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The Wabi-Sabi of Me
September 2, 2009
Look into uneven eyes and see star shine and melting glaciers.
See a wild mane of lion’s hair and find stalks of wheat in the harvest sun.
Gaze upon topographic landscapes of flesh and bone and see the goddess soul inside.
Capture a battered, broken heart and treat it like golden perfection, a thing admired.
Discover imperfections of existence and decide that flaws balance with strengths and together shall be whole.
It’s autumn once again and the chill has come to New England air BIG TIME! It even snowed a bit this morning, just a small flurry or two. At home the feeling of fall is surrounding me with lit pumpkins on the counter at night and Peter’s mulled cider. My plants are spending most of the time indoors now and the last of the harvesting hangs drying in preparation. Here you see my mint and chives started as seed this past spring, lavender I picked up at a small nursery and the mullein drying so it’ll be available for those winter coughs.
I just took down and processed some sage I gathered from my mom’s garden before the frost
came and also grabbed the hold-outs off the tomatoes which are ripening on the sill.
I am determined to grow my own sage next year and thyme. The thyme I started with this spring didn’t make it past transplanting unfortunately. I’m not sure if I’m going to try from seed again or separate from my mom’s lemon thyme. I guess TIME will tell. LOL. OK so it was a bad joke.
My cemetery outings have brought forth some nice Autumn scenery pics.
I also want to take this time to wish someone a Happy Birthday. You know who you are.
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
–Emily Brontë (1818–48)
New Discoveries
October 9—Leif Eriksson Day
When the Vikings ventured far out into the Atlantic Ocean, they found a new land and called it Greenland. Shortly thereafter, in the year 1000, Leif Eriksson and his Vikings sailed west from Greenland and reached what is now called Newfoundland. Although Eriksson is not credited with discovering America, Congress has declared October 9 Leif Eriksson Day.
Who is Leif Eriksson? Learn more.
October 12—Columbus Day (observed)
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that he had reached the East Indies. Now, by federal law, Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October.
A Snowy Forecast
Weather lore warns that every fog in October will bring a snow come winter. Our winter forecast predicts that most of North America will have below-normal temperatures, on average.
Snowfall will be above normal in the northern and Intermountain regions and along the Atlantic coast.
If you have not seen our winter forecast yet, please pick up a copy of The 2010 Old Farmer’s Almanac today. You can also find the newsstand and hardcover editions in our online store.
Bird Wreath
As the weather gets cooler in much of the continent, consider making a treat for the birds in your backyard.
Gather some vines, dried sunflower heads, herbs, tall grasses, and flowers with seed heads. Click here for instructions.
And, enjoy these great bird food recipes, to be used anytime but especially in the cold winter months.
info posted from the FREE Almanac Companion Newsletter. Send the complete newsletter to yourself or a friend Here.
Not so melodic as parsley and rosemary, but I didn’t pick those today. 
As I roamed around my parent’s yard during a visit, I gathered some supplies for the winter. Goldenrod whose flowers are infusing in oil for those sore muscles after over doing the Yoga. Pokeweed berries and leaves for those aches in the bones from a certain someone’s broken foot last year and a salve in the works for skin ailments. Sage for the anti-viral teas and elixirs to save us from our colds and sore throats. Plantain to boost the already made oil infusion and make a salve for all itches and ouchies. Last but not least thyme to add to the yum and boost the immune system for the sage elixir. If only it wasn’t too late in the season for the Black Walnut husk and Burdock.
note: OK, so it isn’t really too late for Burdock since I can dig up the roots now. I’m just not too sure how keen Mum would be about me digging up around the sheds.
