After

After The Rain: Canon Rebel XT
After the rain, the sky seems to celebrate. The clouds shine metallic hues and reach their arms across the great expanse. I want to eat up the ice cream clouds and fill my belly with the light rays from it's great reach. These are fleeting moments, like the last few moments of a sunset, or sunrise. I remember hearing a story in which Maxfield Parrish was criticized for using unrealistic colors in his paintings. I never understood that story. For all one need do, is take a walk outside and glance heavenward during the great transitions of the day to see his reality. Indeed, they are fleeting, but always visible to the naked eye.

The gray clouds are overtaking the stunning morning sky, and we are readying for another downpour. I am glad it is the weekend and my loved ones have little to do and limited driving. I feel better when they are safe at home.

Rain

I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.

Shel Silverstein

Rain

Puddles In Asphalt: Canon Rebel XT
Through The Looking Glass: Canon Rebel XT
The rain has come and washed the dust off of our fair town. The trees are sparkling a myriad of velvety greens, the blue sky has peeked out behind the clouds here and there. The sun, taking full advantage of it's limited time is lighting up the silver linings of the full rain clouds. A pink tint is shooting across the yard and the garden is brimming over with life and liquid. A few birds are pecking at the grass in earnest. I knew they were anticipating a feast, they bounce quickly from place to place, small eyes watching for the neighborhood cats. Even my long camera lens is too slow for their spry feet.

I spent the day indoors, despite my love of walking in the rain. My spirit remains damp and cold. I have never wanted so much to be inside, away from nature. A part of my heart longs to walk the damp streets with my camera, but I prefer the comfort of our petite château. The windows are wide open and I can feel the cold wind as I type. The rain is not finished. We will be lulled to sleep by another storm after dark, and most likely wake to a gray, wet morning. For now, I am content to watch the boughs of the tree outside my window bend to the disappearing day, pink and violet clouds teasing the looming blackened rain clouds with their gaiety and mirth. I breathe deep, my nostrils, lungs and body fill with freshly washed air. I exhale.

The Rains Are Coming

I can smell it in the air. It is damp and sweet and still. The birds are active, like they are busy chatting about shelters and food. There may even be rejoicing for the after the rain feast of displaced insects and worms. Although the sun rose in a pink haze this morning, bright white clouds with silver linings litter the expanse of sky.

I feel like sitting still, in one place, waiting for the first droplets. Once, on the rugged shore of Ono Beach in Oregon, I watched the rain arrive. I stood at the shore as a large dark cloud hovered over the ocean. I could smell the rain then, too. I stood rooted in the sand and watched as the blackened rain cloud approached. It announced it's arrival with cold winds whipping at my cheeks and through my clothes. As the first droplets kissed my cheeks, I thought I should go back to the shelter of our camp. I was curious though, to see what it would be like to stay and let the storm wash over me. And, so I rooted my feet deep into the crunchy sand and held my arms up to the black sky and welcomed the full and heavy raindrops. I opened my mouth and heart and let it rain down on me. The wind roared and the drops pelted me, soaking my clothes and hair, but igniting my spirit. Small orbs of hail began to fall. I lowered my head in surrender and for protection, but I stood tall. I did not flee. The cloud eventually passed over me, the droplets lightened in weight and intensity. The wind settled into a steady hum. Just as the cloud passed beyond me, I looked out over the Pacific Ocean to see the sun, hazy and pink and orange, shaking off the black and gray of the disappearing cloud. I stood at the shore as the sun began to gain strength and warm my cheeks, dry my hair and warm my soul. I only looked back once at the passing cloud, and then, turned my heart and head toward the sun.

Samosas

I was talking with my yoga instructor a few  weeks back. She was trying to adopt the Ayurvedic diet. I had told her I had lived in India for a time and spent much of my twenties in an ashram. My main service was to cook the meals for the Deities and other members of the ashram. I have rolled out many chapatis and fried many samosas in my time. It is a very opulent way of cooking and we rarely eat this way at home these days. I save these time consuming tasks for special occasions, birthdays, parties, feast days, etc. 

