Monday 25 May 2015

Guess This Tree

Living out in the country sure has its benefits... the sights, the smells (and no, I'm not talking about manure).  Anytime I take a walk down the road this time of year, heading toward the forest, there are two noticeable things: 1) The presence of one massive fly that wont leave you alone and 2) The deep, dense scent of honey and nature mixed together in one blissful aroma. It is pretty easy to find the cause of the scent, as it is powerful and overwhelming and wonderful.  Turns out, it comes from just one lonely tree at the edge of the forest. That's how powerful it is.  You can smell it for a good 1/2 km. 
Anywho.  I've been researching this mysterious tree for the past few weeks and I've FINALLY found it! Here are the pictures of the leaves and bark before I spoil this epic surprise for you:

So in order to find the species, I looked in my trees of Ontario guide and flipped to the front where there is a key.  So basically it says "Are the leaves needle or not" and continues on in this manner using deduction to figure out the type of tree.  This tree proved more difficult because it took me to the very end of the key where it was asking about 'how serrated are the edges' and 'how long are the leaves compared to width'.  Anyway, I'm proud to announce that this is a .............................................
BALSAM POPLAR
I thought it was a birch for sure, but apparently these trees are very 'poplar' all over Ontario (See what I did there).. So its likely that you've smelled this tree at some point too.  I believe they are usually around the forest edge.
 
Anyway.  Glad I got that off my chest ;)
 
 
Much crickets and love <3

Tuesday 12 May 2015

Herbs...and other green stuff

This year, I've decided to plant my herbs indoors (it's hard to distinguish basil from a weed ok?!).  Actually, I lied... I sowed some dill outside this past weekend.  Dill is different, though, it grows about four feet tall and is pretty easy to recognize.  Last year I had waaay too much dill growing and with no cucumbers to make pickles with, most of it eventually died off.  Some of it made it into a salad, but it has a very strong flavor so not much is needed.
Anyway. The herbs I've decided to plant indoors this year are:
  • Tarragon
  • Oregano
  • Sage
  • Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Chives
  • Lavender
  • Chamomile
My chamomile is growing super fast which is exciting... I am looking forward to some homemade chamomile tea.  The thyme just really hates me; it's the only one out of all nine that has hardly sprouted.  I don't know if the seed depth was way off or it needs a different soil acidity, oh well. 
I've also started around 40 tomato seedlings.. I wont have room for them but, you know, survival of the fittest guys.  Ahhh I have some ground cherry as well! That's those little orange berries that come in a papery husk.  I want to can some if they ever mature... about 30 have come up but they look so fragile I hope they make it.
I planted some leek too... after having cock-a-leeky soup (see last post), how could I not.. they are doing very well, they can be transplanted outside soon and they are very easy to grow.
Finally, I have some columbine flowers growing inside the sunroom here. They never even sprouted last year but this year there are lots... yay for flowers!
Now, outside is a whole different story.  I know you should really wait til the may 24 weekend to start seeds outside blah blah but last year I was late with starting them, and this year I intend to have a few harvests throughout the summer :). Well here's a list of my seeds/ plants I've started in my garden (more so a list for me to keep track)
  • Corn
  • Carrots
  • Red onion
  • Snow peas
  • Cucumber
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
  • Yellow pepper
  • Potatoes
  • Tomato (once mature)
  • Ground cherry (once mature)
  • Leek (once mature)
  • Raspberry
  • Pumpkin
The pumpkin, by the way is one of those prizewinning size of Baffin island pumpkins so it goes behind the garden shed lol.
I spent all weekend mixing soil to the right consistency and raking and weeding (oh the weeding).. so now we wait.


Sunroom!

Tarragon 3 weeks in

Close-up of leeks

These two smell sooo good and earthy
 
 
I purchased some new books, as well. One is all about baking using natural sugars and garden produce, the other is about self sufficient gardening.  Yay for some good reads.
Any help with growing thyme will be appreciated :)

Peace and thyme xo

Monday 13 April 2015

Tartan Day Celebrations

Last Sunday (Easter Sunday) was Tartan Day (As I'm sure you all knew). I went to Fergus yesterday where they were celebrating a week later with pipe bands and the like roaming the town.
 
 
Above are some pipers at the Goofie Newfie, one of the best restaurants around (get the fish and chips).

The Goofie Newfie offers a great view of the grand river as well!



















Well I didn't end up having lunch there, BECAUSE I saw that the health food store cafĂ© was having a a Scottish themed menu :) Sooooo I ended up getting cock a leeky soup. Yes. Well I've been wanting to try it for a while, and thank goodness they weren't serving haggis, but the soup was delish...its like chicken noodle only with quinoa instead of noodles and leek added. (Check another food off the bucket list).  Twas a great Sunday for sure :)
Peace and leeks <3

Tuesday 10 February 2015

This Juice.

