Victory Garden in The White House!

Seeds of Change! The Obama Legacy will be one of grassroots power recommitted into Citizen hands. Now the fine people at Change.org are rallying the Troops to select a White House Farmer! I invite you to go Vote for your state farming representative, or if you happen to know any of these fine candidates, Vote for your Favorite Farmer!

How exciting is this! Our own White House Victory Garden, which will help supply fresh foods for the First Family, and help supplement the Food Bank. I am so excited about the changes I see already! I know there are many who still doubt, and well they should. QUESTION AUTHORITY! I say! But as for me, I glory in this grassroots direction. I embrace these winds of change, brisk and heart-felt, cleansing, sweeping away the duff and debris of inconsequentiality, of invisible citizenry slaving away for Big Government, of hopelessness and despair. I dance in the sun of reaffirmation. People Matter. Our voices matter. We Will Overcome, and a New Dawn will shine in our gardens and in our hearts.

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The New Seeds Are Here! The New Seeds Are Here!

I feel like Navin R. Johnson!

Navin R. Johnson: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!
Harry Hartounian: Boy, I wish I could get that excited about nothing.
Navin R. Johnson: Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now.

Our Territorial seed order came into the Shop yesterday, the Livingston seed order came in on Monday, they are all in their little nesting cubbies looking all pretty...

I picked up a few of Territorial's "new" organics, including Bull's Blood beets, Erste Ernte Spinach, Flashy Butter lettuce and Marketmore 97 cuqs. Got some of the over wintering Merida carrots, some borage for the orchard (and my salads!) and some catnip for the kitties, since my plants all died a terrible death over the Winter.

My tomato seeds came in from Gary Ibsen's Heirloom Tomato Fest *jigs for joy* And I am happily planning a tomato harvest. My friend Greig is going to help me till up a new garden just for the tomatoes! (and other companion veggies, of course!)

I am sooo looking forward to this Gardening Year. Little Darlin', it's been a long, cold lonely Winter. Here comes the Sun!

Happy Gardening, All!

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The Inaugeration of YES! WE CAN!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
We sit poised upon the brink of Change. I am so excited! It's a hybrid of Woodstock & The Birth of a Nation. President Obama will be inaugurated today. Yes, We Can. Yes, We Did. Hope, and Joy, and Peace and Goodwill, all the positive human emotions. I am incredibly overwhelmed! Watching history as I am here at my computer.. My Boss, (May God Bless him forever) has allowed me to play hookey to watch this incredible incredible historical event. I am weeping, I am joyful, I am CAN. I am seeing a culmination of movement of a Nation, I am seeing the 60's all grown up. I am seeing the Flower Children all dressed in Responsibility for the Future.

& I am so awestruck at what our Young people must feel! FINALLY! FINALLY! Our voice matters! My 18 years-younger Sister has never Voted, because she thought it made no matter what she said, how she Voted, what she thought. My Roomie's 17 year old grand-daughter just texted her, and said "OH MY GOD! I LOVE President Obama! My Voice will COUNT for something!" I am so happy for our young people.... To have the opportunity to witness this kind of pivotal history being made, with this President so open to listening to His Nation, OUR Nation, OUR PEOPLE.

WE ARE WHO WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

I, Too, Sing America

by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.


Today, We Can.

>^,,^<

Busy Busy Busy

Got a new server, and am in the process of my website's fifth incarnation, rebuilding each page, and uploading them, making sure all the links work, and updating oh a TON of old stuff. Wolfdancer Creek is coming along!

Finally got the autopsy report back on Vince, he died of a heart attack, the seizures were considered contributable. I am sad to say that the Family made a few comments to the County which is now "on record" that shocked me greatly, partly because I had no clue, and partly because they were untrue. It is understandable, and I forgive them. A chapter in the book of my life which is now past. I felt betrayed, but that, too, is past.

I open the page to a new chapter. The day has been windy, but warm, the sun soaking into my bones. I pressed my back against the plate glass southern faced door and gloried in the feel of warmth, of light! Of impending Spring, whenever she comes. I receieved my tomato seeds, so this next month, I shall set out some seeds.

It is good healing.

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I've been TAGGED!

Well, no I haven't. But as I was perusing Peek-A-Boo Street's Blog, and thoughtthis was just delightful, so I am spreading it about.

