A Poem ~ The Lake Isle Of Innisfree

This poem is a celebration of peace and solitude, written by one of Irelands most gifted 20th century poets.  My imagination rows a boat to the Isle in the lake, as my heart is captured by the first line of this poem, and does not let go till the final words "heart's core."  

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

~ William Butler Yeats

A tree that gives and gives...

Mimosa Tree ~ Albezia julibrissin 

Are you familiar with this beauty?   At the end of each August, I look forward to driving down this particular street in our little town, just so that I can set my eyes on this wonderful, precious sight.  Each summer this tree is covered in delicate (in looks only,) fern like foliage, and a profusion of delicate gossamery pompoms...  

This tree creates joy, by just being...

When CG and I visited Kauai (most aptly named "The Garden Isle,") we couldn't help but notice the dense forests that covered much of the island, they were  filled with trees that had stunning sculptured trunks and thickly green luscious tree tops resembling giant bouquets of broccoli  especially when seen from above.  I was curious about the them and did some research to find out more about the trees and discovered  they were Albezia's...   Apparently they grow so plentifully there, and are such rapid growers, they are almost considered a weed.  I say "almost," because it turns out that these exquisite trees give much more than their beauty...  Scientists are studying these spectacular trees and have discovered that they produce more nitrogen per acre than any other known plant, and are one of the fastest growing trees in the world.  Farmers in Kauai note that under the trees lush grass grows in profusion, due to the nitrogen giving feature of the Albezia...

Imagine..., farming without fossil fuel created fertilizer, running into the streams and poisoning mother earths fragile ecosystems..  Imagine instead fertilizing crops  using the leaf and twig material from these heaven sent trees, who's flowers smell like nectar....

Sweet Summer Tomatoes...

Picking the fruits of summer...

There is nothing like the taste of home grown tomatoes, now we have a greenhouse  growing and ripening tomatoes is so much easier.  I love the smell of tomato plants, and the slow and gentle art of  picking these juicy, red jewels, plucking fingers rub against the leaves releasing their delicious aroma...

My favorite way to eat tomatoes is right off the vine, or with some goat cheese, fresh basil and bread (gluten free of course,) and perhaps a few Nicoise olives.... yummmmmmmm...

A perfect pair - Fresh picked tomatoes and basil...

Here's a beautiful, juicy poem... enjoy...

Picking Tomatoes ~ by John Tansey

In the midst of my angst,

I stooped to see a woman

picking tomatoes;

Choosing with such deliberate surety,

the plump ripe one at the right moment.

Suddenly, I sensed the world was upheld by her

and I felt safe, being near this earthly gardener.

Gentle, like Zen, in its old age,

She was an elegant, gray haired woman

named Eve, a biblical, ancient beauty

who left Adam to stay and care for the Garden,

a maiden of the woods,

married to the tree of knowledge.

And as I reached out to feel her essence,

she picked the one that I was on!

A New Place To Create...

Since before moving into our new house, I have dreamt of having a room/place to create.  Well, the room isn't possible at this point, but I now have this exquisite secretary that I call my creativity center...

 

As you can see, my lovely new secretary has lots of little nooks and crannies, and shelves to place all kinds of inspirational items, such as photos, ribbons, buttons, pictures, eggs, stamps, books..., and I don't know if you can tell, but its painted in a soft golden color, with beautifully painted scrollwork..., I'm not exaggerating when I tell you, it actually seems to "glow"... invitingly...  Just looking at it makes me want to sit there and do something lovely like a pen and ink drawing, write a note to  someone I love, or write a post to this blog..., I just love it!

As you can see by the photo above..., we are still finding places for artwork, and unpacking boxes - moving is a lengthy process!  But today, we got the secretary moved into a quiet corner in the bedroom... now I am ready to move again, only this time its much easier and enjoyable..., I am moving into my "creativity center."

I will enjoy filling it with my favorite, inspiring things, and then sharing it with you:)

What about you?  Do you have a special place to create?

All The True Vows...

I'm having technical problems with up-loading my photos...
Hopefully I will have it fixed by tomorrow.. In the mean time, here is a beautiful poem by
David Whyte...

All the True Vows

All the true vows
are secret vows
the ones we speak out loud
are the ones we break.

There is only one life
you can call your own
and a thousand others
you can call by any name you want.

Hold to the truth you make
every day with your own body,
don’t turn your face away.

Hold to your own truth
at the center of the image
you were born with.

Those who do not understand
their destiny will never understand
the friends they have made
nor the work they have chosen

nor the one life that waits
beyond all the others.

By the lake in the wood
in the shadows
you can
whisper that truth
to the quiet reflection
you see in the water.

Whatever you hear from
the water, remember,

it wants you to carry
the sound of its truth on your lips.

Remember,
in this place
no one can hear you

and out of the silence
you can make a promise
it will kill you to break,

that way you’ll find
what is real and what is not.

I know what I am saying.
Time almost forsook me
and I looked again.

Seeing my reflection
I broke a promise
and spoke
for the first time
after all these years

in my own voice,

before it was too late
to turn my face again.

From The House of Belonging 

Capturing The Taste Of Summer...

Raspberry Jam

Jam is a great way to preserve the delicious fruits of summer.  Its been several years since I made any, but this year, I promised myself that I would make the effort to make enough to fill a shelf in the pantry and have a few left over for gifts.  On a cold dreary winter morning, there's something so comforting about opening up a fresh jar of fruit preserves. Just one sniff, and a little bit of summer returns.

Here's my recipe:

4 pints of raspberries

juice of 1 medium lemon

3 cups of sugar

~

Step 1.  Put the raspberries and lemon juice in a non-reactive pan ( I use my LeCreuset Pan)

Heat gently at first, this allows the fruit to release its juice.  During this time, mash the berries, till the fruit is soft and the pan is filled with juice.

Step 2.  Add the sugar and stir over a medium heat till the sugar is completely dissolved.  Turn up the heat and bring the jam to a rolling boil, removing any scum that floats to the surface.  Continue to boil the jam for several minutes..., test the jam for setting point after 5 minutes by taking a chilled plate from the freezer and dropping a spoonful on the plate, allow to cool for a few seconds then push your finger through the jam, if it wrinkles and sticks, its ready.    You can also use a candy thermometer, and test the jam when it reaches 220 degrees.

Step 3.  Pour the jam into hot, sterilized jars, put the lids on and seal.  When the jars are cool, wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any excess sticky stuff.

Yummmmmm.....

Time To Be Gentle...

 I spent the weekend in Portland racing with CG... and it was very hottttt and dryyyy at the race track... (I retreated into the air conditioned rv, fondly known as Petunia...,) and I remained cool as a cucumber,  I napped, and I read and I sketched, and drank cups of tea... , and realized how tired I'd become from all the moving and recent changes and upheavals..., so I took time to myself, and decided to take a couple of days off from blogging and listen gently to what my body needed ~ and REST was the answer...

One thing I did do, was go to the farmers market.  I love going there......, I get so inspired ~ to cook, to plant and grow things..., to capture the sights and smells... and photograph..., to eat...!!!

Here's a collage of market photo's... enjoy...

Echiums

Cauliflowers

Dahlia bud

So many peppers

Viburnum berries

Sunny sunflowers