She asked if I could teach her to cook this way. I am not an expert in Indian cooking, nor am I skilled in cooking for the Ayurvedic doshas. However, I can cook Indian food and I love to show people how easy it is. It really is something you have to see. So we made a plan for her to come over and I would show her a few tricks and some of the basics.

The first day we made a fancy basmati rice, cauliflower and potato subji, a chick pea and green pepper subji and chapatis. This week, I asked her to do much of the preparation so that she could really learn how to do it. She asked if we could make samosas. These are my family's favorite, but they take a lot of time and are fried, so it is not something you would want to eat every day! We also made a coconut/coriander chutney to eat with the samosas.

Enjoy!

Samosas

Two -three potatoes

1 cup cauliflower broken into small florets

1 cup peas

Steam potatoes and cauliflower. Drain. In a large pot heat three tablespoons ghee or other oil.

Add whole cumin seeds, some fresh ginger, ground coriander, salt, pepper, teaspoon turmeric.

Fry spices until they are a well toasted. Add peas and cauliflower and potatoes and coat with the spices. Mash it a little bit and let cool.

Dough

2-3 cups whole wheat flour

teaspoon ghee

teaspoon salt

1/4 cup yogurt

Mix ingredients together and slowly add warm water until you have a firm, but not dry, dough. I like to let the dough rest under the bowl I mixed it in for a bit. It kind of sweats the dough a little and makes it nice to work with.

Assembly

I make a long snake out of the dough, I do it with my hands in a rough manner, not perfect. I cut small pieces of dough to work with-a little bigger than a quarter, but fat.

I put a small amount of ghee on the work surface and on the rolling pin. Roll out the dough until it is the size of a small pancake. With a deep tablespoon, add a dollop of filling and close all the edges. It will be a crescent shape. I like to make a fancy edge, like a pie edge. You can also just seal it with a plain edge. Just make sure it is sealed and there are no tears in the dough.  You can repair tears with bits of dough. I place finished samosas on a greased cookie sheet for easy removal.

Cooking

As ghee is expensive to buy pre-made and I no longer make my own, I use Grapeseed Oil. It has a high flash point, so it is good for frying.

Once the oil is good and hot, gently place the samosas in the oil. I use a big wok and put five or six in at a time. I watch them carefully and turn them over one or twice, until both sides are a golden brown.

I place them in a large pan with paper towels to drain the excess oil.

Serve with coconut chutney. This recipe made a lot of samosas. So adjust as needed. You can always refrigerate extra dough or eat the left over filling as a vegetable dish with rice.

Coconut Chutney

So Easy!

In a food processor or blender add two serrano chilis, teaspoon whole cumin, tablespoon ground coriander, teaspoon fresh ginger, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup raw sugar, a bunch of cilantro and enough shredded coconut or dried coconut powder to thicken. I also add a bit of water to help everything blend together well. If it is too wet, add more coconut. I prefer coconut powder from the Indian spice store, but I have successfully used shredded, sweetened coconut from the grocery store with good results. You can make the chutney as thick or watery as you like. When we were traveling from northern India to South India, the coconut chutney changed in consistency with every stop. For using with pakoras or samosas, I like it a bit thick, so you can grab it up with the samosa.

Vintage Dresses

I have always been attracted to vintage clothing. In my teens and early twenties, I dressed almost exclusively in vintage clothing. I love the thrill of coming across a true find at the thrift store or flea market. I love the idea that I may have come across something very special, a beloved item that has been hanging around all of this time, just so I could stumble upon it. 

My home is filled with one of a kind items that I treasure. I like having lovely things about our home, especially if they only set me back 80 cents! So, a few years ago my daughter and I found the most precious tea length gown from the 1950's. It looked a bit like a ballerina dress. It was a dusty rose color with silver tulle over the full skirt and bodice. The bodice was embellished with silver and white beads. My daughter looked stunning in it, it was her sixteenth birthday present. That winter, she wore it to the winter formal dance. Nobody else had the same dress.