I've been tagged! I've been tagged by Pat at Posh & Trendy (two things I am not)

* Name 5 things in my purse:
1. coupon folder for the grocery store
2. hand lotion
3. advil in copious amounts
4. bag of essential oils
5. pen & notepad for ideas

* Name 5 things in my work room:
1. my computers
2. Shim Schimmel's "Snow Leopards on the Moon" litho
3. my books ALL OVER THE PLACE
4. pen & notebooks for ideas
5. Picture quilt of my Dragonfly Goddess Self

* Name 5 things that I always wanted to do:
1. go to an APDT accredited Dog Training school
2. become an author
3. Get my third degree in Applied Science, Horticulture
4. Get Guitar Lessons
5. Make my Farm self-sufficient

* 5 things I'm currently into:
1. blogging
2. farming
3. reading
4. writing my book
5. taking care of the Song Dogs, the feral cats (anybody want a kitty?) the Royal Goat Court, and watching the Ancona Ducks

* Now I have to tag 5 people to add these lists to their blog.
I will choose;

Kim at Wishnik Woods
Jan at Thanks4Today
Cheryl at Weeder's Garden
Happy Mouffard at The Inelegant Gardener
and Carol at May Dreams Gardens

Okie doke, tag yer it!

>^,,^<

An AWARD! *delight!* *glee!* WEEEEEEE!!

OH MY GOSH!!!! (insert a series of excitable emoticons HERE)



My Beautiful Friend Kim at Wishnik WoodsHas given me my very first award. Here's her post, An AWARD? For ME? If you haven't visited her Blog, you really should, she has a gorgeous, Gifted eye for photography. And here's Peek-A-Boo Street's Chris's Blog who started it all...Bless her sweet little star-shaped heart...

HOW DELIGHTFUL! I am sitting here grinning like a fool, my cheeks are starting to get that delicious ache you get when you smile too long and too hard. *lolol* THANK YOU, Spooky Dragon! You just made my week!

OK, now, here's the REST of the Story:
The recipient of this award is to pass it along to eight other deserving bloggers.
So here is my eight:

The Ladies at Garden Rant One of the very first garden Blogs I found, you all have inspired me to take Gardening to the next social level

The Endangered Owner For all the hard work they do there to fight against the terrible hypocrisy of HSUS & PETA, and for responsible private ownership rights, and animal welfare. (Which is NOT the same as Animal Rights, just ask me)

Carol at May Dreams Garden Another inspirational Blogger, I love her Garden Fairy stories, and Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is just an absolute delight.

Ernie Barrera at Politics as it was intended An old dear friend who has never stopped being passionate about politics.

Kathy Purdy at Cold Climate Gardening for everything you taught me about learning how to garden in a short-season zone

Jan at Thanks For Today for all the kind and gentle moral support she has given me.

Happy Mouffard at The Inelegant Gardener who is, despite the name of her Blog, VERY elegant, and for the entire concept of having a Holiday such as LAPCPADPOUB Day You helped me remember to think outside the box.

Cheryl at Weeder's Garden
My Roomie's friend whom one day I'd love to meet in person.

and Kim at Wishnik Woods whose friendship has been a Blessing in more ways than tongue can tell, and whose photographs both inspire me to reach new heights in my own, and dazzle me with their beauty.

*lolol* So I can't count. Happy Gardening, all! & Happy Blogging!

>^,,^<

Wolfdancer Creek Farm Garden Mission Statement

The Dear Folk at Cold Climate Gardening, Kathy Purdy, has referenced Gardening With Confidence's Mission Statement. I think it is a wonderful idea, a focusing idea, which we can remind ourselves with. To this end, and with LOTS of help from Helen! here is mine.

Wolfdancer Creek Farm ~ The Winsome Winged Gardens

The Winsome Winged Gardens are designed to be a sustainable safe haven for the Winged Ones amongst us, the birds, the butterflies, the bees, as well as the dragonflies, faerie, human and other predatory, pollinating or Fae Kin which do not begin with "B". The Gardens are also designed to bring a touch of whimsy and a smile to all who enter.

Plants are selected for their attraction to, or food source for, the Winged Ones amongst us. Towards that end, we are an Organic Farm, using only natural methods of fertilization, weed abatement, and pest abatement if necessary. Compost is our friend, and the worm folk are also encouraged to make the gardens their home. Often the gardens look a bit scruffy, since seed heads are left standing for winter food sources, and we believe that weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.

