from the weekend

With the rain we've been getting, the mushrooms are starting to pop. (click on the photos to see these closer) I haven't noticed any edibles, but I was super excited to spot this stinkhorn in my garden.  It will emit a stinky slime that encourages flies and other insects to land on it.  When they fly off, they carry the mushrooms spores with it, spreading them in the process.  Sneaky little mushroom.

Awfully strange looking, isn't he?

The lilacs decided to give flowering another go, though rather half-heartedly as there are only a few of these tiny clusters of blooms.  That's okay though, I love the smell of lilacs and am happy to have even one more sniff of them.

Beneath the tall grass and invading raspberry brambles there were some beautiful lilies. 

My nasturtiums are trying to escape their fence.  Probably because we keep eating their friends.

The yarrow has come up everywhere this year.  It's such a useful and lovely little herb.  It can be dried and used as a medicinal tea or mascerated when fresh and used as first aid, like a styptic.

Daisies.  My favorite.  I pulled these from the roadside a year or two ago and planted them in my yard.

I'm not a big fan of spiders but I thought this guy was pretty cool hiding in the leaves.

The bees have been busy.

Check out the pollen on that guy's legs.



Today looks to be pretty grey so I'm glad I got a chance to capture some of these colors this weekend.

Have a good week, everyone.

cheers!

Lovely organic strawberries steeping in a jar of vodka, coffee mingling with everclear in a pickle jar...yup, I've been dabbling with the liquor.

I was inspired by Craft's post the other day to try making an infused vodka, and while I was at it I thought I'd make some kahlua too.  My husband was a bit confused, and wondered why I was stocking up on the booze as I'm not much of a drinker.  I had to explain that it was the diy factor.  I can't resist the pull of "make it yourself".

Besides, isn't it pretty?  The vodka is almost done brewing.  I'm not sure what to do with it now though, so if you have a vodka recipe I should know, please share.

I had a little kahlua and cream last night after wrestling with a monster patch of thistles (more on this later).  I know it's mostly cream, but it was a nice way to relax after a(nother) long day.

Have you made your own spirits, liquors, beers?  I'm really interested in wine-making but haven't tried it yet.  So many things to learn, so many projects to try, so little time...

If you're interested, this is the recipe I used for the kahlua (I used chocolate caramel brownie coffee because that's what I could find, and made it extra strong).  The strawberry vodka recipe can be found here.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Cheers!

Woodland Pottery Workshop Aug. 4th and 5th

Friends, I am thrilled to share with you the first step down what feels like the "right path" for me.

I'm pleased to announce the very first workshop to be held right here under the poplar and pine.

Join me for a basic introduction to woodland pottery.

Aug. 4th - 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Aug. 5th - 9:00am to 1:00pm

class fee $40.

You may remember that this past fall I attended a class on woodland pottery, and how much I enjoyed it.  I really loved learning the history of, and how the Ojibwe people in this area constructed and used this pottery.   right from the earth.  Now we'll get the chance to make one of these beautifully functional vessels right here in my back yard.

We will lean how to dig clay, harvest tempering agents, construct a clay vessel, and fire it in my fire pit.  Nancy Foster will be on hand to walk us through the gathering of the clay, building of our pieces, and showing us how to add surface details using natural materials.   I will be demonstrating how to fire the pots on the second day of the workshop.  Ideally we would wait a week for the pots to dry before firing, but due to time constraints, and to make it easier for folks traveling from out of town, I've opted to have the firing the next day.

We'll dig in the dirt, and sit by the fire, and chat.  It's going to be great fun.  Light refreshments and snacks will be served both days of the workshop.  There will probably be a nature walk or two as well, and maybe if we're lucky the mushrooms will be popping out in the woods.  (I'll have the bug spray on the ready)

Read more details and secure your spot HERE.

If you'd like to pay by check, or if you have any questions, please contact me at lilfishstudios@gmail.com

I'm really looking forward to a fun weekend with new friends.  The chickens and ducks are pretty excited too and would love it if you'd help spread the word.  If you could share on facebook, tweet it, or tell your neighbor, we'd all really appreciate it.

Thanks all!  Let's have some fun!

wordless Wednesday

peony potential

The peonies are blooming, opening themselves up to the sky.  I like them in this phase, slightly restrained, all that energy welling up... on the verge of reaching their full potential.  Soon they'll be full and fragrant orbs bobbing in the breeze, but where they are right now is just as beautiful.

I hope your week is full of potential too.  Happy Monday.

Herban Crafts, I think I love you

I "met" Karen Lee (aka ecokaren) when I was selling on Etsy.  She was a leader on the EcoEtsy team I belonged to and I knew her to be passionate about green living, and knew her to approach the subject with high energy (no doubt fueled in part by all that fair trade cofee she drinks).  We've become friends over the years and when she told me she was starting a new project I knew it was something good.  I just knew it.

