On Friends and Fairies….

  We spent a lovely evening in the company of friends last night – the Viking, who also happens to be the one and only “J” who helped us rebuild This Old House, and his wife Raven, who is a fairy in her other life. 
 Raven’s Herb Shed blog HERE
Events HERE

Their home – Moonshadows

It’s rare to get such a personal glimpse of a fairy’s home life…
they are elusive creatures, don’t ya know.

Raven was gracious with my curiosity and gave me a tour of her wardrobe.

It ***Sparkles***
… Fairy dust abounds…
I got to try on a pair of wings!
..choosing a small set, as I am not accustomed to flying…

How to make fairy dust  HERE

 One of my favorite prints…

Midsummer’s Eve by Edward Robert Hughes

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies,
the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to
say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”



– John Lennon

 Believing in fairies.. or faeries…  is believing in the magical world of nature spirits. Grown ups most often lose touch with the magic of childhood…who couldn’t use a little whimsy in their life. 

Zentangle

 Blogger Hilary of Crazy as a Loom is what I call a real “Do-er”.   Generous heart, energized spirit, always in motion, creating, caring, DOING.  Ever in need of having something in her hands to work on, she introduced her readers to an art form she has just picked up as a way to wind down and relax, take her mind out of the moment, and I thought I’d give it a go.  Her post about it  HERE

What IS Zentangle? (I had no idea)

 “The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Almost
anyone can use it to create beautiful images. It increases focus and
creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense
of personal well being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over this
world across a wide range of skills, interests and ages.”

The best part is.. you don’t need many tools to do this.  I bought a watercolor pad and Pigment liner pens at Staples for less than $30.

Some Examples found on the WWW.  These are clearly some very talented artists…

You don’t have to be quite so talented to create your own art
and reap the benefits of this relaxation exercise –
simple shapes placed  ramdonly, as shown below – with rules or boundaries
just do it and see what you put together.

  

My first attempt below… I prefer to work with an outline of something..

Ben Zen

*Nuts*

  In my quest to shed these extra pounds I have managed to pack on in recent times, I’ve done some serious diet and meal restructuring and the husband has already lost 12 lbs.  Me? Not so much.  And that drives me -nutz- because in years gone by, I had no trouble dropping the weight when I wanted to.  And I WANT TO!!!.. While we are eating primarily Paleo foods (think hunter gatherer)… we do still consume some dairy but it’s limited. I realized after talking to several friends that I am eating too much fruit (natural sugar) and that’s slowing the weight loss down.  One of the “snacks” recommended was nut butter..and I immediately thought Peanut butter, which I’ve loved all my life.  But in the healthier foods sections of most stores and whole food markets you will also find nut butters I never paid attention to before… Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, Cashew, Macadamia,  etc.    So I did some research in that department because damn, I need a healthy snack that won’t pack on the pounds. A Healthy fat kind of snack..  you can bake with nut butters too, but I’m looking to eat a teaspoon of the stuff to tide me over now and then.
 First let me show you something I could not believe…. It looks delicious at first glance…
Until you read the ingredients. 
Ingredients: Sugar, Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed And Palm), Hazelnuts, Cocoa Process With
Alkali, Skim Milk, Whey Powder, Contains 2% Or Less of Sunflower
Lecithin, Natural Flavor. May Contain Almond, Cashew, Pistachio, Soybean and WHEAT INGREDIENTS
*if you have a wheat allergy or are trying to avoid it and gluten..
well that’s a sneaky additive, isn’t it. 
When SUGAR is the first ingredient and you’re not holding a bag of Domino Sugar in your hand? … walk away.  Holy cow.

 Compare to Justins – which I bought… 
Ingredients…Dry
roasted hazelnuts, dry roasted almonds, organic cane sugar, organic
cocoa, organic cocoa butter, palm fruit oil*, vanilla, sea salt.
Now, there is still sugar in this product, although much much less… and you can buy raw nut butter with NO sugar at all,  and even NO SALT… which is best…  but it’s a heck of a lot better than JIF.  The other big difference?  Jif is less than $4.00 for the jar.. whereas Justins was $14.00 for close to the same amount. 

