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I can say that the ants are really going underground . . . Raven is still out playing though!
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New Mexico
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 12:13 PMAutumns now in full swing after a slow start. The colours are beautiful, and the scent of ivy blossom hangs in the air...
The moon is out.....i just made the discovery that if you look at it through a pair of binoculors you can get a pretty good outline of the lunar landscape. Anyone got a telescope?... -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 12:53 PMthe bioluminessence (sp) is still out in the sound... -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 12:59 PMphytoplankton, it glows when it is stimulated by movement in the water i.e by an oar rowing a boat, makes green/blue sparkles shower out behind anything moving in the water at night... one of those natural phenomena that seem to have no other purpose than to be exquisitely beautiful... -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 1:01 PMcool. id love to see that. haven't been on the ocean before. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 2:10 PMKind of scary the first time. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 2:55 PMi would imagine. i want to make sure the first swim is in nice warm tropical water.
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 3:03 PMAutumns now in full swing here too, to my surprise. I wasn't paying attention I guess. The weather got chilly, then the leaves began to change . . it seems to have happened rather quickly here. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 1, 2009 - 10:37 PM96% full moon right now. Now it is cold and brisk in the evenings, and has the smell of cottonwood leaves falling, the little buds of next years balm already forming. Now its time for long moonlit walks. Perfect time for sweating. Have been curing the tobacco, which i love, the scent developing as the leaves brown and yellow. so now the altar is starting to smell of some nice tobaccy. Needless to say, the seed pods are now finishing up, almost ready to brown. Have a few datura's, for a bit more fresh seeds for next year. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Fri, October 2, 2009 - 1:55 PMMoongazing again this evening with binoculars.....she is dancing with the clouds now. It's great to get a closer veiw, i'm keeping my eye out for a telescope. Full moon on Sunday at 6.10pm GMT, i'll be watching!
I don't know the cottonwood tree, it's not one we have here.....have the beginnings of little buds on my sapling birch in the garden. Out in the park today....holm oaks producing lots of acorns. Picked some juniper berries, they smell so good and fresh when you break them open, i'll have to look up some recipes, i haven't used them before.
Collected lots of horse chestnuts earlier in the week. I'm going to tincture them for an oitment. It'll be my first tincture....(when i've gathered enough pennies for the vodka!)
Mixed up a lovely scent from frankinscense and rose oil......heavenly.
That bioluminescense on the sounds wonderful......would love to see it.
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Re: October who's afoot
Fri, October 2, 2009 - 3:13 PMThe sloe berries are over, but the bittersweet haven't bust yet. Squirrels are throwing nuts at the cars at my old place, but I have moved out to the country side of town, where I grew up. The squirrels are far less aggressive out here. ... everything is less aggressive out here.
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Re: October who's afoot
Sun, October 4, 2009 - 3:13 PMCold air is coming down from the north here moving the temperature down below freezing. We lost all of our tomatoes, beans, chili pepper, etc. But it is more of a reminder that winter will be moving in soon. We have been eating off of our garden to the point where we have had the need to buy vegetables at all. Last night the harvest moon came up right through our window. So, we went outside to watch it rise for a while. It was quite beautiful.
Today was the Feast day for the Nambe Pueblo. We went to a church service celebrating St. Francis. Afterwards we were lucky enough to witness the Deer Dance. Then we were invited to have food with one of the residents there. This is their way giving away some of what they have recieved through the year. It was something to sit at dinner with many others who were strangers and now friends. Today was very special day.
And yes, the ant people are preparing to go under ground for the winter, though they are still hanging out on the surface though not moving very fast. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 8, 2009 - 8:39 AMToday is a fine fall day, and i am cleaning my home, laying out my ceremony items, and flying to africa with the bwiti, so please hold good intent for me folks, this one is real important. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 8, 2009 - 1:55 PMMucha luz y amor en su viaje hermano! AHO! -
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 4:11 AM?Que esta "luz" y "AHO"? -
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 7:22 AMHaley, luz means light and Aho is a little more difficult to explain. It's used in some Northern Native American cultures, and also used in some syncretic Native-American-ish groups who practice medicine ways.
Aho can be used at the beginning of a sentence, to open the space so to speak.
It can be used at the end of a thought to give it some punch and finality.
It can be used by others to echo that they agree or feel good about what someone is saying.
And it can be used as an invocation of sorts.
