raising herbs

There must be healing happening around here, as I find myself discovering the beginning sparks of pure joy in my passions from before. Passions that include cleaning and baking and gardening. Well not the normal kind of gardening, that I leave to Rob. But, more along the lines of herbs and edible flowers and certain fruits. I seemed to have gone into some kind of hibernation over this past year with all things magickal in the kitchen and in my little raised herb bed (that Rob built with his own hands last year). All of these loves appeared to have lost their sparkle, well that is until this weekend.

I am very blessed to have a man who just understands and feeds the healing process and although he teases about all the hocus pocus that comes with being me he understands how it makes me whole and happy, just like he does.


We do have other herbs in and around the veg patch and garden but here, in this raised bed, are herbs that I use in the magick that is cleaning, cooking and baking. For those who know me they will be certain to assure you that I find all herbs, flowers, fruits and so forth to have not only medicinal properties but also magick energies that can be added to your meal with intention. Yup, it’s the witchy in me ;)

Through the year we will be building and raising a new bed for more of the edible flower variety. Which I am so very excited about. All our herbs start out in our blessed raised beds and once they take and I can’t keep up with their growth anymore we then thin them out a little leaving a little behind and then plant the rest into the garden.

New growings to our raised beds (for now)

• Aloe Vera – the perfect antiseptic right in our backyard for those bumps and grazes and bee stings! (medicinal) skin ailments and healing wounds (magickal) protection, healing 
• Asparagus - this is the first time we have tried our hand at it. And of course I just love the stuff. – (medicinal) .. ok so I am still figuring this one out, I think it may also be a diuretic (magickal) love 
• Basil – one can never have enough BASIL!!! basil butter, basil pesto, fresh basil in salads and pastas……. – (medicinal) destresser and detoxifier (magickal) protection, love, money 
• Fennel – this one is the “cloudy” version, its new and intriguing and well, with fish… I may have to pack some for our fishing trips – (medicinal) diuretic - flushes out the toxins from the body (magickal) healing, protection, purification
• Lemon Grass – every home has to have Lemon grass and these will be added to my soaps too - (medicinal) stimulates cell growth and soothes intestinal infections (magickal) lust, cleansing 
• Parsley – the curly leaf variety - (medicinal) also a diuretic herb and aids with symptoms of nausea, fever and menstruation (magickal) domestic tranquillity, luck, purification 
• Rosemary – I covet them…. So we got two just for good measure - (medicinal) beautiful anti-inflammatory and perfect for circulation problems (magickal) love, cleansing, purification, protection 
• Spring Onions – just ‘cause it’s Summer and no salad should be without - (medicinal) .. working on this one too... (magickal) healing, protection 
• Strawberries – need I say more? (medicinal) did you know they were once used to treat syphilis? The leaves can also be used to aide in diarrhea (magickal) love 
• Thyme – I really can’t get enough of the stuff, oh and Mr Nugget better be on the lookout or he will be stuffed with said herb for roasting! - (medicinal) I love to use thyme for coughs and colds and sore throats - just to name a few (magickal) love, purification Replant from what was there before. 
• Marjoram – I haven’t used much Marj in the past, I intend to make a concerted effort this year. – (medicinal) like Oregano aid in digestion although can seriously help with all those flu bouts and anxiety attacks and even exhaustion (magickal) repels negativity, purification, peace. 

The extra Parsley, Rosemary and very sorry looking mint was moved to companion a few of the veg in the veg patch and the Lavender was carefully thinned out and planted along the walk way.

Healthy soil, new plantings and dirty fingernails - I feel such excitement for the months ahead...

aunty b's brownies

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes. Add chopped or shaved chocolate when it's still hot and just out the oven.

blackwood's dam

The Summer season is in full swing and with that being said I am finding we are spending so much more of our time out doors. The weather at times still seems to be misplaced. Where there are days that could pass for confusing Winter with a sprinkling of snow lightly covering the Berg and other days that could pass for Midsummer sweltering and the only reprieve for the boys is to splash away in the pool.

Recently we took the opportunity to drive out to Richmond to spend the early hours of  the morning at Jenny's dam at Blackwood Farm. Jenny is one of Rob's very special customers and kindly allowed Garren to try out his new found all-things-fishing-obsession at one of her dams.

I was in awe at the beauty of it all. Snuggled cozily amidst the greening hills almost void of any human touch.

