The Pickling Dilemma of Berri Plum & P. Bartletta!

drawing by ana traina

Berri Plum and P. Bartletta lived together on a very distinct Fructus Tree

At precisely four, they would always have their delectable Blue Mountain tea... 

and dreamt and conversed of traveling to a far off coral sea

They wished to be together forever, as it were,

Although, they knew there were absolutely no guarantees

But none the less, they continued to spend their days

Eating the tart apples that appeared and having such daring spelling bees!

Till one very fine day when Berri decided to shake things up a bit

And challenged P. Bartletta to a very formidable match in geography!

Now, P. knew very little on this subject 

So she scuffled and grappled to answer all the vexing questions posed to her

But alas, the final one she NEVER got which was, "What is the capital of Tennessee?"

This is where the calamity of Berri Plum and P. Bartletta began

Yes, they were stuck for all time and now in a frightful tizzy

Where neither of them talked to each other and made believe they were quite busy

Yet as time went on there was no one to talk to, no one to share a moment

They felt bad inside, kind of rotten in fact, 

and feelings started to lie unforgivingly dormant.

To be continued... as life always does.

A Young Man's Diary - Excerpt - Song of Myself

photo by ana traina

Song of MySelf

by

Liam Cohen

I am of the Earth and of its oceans

I am also of space and it's vast frontier 

I am of forests and plants

Also of planets and satellites

I am of humans and emotions

But also part of robots and computers

I am of warmth and coolness

Part of hearts and circuits 

I manipulate electricity, electrons and protons do as I command

I command text, from Java to C++

Pages and pages of work

I work both with metal and wood

Both harmonious and powerful

I cut down trees to make fire

I use that fire to melt iron

Then I mix it with the essential element of life

To make steel

That steel turns to strings and

From strings to sound

That sound is then made electric

And then back to the air again, a cycle

The air pulsates, like my hand when it hits the floor

The floor is forgiving my sensei says if you treat it right

Much like Human beings, they are nice

If you are nice to them 

I am arrogant and cruel

But I also love and forgive

I, as all humans, am full of anger

I, as all humans, let that anger go

I as you are ignorant, but you as I know

We are two halves of a whole

We balance each other

I am of heartiness and you are of laughter

I am of melancholy and you are of sorrow

I taunt and you tease

I am taunted and you are teased 

You and I love and hate

I am me as I am you as we are everyone

You as I - Ubuntu 

I say, you know me better than I know myself

So can’t you write this?

I am of the deep seas and of the dark skies

I am of lightning and of ferocity 

I am of grass and the lounging breeze

I am 

I am 

I am

Enough of what I am, what am I not?

I am not perfect, is anyone?

God used to be perfect, when he existed

I do not believe

I am not a superhero, nor someone of legend

I am not the nicest guy or the meanest 

I am not you nor are you me, nor am I anyone else

But me...

Why?

Why am I not perfect?

Why do I not believe?

Why am I not a superhero or a legend?

Why am I not the nicest or meanest guy?

Why can't I be you and why can't you be me?

This is our world, we must accept it,

Love it, live it, and rock it

I am not the world

I am not America, China, or Japan

I am not the smartest

I am not the dumbest 

I am not dead last

I am not first

Where do I place then, where does anyone place?

I am who I am...the one and only

I am not the quickest in any category

Nor am I the strongest in any 

However...

I am a technician and engineer

I am a wilderness man...an outdoorsmen

I am an adventurer 

I am a scientist

I am a mathematician

All these things make me

I am all but at the same time I am none

contradiction is the key - just like humanity

we all have to contradict

If humanity did not contradict itself

Then it would become a utopia

Which everyone knows is impossible

Humanity must be looked at as a sum of its part

Not as a whole

There is good and bad

Sadness and laughter.  

In this sense each human is a microcosm of humanity 

I am, as everyone is, so complex

I own melancholy and agony

I also own joy and frivolity

I have so many qualities as do we all

To try and to put into numbers...

