Live! Live! Live!

"I will not die an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible;
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my
significance,
to live so that which came to
me as seed
goes to the next as blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit."

-Dawna Markova 

(I Will Not Die an Unlived Life: Reclaiming Purpose and Passion)

Take a Hike!

At the beginning of this month, Travel & Nature Adventure Photographer, Philip Kramer released an incredibly beautiful labor of love to the world by way of Mountaineers Books.  In his debut publication, Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California: Section Hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to Green Pass, he illustrates a step-by-step guide for creating the perfect adventure-vacation centered around hiking (in any form) the 740 miles of the Northern California section of the Pacific Crest trail.  Loaded with gorgeous photographs he's become known for, Philip also crams this book full of information ranging from little known or even obscure facts, to preservation and conservation opportunities, to some of the smallest details (including tips & tricks from experienced hikers) worth taking into consideration when planning excursions.  Instead of just sticking to the obvious highlights, this newly minted author shines a full spectrum light on this oft ignored, or at least, seldom discussed portion of a very popular American attraction.

The truth of the matter is, I came for the photography, and sentimentality having known the author for 32 years, but I stayed for the writing that kept my pages turning, and excitement and wanderlust it ignited.  However, one of my favorite things about this in-depth guide is that you do not have to actually know the author personally to feel as though you're sitting down sharing stories with your best friend, which to me, makes the whole idea of planning a trip that much more fun.

If you'd like to learn a little more about Philip Kramer, visit his website PhilipKramer.com or if you're curious to hear more about his own experience hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail in 2013 check out the Adventure Sports Podcast found, here.

Siristean

 Blizzards of blushing

The snowfall of Ostara

Enchantress of Spring
 

(re)Purposely Playful

After eight years (and much nudging from my mother), I'm finally releasing my patterns + instructions for d.i.y. repurposed sweater-sleeve stuffed animals to the public!  So if you're keen to get your upcycle on, or work through your scrap-fabric stash, I'm pleased to introduce:

The (re)Purposely Playful—Woodland Pals collection

The seven page downloadable PDF includes a materials list, instructions, and the pattern pieces you need in order to create your own adult, and baby sized stuffed friends in three animal versions: Faryl Fox, Rikki Raccoon, and Willie Wolf.

*Note: You are purchasing a downloadable PDF pattern only.  Adobe Reader is required to view, and print this pattern from your home computer.

Don't forget!  Grab your free knitting-crib-sheet, below, so your (re)Purposely Playful Woodland Pals are the best accessorized critters in the forest...

Click to embiggen, right click & save image as!

Take heed: The critters, and accessories created through the (re)Purposely Playful collection are keepsake toys, and intended for supervised playtime, or for youngsters who are not tempted to chew off, or swallow buttons and other small pieces.  Please use your judgement when making (and especially gifting) your Woodland Pals toys.  Thank you!

xoxo

Big Mouth

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Things are starting to warm up around here, and the seeds I started indoors back in February are now outgrowing their containers, and barking to get outside, which means it's time to map out the blueprint of their new dwellings while I start the hardening off process for these youngsters.  And because I'm such a nerd, this means I'm grabbing blank sheets of paper, my ruler, and makeshift seed-bank (keeping all growing instructions at my fingertips) to plan it all out. 

So Mushroom in My Heart for You

Used medicinally for centuries, Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are finding a renewed popularity among the gardening, fungi, and natural health set, and if it lives up to the hype, it's little wonder why!

What began as a random, cryptic text from my brother, the hobbyist-forager, bringing a local, family-owned, fungi-cultivating company (Fungi Perfecti) to my attention, ended with me ordering, and growing several of my own patches.  After some trials, and a few errors on my end of things, I had my first harvest!  The search was on!  I needed to find something to do with my newly acquired Antler Reishi, or Rokkaku-Reishi Mushrooms, and since they're incredibly difficult to grind into a powder without the help of industrial equipment (just ask my poor food processor!) I decided a hot beverage would be the best way to put them to use.  Without further ado...

Reishi "Tea"

Here's what you need:
4 cups Water
2 heaping Tablespoons of Antler Reishi Mushroom.  You want to keep the ratio as 4-5 cups of water to 3-5 grams of mushroom.

Here's what you do:
In an uncoated, or enamel pot, combine 4 cups of water with mushroom chunks and heat to just below boiling.  Reduce heat and cover, making sure to keep your liquid below a simmer.  Steep for 2-4 hours.

Now that you've got your Reishi Tea prepared you can either continue with the recipe, or strain, bottle, and refrigerate the liquid until you are ready to use it.

Mushroom FoMo (faux-mocha) Latte

Here's what you need:

6 whole Cloves
6 pods Cardamom
1/4 tsp ground Allspice
1/4 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground Nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground Ginger
4 tsp powdered Chicory
4 Tbsp powdered Carob
4 Tbsp pure, organic Maple Syrup
2 cups full-fat, organic, canned Coconut Milk

Here's what you do:

If you've stored your Reishi Tea, warm it up in an uncoated or enamel pot, if you're continuing without pause from the previous steps add clove, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and steep on very low heat for 20 minutes.  Strain, and in your 4 cups of liquid stir in 4 Tbsp of powdered Carob, and 4 tsp of powdered Chicory until dissolved, and 4 Tbsp pure, organic Maple Syrup (or Honey), adding 2 cups of room temperature full-fat, organic, canned Coconut Milk at the end.  Serve, sprinkle with nutmeg, and enjoy!

What I've learned:
If you're growing your own Antler Reishi Mushrooms try to break them or cut them up closer to harvesting them.  I thought I'd dry them out, and they'd just grind right up, instead they hardened to a wood-like state, and scratched the hell out of my food processor, which means extra careful cleaning after each use from now on, since food particles hiding in deep grooves in cookware is a great place for foodborne illnesses to get their start in life!  Those of you with counter top grain mills may have better luck in this area than I did.  When making the Mushroom FoMo Latte, I pop the cardamom pods before throwing them in the pot to steep.  I don't go so far as to dig out all the little seeds, I just give them a good crack, and toss them in.  If you want to get fancy, and top your beverage off with a dollop of whipped coconut cream, check out this post at Tasty Yummies for instructions, and a handy little index for which brands whip up the best.

Fresh Start: Be Your Own Guru...

Part Two:

Be your own guru, because no one else wants the job, and anyone who does, probably doesn't deserve it.

Unfortunately (fortunately?) you've got to do your own work.  There's really no way around it.  If you're not ready to do the work, you're not ready to be well, and live your fullest, most vibrant life.  It is as simple, and as complicated as that.  The ability to be brutally honest with yourself is a huge asset in the healing process, if you've already accomplished this in your life, you've cleared the highest hurdle as far as I'm concerned.  Everything after that is just a matter of being a diligent researcher, changing daily habits, and upgrading your life (start with small, realistic increments for best results until you're confident in the strength of your commitment), and becoming your own healthcare advocate.