2022 Valentine Day

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated each year on February 14. 

St. Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia which was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on February 15. This day was a bloody, violent and sexually charged celebration the included animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and coupling to keep evil spirits and infertility at bay. Pope Gelasius, of the late 5th century, outlawed Lupercalia replacing it with a day to celebrate Saint Valentine.

Our modern day tradition each year is to give cards, candy or flowers to one's special “valentine.” And it often includes a special celebratory meal with that special someone.

The special "card" made by Auntie T
hanging from the Heart shaped leaf Hoya
has a rather pertinent message from
the present day Pope Francis:
"When nothing is certain
All is possible." 

From the East House of Light

May  wisdom dawn in us

So we may see all things in clarity.

From the North House of Night

May wisdom ripen in us

Some may know all from within

From the West House of Transformation

May wisdom be transformed into right action

So we may do what must be done

From the South House of the Eternal Sun

May right action reap the harvest

So we may enjoy the fruits of planetary being

From Above House of Heaven

Where star people and ancestors gather

May their blessings come to us now

From Below House of Earth

May the heartbeat of her crystal core

Bless us with harmonies to end all war

From the Center Galactic Source

Which is everywhere at once

May everything be known as the light of mutual love

OH YUM HUNAB K’U

EVAM MAYA E MA HO!               

                                            JOSE ARGULELLES

This means "O Hunab Ku, One Giver of Movement and Measure,

All hail the harmony of mind and nature!"

This phrase combines Mayan and Tibetan language.

Our table set for a celebratory Valentine breakfast 
of fresh ginger bread and whipped cream.

As we share this day with our special loved one, may we enjoy together a hearty belly

Heavy heart

Sage just before his euthanasia
on February 04, 2022

With a heavy heart I write this tribute to a stellar BEing who wandered into our lives while we lived at MuRefuge. One morning when I went to let the ducks out of their secure house, I noticed this cat foraging in our compost. This continued for a few days before I decided to feed him. 

He had been brought for the then little girl across the street from us. She dragged him around, holding him with one arm around his neck. She called him "Jack". I do not know if the family quit feeding him or he just had had enough and went searching for a more suitable home . . . one to his liking and choosing.

At first I purchased cat kibble for him. And we changed his name to Jax. Then once I realized he had adopted MuRefuge as his home I began making his food much like I did for our dogs. Well, needless to say he loved the fresh meat (a rotation of beef, bison, chicken and lamb) and veggies!

Later on when he was settled into MuRefuge, one morning when again I went out to free the ducks to wander, he approached but not too close. I could see he had been in a fight. He came willing to be picked up to be put into the cat carrier I had borrowed from a neighbor who had cats. I transported him to a vet recommended to me with him howling all the way. Both the vet and her assistant were taken with Sage. He just lay on the table and let the assistant clean his wounds. She said, "I wish my cat was this easy." Stitches were put in place and instructions given to me about his care. Well, for a few days he allowed me to put the antibiotic ointment on, then nada. He did let me remove the stitches tho' without fuss.

I believe this tangle with another cat is when he contracted feline leukemia. It did not seem to shorten his life span nor affect him in any way.

He often brought me such gifts as gopher or rat heads after he had eaten all he wanted. He never seemed to understand that these gifts were rather gross to me. He just seemed so pleased with himself. Sage was excellent at keeping MuRefuge free of unwanted and often deleterious rodents.

Sage curled up sound asleep
beneath the Pineapple Guava(Feijoa sellowiana). 

When I was out in the side yard, he often approached me. I would sit down and he would crawl up into my lap

October 05, 2015

wanting petting especially on his belly.

Once Winter came providing rain, often lots of rain, the swales in the duck yard would fill up and water pooled all about. There seemed no dry spot for Sage to sleep at night. One particular wet evening Sage was soaked. I picked him up and carried him into our garage shutting the door behind me. He was displeased with his containment . . . an understatement for sure.  He was provided a box of dirt as his "litter box" and a soft bed made with a number of towels folded into another cardboard box with its sides cut down. At the time we had a space heater and kept it on during the late, cold nights. Soon he became amenable with this arrangement and came into the garage on his own, snuggling into his bed.

He and Shasta were great buddies often lying in the side yard . . . not too close and not too far apart, just a comfortable distance for both of them If Shasta would venture closer, Sage would hiss his displeasure.

When we moved to Santa Fe, Shasta missed Sage. She often told me, "I want to go home." Most every morning she and I walked to and around Lopez Park. There was a female cat who looked very much like Sage living on the North side of the park in a Stamm house. Shasta would pull on her leash to cross the street and get close to the cat. I believe she sorely missed the companionship with Sage. This cat was not interested in Shasta, however, and ran when we approached.

Sometimes Sage would just lie in the side yard seemingly enjoying the sunshine or shade if the Black Locust, with white flowers in the early Spring, provided it.