If every person has an infinitude of traits 

And there are over six billion people

There is even a greater infinitude of traits

In the entire world

Infinity times anything is still Infinity

A theorem no doubt, proven well

Social mathematics

Henceforth I contain as many ideas and personalities 

As the world does

Each person has infinite

The World is infinite

We all are infinite

henceforth we are all equal

If everything is math, why can't we apply it to people?

I am infinite

You are infinite

We are all infinite

I am myself

You are yourself

We are all ourselves

I am of the Earth

and I am of space

I am of the warmth and coolness

I am of life; that natural and artificial

I am of lightning, strong and ferocious

I am of the calm sea, comforting

I am Infinity

I am Infinity

I am Infinity

I am 

I am 

I am

I 

I 

I

We

     

Spiced Perfume Recipes, for Men Only!

talking duck by ana traina

In recent years I have noticed that as well as women’s perfume smelling funky, Men’s Perfume does as well with all the artificial ingredients that go into them... and let me remind you that there is nothing more nauseating then getting into a small elevator with a man wearing bad perfume or cologne. So just in time for Valentine’s Day, ladies, here are these recipes for adding a little spice in your guys life.

Ingredients for the Freshly Scented Man:

• 3.5 oz. High Proof Vodka or Perfumer's Slcohol or 90 proof grain alcohol

• 22 drops Bergamot, Mandarin or 15 drops Lime 

• 15 drops Patchouli 

• 5 drops Bay Laurel 

• 3 drops Black Pepper or Ginger 

• 5 drops Oakmoss Absolute  or 2-3 drops Vetiver 

• 1-2 drops of Neroli  (optional)

Directions: Add 3.5 oz. high proof vodka or perfumer's alcohol to a clean, sterile 4 oz. glass bottle. It is preferable if the bottle has a sprayer top. Add the oils. Shake well. Allow the cologne to rest for several days, shaking the bottle 1-2 times a day. This will allow the oils to blend and mellow out prior to your first use.

You can try substituting some of the alcohol for water if you have a sensitivity to alcohol or simply prefer to use less. Or forget the alcohol and water altogether and use grapeseed oil.

Ingredients for the Smooth and Intriguing Man:

  .     1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon 190 proof grain alcohol, and 1/2 teaspoon of distilled water.

  .     1 1/4 teaspoons sandalwood essential oil

  .     1/2 teaspoon black pepper essential oil

  .      5 drops cinnamon essential oil   

  .      20 drops basil essential oil

  .      15 drops nutmeg essential oil

  .      10 drops cedarwood essential oil

Pour alcohol, water and essential oils into a 1oz. amber glass jar, cap 

and shake. Now let sit for two weeks to let the scent mature and 

blend. This recipe makes 1 oz.

I Spy with my Little Eye, A Gift of Roses!

photo by ana traina

Yesterday, as I went sloshing through the grey tinted slush, I was dreaming upon a rosier day and what to my wishful eyes should appear but...

Will Ryman's wizardry 'The Roses', a new site-specific installation. The installation of 38 larger than life sculptures of colossal rose blossoms towering as high as 25 feet alongside 20 individual rose petal sculptures are featured between 57th and 67th Streets. The Roses will remain on view January 25 May 31, 2011

In his own words, "With these roses I wanted to do something that was larger than life and site-specific," says Ryman. "In my work I always try to combine fantasy with reality. In the case of The Roses, I tried to convey New York City's larger than life qualities through scale: creating blossoms which are imposing, humorous, and hopefully beautiful. 

It’s a must see for any poor creature that might need a bit of rosy blush put back into their pale, pale, almost February cheeks!

To A Friend Who Sent Me Some Roses 

by 

John Keats

As late I rambled in the happy fields,

What time the skylark shakes the tremulous dew

From his lush clover covert;—when anew

Adventurous knights take up their dinted shields;

I saw the sweetest flower wild nature yields,

A fresh-blown musk-rose; 'twas the first that threw

Its sweets upon the summer: graceful it grew

As is the wand that Queen Titania wields.

