When Pigs Fly

Well!.... Hello!  Welcome to December.  Did you miss me?  I took a week off. (and I’m even kind of slacking this week)  I didn’t mean to, but it seemed like the world stopped for a moment, and I get swept up in the stillness.  Thankfully, It was filled with beautiful surprises.  Thanksgiving and gratitude.  I hope yours was as well.  Rest assured, even though I wasn’t communicating, I was a busy bee. And, I did think about and miss you. 

Now, here we are in December.  Most of my over-wintering seeds are in the ground. 

We had our first REAL frost this morning.  The sun is now shining brightly on this crisp, cold morning in East Texas, and I’m feeling full of life and hope.  How about you?  I know I’ve already said that in this season of my life, this time of year is my favorite. I love ALL seasons …well, except for the “Hot as Hell” weeks or months that we experience at the height of summer.  Those can be D.R.A.I.N.I.N.G for me and the plants. The bugs and weeds seem to thrive, though. That’s a live and let live season for me.  Ha! You know, there is no “perfect” place or season that I’m aware of.  But hey, change my mind!  We all have our ‘best of times, worst of times’, don’t we?  We just learn to learn from each season, whether it’s the weather or life, and we get on with things.

Beginning Middle Now

When I initially started this website and blog, I began with pictures of a yard being lovingly transformed. With that, I’d like to share those pictures again with updates along the way.  Not only am I am herbalist making concoctions over my boiling black cauldron in the back room…..ONLY KIDDING.  I do make herbal medicines and teas and salves, but not over a black cauldron.  I don’t even own one. 

Not only do I play with herbs, I also employ wildscaping and herbscaping  as landscaping methods for myself and others who are trying to get back to letting nature do what nature does best – Be Natural.  I have used a no-dig method for the last four years that has worked very well and has had a more positive impact on the environment as far as leaving the earth’s microbiome intact, not evicting the local insect population from their tiny homes, encouraging more natural flora and fauna, and recycling many of the items we would normally discard such as cardboard.  Another great thing about this method is you let the yard or grounds tell you what to do, where to go, how to build and plant all without removing grass, digging holes or breaking your back or bank. Win Win for you and the planet.  If you’d like help transforming your space, reach out to me.  I’d love to come visit and help you develop your vision. Even if you’re not into wildscaping or herbscaping, but just want to add no-dig beds and/or walkways, I can help with that, too.

I hope that you can tell that I am very passionate about what I do.  One reason I share with you and others through this blog and social media posts is because I believe that everyone should have some plants growing in their yard that are not only pretty but have medicinal and nutritional value.  If we ever have to face crisis on a national or individual basis, being able to take care of yourself and others is of highest priority.  If you’re just beginning, I’d love to teach you the basics of plant properties and how to start small and increase over time.  When we take the time to nurture, nature gives exponentially in return.

Are you as WOWed as wowed as I am by the changing transformation and especially by those amazing falling leaves blanketing the yard now.  What a picture!  Each time I walk out and look at this golden carpet,

I think of all the fireflies, earwigs, lacewings, butterflies, moths, red-banded hairstreaks, wooly bear catepillars, and some bees who have just “settled their caps for a long winter’s nap” and are cozily awaiting the breaths and buds of spring.  So am I, but for now I’ll start my winter sowing, (ask me about it) enjoy the falling leaves, rest in hope...and watch the pig fly. (see above) 

P.S.  I have almost completed my book, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times: Herbs for Living, Laughing, Loving and Landscaping.  If you’d like to learn even more and have your own Manual/Journal for integrating herbs and medicinals into the landscape, along with the benefits and uses of 23 amazing plants, please let me know and I’ll place your name on the pre-order list. 

You will be the first to know when it’s available.  I'm also going to try to link it on the website.