Spring like

Clear blue sky here. It feels very Spring like rather than early January. The jade plant which is located on the west most side of the front of the house has flowers.

Jade plant
(Crassula ovata)

Even though the weather person, nor the weather app, does not predict freezing temperatures the jade plant is protected each and every night.

Salvia involucrata 
(Roseleaf sage)

Symphoricarpos albus 
(Common snowberry 
‘Tilden Park’)

The shed's roof is covered with a tarp, courtesy of a long time friend who brought the tarp. As you can see observe bricks were used to prevent the winds from removing the tarp. There have been some pretty fierce winds of late so rolls of wire were hung to prevent exposing the wooden shingles. Once Spring does actually arrive the wood shingles will be removed and replaced with shingles more the color of those on roof of the house.

Pink Pearl (Malus domestica) apple tree
purchased as bare root
from Trees of Antiquity.
   

The 'Pink Pearl' apple is a pink-fleshed apple cultivar developed in 1944 by Albert Etter, a northern California breeder. It is a seedling of 'Surprise', another pink-fleshed apple that is believed to be a descendant of Malus niedzwetskyana. 

Unfortunately, the planting instructions were not followed when the first Pink Pearl bare root was planted in September, 2021. Thus, the bare root did not root. When it was extracted from the gopher basket, nada a root in evidence. Since avoiding needing to purchase another bare root, this time the instructions were followed.

Fortunately, nearby is a huge pile of wood chips. All the empty containers in the shed were placed in the rear of the car. Being not as nibble as in younger years, care was taken to fill each and deposit in the car before filling another. The process was trouble free getting the chips to the backyard . . . wheelbarrows are such a fabulous invention!!!! 

When this post was initially started, Spring like weather was occurring. As this post is concluded, seasonal weather is present. Today it is sunny with clear blue skies but extremely windy.

So much to miss living in Northern California instead of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shasta absolutely relished her time in the park just down the street from our house playing with Hobbs.

Shasta and Hobbs 
playing in the park 

Shasta's all time very
favorite playmate: Hobbs
whose owner sent 
this recent picture 

As a garden walk about and this post are completed, perhaps we can all enjoy a deep belly

Dwight

"Dwight", the recently planted Meyers Lemon Tree.
Dwight so wanted a tree of our own
that would produce delicious, juicy lemons.
Tanis' gardener procured this healthy, already heavy with a
dozen or more green lemons, tree for me to plant.
I planted it in the front yard. Dwight could see it from
his big blue chair in which he sat during his
waking hours.

This Sunday past we had a gathering in Delano Park across the street from my house. We came together for a Celebration of Life, Dwight's life, that ended on July 17, 2022, at 0655. His lungs failed from the effects of living with parents who smoked as well as his first wife. The entire time I knew Dwight his lungs had been an issue but it was not until March of this year the pulmonary function tests identify both COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema. Within 6 weeks his ability to take his regular everyday 2 mile walk with Shasta deteriorated into first a mile then a half mile. The first two weeks of May he was hospitalized for blood clots in his two lower lobes of his lungs and pneumonia in an upper lobe.

Luckily being a retired registered nurse I had the knowledge and skill to care for Dwight here at 35 Page Street. I did so right up to his taking his last breathe. In the early morning hours I called Katie and Michael in San Francisco. They arrived around 2 a.m. and stayed until Dwight's body was taken to Parent-Sorensen Crematory in Petaluma. Leigh had done a stellar job of researching the very best one. I thank her for that from the bottom of my heart. Everyone I came in contact with were ever so kind, gentle and concerned about me.

I believe caring for Dwight and enduring his death has been/is the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. I am so fortunate to have dear friends who are supporting me as well as Katie and Leigh who are both grieving the loss of their dad. So as a way to honor their dad and support their process they planned and executed a wonderful Celebration of Life. Some 20+ friends and family were in attendance sharing their stories of Dwight. My opening is below:

Flowers my cousin Shelley 
brought from her garden.

"35 years ago this coming Thanksgiving I met Dwight. HIs friend, Judy (thank you! Judy) invited Dwight to my friend Helen’s home for Thanksgiving dinner which was timed for after I got off work at 3:30.

Dwight and I seemed to instantly connect. Dwight had recently left his wife which was a red flag. He was just beginning to adjust to a single life while I had been living singularly for over 17 years. 