And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,

I thought the garden-rose it far excelled;

But when, O Wells! thy roses came to me,

My sense with their deliciousness was spelled:

Soft voices had they, that with tender plea

Whispered of peace, and truth, and friendliness unquelled.

Last bit of Odd and End thought ~ Who says there is no such thing as magic!

A Sudsy Sheep's Milk Recipe!

photo by ana traina in cornwall, england

As long as we are going GREEN with our shampoo, I thought, why stop there! So, here is a recipe for milk soap, that you can use with various types of milk. It can be used with goat's milk, cow's milk, sheep's milk and even buttermilk. This recipe below uses organic sheep’s milk, which by the way, can be used to treat mild to moderate acne. 

Ingredients:

15 oz. organic olive oil

5 oz. organic hazelnut oil

5 oz. organic coconut oil

3.5 oz. lye (red devil)

8 oz. Organic sheep’s milk

1/2 cup organic oatmeal

1 oz. essential oil for fragrance - I like the scent of sage personally! (but scenting is optional)

Also, you will need soap molds, a pair of rubber gloves and safety eye goggles

Now, you should always wear protective clothing when milk soap making as lye is caustic and can burn your skin or even blind you. It is best to wear long trousers, an apron, eye goggle and rubber gloves to make sure that you don't accidentally splash myself.

1. Find yourself some molds. Chocolate or candy molds work well, but do not re-use them for chocolate once they have contained soap!

2. Mix half a cup of organic oatmeal with 1 oz of your chosen essential oil and set aside.

3. Mix all remaining soap base materials together in a stainless steel or enamel bowl

4. Heat inside a slow cooker on a medium heat until melting occurs. Do not reuse the slow cooker for food preparation.

5. Add the oatmeal and essential oil mix to the melted ingredients in the slow cooker and mix well.

6. Pour soap mix into the molds once it has cooled down enough to handle safely.

7. Cool soap mix for 24 hours and then de-mold. Store in a cool place with room for the air to circulate between the soaps. Let the soap cure for at least 6 weeks before use, the mixture needs to "saponify" and cure.

 BIT OF ODD AND END ~

You can find the lye in the drain cleaner section of your grocery store, make sure it say 100% lye. Before you buy the lye, shake the can and listen, make sure it's free flowing. (you do not want lumpy lye).

How to build a Snow-person!

photo by ana traina

Since it is predicted to Snow for several days, and building a Snow-person will be on the agenda for many folks, I thought it wise to say a few words on the magic of building a Snow Creature of sorts.

First off, to build a snow-person, you’ll need the proper snow to stick together, for making a snow man, you'll need heavier, slightly wetter snow.  To ensure the snow is right, first make a snowball.  If it's easy to make a one and it doesn't fall apart in your hands, then you've got just the right kind of snow to make your snow-person.  Now you need to make sure you have enough of it. There should be at least 4-6 inches of snow on the ground, and the more, the better.

Find a clean spot (meaning no yellow stains) and where the snow isn't full of any other kind of debris.

Always start with the Buttock - You start out by making a good sized snowball. Make it so that it’s too big to hold comfortably in one hand.  Now place that snowball on the ground and simply start rolling it around in the snow.  It will begin picking up more snow and grow as you roll it around.  Pat it down every once in a while and make sure that the snow is fairly tightly packed.

The larger the ball gets, the heavier it gets, so try to stay fairly close to where you want it to end up. 

Next the Middle - Once you have the first section done, do the exact same thing with the second section. (ONLY SMALLER)  This is the middle of the snowman.  Even though it's a good deal smaller than the first one, it's still heavy! Now, ever so Gently place the second ball in the scooped out indentation you made on the first ball.  I must stress the word gently, because it would be such a shame to get this far and then crack one of the two body parts at this point in the game.