As the morning mists lingered - there was a special kind of magic about this place.

weekending

The weekending…? Has it been that long since I have been online to update our little blog here and catch up with you all?

It may even feel a little longer for me. Those razor sharp blades that invaded the little space in my throat last week turned into a full blown flu virus. I was
manwoman down for most of last week and only seemed to re-surface from my zombie like existence somewhere through Saturday. With our medical mostly depleted, I turned to a more natural form of self medicated remedy - Kali Mur – do you use tissue salts? Before all the nonsense of hospitals and doctors and pharmaceuticals prescribed over the past however many months before, they were my go to for all things health wise. And, although there is still a tickling cough every now and then, I feel much better for it. Almost as if my immune system may be a little stronger and thanking me for it.

There was also a little too much of the freakish weather – a few days where the temps teetered around 40 degrees Celsius and others were the sky circled in shades of grey and there may have been a dusting or sprinkling of a pathetic attempt at rain. This week looks like it may just be heading in the same direction.

Poor ol’ Blair has been bouncing around with a cone-thingie-magigie around her head. It’s the funniest thing to watch. Initially the poor gal went into a state of absolute terrror, but we have just had to persevere with it for the sake of her poor eye. Thankfully she is healing up nicely and not too perturbed (that much) by it anymore.

Saturday Rob switched over to watch the Rugby. I have no idea how long its been since we have watched any form of sporting on t.v. In the past I probably would have cringed at the thought of having to endure a game where I have no choice but to openly admit I have no clue as to what is happening. But, this time, I pulled out all my older knit projects and added finishing touches to them while pretending to watch. At least I was there in body right? Sadly, from all the hullabaloo, shrieks and moans from all the boys – we lost to the All Blacks, but in all fairness – Rob did says we played like idiots. I say, well done to the Boks for getting thus far. *insert sly chuckle here*

This week I will be keeping a close eye on our post box. I am patiently (well trying to be) waiting on the new supplies for my soap making obsession. I have quite a big order to get through before the end of November, for a very special customer that will be visiting us from England in December.
The boys have less than 2 months of school to go before the end of the year. So the week days have become pretty darn quiet around here while Joshua swots for his exams for next month. Keeping Garren busy during these quiet days has become easier as he gets older. We have now added a work table in his new bedroom and he spends his time drawing in his little journal and rebuilding his Lego pirate ship he got for his birthday this year.

I HOPE to share a few blogger sites a week (weather permitting) for you all to hop on over and show some love to. There are days when a little comment from someone out there makes all the difference in the world. Stop by when you have a chance – peruse their site and if you like what you see add them to your feed link.

This week head on over and say hi to Jeanette from The Farm and Wendy from Crickleberry Cottage
Thank you all so much for all your comments on my last post. I love your comments. Every single one of them make me smile.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Love Angie xx

big fish

Remember that heat wave I carried on about last week? Well the very next day it broke. Spring is back and I couldn’t feel gladder.

Between you and me I truly rely on our seasons being in sync. I feel together. I need that balance after the imbalance we have experienced this year. I need the sun to rise in the morning all sparkling and bright and set leaving the darkness and magic of the moon in the evening. I need to be one with the phases of the moon. And I need the seasons to be what they are…. I need to witness the awakening of Summer before Summer is here. All this makes me feel secure and in harmony, not only within myself but with the world around me. So, dearest Mother Earth - I thank you for bringing back Spring. 

I am ever so grateful that I have seen the end of last week’s tummy bugs, restless nights and seasonal coughs. The boys are on the mend but, with that, I seem to have caught that hideous virus from them. A grumpy throat and a tightness of the chest – really?!? Please can someone remove the razor blades from my throat. 

There was a reshuffle of the boys bedrooms and I think they are happier for it. It makes more sense, although for me, it means that I have to accept that our eldest may be in the process of not only leaving home but moving to another town and our youngest is growing and maturing enough to have his very own room. (insert heavy-hearted sigh here). 

The girls have settled nicely into their coop and we are back to getting an egg from each one daily. The old side of the coop is getting a little green growing make over. We have added more soil to even out where their scratchings left holes and I planted snippings of mint and marjoram while Rob sowed some coriander seeds and planted cuttings from our grass. The veg garden is flourishing and before we know it we will be harvesting again. The ol’ folk have planted well this year. 