 Ouch.

  You know… it shouldn’t cost MORE money to eat healthy… and it’s often said that low income families tend to eat crap.   Because it’s affordable!  All consumers should have better options. 
Shame on the makers of JIF… now Smuckers Company bought from Procter and Gamble.. for making a NUT butter that’s first ingredient is SUGAR.    *sigh* 
-Just Sayin

Well..Dang it all to hell and back…

…now you’ve got me thinking about Velveeta.  Did I even just type that? 

   You see… something about that stuff has just always reminded me of plastic.  Like those individually wrapped slices of  yellow-orange cheese my mother used to buy at the local A & P when we were kids that were of the same ilk.  Plastic-y.  bleh.

    Oh, my mouth was so happy when on occasion I’d be invited to stay at my friends house just down the street for lunch.  They had the real sliced cheese asked for at the deli counter and those sandwiches on Pepperidge Farm bread were just delightful. To be fair, my mom worked full time and probably didn’t want to spend the time standing in line at the deli counter when she could grab that prewrapped slice package quick as lightning right off the shelf.

   Yesterday, many of you shared FOND memories of  -Velveeta- and still use it in some of your treasured recipes. I’m a little embarassed to tell you I had no idea what “Queso” was and I actually had to google it.  Knock me over with a feather!  I’ve had it!  I’ve even made it!… although I just call it Mexican dip with nachos and now that I know what Ro-Tel is I probably won’t dice my own tomatoes, peppers onions.  Being really real here, it’s true I have used Velveeta maybe four times in my life because the recipe called for it and I didn’t want to F it up.  But I couldn’t help but think… oh, boy, we’re really eating CRAP today… is there even any CHEESE in this stuff?

   Turns out, there is. 

    So..I finally decided after so much praise from some of you, that I oughta do some  research before my cheese snobbery gets me in some trouble. Keeping it real, isn’t that what I blather on about right here on this blog?

   Here’s the Velveeta story according to Wikipedia-

Velveeta is a processed cheese product having a taste that is identified as a type of American Cheese with a texture that is softer and smoother. (PLASTICY… just saying)  It was invented in 1908 by Caleb Hommel of the Monroe Cheese Company NY .    The Velveeta Cheese Company sold it to KRAFT Foods in 1927.  The product was advertised for its nutrition. (go figure!)    According to Kraft’s website, in the 1930s, Velveeta became the first cheese product to gain the American Medical Associations seal of approval  ( get out of town!)    It was reformulated in 1953 as a cheese spread.   Velveeta is labeled in the US  as a “Pasteurized Recipe Cheese Product”.  The name “Velveeta” is intended to connote a Velvety smooth edible product. Smoothness and melt ability are promoted as its properties that result by reincorporating the whey with the curd.

Ingredients:  Milk, water, whey, milk protein concentrate, milkfat, whey protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, contains 2% or less of:  Salt, calcium phosphate, lactic acid, sorbic acid, sodium citrate, sodium alginate, enzymes, apogarotenal, annato, cheese culture. 

   I have discovered that while it’s true that Velveeta is a real cheese PRODUCT –  it is high in calories, fat and sodium if you look at the overall content of that package, not just the “serving size”.. which is one little slice.   So, while you won’t kill yourself using Velveeta in your favorite occasional Queso, if you’re a regular consumer of the stuff, you’re better off Health-wise buying a -real- cheddar version for your Queso, broccoli casseroles or grilled cheese.

…although, consumers might kill  you trying to get at the stuff if you’re found with it in your possession… you do know the cheesepacolypse is upon us, don’t you? 

 
Just sayin.  

  

Maxfield Parrish

 While visiting with my artist cousin yesterday I asked him for tips with oil painting. We had an interesting discussion about light and dark and colors and shadows and the wide spectrum of hues… and then he told me about an artist named Maxfield Parrish.   Can’t believe I’ve never seen his work… I am in love with it… just WOW.  Notice the bold shades of color in his beautiful scenes, colors you might not equate with what they actually represent… just amazing.