Finally, the Head - This is the last body part as far as I can tell, you might imagine another, one can never be too sure.  A snow-person is usually made of three balls, but I do encourage you not to stick with any traditional formula, as that can create rather staid and unadventurous snow-people. Anyway, this ball is usually much smaller than the other two.  

Place this snowball on top of the other ones in the center/or not and you'll have your basic structure complete.

The Appendages

Bravo, you've made it thus far, now to place the finishing touches.  First, you need to add arms or not.  This is normally done with small branches from a tree.  Again, I cannot stress this point to far, here is a place you can really let your imagination soar... like peppermint sticks arms can be rather cheery!

You can use large buttons or a hula skirt for the middle section of the snow-person, and wrap a scarf or a tie around his or her shoulders.  

For the face or faces, you can use buttons or stones or M & M’s for the eyes.  Coal is traditional, but not everyone has easy access to chunks of coal.  Smaller buttons or stones or cheese doodles can be arranged lower down for a smile, and some people like to have a corn cob pipe sticking out of the side of the mouth or a long bit of straw. (Personally, I am against smoking these days)

For a nose, a carrot is traditional but a beet or turnip or pretzel can also add the right touch for your snow-person.  

Also remember, cubes can work as well as spheres. Try a tall and squarish snow-person.  Think about snow creatures from under the sea, like a snow- narwhal or a clumsy snow-person could be upsidedownia. 

Bit of Odd and End ~

Mittens are also quite handy when building your snow-person!

GO go GREEN!

photo by ana traina

GO go GREEN

Whenever I look at a store bottle of shampoo I am stunned, perplexed and stupefied by all the extra chemicals in that little bottle! I am also a bit wary of putting all those mystifying ingredients on my porous head. So making your own natural herbal shampoo can give one’s overactive imagination (such as my own) a small break, while actually penny-saving as well!  It is very simple to do. Here are some tried and true herbal shampoo recipes for you to try --

Herbal Shampoo 

• 4 oz of dried herbs (choose from below)

• 1 1/4 cup boiling water

• 2 1/2 T of liquid Castile soap

• 1 t jojoba or virgin coconut oil

• 2 drops geranium and 2 drops carrot seed essential oil

• 10 drops grapefruit seed extract

   ( You can also add essential oils for a bouquet to your own particular liking.)

Steep the herbs in the boiling water for 20 minutes and then strain. Add the jojoba or virgin coconut oil and the Castile soap to the tea and stir well. Once cool, add the essential oils and bottle. Add 10 drops grapefruit seed extract.

Herbal Shampoo 

• 2 cups distilled water

• 1 tablespoon calendula (pot marigold)

• 2 teaspoons rosemary

• 1 tablespoon nettle

• 2 teaspoons orange peel

• 2 teaspoons comfrey

• 2 tablespoons chamomile

• 1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil

• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil (omit if hair is oily)

• 1/2 cup liquid Castle soap

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Add the herbs, cover, and allow to pickle for 30 minutes. Strain mixture into a medium-sized bowl, add the oils and stir vigorously. Add the shampoo and gently stir until thoroughly mixed. Pour into a labeled bottle and keep refrigerated to preserve the freshness.  This shampoo will not produce mountains of billowy suds as it does not contain strong foaming agents. 

Herbs for Hair

Catnip Traditionally believed to promote hair growth
Chamomile Can help to keep the scalp and hair follicles healthy so that new hair grows well
Comfrey Can soothe and heal scalp irritations
Elderberries Have traditionally been used to add color tones to graying hair
Lemon Balm Leaves a fresh citrus fragrance on the hair
Lemongrass Has astringent properties and can be effective in toning the scalp
Lemon Verbena Leaves a fresh citrus fragrance on the hair

Myrrh for dry hair
Nettle An astringent herb that is beneficial in the treatment of skin irritations and itching
Parsley This common plant can be helpful in relieving skin irritations
Rosemary Is said to enhance the color of dark hair and to help control dandruff
Sage An astringent for oily hair. Can also be beneficial for damaged or fragile hair
Thyme Has antiseptic, tonic and astringent properties
Yarrow Acts as a tonic for the hair

photo by ana traina

Dandruff Treatment
This strong infusion of rosemary and thyme can help get rid of dandruff. Shampoo and rinse the hair thoroughly; massage a small amount into the scalp. Use between shampoos and/or massage in a small amount before going to bed.

• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary

• 2 teaspoons dried thyme

• 2/3 cup boiling water

• 2/3 cup cider vinegar

You will need a pyrex bowl, a fine sieve, and a clean 10 ounce glass bottle with a tight-fitting cover. 1. Place the herbs in the bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Cover and allow to pickle for 15-20 minutes. 2. Strain into the bottle, add the vinegar, and shake. Store in a cool, dark place. 

Dandruff tips

• Massage your scalp daily with dandruff treatment (above), castor oil or olive oil; castor oil mixed half-and-half with vinegar; vinegar or lemon juice diluted with an equal amount of water or mint tea; rubbing alcohol or witch hazel.

• Follow each shampoo with a final rinse of strong tea; catnip, celery-seed, rosemary, mint, wintergreen; add 1 tablespoon vinegar to increase the benefits. After the rinse, massage your scalp with a mixture of 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon witch hazel, and 2 crushed aspirins.

• Always dry your hair with a fresh towel, and always use your own combs and brushes.

BITS OF ODDS AND ENDS ~

Use nettle, comfrey, birch bark, or peppermint in the infusion to treat dandruff. Use nettle, basil and St. John's wort to promote growth of thinning hair.  Dandelion and clover are good for normal hair while comfrey root is good for oily hair.

Rosemary gives shine and body to hair. Lavender is said to stimulate hair growth for thinning hair but results are not guaranteed. It is a good degreaser. Sage is used for its conditioning properties and to darken hair. Parsley is thought to enrich color and add sheen to hair. 

Pan with Us ~ by Robert Frost!

pan by ana traina

Robert Frost - Pan with Us

Pan came out of the woods one day,--

His skin and his hair and his eyes were gray,

The gray of the moss of walls were they,--

And stood in the sun and looked his fill

At wooded valley and wooded hill.

He stood in the zephyr, pipes in hand,

On a height of naked pasture land;

In all the country he did command

He saw no smoke and he saw no roof.

That was well! and he stamped a hoof.

His heart knew peace, for none came here

To this lean feeding save once a year

Someone to salt the half-wild steer,

Or homespun children with clicking pails

Who see so little they tell no tales.

He tossed his pipes, too hard to teach

A new-world song, far out of reach,

For sylvan sign that the blue jay's screech

And the whimper of hawks beside the sun

Were music enough for him, for one.

Times were changed from what they were:

Such pipes kept less of power to stir

The fruited bough of the juniper

And the fragile bluets clustered there

Than the merest aimless breath of air.

They were pipes of pagan mirth,

And the world had found new terms of worth.

He laid him down on the sun-burned earth

And raveled a flower and looked away--

Play? Play?--What should he play?

O Calla Lily!

photo by ana traina

Emily Dickinson - Through the Dark Sod -- as Education

Through the Dark Sod -- as Education --

The Lily passes sure --

Feels her white foot -- no trepidation --

Her faith -- no fear --

Afterward -- in the Meadow --

Swinging her Beryl Bell --

The Mold-life -- all forgotten -- now --

In Ecstasy -- and Dell --

The Wishful Taming Of Jubliee!

drawing by ana traina

Clementine Paddlewick is claret clad today

Her horse she rides named Jubilee

Doesn’t whinny, run nor bray.

Clementine dreams so much of riding fast

Along with many others,

Inside that Big Top One Ring place

The Circus if she had her druthers.

But the thing that stops her

She believes,

Is her horse named Jubilee

For this horse is not from land or ranch

But actually from the sea!

This horse she has is wild, free

Just like our claret clad young lass

The things he does is swim and dive

A breast stroke no one’s surpassed.

