Rose Cottage

   Do you know self heal?  This simple, easy to  find and identify  t onic herb in the mint family has a long history of herbal use in many cultures, including Native, Western and traditional Chinese medicine. Its gentle healing properties and general safety are confirmed by recent research.  This  YouTube clip  by Herbal Jedi gives a great overview on how to identify, harvest and use this mint relative, Prunella vulgaris. Our Western Oregon native variety: lanceolata, is easily found in yards and vacant lots. In contrast to  other mints, self heal's taste is neutral, so it's easy to include in salads, add to tea or cook with other greens.  Prunella is classed as a tonic herb or  adaptogen , which helps the body manage stress, and return to homeostasis or 'reset' itself.  Adaptogens can generally be used on a daily basis, and are easily incorporated into a healthy diet. They are often herbs which need to adapt, often growing in harsh conditions! Self heal along the path

 For the last several years , church members and friends have been invited to spend a fall weekend at Camp Arrah Wanna, on the beautiful Salmon River in the Cascades, near Y'East (Mount Hood). Some congregants grew up coming to camp when young, as have my grandkids.  Salmon - in the Salmon River  This year, all our group's camp fees were covered by a Calvin Grant, which pastor Erika wrote for the 52 week Seasons of Wonder devotional, by (Bonnie Smith Whitehouse). In adition to the books, the grant has funded supplies for recommended creative projects, and field trips, which Bonnie recommends to add depth.  This spring, I led a session on making rose beads as part of a session on making rosaries, and my daughter, grandkids and I have joined field trips.  John, Shelly and pastor Erika Our camp time includes ample free periods in addition to meals, workshops and group activities. My daughter, her 13 year olds and I came this year.   Saturday morning, Lara donned waders to lead a

  Several years ago,  I found an inspiring piece by Chelsea Dinen, encouraging us to wake up a bit earlier, for a  Miracle Hour .  Popularized by Hal Elrod, the  Miracle Hour  weaves elements found in the Artist Way  Morning pages ,  Morning Cafê , and  practices like  Reiki, Breema and Qigong. The acronym  SAVERS  provides a key to the ~ 10 minute components that comprise Miracle Hour: S  - Silence (Self-Reiki!) A  - Affirmation (Mental/Emotional self treatment) V  - Visualization E  - Exercise (Qigong or Breema) R  - Read - daybook or inspirational S  - Scribing (Reiki or Gratitude journal) A session of  Self-Reiki , can combine both  Silence  during the treatment flow, and  Affirmations , thinking of the Reiki Principles, and an Affirmation can be combined  Mental/ Emotional  healing. Another option is to practice a breathing exercise, I like this one from Wim Hof (11 minutes)  or - (not silent - but gentle) tune the Vagus nerve by humming!  We can enVision the breath carrying goo

 I'm enjoying the challenge of writing more frequent blog posts as I participate in the Ultimate Blog Challenge - yet sometimes, I'm stuck for what to write! I often address this by a gentle recycle and rewrite of content from an older post!  When I supported 'Muse Time' / extension students of a 9 month teacher training, I shared this tip on 'harvesting' content from our own work for our blog/s and website.  I love to write - and I am  lazy   frugal  enough to want to use what I've written different ways! One is to share between blogs ( True confession: I have several !!)  I have borrowed content from a personal blog, and reposted it on one of the support blogs, editing to match my audience. I often cross post between Instagram or Facebook and my blog. Atelier Altar I began my first blog ( Creation Station ) after reading an article about how simple they were, and that one could be set up in 15 minutes - who could resist??  And it worked!! Wow! Artist frien

 Being human can be thought of as a dance of finding balance between our connections and our own unique spark, our place and purpose.  In Okinawa, home of more centenarians than most other areas of the globe, discovering one's purpose is a key factor to well being, and is called Ikigai . When we align with our values and purpose, we are more content in good times, and resilient in times of stress. This in turn can lead to enhanced health and wellbeing.  Some factors which promote my sense of well being include enjoying a mainly whole foods diet (with a preponderance of local,  fiber rich foods, fresh when possible), moving throughout the day, spending time outside, connecting with friends and family, and engaging in creative pursuits.   For over 40 years, I've been engaged in Healing Arts as a Licensed Massage Therapist, and feel inspiring others fulfills my sense of purpose. I've always identified a creative, and enjoy teaching creating and healing.  I've added many c

