Mircobiology, It never really left me

I can't quite remember why I chose to study microbiology. I think it had something to do with the movie "Medicine Man" but in any case, at some point in my first two years at GMCC I decided to specialize in Microbiology. It was a bit of a journey for someone like me who tends to absorb information readily but bombs tests. In the long run (6 years later) I ended up with a degree in Microbiology minus an arts course and two Chemistry courses that I dropped out of (so really it's just a pretend degree). side note: Perhaps someday I will expound upon how DepoProvera can cause temporary insanity and personality mutations as I now look back and view a long string of erratic desicions rooted in the year I was on that drug. But I will save those rants for later.
Now, years later, the desire to grow aromatically fascinating things is still there.


I'd like to do more research into Kombucha. I heard a few things about it and decided to order a mushroom through Richters http://www.richters.com/ We have had a steady supply of this delicious Komucha drink since May and the mushroom is still going strong. Kombucha originates in Russia and is made using black tea, white sugar, and the Kombucha mushroom which magically transforms the glucose, and tea and turns them into a whole host of things including carbon dioxide (makes it fizzy, yum) and glucuronic acid, a chemical made by the liver to eliminate toxins from the body. It is the best hangover cure I know, and is also good for anyone who's ever had liver disease, or who has a highly toxic diet (eating lots of ready made foods).


Recently I have started a wonderful journey into the making of cheese. I ordered a kit from http://www.glengarrycheesemaking.on.ca/ and I've been having so much fun. I tried at first to make mozerella and ended up with pure rubber. It was truely inedible. But then again, I was following an online recipe which can never be trusted. I am now making couloumier using a recipe the kit provided. It is still young, only 1 week, and my first taste test makes me think of chevre with a brie rind. An unusual combination but defenitely palatable. I think I will store half the cheeses at this stage and let the other half age longer to the soft and gooey cheese stage.


Now for a news flash from the studio: WE HAVE BLANKETS! I have woven 12 full ones and about 4 half blankets and I have four more on the loom patiently awaiting completion. In this weather (snow, sleet, and rain) it may take awhile as the most time I spend weaving is when my children are happily frolicking outdoors by my studio.

Weaving frenzy!

It doesn't feel like Christmas at all! But really, it's coming up fast and I am enjoying my Christams weaving frenzy! For the last week and a half I have tried to weave a blanket or scarf a day! Except when I'm away from home, which seems rather often.

Between Etsy (new listings uploading while I type!), Solstice Studios, Glad Tidings Doula Service, and Incredi-Mom, I am a very happy and busy girl. The weather has been awesome so the kids can play outside my log cabin for quite a while every day while I weave away inside and listen to their happy noise and try to ignore the sounds of them punching each other.

I haven't had a chance to blog as much as I like with all the studio work going on. I never had a chance to share about the goats breaking into the house and wreaking havoc while I was in town the ohter day. Something that I can finally laugh about (now that I have most of the mess cleaned up). They got in through the back door that was left ajar and ate all the cold storage food, all the fruit, a couple house plants, got up on the stove, chewed the toaster, peed on the carpet, peed on the futon, pooped EVERYWHERE, then stood at the window bleating loudly when I drove up to the house a few hours later. The sight of goat inside one's house can really make the stomach quake (haha, but it does).

Like I said, it's mostly all cleaned up but now my kittens have decided to destroy the remaining houseplants and I'm not really laughing over that. Some of my plants are like members of the family. These adorable little kittens have GOT to go, and no one in Rocky has responded to any of my ads. Seriously, kittens anyone?

Unravelling

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Yes, I'm unravelling. It's a choice, albeit frightening. I wonder if I will like myself when there's nothing left to unravel. Rebirth? Reconnection? Returning? Hmmmmm.... This time I will not shy away, it is for my own good. (I'm talking metaphysically here, but lets get back down to earth)

I've had great fun in the last little while (not at all related to unravelling) visiting family, woofers, and wool! We've been dyeing and dyeing and dyeing. I just love to dye. So easy, and so rewarding! I had some talented woofers dye a bit of beautiful roving which has since been made into scarves (eep! no pics yet!) And we were blessed by the presence of the beautiful and industrious Annica who dyed some super funky yarn which she will soon convert into crocheted hats. I also loved what she did with her tie-dyed shirts! (Small promo to anyone who has a desire to visit us, you will most certainly go home with your very own tie-dyed shirt!) (*wink wink* Hero and Shari)

Break through in the realm of scarves! I can't wait to get these beauties online. Also blankets, though still waiting for the "a-ha" moment on those ones.

PS. my apologies for whining in the "random bloggings" blog, I'm over it and feeling MUCH more mature and giving (though I'm still working on being a wee bit territorial, silly I know)

Birth into Being

I recently saw an amazing birthing video called "Birth into Being" Here is what the publishers say about it:
"Russian Spiritual Midwife Tatyana Sargunas and her filmmaker Husband, Alexi, recorded five totally natural, incredible Waterbirths. Their orginal footage takes you on a breathtaking expedition to witness two families birthing in the Black Sea, and into their home to see two of their daughters being born in a handmade clear birthing pool. Scenes of children and babiues swimming with dolphins will delight and amaze audiences of all ages."

Not only did it have surreal music and videography but there were so many other messages pertaining to living without fear, finding alternatives solutions to a difficult problem, as well as some great swimming lessons.

This video is the ONLY thing to date that has ever made me want to have more children. The beauty of these births and these empowered, joyfilled lives was magnificent.

For more info go to http://www.birthintobeing.com

Random Blooggings with Anastasia

Hafiz, the Sufi poet, is someone I feel I can relate to. (see previous posts) Passionate, spiritual, grounded. Anastasia, however, Is "upsetting". That's the only term that I can seem to find for my new literary obession. My course is set and now it's up? I'm upset about my course? I'm feeling up but now I'm course and not at all set.

Anyway, for those of you who of heard of Anastasia (seek and you shall find), you cannot read a book without being moved in some fashion, and my particular movement has been into chaos and ponderousness (I love creating new words) and I'm feeling a bit selfish about all the things that I thought were strictly my own little quirks and are now being somewhat outline and majorified by some obscure Russian book.

Like spirit songs. MIne. Or rays of knowledge. Mine. Or communication with "them". Mine. ALL MINE! I want the whole world to go away and leave me alone. I like my aloneness, like Hafiz. But now I feel challenged towards community and *gasp* goodness. I'm having second thoughts about ever reading again. Why read, after all, when one can weave.

I will continue my weaving, and I do have many more articles completed, yet somehow my camera has vanished (again) so you will have to be entertained by my photos of Gods and Godesses (laughter, I love this combo).

About spirituality: In everything, set an example by doing what it good. (And then move to the woods where no one can find you)