And you know what?  It is. 

She and Mary Kearns (who you may know from Herban Lifestyle) have developed Herban Crafts; darling little kits teaching you how and containing everything one needs to make their own lip balms, fizzing bath salts, cologne, and more using fair trade and organic ingredients.  That's the short story..  Not only are the ingredients high quality and ethical, but the packaging is as well.  All of it is recycled, recyclable, or compostable (and lovely!).

But wait, there's more!

A few years ago I used to volunteer at a women's and childrens' shelter and found the experience really humbling and moving, so this part of the story really tugs at my heart-strings.  Herban Crafts will be working with unemployed women in transitional housing to build the kits.  The women will get job-training that will help them build their resumes and a sense of empowerment, and help get them on their way to economic independence. 

When Karen asked if I would like to try a lip balm kit I was all for it.  It was just as I expected, adorable eco-friendly packaging, high quality ingredients, and super-simple directions that made my finished project perfect.  I dare say I like this balm better than the stuff I normally buy from that guy with the bees.  The kicker?  My teenaged boy declared the end result "cool" and swiped a tub of it for himself.

Now, I don't norrmally do "reviews".  Heck, I don't even have advertising on my blog, but if Herban Crafts were ever looking for a spokeswoman, I would jump at the chance. This is the kind of project that I love to support.  (seriously girls, call me) 

This amazing project needs help to get off the ground.  Here's how you can help:



• Visit their campaign HERE on Start Some Good to read more about their program and donate.  A donation as little as $5 can help. 
• Go to the Herban Crafts website HERE and buy a kit. 
• Go "like" them on facebook HERE and "share" with your friends.  Help get their mission in front of more eyes. 
• Follow Herban Crafts on Twitter HERE to keep up with their latest happenings.
• Tell your friends!

Thanks everybody!  Have a wonderful weekend.

4 years and 30 seconds

I finished this piece today.  Only took me four years and 30 seconds.

It has been over four years since I carved this wood pendant from a piece of driftwood.  It has sat in my jewelry box ever since.

Last week when I was in town I stopped to see my friend Rhonda, (who owns the coolest bead shop where ancient artifacts share space with nuggets of turquoise, Fordite, dinosaur poop, and lots and lots of beads...do check it out if you're ever in the Brainerd area - The Bead Box), and finally picked up a pinch bail for my pendant.  It took me all of 30 seconds to put it together after that.

It goes that way sometimes, doesn't it?  It isn't always easy to find make the time to do for ourselves, but I think it's always worth it.

Will you find a little time today? 

dyeing with bedstraw - galium boreale

While reading through some posts in a foraging group I belong to on fb, I noticed a plant that looked familiar.  The group was referring to it at "Cleaver" an edible plant, and I felt sure that I had seen it somewhere in the yard.  I did a little reading and found that the Cleavers, or Catchweed, or Bedstraw, (and many other names attached to it) have many different species and are in the Rubiaceae family...the madder family...MADDER!  Now I was excited, as I knew madder roots to be a good dyestuff but one I hadn't tried before.

Out to the yard I went and I immediately spotted clumps of Bedstraw, mostly Galium boreale or northern Bedstraw.  The more I looked, the more I saw.  They were everywhere.

I gathered up a pile of them in my basket and sat down to extract just the roots.

After all of my processing I was left with a small tangle of roots.  I felt like this dye experiment would be akin to dyeing with saffron threads.  A lot of effort for very little dye material.

I tried to be tricky and leave some of the reddish stalk on the root but after rinsing and drying briefly, it was clear they would be of no help.  The tiny roots came off too.  If you look closely you can see an orangish color to the root part that is good for dyeing. 

I had read that madder is sensitive to heat so I didn't put this on the stove, rather I tucked all of my washed and (briefly) dried roots into a dye jar, covered them with water, and allowed them to sit.  Within an hour there was color in the water, which caused me to squeal excitedly, to no one in particular.  (it happens a lot)

After letting the roots stew in the dye jar for a few days I got a little anxious for results and decided to simmer some down.  I put the whole batch in the dye pot and let it simmer for about an hour.  After straining out the dye stuffs I added my wool and cotton that I had mordanted with alum, brought the temp just up to a simmer then turned it off and let it sit overnight.

From left to right on the photo above - alum, an overdye on dandelion flower (pale yellow), an overdye on black walnut (cocoa brown), and an exhaust bath.

Cotton fabric and floss took on an earthy pink.

I wanted to see how well the wool would hold its color once felted so I wet-felted a stone with it.  It retained its carrot-orange color.  I haven't gotten a true orange before with natural dyeing so this was pretty exciting.  I'm going to try thoroughly drying the roots next time to see if it changes the color.

