November

"The thinnest yellow light of November is more warming 
and exhilarating than any wine they tell of."

~   Henry David Thoreau

Happy Halloween!

THE GHOST OF A FLOWER

"You're what?" asked the common or garden spook 

Of a stranger at midnight's hour.

 And the shade replied with a graceful glide,

 "Why, I'm the ghost of a flower."

"The ghost of a flower?" said the old-time spook; 

"That's a brand-new one on me; 

I never supposed a flower had a ghost, 

Though I've seen the shade of a tree."

-Anonymous

Nature's Magic

Grass blades illuminated with remnants of rainfall

To trace the history of a river, or a raindrop, 

as John Muir would have done,

 is also to trace the history of the soul, 

the history of the mind descending and arising in the body.

In both we constantly seek and stumble on divinity, 

which, like the cornice feeding the lake and the spring becoming a waterfall, 

feeds, spills, falls, and feeds itself 

over and over again.

~  Gretel Ehrlich,  Sisters of the Earth

'tis the season to be baking...

Okay, so I know it's not yet October, 

but the excitement is building, & I just can't help my anticipation...

In honor of the season, I've begun to bake bread, but not just any bread... 
Pumpkin Bread!  

Yes, this is by far the most delectable of all seasonal breads 

(just my opinion, of course)!

Always in an effort to bake in the healthiest manner...

 Please note there are a few ingredients that you may not be accustomed to, 

but may find that it does not compromise the taste in any way...

So, here it goes...

3 cups Demerara sugar

1 cup grapeseed oil

2 'Egg Beaters' cups 

(sold in packs of three, each one is equivalent to 2 eggs)

16 oz canned unsweetened pumpkin

3 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt
(please throw over left shoulder should you spill any!)

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

2/3 cup water

How to Make...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Grease (w/ Olive Oil) & flour loaf pan. 

Stir together Demerara sugar and grapeseed oil. 

Add in eggs and pumpkin.

 Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. 

Blend dry ingredients and water into wet mixture, alternating. 

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. 

Let stand 15 minutes. 

Remove from pans and cool.

Mini Muffins!

Should you have the proper 'gear', these muffins make for a most delicious & healthy snack...
Simply use the same recipe above, but lessen the time in the oven.
Oh, mini muffin pan required, of course!

Don't be afraid to be creative & try your own variation...  
I prefer to spicen it up a bit by crushing glazed walnuts & sprinkling atop prior to baking.


Enjoy!

~ Phoebe

"Take Some More Tea"...

On Saturday, we celebrated the birthday of 
Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, 

who founded the custom of "Afternoon Tea"

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour 

dedicated to the ceremony known as an afternoon tea."

~ Henry James

Anna, Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, 

had a "sinking feeling" every afternoon... sound familiar?

 Early 1840's... 

Noble classes only ate two meals per day, breakfast and a late dinner.  

Was this enough for the duchess?  Not hardly!

Each afternoon, she had begun the habit of 

taking her tea and petite-sized cakes...

the perfect balance! 

The Duchess found taking an afternoon snack 

to be a delightful refreshment,

 and soon began inviting friends to join her. 

friends come for tea in the afternoon

The afternoon tea gathering caught on, 

becoming not only a favorite pastime of ladies of leisure, 

but an integral part of the culture of the Victorian era as well.  

The menu:

 small cakes,

bread and butter sandwiches, 

assorted sweets,

and, of course... 

Tea.

 Afternoon tea was especially popular in the summertime.

The Duchess brought her afternoon tea ritual with her to London, 

sending cards to her friends to join her for "tea and a 'walking the fields'". 

Served in the mid-afternoon & served on low tables.

...a ladies' social occasion. 

Afternoon Tea 

also known as "low tea"

...manners, lace, and dainty foods.

"Take some more tea"

The beauty of tea carries with it many enjoyable aspects, 

allowing one to add an individualized flair to the afternoon tea party 

(take note of the Hatter in Alice in Wonderland!).  

Whether you celebrate in the traditional sense, or in your own style, 

either way is a wonderful opportunity to have a gathering of friends ~

"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, 

which is one you forget about afterwards."  

