Sunset winter Meikleour

Woodland Bracket Fungi

I would like to apologise for my long absence. I injured my sacro-ileac spine due to lifting very heavy stones. A typical healer, Gordon has difficulty healing Gordy- seen my chiropractor 2 nights ago and bent back into shape. Anyway, went for a walk with Pippy Doog (long haired dachshund-real name "Lungha"-Italian for 'long') AND saw this bracket fungi which caught my eye. I love the way it curls provocatively whilst still anchored firmly to it's host, the dead trunk of a tree. A real divine dichotomy-the living growing out of the dead- except that there is no ending to the story. I have said before that you never ever have to say 'Goodbye', only 'Hello'. You cannot die; you merely return from whence you came-world without end-AMEN

Holly-A haven for spirits of the wood

As a flower essence, holly is the remedy for anger, envy, jealousy, and suspicion. It is the antidote for hatred. In the words of Dr. Bach: "holly protects us from everything that is not Universal Love." He suggested using holly when no other remedy was apparent, seeing lack of love as the ultimate foundation of any negative emotional state.Holly is a protective tree, guarding against poison, evil spirits, and evil sorcerers.

A spear of the holly gives focus and direction  to spiritual struggles. It will sharpen your wits and give you the courage to succeed in your quest.

The above extract is from "Tree Medicine Tree Magic" by Ellen Evert Hopman-Phoenix Publishing Inc. If you love trees this book covers their practical, herbal and magical uses and is both informative and laced with beautiful poetry-a great Christ-Mass gift!

Hen Friend

This little girl was rescued as a chick from a battery farm. Her official breed is a 'Ranger 2' which I suppose means free range... She and her two sisters have freedom of all the gardens and farm fields here in Perthshire. Now thats what I call truly free range and organic! She does look happy here doesn't she?

...A bit of food for thought

Beetroot chutney:

 

Cooking time approx 40 min

 

1lb of onions, chopped

1 lb of granny smith apples or other crisp eating veriety, peeled and chopped

3 lb of cooked beetroot

1 pint spiced vinegar(  I use Sarson's Malt spiced pickling vinegar  or a mixture of this and cider vinegar. I always make sure I add a teaspoon of dried pickling spices if the vinegar isn't already spiced)

2 teaspoons of salt

1 lb of white sugar

 

- Chop the onions

- Cook the chopped onions for a short time in a little of the vinegar

- Add the rest of the ingredients ( the beetroot should be diced in very small pieces)

- Boil steadily stirring from time to time until the chutney thickens ( the vinegar will evaporate a little)

- Pour into jars

 

The flavours will blend and improve with age! I certainly wait at least three weeks before opening a jar...