But luck would have it, sweet Clementine

Is happy with her fate.

The Circus, she knows, as much as she wants

Just might have to wait.

A dream deferred, if you will,

For the one she loves so well,

She’d rather have her Jubilee

So tender, crazy and swell!

Honeysuckle & Rose Beauty Mask!

photo by ana traina

Honeysuckle & Rose Mask with a dash of Crushed Almonds Recipe!

Honey a skin food that will revitalize, moisturizes, and softens in the dreary, dreary and dry winter days. Just use...

3 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons finely crushed almonds

1 teaspoon powdered clay

4 tablespoons uncooked oatmeal

1 handful rose petals and honeysuckle blossoms

Simply mix all the ingredients together and add a little water if the mixture is too thick to spread. Apply the honey almond mask to the face. Gently massage, always using an upward direction, and little circular motion as you rinse. The crushed almonds provide extra treat, exfoliation for the skin. Let it be noted that just plain ole honey and a warm wash cloth does wonders for those fine, fine lines.

Bit of Odd and End:

Bees are known to have magical properties, and they feature extensively in folklore from many different cultures. These are just a few of the legends about bees: 

In some areas of New England and Appalachia, it was believed that once someone died, it was important for the family to "go tell the bees" of the death. Whoever kept the bees for the family would make sure the bees got the news, so that they could spread it around. 

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs used the honeybee as the royal symbol, during the period between 3000 b.c.e. and 350 b.c.e.

The Greeks believed that a baby whose lips were touched by a bee would become a great poet or speaker. 

Ravishing Radishes!

photo by ana traina

Radishes were first grown thousands of years ago in ancient China, Egypt and Greece. This spicy, colorful vegetable soon became beloved in many cultures. In fact, in ancient Greece, radishes were so highly regarded that gold replicas were made of them. The Greek name for the radish, Raphamus, means "quickly appearing," which perfectly describes their reputation for being the first vegetable to sprout in a spring garden.

Radishes stimulate the appetite, are good for the hair and nails, teeth, gums and nerves. They help speed up recuperation from nervous exhaustion. Many have been helped in cases of constipation by eating radishes. 

Lung disorders such as whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis have been treated with the radish and its leaves. Chronic liver and gallbladder disease including gallstone and kidney stone afflictions have responded by eating the whole plant. 

A particularly tasty way of taking radish as a medicine for breathing difficulties is recorded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. It is:

"Radish is carved and filled with honey. A small hole is opened under radish and same is placed on the mouth of a vessel. It is kept overnight, and then the leaked honey is eaten."

White Radish Tea (For Coughs)

Description - White radishes are often called daikon in supermarkets. Use a fresh white radish for this tea. The flavor is quite strong so you will only need to use a small piece.

Ingredients:

• 1 inch long piece of white radish

• 2 teaspoon of Hairy Crab Oolong Tea

• 1 pinch of salt

• 3 cups (850ml) of water

Instruction:

1. Cut and peel a 1 inch piece of radish and discard the skin.

2. Put radish, salt, and tea into teapot.

3. Pour boiling water into teapot.

4. Allow tea to stand for 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Pour tea into cup and allow to cool slightly before drinking.

Last bits of odds and Ends: 

If you're looking for a truly spectacular way to enjoy radishes, try this eye-awakening Dutch breakfast: Slice radishes onto lightly buttered bread and bite in.

Night of the Radishes - Mexico has a famous Christmas Radish festival which is one of the most unique and spectacular festivals in the world. Huge radishes are grown but not to be eaten as they are pumped up with all kinds of things to make them grow huge. On the 23rd of December they hold "The Night of the Radishes" where competitions are held for nativity scenes sculptured and carved from giant radishes. Even children take knife to radish with painstaking concentration during competitions wanting to be the prized and honored Christmas radish winner.

In the Middle Ages it was associated symbolically with quarreling and conflict. Like the turnip, it was said to be related to evil spirits, thus radishes and turnips were sometimes blessed - (i.e., made harmless).