And from my understanding, women say Aha, and men say Aho.....but I honestly don't know where it all comes from or what....I just know it feels right sometimes!
:)
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 8, 2009 - 2:58 PMbon voyage Flint..............let us know how it goes.
around a hundred Canada geese have arrived on the river in the Abbey park grounds at Cirencester, along with a bunch of Terns. Not sure if they're planning to stay, most likely just a stoppover on their journey. They are some handsome birds to see, along with the more permanent residents, Swans with their cygnets, ducks and moorhens. Another water rat crossed my path....the second in a week.
The ambience of a 'peace' rose planted outside my front door, pale lemon with pale pink edging and a glorious scent.....i have to keep popping in and out the house just to visit this beauty. Perfectly complements a handsome calicarpa with violet berries and another rose called 'blessing' , a salmon pink, perfectly formed. These last blooms of the season, newly planted, are giving me such pleasure.... -
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 4:43 AMWhere I used to live in Alaska we had Canada Geese all summer in almost every field in pond. Now that I've moved and don't get to see them often I'm awed by their presence, being the largest birds I've seen in the area. Besides the heron, I've never seen a heron before, that's an exciteing new type of majesty to behold. Also, many mallard ducks along the canal and pond, plus 3 or 4 white farm ducks dispersing their genes throughout this population. It's interesting to see the effect. Most of the ducks remain the same by casual observation. About a quarter of them, if that, are a couple shades lighter, giving them a more blonde of buff appearance wherever the feathers are usually brown. The white line between the green head and copper chest of the male mallards are sometimes wider. One particular duckling this year by a white mother has a very thick white band, covering almost the entire neck. It gives the empression of a turtle-neck or choker. Another odd thing about this duck is that ducklings all look like females, the males colorful plumage doesn't develop until maturity, including the white band. But this guy already has the thick white band, and the rest of him is still in adolescent plumage. He's always fun to look for during morning runs. For being feral farm ducks, they make pretty darn good mothers. Not as mobile over ground or in the water as the mallards, but extra wary.
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Re: October who's afoot
Fri, October 9, 2009 - 10:40 AMA Hickory Tussock (or Tiger) Moth Caterpillar was begging me to pet it yesterday.
Good thing I didn't -they sting!
It was all fluffy and "come pet my tufties!"
Glad I avoided that one. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 4:15 AMClose call! Sneaky caterpillar! I wonder if it's concious, or if any animal/plant-persons are concious of their poisonous/venemous attributes?
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 4:19 AMHere with the cold also comes the rain, but no snow. Leaves crunch pleasantly underfoot, the dawn mists seem to hide the trees and fields in a blanket. I'm still in the city, wondering where I should look for land to settle down in and become a part of, but for now at least the smell of others hearth fires is warming in the chill of the season. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 10, 2009 - 7:20 AMRight on Haley! Thanks for your posts and welcome to the tribe!
Everyone give a warm welcome to Haley, as our newest poster around these parts!
:)
As for Who's Afoot......I finished the first wave of seed sowing yesterday. Planted four rows (50 meters each) of Quinoa, and a row of pumpkin and melons, plus I just passively dispersed a ton of quinoa, clover, lupine and other seeds to see if they grow and overtake the weeds there.
Oh. And Eagle flew around overhead. Always nice to see Eagle!
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Re: October who's afoot
Wed, October 14, 2009 - 4:49 PMHello Haley, and welcome to the tribe.
Jav - good to hear you're out planting. What's quinoa? -
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Re: October who's afoot
Wed, October 14, 2009 - 7:00 PMHey Pauline!
Quinoa is an American grain (yes, I said American, and no, I don't mean United Statesian, lol) that was domesticated long time ago in Peru. It's pretty much the same plant as Amaranth, only instead of red it's like beige/goldenish. Beautiful plant! One tiny seed can grow a meter and a half / two meter tall plant that is just covered in these long phallic bud type things, and each bud is about a bazillion little quinoas....Pretty cool!
It's much healthier than wheat or rice and can be used for anything that wheat or rice is used for. Plus it's native, and has been grown here for thousands of years, so it requires little water, grows sturdy, and just all around kicks butt.
And it tastes like nothing so you can eat it with anything, hot cold, spicy or not, meat or veggies, mayo or not, I mean literally, anyway you can think of....I recommend finding some at a local organic store and trying it out!
