Late September Roses

Hi Everyone,

I have never known a rambler rose to bloom this late.

There are several old rambler rose bushes on my front
lawn. The bushes have been there for longer than I can
remember. They are probably at least eighty years old.

This summer they went through their usual blooming
cycle, which was beautiful, as you can imagine. But,
now, I have an autumn bloom! See the photo, below.





So, as you can see, it's a beautiful bloom, and adds
a nice touch to the front lawn.

I'll return soon, with another post. In the meantime,
I hope you enjoy the last few days of September!

All the best,
Laurie

I'm Back!

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry for being absent for so long, but,
rest assured, I'll be posting on a regular
basis, now.

The former tropical storm system, "Danny,"
is passing over Nova Scotia tonight. We're
getting lots of rain and wind! However, the
good part of it, is that I was inspired to
steep tea and romance the rain, while the
storm raged outside. Simply delightful!

So now I go, but will return, soon.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

All the best,
Laurie

Apple Blossoms

Hi,

I haven't been blogging for a spell. I thought I'd get back into it
by publishing this beautiful photo of apple blossoms on my field,
that was taken back in June of this year.

Enjoy!

I now have a chair under the largest of the apple trees, where I
can sit and relax on sunny days. :)

All the best,
Laurie

Ground Hog Passing Through The Area

Hi Everyone,

Well, a few weeks back I saw a Ground Hog near my
stone wall. We even had a wee conversation, when I
went poking around to see where he or she had hidden
amongst the rocks. They make a most amazing sound!
In part, it's much like the call of a bird.

Quite wonderful!

Anyhow, it looks like Ground Hog was just moving
throught the area, as I haven't seen it for well over
two weeks.

Below is a picture of Ground Hog by my stone wall.

Be back soon!
Laurie

It's A Rainy Night

Hi Everyone,

Well, just thought I'd stop around this evening. I had
hoped to get outside walking tonight, but we're having
some rain here on the south shore of Nova Scotia.
So, it's not a good night for walking!

However, as many of you know, I enjoy a rainy night.
It's so nice to lie in bed, listening, as the rain hits against
the roof, overhead. Truly, one of the simple pleasures
in life.

I must go now. Will return again, shortly, with another
post. In the meantime, if anyone would like to follow me
on Twitter, here's my link:

Follow Me on Twitter!

If you follow me, I'll follow you! :)

All the best,
Laurie

Cow Lily Rhizome

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's spring, and I'm out and about to see
what I can observe, as nature gradually takes on
her spring coat.

I was up along the old mines road in the gold
fields, and discovered that the beavers are at
work cutting down small trees, and digging up
all kinds of interesting things.

Anyhow, I looked down off of the small bridge
that crossed over a stream, and noticed a strange
looking object lying amongst the grasses, near
the stream's edge.

Well, much to my amazement, it was a cow
lily rhizome that the beavers had dislodged
from the bottom of the stream.

And, a beautiful sample, at that!

Now, I thought I'd post a couple of photos of
the rhizome, below, for those of you who have
never seem cow lily rhizome. They never cease
to amaze me -- every time I see a cow lily
rhizome, I'm amazed at how much they resemble
something that we might associate with the
prehistoric period of earth's existence!

Heck, they look like something from the movie,
Jurassic Park! :)

Now, in North American Native medicine and
food systems, I've noticed that information on
roots and rhizomes, are often interchangeable.
For example, with the cow lily, it is often
said that the roots were pounded to a pulp and
used to reduce swellings. Well, in this case, it
actually refers to the cow lily rhizome being
pounded and used for that purpose. If there
happened to be roots attached to the rhizome,
they would probably have been used as well.

Also, I must admit, that in my book, Micmac
Medicines, I am guilty of that as well. In other
words, I talk about cow lily roots, when I was
actually referring to the rhizome. I was simply
expressing it in the same fashion as it had been
expressed to me.

Enjoy the photos!

All the best,
Laurie