Last year for the prom, she wore a gold halter dress that we purchased at the 99 Cent Only Store. Yes, the 99 Cent Only Store. It was $1.07 with tax. We bought it as a fluke because, well it was kind of funny that it was there and that it fit and it was 99 Cents. It went into the closet with a few other formal dresses that had been thrifted or given to her over the years. As the prom approached, she was busy trying on all of the dresses she was considering. Sheepishly, she came into our room and said, "Mom, I think I am going to wear the dress from the 99 Cent Only Store." And so she did. My sister gave her some fancy silver shoes that she was going to throw out because she had never worn them. We hit the thrift store and found a bit of silver lame. I sewed the fabric into a wrap and she carried a purse she thrifted a few years ago for $1. All in all, I believe the total for the entire outfit was $6. We paid more for her date's boutonniere.

Last Sunday she and I hit the Pasadena City College Flea Market. There was a vintage formal dress I thought she might like. The dress was on the first rack as we approached the stall. It was cute and she liked it, but after she tried it on, it really was apparent that it did not suit her. That was just the beginning though. As she is one of a very slim population that can actually fit into vintage dresses, she had her pick. She decided then and there she would dress in vintage clothing every day for the rest of her life. So cute.

We left the stall with a sweet new formal for the Winter Formal or the Prom, and a couple of handmade sun dresses from the 1950's. You might be wondering why this qualifies as a blog post. Well, it is because I am so happy she is her mother's daughter. I am so happy that she is content with the simple things in life. It makes me happy that she doesn't have to have a dress or outfit that impresses other people. It is enough that it makes her happy. It makes me happy that she has no problem going to the prom in a dress we bought from the 99 Cent Only Store!

The above photos are from one of her finds. It was $5. When she got home she asked me, " Is it possible to love a piece of clothing, I mean really love it?" Yes, my dear, it is.

Candlemas

Candlemas

February 2 is one of the great cross-quarter days which make up the wheel of the year. It falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and in many traditions is considered the beginning of spring.

Awakening the Ground

In Western Europe, this was the time for preparing the fields for the first planting. Even in Seattle, you can begin turning over and enriching the soil in anticipation of the first sowing in March. Pamela Berger has written a book, The Goodess Obscured: Transformation of the Grain Protectress from Goddess to Saint, about the rituals celebrated at this time of year, when the ground is first awakened and the seed placed in the belly of the earth. This is a significant moment in a community which depends on the earth for sustenance. The fields were purified and offerings were made to the goddess.

This medieval Anglo-Saxon plowing charm, recorded by Berger, was said by the farmer while cutting the first furrow.

Whole be thou Earth
Mother of men.
In the lap of God,
Be thous as-growing.
Be filled with fodder
For fare-need of men.

The farmer then took a loaf of bread, kneaded it with milk and holy water and laid it under the first furrow, saying:

Acre full fed,
Bring forth fodder for men!
Blossoming brightly,
Blessed become;
And the God who wrought the ground,
Grant us the gifts of growing,
That the corn, all the corn,
may come unto our need.

The promises of the return of the light and the renewal of life which were made at the winter solstice are now becoming manifest. It's the dawn of the year. It's the time when a woman who is pregnant begins showing. It's time to creep out of the hibernation of winter, cautiously, like the Ground Hog who supposedly emerges on this day to check his shadow. It's the time of germination. This is a traditional time for new beginnings. Covens of witches usually initiate new members at this time.

There is also a story i remember reading in an old book. If you had not finished cleaning all remnants of your Christmas decorations by Candlemas, the Candlemas goblin would come into your home and start breaking things. So remember, make sure all of your holiday trimmings are tucked safely away, lest the Candlemas goblin come inside and break your valued treasures.

Candles and Christmas Greens

The main element of your decorating scheme for Candlemas is fairly obvious: candles. You can gather all the candles in your home in one room and light them from one central candle. Or place a candle in each window (but watch them carefully).

Candlemas is one of the traditional times for taking down Christmas decorations (Twelfth Night, on January 6th, is the other). If you are very careful (because they are tinder dry), you can burn them. Or, better yet, return them to the earth mother by using them for compost or mulch.

Certain foods are traditional for Candlemas, including crepes, pancakes and cakes, all grain-based foods. Pancakes and crepes are considered symbols of the sun because of their round shape and golden color.

