Red Cedar
More apocalypse, less angst
Readers of this blog should know….
…. that the last month has been unbelievably difficult, and (for this first time in this round of bargaining) I cried at the end of the day today even though I am staying in a really nice hotel room. However, I only have two meetings left and then I am finished with this business. And I am very grateful to be returning to my awesome partner later this week because he will kiss me and make it all better.
Why am I telling you this? Who knows, except that I’m feeling sorry for myself even though I know I made my own choices here. I need to be reminded to stop being useful. I need to be reminded to stop trying so hard.
Make, create, build.
I have an awful time of writing when I am on the road. Hotel rooms and a head crammed with travel arrangements just don’t do much for my creative I suppose, but since I’m out here for a whole week, and with some free time in between meetings, It just seems that I should actually try to get something produced for my writing group meeting this weekend. It’s been three months and I haven’t handed a single thing in for critique! That’s just the kind of fall it’s been.
I find myself picking up on a theme I started on back in the spring: poems based on my list of 100 things to live for (up above, if you don’t know what I’m referring to). None of them so far are much good I’m afraid, but that’s the price I pay when I don’t write for several months. It’s not just something I can drop in and out of unfortunately – the whole brain is a muscle thing applies here. Just like it does to writing music or anything else that isn’t entirely technics.
Even worse, I was hanging out on Saturday with some traveling friends, one who writes poetry that I find remarkable (something I don’t say lightly, can I repeat again I am enamoured with Maureen’s poems?) – which leaves me looking at my lumpish poetry and wondering what is the point.
Yes. I know. That’s the wrong direction to go in, but I’m sure you other writers out there know what I mean. And at the same time, having settled into a couple of hours of writing in the last two days, I realize how much I’ve missed this. The meditative part of pushing words around on paper, of coming back each day with a new eye to what needs changing, smoothing, edging out.
At the end of all this – these meetings and conferences – I am free again. At least that’s how I feel right now – this end to things representing the release of time I need in order to pursue the whole rest of my life that is waiting. An illusion I’m afraid, that I will be no more productive after this than I am right now – but at least I know how when I do have the time. Know how to build the routines around that which I prioritize. And right now I feel like my heart is prioritizing even as I remain focused on other things.
Urban Herb School Workshops: THIS WEEKEND
Hey folk! I’m on the road, but just got this email regarding Urban Herb School workshops this weekend and next. I’ve never taken one of Garliq’s workshops, but have only heard good things about him. I would highly recommend all three of these on that basis (and also because this is the super-useful stuff of herbalism and fermenting as far as I’m concerned – I really would love to learn about mustard plasters at this time of year!) There are a few spaces left in these workshop – and also if I have enough interested friends in one of these I would also love to host something in January maybe (see below, if I can get 6-12 people together we can put on a workshop).
Anyhow – onto the Urban Herb School email:
Creams, Salves & Oils
Sat. Nov. 27
12pm – 4pm
It’s sorta funny that our skin often dries out during the wettest season. Buying commercial creams, salves and body oils can get quite pricey.
So, this class is going to teach the simplicity and ease of making our own creams, salves and body oils. We’re going to make a …
- Calendula Cream – moisten and nourish dry, chapped or red skin
- Heal All Salve – a potent all-purpose salve for scrapes, burns and “owies”
- Warming Massage Oil – a soothing blend of infused oils that will take the ache out!
In this 4 hour class, we’ll go from start of finish on 3 recipes that you’ll get to take home with you. We’ll also sample a few different creams and salves and talk about the healing properties of the herbs we’re using.
Cost – $60 (includes samples in pretty containers)
Location – East Van – Urban Ashram
**In order to support both the practice of D.I.Y. Gifting and to increase the likelihood of people applying what they’ve learned, each workshop has a Kit for sale.
Kit – Creams, Salves & Massage Oil – with curvy bottles and nice glass jars!