Well. I thought I'd enlighten y'all on the world's greatest juice. It's organic. It's mango. It's my favourite!

Thursday 22 January 2015

Reiki

To wrap up this week of non-existent blogging, I would like to share my experience with reiki and energy healing yesterday. 

I guess I should go back to how it started... My sister was going to a boxing gym in Mississauga a about a month ago, and was looking for some essential oils for me.  She came across this little shop; extremely tiny but full of treasures and trinkets for the spiritual soul.  Anyway. My sister wandered in and remembering that I was on the hunt for a Tibetan singing bowl.  And oh do they sell them!  The man in the shop was from Ireland and promptly told the sis a whole bunch of stuff about herself.  Long story short, she came out with a singing bowl for the 'third eye' chakra, which he demanded was the right fit for me (she showed him a pic). 

A month later, I was still intrigued by this healer.  He doesn't use tarot cards, he just knows. So I booked an appointment for 'energy healing' not knowing a thing about it, and went down to Mississauga. I honestly thought it was going to be sitting in a chair while he told me a bunch of stuff.  It ended up being sooo much better!!  So in the back of the tiny shop, down two sets of stairs and into a dark room we go.  There is soft Tibetan music playing and a massage table lying in the center. Four chains are attached to form a pyramid around the table and go from ceiling to floor.  Whoa. Totally interesting.  Kind of scary. But hey, this could be cool. 
So, I had to remove my rings and bracelets so that they wouldn't conflict with the energy.  Awesome.  Next is to lie down face up on this table and get covered with a big fuzzy blanket.  Two 'sticks' (pretty sure they were made of stone) were placed in my hands and incense was put on.  I was so excited! (he could likely tell haha).  It's normal to experience different sensations; you could feel hot or parts of your body would start to shake. It all means something. 
Now. Getting back to the 'chakras'.  The human body has 7 major chakras, or points of energy on ones body.  There are 21 minor chakras, and ..get this... 72 000, yep, micro chakras. So this lovely gent was pretty in tune on the subject.  I think he mentioned he was a reiki master at age 6 and has been all over the world and is certified in pretty much anything metaphysical. So highly intelligent.  He also has a photographic memory! 

Ok. So I am lying down with a blanky and two stone sticks in my hands staring up at the ceiling which is adorned with flags in the seven colours of the chakras, and a few dreamcatchers.  So he starts by telling me about this nanotechnology wand he will be using and a few of the crystals.  He places a crystal on my forehead and right away my left hand started to shake. 'Aha' he said...'you will do well in  a career with your hands. Specifically a healer.' hmmmm. He continues through the session with much crystals placed all over, wand waving, incense waving, and this neat breath thing.  He said I could feel like I was choking.  Alrighty then.  So he bowed his head to mine and did some cool breathing stuff and my breathing did shorten. It was so calm and fascinating, and I was on such a high that I just loved every second.  Oh yeah. He mentioned it would be the fastest and best high of my life. Now. I have never really experienced a 'high' from anything. I get tired, but not oh wow I totally can feel the effects! Perhaps it's my love for life and passion for multiple things that I am already at a very high state. Who knows. Anyway. I was feeling good during the session.  Very good. But it really hit me about ten minutes after. Wow. It was like the best feeling of my life and I'm pretty sure I can still feel it.  It is a high that makes you feel full and purposeful and healthy.  It made me feel full of vitality, and content yet yearning.  It was so many new feelings.  Each wonderful. 

So It is a pretty peaceful ceremony.  He would place his hands on my head and ask questions. He was waving his wand over my stomach and he asked if I was into herbs and organics. Why yes, I replied. Something about some energy field in my intestine gave it away I guess.  He knew I had an open mind, and he knew that I sucked at meditating. Grumble. He knew I had interrupted sleeping patterns (I sleepwalk every night almost). He said I was deficient in magnesium, too. He said I was holding a lot of grief in my stomach from a recent death in the family, so he worked that out.  He worked on some overactive gland and balanced out my energy.  Apparently I have REM in my left hand, stomach, and right eye. He placed some singing bowls on me and that was REALLY cool :)
He concluded the session with him 'breathing for me' and telling me that the energy coming from my left hand was phenomenal. He told me that I was a born healer with my hands and told me to please not waste this 'gift'. Interesting ending words.  There was a small consultation after and then it was over. Just like that.

The things he said, the way I felt, the whole atmosphere was enlightening. It wasn't like going to a psychic where they'd predict things. His method was based on what would feel right with your energy.  He did mention people and he described them very accurately, and he would tell me about how they were affecting my life.  Keep in mind, reiki and energy healing is not a religious practice.  An open mind is required.  I would highly recommend a session. It really was the best experience of my life.