Wolfdancer Creek Farm is a certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. We have chosen to leave fallow one third of the orchards as a food source for our fellow travelers, the deer, the elk, the black bear, and any other apple-enjoying fellows.

The Gardens of the Farm are planted using companion planting techniques, Guild affiliations between plants, and crop rotations to ensure that the soil is nourished and nurtured. Herbs, both culinary and medicinal, are an important part of our garden community. Excess vegetables are donated to the Estacada Community Center for their Meals-on-Wheels program, and their daily community dinners.

GARDEN MISSION STATEMENT

Wolfdancer Creek is a sustainable wildlife habitat, and a working Farm, created and rehabilitated to attract and feed our fellow Travelers on this Earth Walk and for the enjoyment of friends, family, and visitors to educate, to enjoy, to dream awhile, and to understand we are the earth’s caretakers, so let’s take care.

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Friends are like Flowers

After this past year's blizzard of turmoil both painful and stirring, I find myself still enmeshed in change. But not all change is bad! Nay! Some changes are beautious, glorious, floriferous, astounding.

Such is reconnecting with old friends. It's like the seeds you've all-but-forgotten you've planted because you had no idea that they needed a double striation period. Suddenly, you are walking down your garden path, and BAMMO! Lookie lookie Ms. Cookie, there's this dreamboat of a flower just waiting for your rapt attention!

I got this e-mail out of the blue: "It's been over 35 years, your sister told me you were living in Oregon. I'm coming up that way."

"SURE!" I respond, and send him my address & phone number, "You must come visit!" Then I remember that he has forgotten to tell me who he might be, and I have forgotten to care or ask, so I have to ask... In another e-mail of course... And he tells me, and suddenly, I am a child again, surrounded by the sweet smell of cinnamon toast in a warm kitchen with rich wood paneling. And my friend is sitting beside me as we eat this toast of the Gods together before we head off to the bus stop for school.

And suddenly, there I am, wandering around the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, the Spanish Village, in and out of every open artist studio, pestering the artists "What are you doing? How come you're doing it that way? What are you using? Why?" Especially Jan, I follow her around like a puppy, watching every brush stroke. I want to be just like her when I grow up. Mark already knows her work, so it is not as magical for him, but it is still a thing of rapture! or wonder! Even so. Even so.

I still have a printed poster -silk screened, maybe, you can feel the ink- that she gave to me long long ago when I was a child. This poster of wonder! With all the animal faces at the Zoo, all my animal friends there, except the wolf.. We didn't have any wolves back then at the Zoo.

And we wander all round Balboa Park, without chaperones, without adults, exploring, pretending to be explorers, laughing, rolling down the grassy knolls until we are breathless with laughing, and green and itchy with grass.

And here he is, at my door, after so long! SO long, and it's like we never parted, and it's like we'd been close all this time. As I looked into his face, as I sat and listened to him talk, I could see the young boy in him, I could see my childhood friend hiding behind the grown man's face, so solemn, yet so open and loving and fun. And I remember the terrible crush I had on him as a little girl! *lolol* I love his eyes still, so warm and lively.

What a lovely couple of days we have had! They passed too quickly, too quickly were we parted. And too quickly do we lose touch with these friends. When we are young, we do not know how to keep in touch. I remember that I grieved for Mark & Jan when we moved away, I missed them terribly. When we grow up some, we forget how important these friends are to us, to our psyches, to our connections to this world, so we do not hold on as tightly as we should. But as we grow older, sometimes, sometimes we get that rare Gift of second chances, and we find an old friend back into our lives. And if we are very wise, we hold on tight, we do not let go, we do not allow distance to fade our connection, we do not allow time to blur the edges of this joy in reconnecting.

And in this case, OH JOY! I am delighted! & I will not let go! Nay, I cling to you, Old Friend, like a sticky seed on a jacket hem. I nurture this, and I will nourish this connection. Thank you, Mark, for finding me after all these years, thanks for being persistent and persevering in that search. I am looking forward to your next visit! :~)

And, Dear Reader, if you ever have a chance to meet with an Old Friend, grab tight! Laugh long! Cherish your connections. They are all we have to prove we still exist.

>^,,^<

HAPPY NEW YEAR! No, really..

May 2009 be a year of Hope and may we all overcome our Challenges.

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