Dwight was committed to providing a home for his youngest daughter Leigh who came to live with him. He often spoke of “not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”

We found a way forward and once we took Leigh to college in Oregon we began living together . . . splitting our time between my place in Sebastopol and a flat we rented in the San Francisco Mission District. Eventually as many of you know we bought a place South of Sebastopol on Hessel Avenue. We lived there for almost 25 years before relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dwight LOVED living in this city with the same world class entertainment as San Francisco.

Alas, my body did not like the some 7000’ elevation. So once again we packed up all our belongings returning once again to Sonoma County. We bought our home in Cotati. I am so happy we had pretty much settled in before Dwight was hospitalized in early May for two weeks.

Soon after returning home midMay his lungs began showing signs of failing. Growing up with parents who smoked as well as his first wife he was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema this past March. 

I felt so fortunate to have the knowledge and skills to care for him at home. His last two months were a gift of time . . . there was just him, me and Shasta. We had the opportunity to connect in a way previously impeded by our busyness of making 35 Page Street our home. AND now this house feels fo empty without Dwight. The pervasive fog wrapping in and around me is throughly protective right now.

Thank you! each and everyone of you who have come to celebrate Dwight’s life."

Dwight's ashes sit atop the
cupboard of sorts that holds
the television. When my ashes
are ready to join his, they will
be scattered around a large 
Cottonwood tree on Test Station
Road which runs along the West side 
of Mono Lake.
Dwight gave both Katie and Leigh
clear directions using google maps.

People knowing Dwight in his various parts of his life who shared their experience(s) of Dwight was so wonderful and heartwarming. The common thread was how he was so present and listened not fearful of discussing any topic the speaker brought up with him. Like me, Dwight was a One on the Enneagram and our "virtue" is serenity which Dwight exemplified throughout his life BEing a "perfect" One.

I am hopeful once this protective fog lifts, I can begin the grieving process with an often emotional releasing belly 

Celebrating the 4th of July

and my passed mother's birthday. My mother was born on July 4, 1914. I remember as a child making and decorating her birthday cake with red, white and blue. 

My mother is the second from the right.
The others are her sisters:
Donna (left), Arlene, Eva and
Martha to my mom's left.

Her brother, and my Uncle Ervy, if around, was always my staunch cheerleader in the effort.

Said uncle is on the right
with his brothers Harley (far left)
and P.C. in the middle.

Today I made no birthday cake, rather we went to the Farmers Market in Sebastopol where we stocked up on fresh food for the week. All the wonderful vendors at this particular market offer the best options. Since I do not have a garden yet, I am so grateful these farmers grow such fabulous organic, nutrient dense food: cauliflower, chard, Early Girl tomatoes, eggplant, fennel, Frida spicy mix delicious addition to salads, lettuce, Romano beans and zucchini.

Blenheim apricots, figs and plums

June Pride peaches

String of Pearls
for my all time favorite
hanging apparatus.
Now to find the "perfect" window
in which to display this
fun plant where it will thrive.

And then several times a day I am collecting Santa Rosa plums that are dropping ripe from our tree. These plums are one of my all time very favorite plums. They make great cobbler, jam, and are delicious canned to enjoy during the Winter months when even here fresh fruit is hard to come by.

I am just ecstatic to now have 
a mature Santa Rosa plum tree
in my backyard.

Ah to be alive

     on a mid-September morn

fording a stream

barefoot, pants rolled up 

holding boots, pack on,

sunshine, ice in the shallows,

northern rockies

Rustle and shimmer of icy creek waters

stones turn underfoot, small and hard on toes

cold nose dripping

  singing inside

creek music, heart music,

smell of sun on gravel.

I  pledge allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the soil

of Turtle Island

one ecosystem

in diversity

under the sun --

With joyful interpenetration for all.

GARY SNYDER

To honor our democracy on this Fourth of July let us each and every one of us have a celebratory belly

 ha

Grief

 Condor perched atop of the bluff of the

Colorado River running through the Grand Canyon.

I for one am experiencing enormous grief about the human caused climate catastrophe. The wildfires in California has disrupted the condors habitat leaving 9 adults missing. These magnificent birds are now fewer.

The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) 

is a New world vulture, 

the largest North American land bird. 

This condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 

(all remaining wild individuals were captured), 

but the species has since been reintroduced to 

northern Arizona and southern Utah 

(including the Grand Canyon area and Zion National Park), 

the coastal mountains of central and southern California, 

and northern Baja California. 

Although other fossil members are known, 

it is the only surviving member of the genus Gymnogyps. 

The species is listed by the IUCN* as critically endangered.