Sage would prowl about the duck yard often sitting near the flock. He seemed more interested in watching their shenanigans than anything. When we moved from MuRefuge to relocate in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I moved Sage a bit down the road to Ruby's. At that time her daughter was wanting her own pet so Sage was to be hers. Unfortunately Sage had a mind/will of his own and did not want to sleep in her room so she abdicated her ownership to her mom, Ruby. Ruby has been a wonderful "mom" to Sage. She set him up with his special place in an old chicken house on their property. As this building was rehabbed she continued feeding and caring for him. In the wintertime he had a heating pad on the chair where he liked to sleep. He was NOT interested in going into the garage where the other animals were at night. Sage was really clear with a strong sense of "he could do whatever he wanted" including making his body function in spite of a stroke. I arranged for Sage to have a conversation with Sandy Lagno, the long time animal communicator I have relied upon to hear what those animals under my care desired. When she spoke with Sage, he was ever so clear: "My body is breaking down. I felt this pressure in my head then it 'broke'. When it let go, I lost control and I changed dramatically." He went on to share that "his human" (Ruby) is aware. I feel safe with Ruby. I feel her concern. She is paying attention AND asking how I am? Where I am?" He went on "I don't have the patience to work through this. Smelly human can get me out of this. I am ok with smelly human to push me out. Not this sun . . . next one." His lesson was "surrender". So waiting another day after he could "accept 'I can't do this' and surrender. "I am old. My body is worn out." He's known this for a while but has resisted and now is at the "surrender place" he shared through Sandy. "My life is a good one," then he gave instructions for Ruby so his soul could depart unencumbered. Ruby honored Sage and had her mobile vet friend come to her place and euthanize Sage. I am hoping Ruby will allow me to plant White sage upon Sage's grave. I have chosen names for all of my most recent pets representing flowers. Sage was chosen because I love White sage AND he seemed sage, a profoundly wise cat, to me. Below is a picture of a small White sage plant growing in front of our Cotati home. I dry the leaves and use them for smudging. Forever forward I will think of Sage when I do so. So with a heavy heart I conclude this heart felt tribute to Sage. He was a special BEing who brought love and affection into all the lives he touched. Sculpture by Roxanne Swentzell

Imbolc

Cross quarter days, in the Celtic calendar, signal the beginning of seasons. Thus February 02 is the beginning of Spring.

The name Imbolc, which means lambs' milk, was the original name for this day. Later the English name Candlemas was used. On this day in that country candles were lit to celebrate the "presentation of the Christ Child in the temple of Jerusalem".

Since the sun is halfway in its advancement from the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox, Brigantia (the "female deity of light") was also a name for this day in the Celtic realm. On this day attention was given to when the ground could be prepared for the planting of their crops: would snow and frost continue or would warmth and rain thaw the fields so preparation could begin sooner?

Here in all of Sonoma County flowering quince (Chaenomeies) bushes are in full bloom. This deciduous scrub, originating in Eastern Asia, can grow to 9 or 10 feet tall. Whether the Chinese version or Japanese one, white, pink and red flowers adorn the bushes. Once established this scrub is virtually impossible to eradicate as we found out at MuRefuge, although I did seem to be able to rid SanFelipeCircleRefuge of hers. Since this is not a native, none will be planted at PageRefuge. AND luckily none existed here when we bought our Cotati home.

The below picture is of our neighbors' Flowering quince with lovely deep pink blossoms. The leaves will come later as the temperatures warm.

And above is one the "surprise" daffodils. This one emerged just off the edge of our short cement driveway. There are many others all about our garden but these are the first to bloom.

"I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and hearing will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

                                        DOREEN VALIENTE

On this remarkably warm sunny day here at PageRefuge, Dwight and I are enjoying a belly

 

Bareroots

Shasta just beyond the trellis
Dwight constructed for the
Roger Red grapes. 
There is one planted on the outside
of each side.
Against the far fence sits the
repaired Between Earth and Sky sculpture.
 In our Santa Fe backyard
a wheelbarrow handle 
hit her arm and broke it
during my inattention to what I was doing.

Infinite Spirit, when I pray each day 

for shelter for the homeless,

let me not ignore the pet without a home;

As I ask protection for those in areas

of turmoil and unrest, 

let me not forget endangered species of life;

When I pray for the hungry be fed,

let me be mindful

that all God’s creatures have need of sustenance;

As I ask Divine assistance for those afflicted

by fire, flood, earthquake, storm or drought, 

let me remember that this includes every living thing;

In seeking miracle cures for human disease,

may I also speak for the well-being of the planet itself.

Let the words of my mouth,

the meditations in my heart

and the actions of my life be as one,

that I may live each day in harmony

with Mother Earth. Amen.

                                  JENNIE FROST BUTLER

The shadows make it really difficult to actually
see what is planted: against the fence in shadows
are two bareroot thornless Black Satin blackberry bushes.
Left to right three apple trees:
Spitzenburg Apple (Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple),
Pink Pearl Apple which I use to make naturally pink applesauce,
Cox Orange Pippin Apple which is a delicious eating right off the tree apple.
The fruit trees came from Trees of Antiquity
everything else from Harmony Farm Supply.

Moving to the West side of our house from the back yard more berries.

Against the shed South facing side are two Boyne Red Raspberry bushes.
10 Seascape strawberries are planted along our West fence.

12 Chandler strawberry plants are planted South of the Pipevine.
Surprise! Daffodils have emerged in various parts of the yard.
This unexpected happening is both welcome and cheery with its vibrant yellow flowers. 

Across the brick path towards the side of the house 
and next to our new AC  are 14 Albion strawberry plants.
This is the space where a hot tub was when we purchased this house.

In the front in the shadow closest to the West fence
is a York elderberry and in the same "circle" a Nova elderberry.
For berry production there needs to be a male and a female.
Hence two bareroot elderberries were planted.

In the foreground in the center of 4 green plants

is a Blenheim apricot tree.

Whew! Getting all of these bareroots into the ground in two days was a push! For all of my planting projects I use North American Edition: The Marie Thun Biodynamic Almanac that indicated January 20 & 21 were "fruit" transplanting days. Luckily December brought much needed rain so digging the holes was relatively easy. Alas, January has been dry . . . no rain. We catch most of our household water and carry it outside to water all the plantings. I believe this will be our practice throughout at least a year until everything is well established. Saving water seems like a good practice since water is in such short supply. We did it in Santa Fe and continue to do so here.

Here is an up to date, complete plant list for PageRefuge.

Even though this is the smallest of the three native habitats/human food forests I have created, I am thinking as I work outside "I'm getting too old for this". To dissipate all the feelings and emotions around that thought, I