You can read more about chakras here: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-91/The-7-Chakras-for-Beginners.html

I'm a newbie to this, but feel free to ask questions about energy healing :)

Peace and Energy xo

Saturday 17 January 2015

Thursday 15 January 2015

Wednesday 14 January 2015

January 14th: New

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me. 7:44am

Peace and love xo

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Monday 12 January 2015

January 12th: Bright

Just because this picture brightens my soul...

Peace and Poplars xo

Sunday 11 January 2015

January 11th: "I See..."

Today was a good day.  I got to spend time with the trees, and I see lots of 'em!
Peace, love, and pinecones xo

Saturday 10 January 2015

January 10th: 'Hello'

'Salve', when speaking to one person...'salvete' when speaking to 2 or more.  I think. Grumble. It's hello in Latin :P
 
Peace and Pickles! xo

Friday 9 January 2015

January 9th: A Pattern

One of my absolute favourite teas. Good for colds as well.
Peace & Much Love.

Thursday 8 January 2015

January 8th: What You're Reading Right Now



I can't just have one book on the go, now can I??
  1. A Pocket Guide To Herbs.  Purchased at a used bookstore in Fergus I believe. A really great book that would be even BETTER if I had an accompanying mortar and pestle :)
  2. Trees of The World.  A little disappointed with this book, as there is no 'key', so if I don't know what a tree is I can look at the key and it will use deduction to determine the species (i.e. are there needles or leaves.  If needles go to question 2 if leaves go to question 3) You get the idea.  I guess if its a book on all the worlds trees I can see the author justifying not putting a key in.
  3. 642 Things To Draw.  Haven't started this one yet, but as you can see I love challenges (like this photo one!)  All I know is, the first thing to draw is a rolling pin.
  4. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies.  HIGLY RECOMMENDED TO ANYONE!! This book is great. Any disease, illness, booboo, it tells you a remedy for them all using 5000 year old ancient medicine. Although most of the remedies involve Indian spices which can be purchased from an Indian grocery store, I'm sure, some of the remedies work SO well.  For example. In October my doggy died and after a full two days of non-stop tears, I had the worst sinus headache under my eyes.  This book said: Mix 1/2 tsp of ginger with a little water to form a paste.  Rub paste on sinuses on your face.  Wait ten minutes then wash off.  So I made it. And let me tell you. As soon as that ginger hits your face...whew man aliiiive it burns.  So I grit my teeth through this awful sunburn feeling inducing stuff, when after 5 minutes my headache/sinus pain is TOTALLY gone. I was so impressed. I did look rather burnt for a few minutes after.  They have different types of simple pastes to make for different kinds of headache, such as stress, migraine, temples, blah di blah. Anyway. Good read.
  5. Home Herbal.  Haven't really gotten too into this but it has some really cool recipes to try and how to care for growing herbs at home (duh).
  6. A Slice Of Organic Life.  Cool book. Really enjoy the layout of this book and the random titles from page to page. One page will be about caring for goats, another will be about how to make blueberry muffins.
Also, kitty. Trixie the kitty.

Peace and kitties.

Tuesday 6 January 2015

January 6th: Something Round

Ahhh... *Gollum voice*... my precious : )
Peace and one love

Thuja occidentalis

...aka Eastern White Cedar.
"'Cause baby your soul can never grow old, it's evergreen"-Ed Sheeran :)
Peace, and poplars

Monday 5 January 2015

January 5th: Something Square

Ok, so I have been teaching myself to crochet over the weekend...finally after many choice words and throwing yarn across the living room, I have kinda sorta got the hang of this craft? Sport? haha. Anyway. Something square:

Peace & Parsnips :D

Sunday 4 January 2015

Friday 2 January 2015

January 2nd: Something Yellow

Hmmm something yellow....how about some yarn I am using to crochet a blanket for my sister :)
Peace and love xo

Thursday 1 January 2015

January 1st: The Sky

First picture of the challenge! I stayed up really late looking for a good challenge online and FINALLY found one I liked.  Snowing. Dark. Tired. Not a good pic but I have OCD and am NOT waiting another year to start it haha :)
 
 
Peace and love xo

2015 & 365 Day Photo Challenge!

2015 is looking to be a promising year for photography, and having a new DSLR camera is all the better!  So I have decided to undertake this 365 day photo challenge.  Pretty straightforward; there is a list of things to take a picture of for every day of the year.  I am planning on travelling to Scotland for a month in April and also a full USA road trip with my sister in August.  All pictures will be available here, mostly, as I am trying to use Facebook less and less in hopes of getting rid of it altogether...It has gotten too fake and braggy for me.  So then this blog happened. If you want to look at my pictures, adventures, or daily doings, then here they are :) So glad there is no 'like' button on here! So here it is, a tale of my adventures to come, photo challenges, and daily randomness. Enjoy. Peace and love. xo