May 2, 2019 by Dr. Roger Lederer

in Ornithology: The Science of Birds

*International Union for Conservation of Nature 

 

Millions of birds, and a disproportional number of swallows, have been found dead. Bird experts are puzzled and working on figuring out what happened. The most recent explanation is that the migratory birds in California were forced to leave before they readied their bodies for the lengthy flight South. Then the cold snap happened in the Southwest as they were flying through so no insects were available hence birds were literally dropping from starvation. Their carcasses were mere skeletons.

 

                                                              Tree Swallow sitting on a barbwire fence

                                                               near the Point Reyes National Seashore, California.

Earth mother, star mother,

you who are called by 

a thousand names,

May all remember

we are cells in your body

and dance together.

You are the grain

and the loaf

That sustains us each day, 

And as you are patient

with our struggles to learn

So shall we be patient

with our struggles to learn

So shall we be patient

with ourselves and each other.

We are radiant light

and sacred dark

- the balance -

You are the embrace that heartens

And the freedom beyond fear.

Within you we are born

we grow, live, and die -

You bring us around the circle 

to rebirth,

Within us you dance

Forever.

STARHAWK

Focusing on balance as we deal with all the emotions swirling around and in each of us, may we breathe deeply and have a wonderfully releasing

Easy Peasy

I grew up enjoying "jelly rolls" made from scratch. This dessert treat seemed to have dropped off the foodie's focus until I saw a recipe for "Strawberry Cake" in EdibleSantaBarbara magazine which I picked up from the Saturday Santa Barbara Farm Market this past May. "This is a jelly roll cake with . . . strawberry jam and fresh strawberries. No one seems to make jelly roll cakes these days, but they are simple and can inspire many variations."  

Throughout this Spring (using strawberries and apricots), Summer (blackberries and mulberries) and into Fall (peaches and apples) I have found the "simple, rustic presentation" delish! and easy peasy! The fresh mashed fruit with a bit of maple sugar is easily substituted for jelly or jam. Rhubarb sauce in the Winter would make it a wonderful evening treat or even "dinner" if your main meal is eaten midday. Pink Pearl applesauce makes a splendid rendition that can be eaten for breakfast since the basic recipe, see below, is mostly just gathered "pasture" duck eggs.

JELLY ROLL CAKE recipe:

• 1/2 c. organic sprouted spelt flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. sea salt, finely ground
• 7 organic duck eggs . . . be sure these are at room temperature!
• 1/2 c. organic maple sugar
• organic powdered sugar
• 12 ounces of organic jelly, jam, fruit butter or applesauce
• fresh organic fruit (use the same fruit as in above) for garnish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease with organic ghee a 15- by 10- by 1-inch jelly roll pan; a cookie sheet with sides works just fine, too. Line pan with nontoxic parchment paper and grease with ghee.

Sift flour, baking powder and sea salt into a bowl.

In large bowl beat egg yolks, vanilla and sugar with a mixer on high speed for about 1 minute or until foamy. Add half of the flour mixture and gently fold in with rubber spatula just until combined; repeat with remaining half.

In clean mixing bowl with clean beaters beat egg whites on high speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until stiff peaks form. 

Gently fold egg whites into the batter, one third at a time, just until combined.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake 8 to 10 minutes. Be sure to check after 8 minutes.

Sprinkle a piece of nontoxic parchment paper the size of the jelly roll pan with organic powdered sugar. Once the cake is done gently dump onto the paper. 

Remove the paper and spread with jam, jelly, mashed fruit or applesauce. Beginning with the short side facing you, roll the cake into a tight roll.

Place seam side down on a cake plate. Sprinkle with a bit more powdered sugar (or not), slice and serve on pretty plates, adding fresh fruit for garnish. ENJOY!

Add a dollop of Wallaby's Organic Greek Yogurt
atop a  spoon full of Pink Pearl applesauce and breakfast is ready. 

Once you have savored each nutritious bite

Bee Swarm, Biodynamics and More

BEE SWARM
One morning past an unfamiliar object emerged on one of the lower Black Oak branches the deer had mostly denuded of leaves in the field South of MuRefuge's property line. The object grew during the day until my curiosity was pricked enough to venture over the fence to investigate . . . a bee swarm! By evening the swarm was large enough for the bottom most bees to be resting upon the earth. 

