Something Stirring: A Brief Interruption

We interrupt this blog to bring you an important announcement:

This is a hiccup moment, but things must be dealt with.

Something is stirring deep inside me. I confess that it is new and unusual. Every corner I turn,  inspiration is shot in my face and a great shift occurs in the heart and soul. Books, people and nature seem to be tapping me on the shoulder, turning me around, inviting me in, ever so gently. It is an enriching energy that breathes new life into me. At the same time I feel sort of frightened and awkward, not sure on how to step forward into all this and finding myself hiding as well. I am sure in time this will heal itself as the path unfolds.

With all this newness I plan to take some time next week and go into nature (and the library) to have some silent time. It will be of most benefit for this transitional energy stirring me up. With that, studying the natural world around me and my schooling is priority. To get to know my environment and from there to discover what I can do to help it. Reading, writing, and silence I am sure will help bring clarity on where this is all going and what is possible. Curiosity of the spirit rides high.

Writing is not one of my strong points, but I do love sharing with all of you and don't want to give up the journaling of what I am learning. Thank you for reading. I only hope to harness what inspires me to change and pass it on in order to help someone else find that fire in their soul.

I will now take you back to my regularly scheduled blog happenings, full of observations, sacred moments, environment and activism updates, cooking creations, candle fun, and more.

Peace,
Deb

Wedding and or Party Soy Candles are now at Full Circle

Recently I had an order for wedding candles for a customer in Texas. They came out so nice and creamy I decided to keep this going!

Soy Candles in tealight glass holders - 100% Soy Wax and Hemp Wicks. These are unscented but if someone wishes I can add essential oils. Size of these particular holders are 2" by 1.5" high. 

Make your occasion special by adding eco-friendly candles!

Check them out on my Etsy store and or Yardsellr :) Candles will be added to my website soon as well. 

Full Circle Yardsale
Full Circle on Etsy

Citronella Soy Candles in easy travel tins!!

Full Circle has Citronella Soy Candles with Hemp Wicks. Entitled Camper's Bliss! All around goodness to burn with the sustainable hemp wick. Keep the bugs away this summer with Full Circle...Camper's Bliss is in an 8oz tin for easy outdoor use and or take it camping :) Travel tins are the best!!

Citronella Candles are $7...Going on website soon but if you want one now just let me know :)

Thanks for supporting Full Circle Candles.

Blueberry Granola Bars or Shall I Say, Blueberry Cobbler?

She loves her bars with ice cream

Blueberry Bars - with a small taste missing from pan :)

I have discovered a wonderful, easy, healthy recipe to make some yummy granola bars. Old Fashioned as they are described. It is almost like a cobbler!! My daughter gobbles it up!! A great treat to make and then wrap it up and go on a hike! This recipe I got from Cascadian Farms. 

1 Egg White (local organic farmers egg if possible or free range from store!)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar (you can find organic in grocery stores)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 Cups Cascadian Farm Organic French Vanilla Almond Granola
1 Bag Organic Blueberries
1/4 cup Organic sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 8-inch square pan.

Beat egg white, butter, almond extract (if you want to add this) and brown sugar until creamy. Spoon or hand mixer will do.

Beat in flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir in granola.

Press about two-thirds of the dough in bottom of pan. (sometimes I add a little more granola to fill it out)

In another bowl mix blueberries and sugar then spoon over the dough.

Crumble remaining one-third of the dough on top of the fruit.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

When it comes out you have many options. Slice them into 4 x 4 rows and create bars to carry with you. Or cut out pieced and top with ice cream (either your own ice cream or Breyers seems to have the less of additives in the store) and dessert is served!!!

This is a lovely easy dessert/snack for the family..It has taking the place of me buying granola bars :) No more needed...I am curious to add different fruit. When peached are in season I might give it a go!

Enjoy!

Hawk Fiasco by the Lake - Lessons from Nature

I went out to feed birds today and to my surprise one of my favorite birds, the hawk, visited me as well. It was so close, right by our lake, low in the trees. To my surprise a whole scene was about to unfold. 

Around the hawk, blue jays and other birds began to squawk. The sounds were small at first, but grew  got louder by the minute. Then the hawk moved to another branch, continuing this mysterious, silent quest. It was a beautiful dance. The birds were getting closer and real personal with the hawk. They did not like the hawk there in their territory. But the hawk didn't budge. It seemed to know well that it belonged there too but did not make a scene about it. 

Then I saw the hawk dodge its head a few times to avoid being hit by a jay. The jay was in it's face! I was shocked that it stood its ground but also did not place harm back to the jay. Then I got nervous. What if the hawk was getting the babies of the other birds?? I had an inner dilemma. I would hate for the babies to be taking but the hawk needs to sustain itself as well. 

The hawk moved in, closer and closer to the water. I followed, walking softly on the path through the trees. The jays were brave I tell you and made it known to the hawk that is was not welcome. But, the hawk was patient and brave as well and before I knew it, the hawk dived into the water, splashing around and then flew out with a fish!!!! It received the gift it wanted, just had to wait a bit to get it and take on some squawking. It was an all around happy moment, except for the fish.  

