nibbled on a second and again, nothing happened. I told her to give me a third so I nibbled on a third. Suddenly it hit!! I was drooling like a Basset Hound, my whole mouth was tingling, and then my lips and tip of tongue were numb for 30 minutes.
Prickly Ash is not related to the ash species of trees, it's actually part of the olive family. It's great for wildlife since butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds use the tree for shelter. Native Americans would use the tree for medicinal purposes. They'd chew on the fruit and bark because it produces a numbing effect so it helped relieve tooth pain. Modern herbalists use prickly ash to treat arthritis and digestive issues. I love it because the crushed leaves and berries smell like a lemon and nibbling on the berries produces a fun sensory experience. I haven't tried it in any recipes yet but I know others have and love it. I may try it with tea sometime.
MY DAYS OF SHOPPING ON ETSY ARE OVER!!
July 23, 2023
I remember the days when Etsy was just a small online e-commerce site founded by three guys out of their apartment. They created the perfect platform for people to sell handmade and vintage items until they took the business public. Little by little it has deteriorated to the point of sellers jumping a cliff like lemmings. Knowing all that was happening I continued to shop there and not question anything until my first bad experience a few years back. I purchased a product I thought was American made and it turned out it was from China. The next time I went to shop I was careful to use the search filter, setting it for U.S. sellers only, and somehow still ended up buying something from China. I quickly discovered that the filter only remained set for the page I was on but as soon as I scrolled to the next page it defaulted to all locations. Ugh! After that I scrutinized things more and still ended up buying from someone whose profile said they were in California but then the item I got shipped from China!!!! Frustrated doesn't adequately describe how I felt.
Today I went to see if I could find a potting bench on Etsy, careful to look everything over to make sure it is a product made in and shipped from the United States. This is what I came across.
I read the description of their table and it was 100% identical to the potting table being sold by HAPPYSHOPBY. No variation at all.
WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE NEW BATCHES OF SOAP AT THE RIVERWALK THIS SATURDAY!
July 20, 2023
While I was thinking about all of the kids that love to visit my table at the riverwalk I decided it would be fun to make some soaps that are very kid specific and this was my first of several to come. A real rubber ducky for kids to have in the bath. When the soap runs out the ducky will still be there to play with.
The following batch smells super yummy. It's made with orange essential oil and colored with orange mica. It's smells so uplifting and the extra bonus is there's a luffa inside to help exfoliate the skin when washing.
OUR FIRST GARDEN PARTY
July 17, 2023
My daughter and I have been wanting to have a potluck garden party for years but it's complicated since our entire backyard is forest and native plants with our man made trails going through. It's filled with pollinators, stinging and biting insects; all things we choose to attract with native plants but don't coexist in close proximity to people and our food very well. This year, since it's the 3rd year of the drought, we aren't getting the abundant wasp population we normally have because the Joe pye weed and goldenrod are a bit behind the blooming schedule so we had a chance to carve out a spot for a party. We removed a bunch of mint and chives to locate elsewhere and then cleared the ground for tables. Our little party was nestled in among the plants and everything went great. We didn't see a single mosquito, YAY, and only a few insects appeared to sniff at the food.
We had a lot of crafting with friends. We're so grateful for wonderful people to spend time with creating in the beautiful outdoors.
OUCH! ACUPUNCTURE
July 4, 2023
For years I've had people tell me I should try acupuncture but I have a severe needle phobia so I've avoided it. I don't care how tiny the needle is, it's still a needle and just knowing it's being stuck into my skin is enough to make me sweat and worry.
A few months ago I finally broke down and went for my first treatment. I had such severe anxiety at the time and nothing was helping with the reflux, insomnia, and adrenaline rushes that I thought acupuncture couldn't hurt. I first tried a place in Burnsville. I was amazed at my first session because I didn't feel the needles at all and the rush of energy I felt flowing through my body made me euphoric. I knew right away that I was hooked. My new doctor recently had me try a new acupuncturist in Roseville, one with more knowledge and experience with Chinese medicine, and I'm so glad I switched over to her because she's truly a master at what she does.
Every time I get a treatment I walk out feeling 100x better than when I went in. I still fear the needles and I cringe every time I have to lay down on the table and be poked but I love the outcome so much I just don't care. I feel the needles more now which is a good sign according to the acupuncturist. My favorite part of each session is feeling the energy flow through my entire body. I use to only feel energy in my hands but now I sense it from my head to my toes. It's calming and healing for sure.
If you've ever tried acupuncture I'd love to read about your experience.