My Mississippi grandma and her friendshad superpowers.Not the comic strip kind,but the surreal, Southern, storied kind. What made them fantasticalwas how they stood outagainst the sobering backdropof modernity. My grandma taught herself to play the pianoand could play and sing dozens of hymnals by memoryas if the gospel was flowing right through her.Her hands had … Continue reading
Mallow Mallow and more Mallow Soup
Really, though. What has taken me so long to learn about molokhia (mulukhiyyeh) soup (Egypt, Lebanon, etc)??? A recent post in a foraging group led me on an adventure with our local, invasive cheesewheel mallow plant (Malva parviflora or Malva neglecta). Although the mallow used in molokhia soup is a different species (jute mallow or … Continue reading
Creativity and the Handmade Life
“…”I love my creative life more than I love cooperating with my own oppression.” If we were to abuse our children, Social Services would show up at our doors. If we were to abuse our pets, the Humane Society would come to take us away. But there is no Creativity Patrol or Soul Police if … Continue reading
Pumpkin Spice Marrow Custard
It is that time of year. Imbolc. The mid-point between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox of the Old Celtic Wheel of the Year. It’s at this time that eggs are starting to be laid. Eggs of all kinds. Wombs are full. Nature is preparing for birth. Years ago, in Mississippi, I cooked and prepared … Continue reading
Cotton: an exploration of texture and primitive fiber arts
A crafter friend of mine and I meet up every other week or so. Our kids play together and we always end up getting into something. We share the joy and enthusiasm of working with plants and other treasures of the natural world. One week I showed my friend’s kids a large, tangled bush of … Continue reading
Wheel of Life 2021
I stepped into the new year (based on the Julian then Gregorian calendars, that is) by taking a hike. I stepped away from motherhood duties and did just that. A hike. With a girlfriend. We talked. We sat on sandstone and gazed at the horizon. We looked at vultures circling in the sky. We saw … Continue reading
Big-berry Manzanita, Forage & Craft
It has been awhile since I last wrote a blog post. Mostly, the reason is that WordPress shifted the tools for creating a blog post and I was disgruntled to have to figure it out. Sigh. I tend to be really resistant to change when it comes to technology. Grumble. Grumble. Grumble. Anyway. Now that … Continue reading
Trail Marker Trees: Remembering Land Language
The story of stumbling upon the meaning and significance of these living artifacts started about 10 years ago. I had been running an apothecary in Mississippi (2012-2017) and, of course, spent a lot of time outdoors walking trails. I eventually started to notice these unusually shaped trees, most of them bent at 90 degree angles. … Continue reading
Rootin-tootin Fermented Radishes
Our favorite veggie ferment used to be sauerkraut. THEN then THEN we discovered fermented radishes. Everything changed. They are easy to chew. Sour. They have a subtle spice to them. Well. And, they are pink. My three year old LOVES them. The only thing is…they smell like baby diapers. I know. Strange. This ferment smells … Continue reading
Carpobrutus edulis: invasive food & medicine
New wormhole => Carpobrotus edulis (Latin name) Common name in California: ice plant Common name in South Africa (place of origin): sour fig, hottentot fig, or sea fig Indigenous names for sour fig (South Africa): hotnotsvy, suurvy, perdevy and ghaukum As many of you know…this plant is *everywhere* in coastal California. Don’t forget. Invasive plant … Continue reading