If you have a fireplace, clean out your hearth and then light a new fire. Sit around the fire and reflect on your hopes for the coming year. What do you hope to accomplish? What are you passionate about? What seeds do you wish to plant? Discuss these ideas with others or write them down in a journal but make them concrete in some way so that on Lammas (August 2nd, the festival of the first harvest), you can look back to see what progress you’ve made.

Brigid is the goddess of creative inspiration as well as reproductive fertility. This is a good time for sharing creative work, or, if you don't think of yourself as especially creative, an idea that worked or a plan that materialized. Thank the Goddess for her inspiration, perhaps by dedicating a future work to her.

Making Pledges and Commitments

Since Candlemas is a time of new beginnings, this is a good day to ritually celebrate all things new. Plan a ceremony to name a new baby, officially welcome a new person into a family or plight your troth to your beloved. Make a commitment to a goal (like a New Years resolution): this would be an especially powerful thing to do in a group.

In San Francisco, the Reclaiming Collective sponsors a big public ritual called Brigid, which focuses on political commitment. After acknowledging despair over the events of the past year, the participants reflect on the source of their own power and then make a pledge in front of the community about the work they intend to do during the coming year. During this ritual, the flames in a cauldron represent Brigid's Sacred Flame, the fire of inspiration and passion, while a punch bowl filled with waters gathered from all over the world represents Brigid's Holy Well, the source of healing and purification.

If you plan your own ceremony, use these two powerful symbols: fire and water. For instance, wash your hands and bathe your face in salt water, which is especially good for purification. Light a candle as you make your pledge. Incorporate the third symbol of the holiday — seeds — by planting a seed or bulb in a pot to symbolize your commitment, or by blessing a bowl or packet of seeds that you will plant later.

Purification and Renewal

Have you ever given anything up for Lent? If not, you might consider it. You don’t have to be Catholic to gain spiritual benefits from the voluntary surrender of something you cherish. You can give up something frivolous or something serious, but it should be something you will notice. Folk wisdom says it takes six weeks (or approximately the 40 days of Lent) to establish a new habit, so you may end up with a lifestyle change.

The kids in our neighborhood have eagerly embraced the idea of giving up something for Lent. We know one little girl who gave up TV for Lent and another who gave up catsup, her favorite food. In the last two years, I've given up alcohol and coffee for Lent. Forty days is enough time to notice the difference in the way you feel without a favorite substance or distraction.

Since Candlemas is often considered the beginning of spring, you can perform another ritual act of purification: spring cleaning. This would be a good time to do a thorough house cleaning, sweeping the floors with salt water, banishing the gloom of winter and creating a sparkling, shiny new setting for spring.


This post is also reprinted from School of the Seasons

Saint Brigid's Day

St. Brigid, the Grain Goddess

In Ireland, this holy day is called Imbolc and begins at sunset on February 1 continuing through sunset February 2nd. There are several different derivations offered for the name Imbolc: from Ol-melc (ewe's milk) because the ewes are lactating at this time, from Im-bolg (around the belly) in honor of the swelling belly of the earth goddess, and from folcaim (I wash) because of the rites of purification which took place at this time. All of these explanations capture the themes of this festival.

February 1st is the feast day of St. Brigid, who began her life as a pagan goddess and ended up a Christian saint. She was a fire and fertility goddess. In her temple at Kildare, vestal virgins tended an eternal fire. On her feast day, her statue was washed in the sea (purification) and then carried in a cart through the fields surrounded by candles.

The legends about the goddess, Brigid, gradually became associated with (the somewhat spurious) Saint Brigid who founded the first convent in Ireland (where else?) at Kildare.

To celebrate St. Brigid's day, people put out a loaf of bread on the windowsill for the Saint and an ear of corn for her white cow, offerings for the grain goddess like the loaf buried in the first furrow. A small quantity of special seeds are mixed with those to be sown. Wheat stalks are woven into X-shaped crosses to serve as charms to protect home from fire and lightning.

In the Highlands, women dress the corn doll or last sheaf (from Lammas or the autumn equinox) in a bridal gown and put her in a basket, which is called the Bride's bed. A wand, candle or other phallic object is laid across her and Bride is invited to come, for her bed is ready.

This is reprinted from School of the Seasons. Check it out.