 In the 70s, my friends in La Leche League and I took turns driving to a nearby farm weekly for grade A+ raw milk, and I began making yogurt with some of mine. Both my hubby and I grew up drinking full fat raw milk, and preferred it to processed milk.  These days, I do better off most dairy, so make my yogurt using tinned Coconut milk, following cardiologist Dr William Davis' recipe. (Here's  the option  using dairy) Coconut milk yogurt Dr Davis wrote this about the L-ruteri strain,  "in adition to causing release of oxytocin from the hypothalamus that leads to effects such as reduced skin wrinkles, increased dermal collagen, acceleration of healing, and increased muscle and bone density, also exerts unique upper gastrointestinal tract colonizing effects.  "This may be important in preventing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, that is now occurring at epidemic proportions in modern people."  Oxytocin is know as the 'bonding' hormone, and prod

 A fall treat in Yamhill County (named for the local indigenous tribe) is our Art Harvest Studio tour, and this year marked the 30th tour! Over 60 local Artists have opened their studios, or are displaying in a shared space for two weekends! Tour brochure I met my friend Audrey at Currents Back Door Studio (where I've led Red Thread circles and offered classes) to see the work of 3 artists. Then upstairs to the Rose of 3rd which is always a treat!  This year, folks could get a preview of work by each of the artists in the ballroom at 'The Rose' or at the Newberg Cultural Center throughout September. Three of artists display their pieces in the front room, and 3 in the ballroom of this lovely Mission style space.  Spiral necklace by Debra Franciosi I often choose a piece of jewelry or pottery- this year the copper and silver necklace called! (And goes beautifully with the earrings I got last year from another artist on the tour, Maggie Bowman) Audrey and I then walked from

  This is the second year I've tended the Tea Garden bed, as part of our  Edible Landscapes of Yamhill  along project on Alpine Avenue. I love my garden box, with its well established perennials, which need little care beyond the watering. The lemon verbena came through winter, and i planted a few tended plants in spring.  Tea Garden in June Last year, our group officially 'adopted' the 8 block stretch  of Alpine Avenue, for periodic trash clean up. The city of McMinnville provides kits (vests, rubber gloves, grippers, signs and garbage bags) which make it easy for groups to tend the roadsides! I joined the cleanup last spring, and again this week, just before our Harvest Fair - Matthew and I gathered 2 1/2 bags of trash along the 6 block area! You can read about last year's harvest fair here .  Nadya and Matthew For the Harvest exchange, Members brought produce from their own gardens and boxes, gathered produce from local farmers at the end of the market, and visited a

  Last weekend, Mary and Josh (my daughter and son) and I were invited to celebrate my cousin Merlyn's 90th Birthday! Merlyn brought along her lifelong friend Marilyn (they met in kindergarten!)  - don't they make 90 look great?! And what a beautiful day we had for this party in a park! Marilyn and cousin  Merlyn's mom Myrle was my dad Byrle's twin, and when my folks married in her parents home, my cousin  played the piano for the ceremony. Their older brother, our Uncle Ole, lived to 103, and Merlyn helped organize a 100th BD party for him nearly 20 years ago!  Josh and Mary I'm so happy my kids joined me for this celebration! Our other first cousin, Ole's son John (94) wasn't able to come, but we were happy that Merlyn's brother Don (79) and his wife Lori made it. Our folks' cousin Carolyn is nearly 100 - Merlyn phones her regularly for a chat.  Merlyn shared my mom's birthday, and they always enjoyed each other, and sent cards in celebration. 

 In her post for our October blog challenge, a Julie wrote that rather than trying to explain the several personal projects she's undertaking, she's begun saying, 'I'm sort of on a pilgrimage!'  This response makes room for further discussion - or you can simply move on! Ꮡ - su (Simply Cherokee) Since spring, I've been enrolled in the live  ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ -  dideloquasdi   (school/ learning) via online classes, via the ᏣᎳᎩ - Tsa-la-gi   (Cherokee) Nation !  The weekly classes are offered at no charge to the students, and I'm on a pilgrimage of my own! Taught by first language speaker Ed Fields, with assistance from Meli (Mary Rae - who began studying with Ed nearly a decade ago), these classes offer a wonderful glimpse into the world view and culture!  (Here's  Meli and Ed's site  which includes little word puzzels) The online classes are open to anyone who wishes to learn Cherokee, no matter your heritage nor location. In person classes are held in Tahleq

 Since childhood, I've looked forward to fall and 'October's Bright Blue Weather,' a second summer that often comes to us in Oregon. Sunny days, cooler nights, pumpkins and fall flowers... rain beginning, someone's storms - and these beautiful blue skies! Elder, ginkgo and maple In January and again in the fall, I enjoy participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge , reading other blogs and writing for my own, building connections and virtual friendships.  Check out the challenge in our FB group - it's a great way to exercise your writing and networking muscles!  Fall garden A lifelong writer and diary keeper, I've been blogging periodically for 2 decades, after reading an article on how simple it is to begin! Over the years I've begun several, and enjoy this way of reflecting on my life and times. What's your favorite way to record your reflections?