Kitchen Home News

I've been burning things again.   There has been much fire this week.  Fire consuming wood and herb-stalks and symbols of all manner of things I'd like to be rid of. I never seem to tire of it.  Candles, incense, campfires, lanterns...I can't seem to get enough of flame and smoke and heat.  It's that time of year. My energy seems to ignite as the days grow brighter.  Time for opening windows and cleaning out the winter-webbing.  The earth keeps stirring, and the moon is waning through its last quarter, and I needed to let go of a few things and re-kindle a few things.  I attacked my main altar this afternoon, which is a behemoth.  Brimming with candles, animal curios, rocks and plant specimens, potions, skeleton keys and ancestor relics, the altar was in sore need of a good overhaul and cleanse.  I moved some trinkets out and took stock of candles and incense, and found seeds of some mysterious sort (un-labeled, of course.) Everything received a good dusting and plenty

With today bearing a title on my calendar reading "First Day of Spring" I thought I'd wander the gardens to see what was appearing on this day of new beginnings. Small green miracles were appearing everywhere! Yarrow: Valerian: The alien-looking rhubarb: Neatly folded red clover, about to unfurl: Lady's mantle: A funky, fuzzy flower who's name has slipped my mind: A very happy first day of spring to you! May you find small miracles around you, everywhere you look.

The funny thing about a long winter is, just when you are settling in to the idea of it being long, and keeping the pile of scarves, boots and mittens stacked up by the door, and ensuring the hot chocolate stash never declines too much without re-stocking it, the weather does a strange twirl and winds blow warm air into The Valley and the snow disappears as though it were never covering every spot of earth. I've grown fond of hibernation this year. I've found peace with bulky jackets and boots and extra blankets on the bed and using herb-infused oil on my winter-weary skin instead of lotion. More than once, I have happily sat down to read, and drifted off into daydreams instead. I've watched too much British television and taken too many naps (is there such a thing as too many naps?)  And I have been rediscovering yoga and Pilates these last six weeks, which has been blissful (and painful.) My spiritual practice has been slow and deliberate, and I'm now working with onl