First Frost

Magic was alive this morning when I stepped out the door just after 8 am. Fog was settling into a crisp morning with a sky clear with stars, planets and the moon. The Sun's first sighting was making smudged thumb prints of the fog in the tips of the Firs on Thompson Road. The streams of clouds and the Chemtrails painted something miraculous. Wow.

By the time I'd walked out to let the chickens out of their coop I realized today was Fall's first frost. A soft but nonetheless present frost was on the ground. Surprising, but then, Magic is. Across the fields I spotted other signs of Nature's Magic. What were they?

Fans. Many, many fans of Spiders' Webs. Whew. Soon I will download the pictures in my camera and the magic of photography digital style will add to my appreciation for First Frost.

Past, present, future all at the same time: updating life after Market Open

"Regardless of how many birds you have, in the hand-bush-wherever, what you desire is part of the power of who you are. Desire itself is a resource. Let it draw you into your own power. Not yet having something you consider necessary to your sense of self is no measure of who you are.

Slow down and evaluate the quality of your desire. What is best is not what is most available, most entertaining, or most abundant. It is what is most transformative – both in the getting and in the eventual having. Transform your desires phoenix style. Let only the best rise from the ashes." - Satori, Weekly Forecast May 7-11, 2018

March 1st Full Moon Come

Rain
Wind
Sunshine
Flicker songs
Hawk presence
Eagles ride the thermals
Robins flock
Dandelions open (I eat one blossom a day when I see them; asking permission and giving thanks:)
Nettles set their sting (The small leaves grow nicely along side the vendors' stand. An achy thumb joint is stinging purposefully thanks to Grandmother Nettles!)
Daffodils ready

The turn from February to March was marked with gale and rain. Wow, the elements are fiercely present. Plant Nation comes alive. Bird Nation thriving.

A morning of clearing allowed Tom G and Pete to keep working on the roof for the tool shed. The Thursday work party meal was a dish of baked macaroni and cheese with chopped collards. Prescott and Michael joined us for a bowl of warm food and conversation.

Tom V is building a new chicken coop for Tilth. An Island Recycle door was the latest find. And as Pete and I sat in the futon in our vardo waiting for the Full Moon in Virgo to rise we spotted headlights from two cars at the gate. Watching with curiosity we looked from hidden moon to the path of headlights. Who was that and what was happening? In the dark of the night (7:30ish) a solitary walker headed to the chicken coop headlights fully lit. Searching for the still-to-come hens perhaps.

The Moon did rise making her way through the clouds in her diagonal pathway out of the east behind the tops of the Doug Firs growing across Thompson Road. Beautiful!

People and sky activity. Interesting kilo for a pair of elders-in-training.

Rain comes as I write in the early morning hours of Friday, March 2nd. I did not think to bring my umbrella. Good I am water-proof. My hoodie? Not so much.

Uwe ka lani. Ola ka honua ... when the heavens cry earth lives. - 'Olelo No'eau

Snowy Sunday Morning and a three Eagle afternoon

I cajoled Pete from his warm place in the kitchen, next to the heat .... 

and we went for 'a walk'

 The forecast for snow was right on. I woke (at 4 am) to what I thought was the brightness of the Ku Moons (the early quarters) but a'ole, no, it was the brightness of Poliahu, the snow goddess.

One of my favorite snow and ice sculptures pile onto the heads of dried Fennel blossoms.

Later in the afternoon ...

The sun broke through the clouds and the sky is beautiful. Birds, especially the raptors are busy in the sky. My head pulled to large wing-shadows in the upland. I waited. My patience paid off as I watched an Eagle flying very low behind the vardo; I was standing in the pavilion and tucked behind the wall to observe. I know he or she could see me. Within a few minutes two more Eagles flew from the upland; one of them had dinner. I heard the scream of fear. All three headed for the Cottonwood nest.

I walked out to the Pea Patches via the orchard and the Calyx Bee Projects. The wind must have blown both gates open. Wow! The North Wind is a blustery cold. I noted the sound of the Dangling Pots and Pans. Hmmm... they are particularly attractive to the North Wind.

Water is puddling in and beyond Lesedi Farm.

Dandelion is blossoming, I asked for a bit of stalk for its sap. Thank you Heart of the Lion.

At the edge of the pavilion cement floor I spotted a nice growth of Laukahi (Plantain) and asked and pulled one leaf for an afternoon nibble. Sweet and tender green. Thank you.

Thoughts of how we might incorporate Water-Catchers into our garden patch are swirling in my imagination. Good food for though throughout the week, as the 'Ole Phases will come Wednesday? No, Thursday.