I’m just in awe.  
His home in New Hampshire is pictured below… The Oaks
which was for sale in May 2013 for $475,000.
He lived here with his wife from the time he built it at the age of 28 until his death.
The house has an interesting history, however…and the reason it has been
on and off the market and at such a good deal of a price is because
the original burnt to the ground in the 1970’s. A replica (sort of) was put back
up in it’s place and the original outbuildings still grace the landscape. 

 For more information on the artist here

 * Update – I’ve just changed the way I posted the links… while I was able to
visit my blog and click on the link the way I had it, another reader
was not able to, saying the link as I had it was not active.

Let me know if the links work for you –

Are you Decked yet?

Below is a ceramic tree my Aunt Virginia made for my family many years ago.
She passed away last Christmas and I miss her dearly.
Grateful for this reminder of her love for all of us …
and the spirit of the season. 
An ornament from 1965 with my name (and birth year) on it.
Used to hang on our family tree.
Every year I open the boxes of ornaments and hope I didn’t break it.
My favorites are the ones my kids made in elementary school…
..and the globe ornaments. 
What decoration says, mostly, it is my belief anyway…
is that Love Lives Here
 You don’t have to spend money you might not have 
to add seasonal love to your home.
My friend Heidi made this wreath by walking around her yard
and cutting vines and greens as she went. 
It’s a beautiful thing.

Takes me back…

You know how sometimes you catch an old tune playing
and it brings you right back to a time long ago…
emotions fill you and you are transported. 
It’s true I don’t hear what I used to, but my memory is vivid
and I still catch enough of it to bring it all back  – a little miracle, 
if you ask me, a saving grace for someone who has always
adored music.  I am also grateful that I grew up in a time
when there were so many artists making great music
that can still be heard on the radio today…
One of my favorites…
turn up your volume and click past the ad – 
Lyrics below…
I guess you wonder where I’ve been
I searched to find the love within
I came back to let you know
Got a thing for you
And I can’t let go
My friends wonder what is wrong with me
Well I’m in a daze from your love you see
I came back to let you know
Got a thing for you
And I can’t let go
Some people go around the world for love
And they may never find what they dream of
What you won’t do, do for love
You tried everything
But you don’t give up
In my world only you
Make me do for love
What I would not do
My friends wonder what is wrong with me
Well I’m in a daze from your love you see
I came back to let you know
Got a thing for you
And I can’t let go
And though I only want the best it’s true
I can’t believe the things I do for you
What you won’t do, do for love
You’ve tried everything
But you won’t give up
In my world only you
Make me do for love
What I would not do

Tea, anyone?

Are you a tea drinker?
In my effort to get healthier and rid myself of the acid reflux issues
 that coffee aggravates,  I have become an herbal tea person.
Yesterday, my friend Lynn sent me this link after I
showed her a new tea I was trying… and I almost
dropped my proverbial tea cup. 
Ugh. I have some of these in my cupboard..
now going in the garbage.  
It’s amazing what we don’t know about what we’re putting in our mouths. 
*sigh*

A Weekend full of Wonderful –

  It’s been a long time since I’ve had such an action packed weekend, all in a wonderful way.  I was the kind of bone tired last night that you welcome after getting some rewarding work done… out like a light at 8pm, I was.  Saturday was filled with meeting and greeting neighbors old and new, catching up with friends and family and getting rid of “stuff” we didn’t need here at this old house. We had a tag sale out front and it was well worth the effort.  The weather was a perfect mix of fall foliage with the aroma of fading leaves and pine needles, some sunshine and a little chill in the air. A big thank you to Joleen and Lynn for joining in, it made the day so much more enjoyable. 
  Sunday I got up bright and early. The girlchild took care of the critters for me so I could head to Hammonasset Beach to photograph the Run For The Cove. A wonderful couple I’ve known for many years founded this organization in, I believe, 1995 and it has grown in ways unimaginable… an incredible source of support for grieving children who have lost a parent or family member.. to learn more about THE COVE center for Grieving Children, visit HERE  Again, the weather was fall-chilly-beautiful and oh, how very uplifting these people and this event always are.
The reason I don’t have any adult runner pics available is because I mistakenly hit the RAW
button and shot every image in jpeg and raw, which is a huge file.  Guess who filled her 
camera card before the event was over, and forgot to bring another.  
*sigh*
Thankfully there were other photographers on hand and they assured me they would complete
the photographing with adult runner pics.  
Live and learn. 
   Then it was off to Parmelee Farm in Killingworth  to help with the First Annual Pumpkin Carving Party organized by the Parm Farm Steering Committee. Sponsors were the Killingworth Lions Club, Pizzeria DaVinci and the Killingworth Chamber of Commerce.  What a fun day! So many families came to participate and the smiles and happy chatter and laughter were a breath of fresh air.  