Warming Up for Cold & Flu Season
Sun. Nov. 28
12pm – 4pm
This is a really fun class! We’ll make medicines and practise using them. We make a really good Home Remedy Kit to help with Prevention, Immune Support, Symptom Relief and Recovery. Things like Fire Cider, Licorice Cough Syrup, Garlic Honey and Cedar Baths can provide a tremendous support to keep us healthy. We’ll also make an excellent Fever Remedy that’s fantastic for children!
All the remedies made will have some teaching and discussion about how, when and why to use them safely and effectively.
We’ll practice working with some of the tools to deepen our learning for example, we’ll mix & apply mustard plasters and maybe we’ll have time to play with a Vapor Rub or steam.
Everyone will be able to take home some of everything we make.
Cost – $60 (includes samples in pretty containers)
Location – East Van – Urban Ashram
**In order to support both the practice of D.I.Y. Gifting and to increase the likelihood of people applying what they’ve learned, each workshop has a Kit for sale.
Kit – Home Flu Kit – (still being worked out)
Herbal Fermentation
Sat. Dec. 4th
12pm – 4pm
Herbal Ferments make it really Fun to take herbs! (Both as medicine and as food). It’s a great activity with friends or family to create a culture of health and nutrition. It can be really simple and easy! In this 4 hr class, we’ll make 3 different herbal ferments and everyone will take home a jar of each.
- Herbal Kombucha
- Herbal Root Beer with ginger “bug”
- Wild Krout
We’ll play with recipes for nutritive and medicinal herb blends. We’ll talk about health and safety around home fermenting. And most importantly, we’ll roll up our sleeves, put on our aprons and work with the yeast and bacteria that we want in our bodies.
Cost – $60 (includes samples in pretty containers)
Location – East Van – Urban Ashram
**In order to support both the practice of D.I.Y. Gifting and to increase the likelihood of people applying what they’ve learned, each workshop has a Kit for sale.
Kit: Herbal Kombucha Kit – herbs, jar, mother, sugar
Check out Garliq’s bio & qualifications.
How to Register
- Space is limited, please register early to ensure your spot.
- Please email Garliq at LivingMedicine@riseup.net
- In the Subject please include the Name of the Workshop you’d like to attend.
- Information specific to the event will be forwarded to registrants.
How to Attend for Free
- The Urban Herb School has been primarily an outdoor school so far. It’s time to move indoors! And specifically, into YOUR kitchens!
- Host a Workshop or arrange a Private Party for 6-12 friends + Attend for Free!
- **All workshop have a 2 hr version**
- Contact Garliq for details – LivingMedicine@riseup.net
Our backyard in order of work
A brief photo gallery of 18 months of work on our backyard – quite the change since we moved in a year and a half ago – infinitely more pleasing to us. Lawn to backyard grocery and great hangout space!
Front Hall Mod
Our front hallway has been driving me a bit crazy since we moved in. For whatever reason, the previous owners of this house painted the tiny entrance way a deep coal-blue which just made it look impossibly small. On top of that, we never adequately dealt with our need for proper storage space when we moved in last year, and just threw down some hooks and shoe shelves without thinking too much about it. The combined result is in the Before picture below.
Messy, yes? And so dark and jumbled that even in the daytime it was hard to find your stuff among the hooks and piles of shoes. It needed to be brighter, I thought – and *way* more organized. Not to mention that B. has a habit of dropping keys, change, bits of paper, on the living room table when he comes home and I wanted to make a place just for his bits and pieces.
The result of all this thinking (and Brian’s willingness to paint) is below! A yellow paint to match the yellow in a Mexican tin mirror of Brian’s, three wall-to-wall shelves, a coat hanger, a mailbox for Brian’s things and all fixtures spray-painted the same red to contrast against the walls.There is still one more piece to come which is a curtain that will hang in front of the shelves and can be closed when we need to hide any mess. I haven’t got the fabric yet, but will post my final “after” picture here when I do.
We are amazed at the transformation!
Red Cedar 