Days are getting longer. 4:30 and the sun is still up with another hour (or so) of light.

Forecast is for cold, into the 20's, this evening.

It's still winter.

One Sunny Saturday in February

Yesterday was one of those!

Ice patterned the puddles when we woke to open the gate. Temperatures dipped into the low 30's in the early morning.

Pete fed the chickens. I played the pots, then walked to the restroom to make sure it was clean and ready for people activity.

The first of the Tilth Classes happened. "Pruning for high yield fruit production..."  brought more than a dozen people to the Prairie Front. Wow what people activity there was. The humble classroom was packed with people dressed for a cool (though sunny) February.

Pete cleared and cleaned the kitchen and pavilion space to prepare for the gathering, and prepare us for the shift in our presence as the season shifts from winter to spring. Once the Farmers' Market starts in late April we will share the whole kitchen and pavilion; we will consolidate our footprint even more.

Janet (and sister Paula) will be moving the 6-chickens-in-transition from the Calyx chicken coop to their soon to be ready chicken housing. Pete talked with Janet about the chickens sharing his experiences; handed off the three eggs laid earlier in the day.

There was a crock pot of turkey and beans with yam chili prepped and cooking for the crew who stayed after class to prune the orchard and work on other projects. The cooking is something I love to do, and can do before all the people activity takes place. Pollens and environmental illness --scented products on people-- send me into 'oyster pattern'; self-protection mode. My vardo is the oyster shell, close-by yet far-enough away.

I count myself lucky to have an oyster shell of a vardo and a lifetime of experience growing comfortable and being part of community with my people ways that might be different. I wrote about that different 'voice' here.


A brilliant red sunset punctuated the sunny Saturday in February. How lucky are we!

Notes for a Caretaker's Cottage

There's a meeting scheduled later today. The focus: A Caretaker's Cottage on the Prairie Front/South Whidbey Tilth Land. I will probably be unable to be at the meeting because of my sensitivities, but would like to offer these thoughts.

(An audio file of these "Notes for a Caretaker's Cottage" is also available. Pete will bring it to the meeting on a zip drive).


Ask the Land what she thinks.
Ceremony reminds us to remember.

E Ho Mai
Grant to me
E Ho Mai
Grant to me
E Ho Mai e
Grant to me
E Ho Mai
Grant to me
Ka 'ike mai luna mai e
The meaning here
O Na Mea Huna No'eau
The hidden meanings
O Na Mele e
In this music, this chant
E Ho Mai
Grant to me
E Ho Mai
Grant to me
E Ho Mai e
Grant to me
(Repeat twice more)

Then listen
Say "Thank you," and leave gifts.

Here are a few things the Land has told me.
Build the dear cottage off the ground; when it rains its feet will get soggy.
Take a lesson from Cedar; give it broad hips and a brimmed hat.
Keep in mind what exists already; let them be of use before you build more.
A Caretaker is one who is intimate with the land, sky, wind, and observant of those who come and go.
A busy road where fumes and noise are prevalent warrant mindful attention.
Choose building materials and methods that are kind.

Questions? I'll be close-by and glad to clarify.

Aloha,
Mokihana

The Soaking & Chickens

Yesterday

Big rains have come.
On the way to the gate
Streaming pools moved
Across the gravel road.

A big black SUV
Pulled into the Round about
"That must be Lars" Pete said
"Come with help to catch chickens."

Yes it was Lars
Come with a companion
Who was so scented
Enough to cause dizziness

We promised we would not
Kill the birds for food
We shared tricks
For catching them


Then, took a short road trip
North to LaConner
To find caps that read
GO OUTSIDE

We drove into clouds
Emptying
And near Anacortes
Saw the hillside
Crumbling

WATER ON ROADWAY
Stated the obvious
Firemen directed
Us
Over the water's edge

In the store marked
GO OUTSIDE
She asked us,
"Are you the ones who called?"
Pete said we were.

Two caps we bought
I chose from beneath
My mask
Too freshly painted
I stayed outside.

Pete signed my name
She said she could
Mail caps to me
That might work
Another time.

Back home
On the Prairie Front
We spotted
Chickens in the coop
Lars & Scented one successful

Welcome! 6 chickens
Fun foul
Some repair and
Conversation needed
It took place

Then we walked
The field next door
In track the up slope
Flow
From where does it come?

We found a pond
The water comes
Both down the field
And down the road
A kilo notes the soaking.

More rains fall today