 A giant leaf corral bordered by hay bales was a big hit with the littles…

There was some awesome artwork among the pumpkins…

A Big THANK YOU to all who helped make this happen,
and to all those awesome families who came out to LIGHT THE NIGHT!

The Spirit of Community.. .it’s a beautiful thing. 
Don’t pass up the opportunities in your area to join efforts like these,
the rewards are endless and so good for the soul. 
It’s a new day, all ….
make it a good one. 
 

The one about the Chickens

 
   Chickens tend to be thought of as not very bright.  Now that I’m three years into chicken tending, I can tell you I’ve found that not to be true. No dumb clucks in this flock.  If they’re let out to free range during the day, they don’t stray too far from the coop, always returning to lay their eggs and  roost as the light changes to early evening.  If they hear my flip flops on the gravel they come running… knowing this person always has treats for them.  When they hear a hawk screech in the sky, they instinctively duck for cover. 
 
    There is a reason for all the cliches associated with chickens… it comes straight from chicken behaviors…
 
    Pecking Order…. there is one in every flock. The boss hen (if there is no rooster) lets everyone know their place.
 
   Being Hen Pecked… that’s the chickens who are lower on the flock seniority list.  
 
    Coming home to roost … well that’s what they do.
 
    I have the answer to Why did the chicken cross the road, by the way…..  to get away from the hawk on this side of the road who just decapitated one of it’s flock mates.   good reason!  
 
 Chicken Out –  Chickens are definitely cautious.
 
  Run around like a chicken without a head. – I have no personal experience with this, thankfully!…
 
  She’s no spring chicken.  –  Older chickens don’t lay eggs. They stop being egg-productive at about three to four years of age.
 
  Chickens do have their own personalities, this is something that amazed me when I began my chicken raising journey.   My own flock of eleven are a very diverse group.  I have three of my original seven, who are now aging and not laying as frequently as they once did. There are the four that I had shipped from out west… poor things, won’t do that again. And then there are the  four that I adopted when I brought my nasty hen – the one who thought she was a rooster and routinely plucked the feathers off my other chickens – to the lovely young woman at the  Cluttered Coop.  She provides a home for wayward chickens and roosters.   Ever since that nasty hen left, my hens have flourished.
 
 
Henrietta is a small Cochin, sweet disposition
 
 
 
 
Snow is a large Cochin, a little more reserved but definitely curious.
Cochins have feathered feet!


 
 
 Dorothy is a Black Australorp..
Regal in stature and one of my originals.
The flock tends to follow her around the yard, although she is not bossy.

 
 
 I’m not sure exactly what Sophias breed of chicken is,
although I think  she is a bantam by her small size.  She came from the Cluttered Coop.
Notice the feathered feet, perhaps she is also a Cochin.

 
 
 Below are Autumn, an Auracana (blue eggs!)
And Andie.. my Blue Andalusian..
and Red, my New Hampshire Red.

 
 There are two barred rocks… Salt and Pepper

 
 
 
Rose is at the bottom left, another of my originals, an Auracana as well.
Raven is the black auracana in the background.

 
I’ve placed new sand in the coop yard.. this needs to be done periodically,
as well as a good raking out every day to keep the environment clean for the girls.
 
AND… some of  you may remember the project my guys put together for me
this summer…
The Chicken Shack!
It’s done and in place.
 

 

 
 
 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…
if you’ve ever considered having chickens in your own back yard,
I recommend it highly.
They are a delight to care for and the eggs are divine.
 
 And there’s a reason why people refer to inexpensive things as Chicken feed.
It’s  cheap!