There was much excitement when our budding fisherman caught his very first fish. He dreams of a future of doing nothing else but that… fishing. When I went through to check that he was getting ready for school and not being distracted by all the newness of his very own bedroom. I found him half-dressed, one sock on and the other lying limply over his unmade bed, imaginary rod in one hand and the other very busy reeling in yet another bass. I feel the exhilaration for Christmas coming on, Santa’s list of every kind of angler paraphernalia out there is growing. 

I am nearing the end of my grey beanie and I think it’s going to be just perfect for when the colder months embrace our little home next year. I have already started looking for a new knit project. I have never knitted socks, the bed-type variety yes, but never socks. I need to get out to the store and buy sock yard and just do it. What is your go to pattern for your socks? 

I’ve spent the last few days realigning and readjusting and I think I may just be back on track. I won’t claim to be healed completely but I will say this. I am eternally blessed to have my family and the understanding and strength from a man who supports me whichever way the wheel for today may be turning. 

I am going HOPE to share a few blogger sites a week (weather permitting) for you all to hop on over and show some love to. There are days when a little comment from someone out there makes all the difference in the world. Stop by when you have a chance – peruse their site and if you like what you see add them to your feed link.
This week head on over and say hi to Rachel from Chronicles of Just a Mom and Karen from Pumpkin Sunrise. 

Thank you all so much for all your comments on my last post. I love your comments. Every single one of them make me smile. 

Have a blessed week ahead!
Love Angie

homespun chicks

I have woken to a morning of blissfully cooler skies and a more comfortable 23 degrees. I cant believe how sweltering it has been over the last few days. Yesterday, midday, saw us reaching temps of over 40 degrees Celsius! How are we expected to cope with this kind of heat? (only Mother Nature dearest must know). I feel a little frightened for when our Summer does eventually arrive. Garren said that when they weren't in PE lessons, yesterday, the teachers let the boys take breaks through the day and run through the sprinklers at school. And when the boys got home from school they all jumped in the pool again. 

 
But, with that being said, yesterday afternoon the heat wave finally broke and dirty grey clouds circled the sky for a slightly cooler afternoon and milder evening. Not quite the weather and natural light I needed for picture taking for this post today though. It seemed, at the time, that there may not be a post today at all - Zeus had a hand in it too - when he saw me trying to take photos outside for a little more natural light, he kept on playfully pouncing at me and truly thought the eggs here were a treat just for him. Contending with a puppy his size can sometimes be overwhelming. He of course has no clue that his puppy bounding can almost knock me right off my feet. Oh well, its just one of those things - right? I will have to try again through the week.

The inspiration for our Homespun Chicks came from the lovely Nalle's House, they are so very easy to whip up with simple stitching. I just love that! I am busy with other knit projects, that take a little longer to finish off, so I find that knitting up something like this is fun and I could see the results within a few minutes. I haven't quite finished loading all the blaah blaah on my Ravelry account just yet - I will get to that a little later in the day. And as soon as I capture the right picture I will load them up on our little store too. 

 
Of course, today I will be joining the lovely Ginny for Yarn Along. It has been far too long since I linked up! 

 
Will I be connecting with you there? 

 
love angie xxx

gone fishin'

 

We are in the swing of all things that include anything outside and throwing out the lines. With beautiful blue skies above and a soft breeze rippling off the dam, there is no better way to spend our morning. Well, that is, according to Rob and Garren.

Rob and I have been deep in conversation, for awhile now, about how we can bring a few more out door activities (on a frugal budget) into our daily lives. Camping was one, fishing another and more beach time. I also added that I would love to add a few trips to the night craft markets.

We meandered through Baynesfield Estate and found this lovely dam aptly named “Big Dam”. The water level was very low due to the dry spell we are having at the moment but that made for easy fish spying. The policy is catch and release which is perfect for this “big” little dam. Sadly no fish were caught but they were there teasing on the end of the lures which brought on great excitement. It was perfect for a little man to practice his casting. This was Garren’s third fishing trip. The previous times he loved the outing but I felt that all that time spent on the boat made for a very impatient and tired little lad. This trip we could not get him to reel in his line – Rob, as we all know, is a true fisherman at heart and to have a son who is showing signs of sharing this same passion made him ever so proud.

And me, myself and I…. well, this time I did not cast out my line. I found a beautiful Plain tree with umbrella branches filled with lush green leaves for shade and caught up on my favourite magazine.
I truly believe that, that Plain tree will be seeing me again in the not so distant future, maybe with our family tent, some camping chairs, a few more fishing rods and my knit projects.

love angie xxx