Other Writings

The Hard Days

When I went to sleep last night, I had no intention of waking five times before morning. Alas, such is motherhood with its mysterious agenda that we are never allowed to glimpse in advance – instead riding haphazardly from one moment to the next. I climbed into bed happy. I was thankful that my kids were sleeping and excited… Continue reading

Just Now

Peering through the screen door, I see light and dark, side by side, engaging in yet another subtle dialogue on this day of rapidly shifting weather. Skyward and to the right, a startlingly clear blue canvas highlighted by the sunset above a field partially draped with a misty orb. To the left, just slightly, layer… Continue reading

A June Afternoon

…and the gorgeous energy of a rain kissed garden filled with every shade of purple and green, and the smile that comes when you inhale the sun and breeze from laundry that you thought you didn’t want to hang, just before you fold it and put it away in the almost stuck drawers in a… Continue reading

Ramblings on Zingiber officinale

From an experiential assignment in February 2013… An accidental chomp and it is an explosion of bright light and heat. A genuine smile. Drunk as tea, it’s a gentler, simpler warmth. Closed eyes and a look of satisfaction. Even candied, the fieriness breaks through and travels downward to settle a troubled tum. It’s no coincidence… Continue reading

On Thyme and Stopping

This post originated as a short essay on my experience with Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) that was prepared for an herbalism course that I’m taking. I’ve decided (with some trepidation) to share these posts periodically, though out of the order in which they were written, to offer a window into my personal relationship with a variety of… Continue reading

Knitting Without Training Wheels

With chilly weather having arrived at last, I found myself longing for more warmth. In my online browsing, I came across the fabulous Japanese concept of Haramaki, or as I like to call them, “kidney warmers.” Perfect! I have a decent stash of yarn, and had been wanting to start a new knitting project, so off… Continue reading

Welcome to Herb School

Have you ever taken a risk in which that moment of truth – the moment that you “jump” – you feel your world make a cosmic shift and click into place? Enter, “Herb School” – aka Community Herbalist Training… For me, this first weekend of classes was too many things to fully describe, but I’ll… Continue reading

Laughter in Doula Land

A good, real, unrestrained, hearty laugh is a sort of glorified internal massage, performed rapidly and automatically.  It manipulates and revitalizes corners and unexplored crannies of the system that are unresponsive to most other exercise methods.  ~Author unknown, from an editorial in New-York Tribune, quoted in Quotations for Special Occasions by Maud van Buren Here, I will reflect… Continue reading

Birth Interviews. Introspection.

I leave behind me both my failures and accomplishments. What I do today will create a new and better future, filled with inner joy. -J. Donald Walters, Affirmations for Self Healing I debated whether or not to write this post. However, writing helps me to process things, and often takes some of the sting out… Continue reading