Ok, rant over......but really, Quinoa is the BOMB! and can totally serve as the backbone for a diet and grows so easily and, and, and.......ok, enough!
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Re: October who's afoot
Wed, October 14, 2009 - 7:01 PM -
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Wed, October 14, 2009 - 7:06 PMOk now I'm just rambling, but this is fucking hysterical from the wikipedia article (hysterical in a tragic way....)
"During the European conquest of South America quinoa was scorned by the Spanish colonists as food for Indians, and even actively suppressed, due to its status within indigenous non-Christian ceremonies. In fact, the conquistadors forbid quinoa cultivation for a time and the Incas were forced to grow corn instead.[citation needed]"
That line has no citation but it just sounds like something the Spanish would do......Aaaaaaahhhhh, my ancestors! Boy were they bright, LOL!
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 1:36 AMSounds like a great bioregional crop. I've never seen quinoa over here, even in the health food shops, i'll look out for some tho'.
Have you got land there to plant on, backyard or cropping in the wild?
I am about to take possession of an allotment, just waiting for the confirmation letter. Nominal rent of £15 per annum. So now i'll be growing my own food for the first time. Backyards too small for any serious growing, although i have a good patch of rhubarb, and a few strawberrys. I'm really looking forward to it! -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 7:38 AMI tried growing quinoa some years ago here in Iowa. I don't recall that it did real well here in our suffocating summer heat and humidity. I don't know if they have varieties that will do better under such conditions these days, but I don't do gardening like I used to due to arthritis in my back. I think that quinoa is great stuff though, and buy it at the local whole-foods store. I grew some big red amaranth one year, and that was an impressive and beautiful plant!
And yes, welcome Haley! -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 10:19 AMwe love quinoa, good food stuff !!! -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 11:34 AMWell, according to the wikipedia entry, Quinoa doesn't grow so well in the states for both environmental reasons and I guess some bug that eats that particular category of plant.....interesting for sure.
Pauline, to answer your question, my Mom and Dad own about a hectare and a half of farm land an hour out of Santiago. It's part of like 5 or 6 hectares that are left of what was once my Grandfather's 90 some hectare farm (mostly hills, little farm land). It's a really beautiful place with soil like you wouldn't believe, best growing climate in the world, good water, fresh air.....I love it. About one hectare has mostly oranges and some lemons on it, then one row of assorted fruit trees, then I've got like a quarter hectare with all my seed planted, and another quarter hectare of potatoes being planted....It's a huge, huge blessing to have that in my life, and I think it's very possible I'll live there someday. Plus, as I get older and work and other activities consume me more and more, it's my constant and totally present connection with the land....so it's a pretty wonderful place to be a part of....
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 12:17 PMFantastic Jav.....esp since it's handed down and so you've got family roots there......digging deep into that soil. 5 or 6 hectares sounds like a decent size.
Lemons/oranges don't really grow here, not enough sun.....although i think you can get miniture pot ones now that seem to do all right. I love cooking with lemons so i might look into the prospect of a pot lemon.
Well, i got the letter today for the allotment.....so it'll all be signed sealed and delivered on Monday..........and i'll be the new tenant of a grand 28 square metres of prime vege growing land! Not to be sneezed at......these mini plots are like gold-dust over here, i've been on the waiting list for three years. Someone told me recently that the waiting list in London is approximately 40 yrs!
Anyway, as soon as i got the letter in hand i went to have a little lookie at the new plot......i've inherited a line of 5 mini apple trees (about 6ft tall) all laden with fruit, both eating apples and cooking apples. i plucked one, nearly the size of my hand, off the tree to bring home. Then went tasting the raspberries and strawberries that take up about an eigth of the plot. There was also a nice line of well established roses that i think will be coming home, and , if my neighbour is co-operative, will be transplanted to the front of the house on the opposite side to the line i've just planted. Bloomin' lovely......all in all i've had a really good day. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 3:47 PMThat's really good news Pauline, congratulations on the allotment!!!! That's way cool. It's nice to have a plot to put some plants in and be able to taste veggies and heal with herbs grown with our participation! Very nice! Obviously I don't know what your allotment looks like, but man, I've seen some urban garden allotments like that in different cities that just totally rock they're so beautiful. Particularly one I saw in DC once, right smack middle of NW DC just these beautiful sunflowers and cabbages and corn and all sorts of goodies....way cool!