How delightful to have such an enormous cluster of honey bees visiting. Once, years ago, another swarm showed up here. The morning after their arrival, while working outside I heard a very loud buzzing as the swarm departed en masse. Since the mornings of late have been overcast with little sun shining until midday, this latest swarm, as the bees warmed, flew away in bunches rather than all at once.

BIODYNAMICS

Recently Sonoma Land Trust offered a tour of the Summerfield Waldorf School's 15 acre biodynamic farm. Since I order biodynamic seeds from Turtle Tree Seeds where each type of seed's source is identified, I was interested in visiting this local farm from whom I get seeds. We have often walked our dogs along the Willowside Creek thus passing the entrance to this school and farm. We had no idea just how fantastic the area was. The tour was simply awesome, the farmer who led the tour knowledgeable and clearly connected to the land. He introduced us to the rat terrier who has decimated their previously abundant  number of rats. This dog was friendly and well trained to preform the job of his genes.

The conservation easement includes biodynamic adherement, so every thing on the farm must come from the farm itself, ie., seeds, soil amendments and the like. Biodynamic farming is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. The Rudolf Steiner College, located in a suburb of Sacramento offers a year long series of day long classes on biodynamics.

As the farmer was showing us the large containers for making tea, ie., soil amendments: compost tea, nettles tea and comfrey tea, an idea formed. As those of you who have visited MuRefuge know, there is a huge expanse of comfrey growing. Several days after the tour the second fresh cutting of comfrey was deposited in large barrels, filled with water, the lid replaced, and now the magic of tea is in process. The comfrey growing at MuRefuge has lovely purple flowers rather than yellow depicted in "how to make comfrey manure tea."

Another piece of biodynamics is gathering seeds from the plants grown on land designated as biodynamic. We who are all in support of seed saving resonate with "Lately, there has been a very worrisome trend of corporations patenting traditional open-pollinated varieties, in order to take them out of the public domain," a quote from John Jeavons' Bountiful Gardens Summertime newsletter, "Now there is finally a framework to keep vegetable genetics available for seed saving and traditional breeding.  It is called the Open Source Seed Initiative." Most all of the starts here at MuRefuge result from the abundance of seeds produced right here. What a relief to know there is now finally an organized movement to keep seed saving possible for all of us.

HOODED ORIOLE

While we lived on Cunningham Road, about three miles due North "as the crow flies" of  MuRefuge, Bullock's orioles visited the hummingbird feeder hung on the clothesline post each Summer. Moving South to the Hessel Area a rare oriole has been sighted. This Spring however a few more visited. A new orange oriole feeder was bought and hung. Oriole youngsters, sometimes six at a time, vied for purchase on the feeder. These orioles are not Bullock's, rather Hooded Orioles, smaller and slender with a more pronounced long, curved bill. Sibley says, "Males are paler yellowish, and females are drabber overall, without the orange tones of Eastern birds." Hooded Orioles used to be located primarily in the Southwest, but with the plethora of palms being used in landscaping Northward plus the warming climate, they are now found nesting right here in Northern California during the Spring and Summer. 

Great news: just this early morning a brightly colored male Hooded Oriole appeared at the feeder. His coloring has faded a bit from his breeding presentation but quite beautiful nontheless.

Maybe the Queen Palms planted by our neighbors

are attracting the Hooded Orioles to our neighborhood?
Perhaps, since these orioles prefer to build their loose nests in palm trees.

ZUCCHINI

All of us who have planted zucchini in our gardens are now rewarded with an abundance of luscious fruit.

Heirloom Italian zucchini freshly harvested at MuRefuge.

Here's a delish recipe using fresh basil and zucchini:

CREAMY BASIL ZUCCHINI SOUP serving 4 with a prep. time of about 45 minutes.

• 1 T. organic virgin olive oil
• 1 large organic yellow onion, chopped
• 2 pounds organic fresh zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 4 C. organic chicken bone broth
• 1 C. organic basil loosely packed plus more for garnish
• 2 T. organic Greek yogurt
• 1 shake of Peron pepper flakes
• sea salt

Heat olive oll in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook about 5 minutes or until translucent.
Add zucchini and cook another 2 minutes; add bone broth and basil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Puree with hand blender. Add Greek yogurt and pepper flakes. Season with salt to taste. Divide into four bowls and garnish each with a little additional Greek yogurt and few fresh basil leaves. Enjoy.


RED FLOWERING BUCKWHEAT

The crossquarter day, known as Lughnasadh or Lammas in the Celtic calendar, ushered in Fall on August 1, so as we embrace the changing of seasons, may each of us enjoy a grand