I found two other species of Bedstraw that day too, galium triflorum, which smells like a weaker version of sweetgrass (which I love), and galium aparine which is fuzzy and the aptly named "catchweed".  The northern bedstraw was by far more abundant, which is why I chose to use it for dyeing.  It's believed that bedstraw used to be dried and, you guessed it, used to stuff mattresses.  The catchweed can be used as a sieve with its tiny hairs acting as a strainer.

Pretty cool stuff, and abundant here.  Though, as with all of my foraging, I only take a few from each spot so as not to deplete any one area.

Amazing what you can find in your own backyard.

campfire contemplation

A nice weekend was had under the poplar and pine.  Nothing fancy, just your ordinary weekend though we did make some time for a fire and s'mores.

I sort of bliss out around a fire.  Sit and stare, feeling contemplative.

I used to do a lot of camping and backpacking in my pre-grown-up life, and time around the fire was spent sipping blackberry brandy and having deep conversations about life.  Now it's s'mores and answering rapid-fire "why" and "what" and "how" questions from my wee ones.

Until they get blissed out and contemplative watching the sparks climb the sky.

Have a great start to the week.

summer vacation begins

Today is the first day of summer vacation.  It's a quarter past 7 and my children are just starting to wake, having given me a good long time to read and sip my coffee. I'm feeling happy but somewhat low on sleep after a laughter-filled night out with new friends.  New friends that feel like old friends.

I'd like to linger a bit longer in this state but little voices and my own growling belly are beckoning towards the kitchen and the start to the day.  The chickens will be watching for me and tapping their feet impatiently while I pour their food too.  There is much to do.  These next few months will bring a lot.  Visits from friends, new experiences, many projects to finish, things I can't wait to share.

My youngest boy announced yesterday that school is over and now he's "home-schooled".  I laughed.  I'm not a home-schooler, but I do plan to teach him how to weed the garden today.  (insert a hearty muahaha here)  In truth there will be schooling this summer, mostly disguised as fun, but there will be just as much bike-riding, swimming, and fort-building.

I picked the first meadow mushroom (agaricus campetstris) of the season yesterday.  I noticed these little pink-gilled mushrooms last year but hadn't properly ID'd them until now.  It seems early, but I won't complain, as it will be nice to have a new edible on the table.  It's a running joke here whenever I sample a new mushroom to ask if I've made up some freezer meals beforehand to feed my poor orphaned family should I suffer an untimely demise.  In reality, I'm very cautious when I try a new one, identifying them beyond a doubt whenever there may be a poisonous look-alike, and sampling only a bit to see how I react to it.  It's said there are old mushroom hunters and bold mushroom hunters, but not old, bold, mushroom hunters.  I hope to live to be an old mushroom hunter.

And now to begin the day.

I hope yours is spectacular.

eating common lambsquarters - chenopodium album

I've been on a salad kick lately.  In the winter months it's all hearty soups and bread, but when the weather warms, you know how it is, you crave food that is fresh and light.  I had noticed some plants in the yard that I was pretty certain were lambsquarters (or lamb's quarters or goosefoot...some people call this pig weed too, a name assigned to several weeds...let's just call them chenopodium), and knew them to be edible.

I compared them to my field guides and checked them on Wildman Steve Brill's website, and it seemed I did indeed have myself some chenopodium.  You can see by the shape of the leaves why it's also called goosefoot. 

The youngest leaves have a waxy powder on them that is easily wiped off, and the plant has no discernible scent when crushed.  Epazote, a look-alike, smells resinous.

Chances are, you've seen these because they seem to grow everywhere...even in my potted plants.  (by the way, those are the onions I re-grew a few months ago)

As for taste, they're really good!  They're mild and green and perfect in salads.  You can use them like spinach either fresh or cooked.  I like them well enough that I added a row of them to my garden.  Adding weeds to my garden?  Of course!  Any nutritious and free wild edible as tasty as this can hang out in my garden.  Even though there isn't exactly a shortage of it in my yard...

When I pick, I take a few younger leaves from this plant then that plant...never pick all the leaves from only one plant if you want to keep them growing in your yard.

We were in the mood for a sweeter salad last night so we tossed our chenopodium with some lettuce from our greenhouse, a handful of wood sorrel, wild rose petals, one whole apple, a handful of nuts, and dried cherries.  Delish.

Have any of you tried chenopodium?  If you haven't, do you think you will?  It's amazing to me just how many "weeds" out there are so useful once one starts to identify them.

p.s. We gather only wild plants that we can positively identify and only from areas that we trust to be free of pesticides, run-off, and other ickiness.   The occasional bug or clod of dirt is okay with us, but chemicals are not. blech. 

wordless Wednesday