:)
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Re: October who's afoot
Fri, October 23, 2009 - 1:39 PMHave spent October merely trying to survive the weirdness that seems to have come at us full force...from waiting to hear if our grants were going to come through and whether I would actually have a job, to facing sudden homelessness. Mostly I held close to the land and the elements in thought and ceremony, asking them for help in riding through this storm!
Seems as November approaches, we might just be seeing the clearing!
Jav .... "Aho" is from the Cherokee language. Is a term of affirmation or solidarity, as well as to punctuate, as you said....like a confirmation.
In the Algonquian dialect it would be Tau Hau...as you see is very similar in sound. TAH Ho!
Some nations just say HAU~ (HO) Is all part of the same context, just different bioregions account for the dialects.
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Re: October who's afoot
Fri, October 16, 2009 - 1:16 AM
the ash are really golden yellow now. Standing beneath their canopies, with the vibrant fallen leaves beneath, I feel like I'm in a big golden bowl, with the sun shining so clear through the pale crystal winter skies we've had in the last week. And the air is starting to get that crispness; it's wafer-like, cut-it-with-a-knife kind of air.
the blackberries are just mush now. they say the devil spits on them and turns them bad! if the devil is Winter, then maybe :)
the last elderberries cling, unsumptious. unsweet, unsucculent... everything turning, turning inwards and under.
I've been hearing more bats lately, I think they're nesting in the rooves and I can hear them when I'm sat doing my art.
And then there's the fog, creeping in lately - leaving its hazy paws all over the morning... and jack frost, winter's chill, licking spiderwebs and rooftops, and each blade of grass with ice.
Last two days, depressing kind of cloud. I wrote a short cloud-shape poem to honour it:
the day's been dark,
beat clouds,
duvet, all brow -
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Re: October who's afoot
Wed, October 21, 2009 - 11:47 AMits good ol' fall here trees a changin' seed is setting and the harvest bounty is on!!!
Squash, kale, beans, carrots, onion and garlic, oh yeah its a soup night!!!
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Re: October who's afoot
Wed, October 21, 2009 - 9:10 PMi've been quiet this month of October...
first--thanks t23 for posting this us. i love that people enjoy this post enough to jump in and put it up when needed.
my excuse: i was in cusco for a couple of weeks and came back to find that llb had unsubscribed. i was stunned and saddened and i just didn't feel much like posting for a while.
so i've been quiet but it finally feels like spring here. the rains have come right on schedule, trees and plants are flowering or ready to. all the mean biting insects are out in voracious force so as to take advantage of the coming rains and reproduce more mean biting things.
And fortunately my garden has not been quiet. everything is growing like wild (kale, colllards, broccoli, leeks, arrugula, basil etc, etc. and that's just the vegetables). The soil in the back yard is very compacted but when it's broken up and some organic matter is lovingly put into the mix it responds. When i first started digging here almost two years ago the soil was very weak. I'd almost say it was nearly dead. no odor, no earthworms, no drainage. So to see the response and to feel this soil coming alive again is very rewarding. earthworms are on the scene, ladybugs are coming round, the hummingbirds have forgiven me for radical pruning of some of their favorite plants and have accepted my offering of new plants to feed on. life is happening. -
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Re: October who's afoot
Thu, October 22, 2009 - 6:09 PMAlright Cynthia! Welcome back!
Well, LLB's departure has us all saddened. It's kind of weird to think that the founder of the tribe has bounce, and it's really sad too because, well, I guess I just never really understood, it never clicked, exactly what our Brother was going through....but oh well, the path goes on, and we're fortunate in that we have such an amazing and powerful and connected group of folks on here, who really do walk the path. Aho Sisters and Brothers! You all ROCK! :)
Down here the weather is springish, cold today, hot tomorrow, rain now, sun later.....but the seeds are sprouting like crazy. The quinoa I planted took 5 days to sprout!!!!!! 5 DAYS!!!! That is one hearty plant I tell ya. Everything else is coming up too, the squash, pumpkins, melons, beets, cauliflower, tomaters, etc.....really happy about it all. Tomorrow I'm gonna go visit all my babies see how they're doing!
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Re: October who's afoot
Sat, October 24, 2009 - 6:57 PMUp until recently, lizards, geckos, hummingbirds, unidentified yellow birds, butterflies and bullfrogs were afoot in the bioregion that was temporarily mine.
Now that I'm back in London, I have no choice but to shut up for a year or so until I get another chance to escape this shithole.