What a lesson to ponder today from this hawk fiasco...Thank you hawk for visiting today and teaching us so much. 

Support Your Local Farmers!!!

I remember growing up in New Jersey and visiting the local farmers market with my mom and grandma. It was such a part of life to stop by weekly and get our fresh produce. Tomatoes, plums, peaches, and nectarines are some of my favorites I remember. I loved biting into them.

Veggies from the farmers!

I am happy to be back in an area where I can have this as a part of our lives and now I have an even greater appreciation for local food. There is nothing like it. This week I really made some great purchases and meals are being made. Sometimes I do not feel like making an involved dinner and to solve this problem in the past I used to go pick up a fast food item or just use a microwave and heat up a frozen meal.

Organic Local Cabbage - $3 and will make a big pot of soup! 

Now my goal is keeping some simple healthy items on hand at all times to create a healthy quick meal instead of going out to get one or radiating some processed food. I always keep rice pasta, tofu, and brown rice in the kitchen. When I feel tired I just create a simple stir fry of local farmers veggies and mix it with pasta, brown rice, or tofu. Quick meal. Not a frozen dinner, not a fast food item, just a nice local healthy mix! Add a side salad with a quick homemade dressing (I whip up honey mustard in a minute) and dinner is served. Simple and so much better for the family.

Brown Rice Pasta with local stir-fry veggies and side salad - 1/2 hour meal to prepare

I am awaking to understanding the gift of the farmer and buying local. Now that I am a candle maker I understand the great appreciation when people support my local business.

So much of my life has been in grocery stores, buying veggies and fruits and although I do need things from them still (and in winter of course you may have to buy your live foods at the market), to support your local farmer whenever possible is one of the greatest feelings. I know where my food is coming from, I know if it is pesticide free, it was just picked around the corner so the health benefits are so much better, it is less impact on the earth to buy local, and I know someone planted that seed for the community to consume. I have even been invited to visit farms and talk with farmers to learn more. Yesterday I asked important questions to a local farmer who raises cattle and it is nice to know where my meat is coming from and what is being fed to the cattle. I feel it is local communities that will change this world.

I strongly suggest looking in your area for local goods and supporting them. From crafts to food. Local is the best energy around! You feel it when you use local goods. Back to basics!

Mollie Katzen Discovery

I feel I have found two of the greatest treasures to compliment my journey!

I am not a big buyer of cookbooks as I find so much online. However, these two books I just couldn't put down. They are both by Mollie Katzen and apparently are not new cookbooks. Been around since the 70's, or so I have been told. One is called "Moosewood Cookbook" and the other is "The Enchanted Broccoli Forrest". I tell you, each turn of the page got better and better!!

Seeing these books makes me think of my beginnings on this adventure to connect more with the earth. This journey has transformed me and I am seeing it. My new ways are looking like this: Simple gardening, buying from local farmers markets (as much as I can), eco-friendly living, riding a bike, cooking and baking a whole lot, spending time with my daughter by creating my own jobs from candle making to pet sitting. There is more on my list to transform. Hike more, meditate more, play more, graduate school, travel, open a small retreat center, and so on.

I have seen subtle changes in my body, which also affect and cause great healing for my spirit. For instance, recently when I happened to get really busy and couldn't cook much, my alternative to eating out more entered my world. Guess what? I sorta felt real sick after eating that fast food. My body reacted with a big "doesn't work anymore Deb" and I heard it. It was a good awareness for me. Now I know eating out in much more moderation and what I choose on menu's is a good practice. On top of that lesson, I have dropped some weight. I don't believe in diets one bit. I love food too much! I realized this weight loss as my underwear was sagging.  I know, TMI right? I don't really weigh myself but was curious and found I was lighter in my body. I smiled and felt really good inside. I will put the scale away again and just keep on my journey.

With all this said, I am coming to love my body more, no matter what weight it is. I am learning to appreciate my body. Respect it. My body has danced, giving birth, and taking me to such places of such beauty. I realize my body is such a gift. It is a vessel to hold my spirit in this dimension. I am understanding this more and more. I look at others, all shapes and sizes, and realize this for them too. To make good food and give my body the gift of this earth and share with others is what I wish to keep on doing.

So, to make good food these cookbooks came to me in perfect time. The recipes touched my chef spirit. It is a relationship indeed, like all other relationships we encounter. It takes time and patience. The love grows as you trust each other more.  As I fall in love with this way, I fall in love with all aspects of life. Falling in love is a good feeling to have. It brings such joy and abundance. I feel if you are missing this feeling in life, go find it!! It is so worth having no matter what. I do believe it exists in so many ways.

I will be attempting most, if not all, recipes in these two books and reporting back to you all. I feel like the young Julia character from the movie "Julia and Julia" and it makes me chuckle. I will keep sharing the journey with you. I write all this in hopes to inspire you, the reader, to find your way on this earth journey. Love, joy and simplicity really are the keys to great health for body, mind and spirit.

As Julia Child said many times "Bon Appetit"