~A.A. Milne

Let us enjoy tea!

~ Phoebe

a welcome visitor...

In my herb garden for some clippings this evening,  

I spotted this beautiful caterpillar.

How soft a Caterpillar steps

I found one on my Hand

From such a velvet world it comes

Such plushes at command

Its soundless travels just arrest 
My slow terrestrial eye
Intent upon its own career
What use has it for me

~ Emily Dickinson

Time of Harvest...

This is a great time of year for harvesting and drying herbs, 

& one of my favorite ways to prepare for the upcoming season!

Some tips I find to be the most helpful...

• Harvest before they flower!
• Late morning cut... Allow the morning dew to dry

• Trim.  Gently cut healthy branches from plants, & remove leaves at the bottom.
• Bundle!  Usually, 4 to 6 branches seem to be best when tied together.
• Twine... using an organic twine string, carefully tie the bundle.
• Hang upside down in a location that is dry, well ventilated, & preferably away from sunlight.

Happy Harvesting!

~ Phoebe

September

"Happily we bask in this warm September sun,

Which illuminates all creatures..."

~  Henry David Thoreau 

Autumn approaches, the air feels a bit cooler, and I find myself relocating my home workspace to a more inspired venue... outside!  

Attached to my kitchen, it proves a wonderful place & a lovely way to enjoy nature whilst taking care of business.  

Throughout the season, I will adapt the decor to the surroundings, creating a bit of harmony conducive to productive inspiration!

Let us do what we may to be inspired!

~ Phoebe

Mother Nature's Message

I've always loved thunderstorms.  So powerful.  Majestic.  Beautiful.  

Thrilling and comforting at the same time.

So here I sit amidst the forewarning of distant sounds in the skies, simply taken by the peacefulness of the rain, contemplating on Mother Nature's ways... she is indeed beautiful.  She reminds us to slow down, appreciate her, respect her, and to maintain a certain harmonious balance.  She urges us to reflect.  

The substance of the winds is too thin for human eyes, 

their written language is too difficult for human minds, 

and their spoken language mostly too faint for the ears.  

~John Muir

Most likely we will lose power this evening, and I will then realize the challenge of old world style cooking.  This idea actually sort of excites me, and am a bit looking forward to putting my skills to the test.  Improvisation, creativity, fresh ingredients, freshly clipped herbs from the garden, and a flame or two... hmmm, think I'm going to enjoy this!

A lovely meal and candlelight... what an evening it will be 

with rain, wind, & thunder to keep us company.

Her message remains timeless, live in balance with nature, & enjoy the wonder!

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.  

~Author Unknown

Hope & Wishes for everyone's good health & safety ~ please stay well!  

~ Phoebe

Herbal Remedies... being outlawed?

Hundreds of herbal remedies now outlawed across Europe

(NaturalNews) Live in Europe? Get your herbs while they last. New rules put forth by the European Union (EU) will ban the sale of certain herbal remedies that have been used for centuries.


Traditional herbs such as St. John's Wort or Echinacea must now meet strict licensing guidelines in order to be sold, while other lesser-known herbs that haven't been "traditionally" used in the last 30 years won't even make the cut to reach consumer shelves. Only those products that have been "assessed" by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be available for purchase. The real kicker? Even approved products will only be recommended for minor ailments such as the common cold, which means that product labeling may no longer be allowed to convey the potent health benefits of widely-used herbal remedies.

Richard Woodfield, MHRA head of herbal medicine policy, claims that the new regulations empower the consumer: "The current signs are that the [herbal remedy] market will be lively and competitive. The key difference for consumers is that in the future they will be in the driving seat and able to make an informed choice when they wish to use these medicines."

Banning widely-used natural substances that may help cure or prevent illness promotes "informed" choices?

The most disturbing part? These regulations point to a movement toward complete restriction of herbal products and the idea that pharmaceutical companies may someday have patents on herbal remedies.

Not only do these laws threaten the livelihood of nutritionists, herbalists and holistic healthcare providers across Europe, but they put consumers in a lose-lose situation: go without herbal remedies or run the risk of purchasing them online.


Herbal products still on shelves will be for sale until their expiration dates. Stock up while you can.