Sea Willow Herbs: January 2010

January 31, 2010

SNOW DAY II

Below are icicles hanging off our front pouch!!

(house on the road by our house that is real nice but there never seems to be any one ever at home)

Justin being a Unicorn with a big icicle for a horn (I wish we had gotten a better picture but...)

Our backyard for the kitchen window.

January 30, 2010

Today we woke up to about three inches of SNOW!! My BF, Justin, did not have to go to work and we got to stay home together with our cat and a big fire in our wood stove. We don't get a lot of snow here, so it was a big deal for us. Above is a picture of our yard.

January 29, 2010

THIS WEEK ON THE INTERNET

FERROUS LIQUID

This was shown to Justin and I by his friend Danny. It is liquid with iron in it and then an electric

current is run though it. This causes the liquid to do some interesting and beautiful things.

ETSY FORUM FINDS

Visit Etsy shop Fluffy Flowers blog for a great article on:

How to setup a craft booth at a weekly Farmer's Market Part 1

Visit Etsy shop absolutely small blog for: an experiment on re-listing

Visit Etsy shop SudsNSuch blog for: tips for getting traffic to your etsy site

Etsy shop Heart2Handbags found this interesting article in USA Today on how: handmade is the new black

The Ultimate Newbie Guide-2 year anniversary edition

QUICK LOOK: TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM

You can play as your favorite characters from samurai pizza cats!!

THIS WEEK ON THE INTERNET is a continuing Friday feature where I will be posting all of the interesting, informational and sometimes very wacky things that my boyfriend and I have been finding on the Internet. I am starting this because I want to share theses items with you however most of them really do not fit anywhere and so I made a place for them. I hope you enjoy it and have a great weekend!!

January 28, 2010

MARY AND MAX

Last night my BF, Justin, and I went to the 17th annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film and saw the movie: Mary and Max. It was a really great movie. It is an Australian claymation movie that explores the theme of friendship by asking the question of: What is the nature of a good friend? Check out a short review from Sundance HERE. The theme of friendship seems to be a topic covered, in movies, very rarely and often not very well; however, this is not the case with Mary and Max. I find Mary and Max to be one of best movies I have seen this year (it did come out in 2008 though) and I am totally recommending you check it out.

January 26, 2010

MY FIRST SALE!!!

I woke up Monday morning to my first sale!! It was very exciting. I am still hoping I did everything right! Above is a picture of my little package I sent off. I had a difficult Sunday night, I have some health issues I have been dealing with, so it was wonderful to wake up with such a surprise. Maybe it was a sign that I am going to heal up after all? Maybe it means I am going to have a great shop? What ever it meant it was great and I am grateful. :)

January 24, 2010

EGG FOO YOUNG WITH GINGER SAUCE

My BF and I are trying to do more cooking. Here is a recipe that we made last week. I don't know how close this is to real egg foo young because I have never had it but this recipe does make a real tasty egg patty thing. I made the sauce the 1st time I made this recipe. My BF really liked the sauce but I liked just the egg patty by itself better, so now I just make the eggs.

1. WALNUTS- 1/2 CUP (optional) (or your favorite nut instead) (I used Almonds)

2. ONION-1/2 CUP (optional) (a yellow onion is pictured above but I used a red onion in the dish, because the red onion was already chopped up and I needed a onion picture)

3. ZUCCHINI-1/2 CUP

4. THREE LARGE EGGS

5. SALT- 1/4 TEASPOON or 1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (optional) (I used salt)

6. BEAN SPROUTS-1/2 CUP (I did not use the bean sprouts, I instead increased the carrots and zucchini to 3/4 cup each.)
7. Olive Oil (I added this ingredient to replace the cooking spray that is called for)
8. Carrots-1/2 cup

1. APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, THAWED-1/2 CUP

2. WATER-1/2 CUP

3. ARROWROOT OR TAPIOCA STARCH FLOUR-1 TABLESPOON (I used the arrowroot powder)

4. POWDERED GINGER-1/4 TEASPOON

5. DASH OF SALT OR WHEAT-FREE TAMARI SAUSE (optional) ( I did not add this)

Combine the carrots, zucchini, onion, if using , sprouts, and walnuts if using in a small bowl.

In a bowl, mix the eggs and tamari or salt if using. Whisk for 2 minutes.

Stir in the carrot mixture.

Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray (I just used a little olive oil) and heat over medium heat. Scoop in 1/4 cup of the egg mixture and press lightly to make 1/2"-thick patties.

Cook about 5 minutes on a side or until lightly browned. Place on a platter and keep warm in a 200 F oven until ready to serve. Repeat until all the egg mixture has been used. (the recipe should make 8 egg foo youny patties)

Combine the juice concentrate, water, arrowroot or tapioca starch flour, ginger, and salt or tamari if using in a small saucepan. Whisk until the starch is dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens and is clear. Serve over the egg foo young.

I have some big digestive issues, so I can't eat anything. I just began to be able to eat eggs again so I was so excited to be able to make this recipe!! It is from a really great cook book called: THE ALLERGY SELF-HELP COOKBOOK by Marjorie Hurt Jones. If you have food allergies, or digestive issues I would check it out!! It is a big help to me.

January 22, 2010

THIS WEEK ON THE INTERNET

NOBY NOBY BOY PS3 GAME

I don’t understand what is happing in this game but is strange,colorful and you can eat people and poo them out your bum! :)

84 PLACES TO SELL YOUR CRAFT ONLINE!!

Check out timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com for a great list of 84 places to sell your craft online!!

QUICK LOOK: VVVVVV

Visit the CRAZY GUYS at giantbomb.com for a crazy review/preview of this crazy PC game.

SHOW ME YOUR BOOTHS

www.flickr.com

Looking for some inspiration on your craft booth display? Check out the above link to see a huge amount of pictures taken by crafters of their displays. If you have a FLICKR account you can add your craft show booths to this group as well.

January 20, 2010

WHAT ZUZU DOES BEST?...SLEEP!

My cat ZuZu loves to sleep. She is so cute when she sleeps that I can't help take pictures of her!! Here are pictures of some of her best naps.

January 19, 2010

CRAFTY BLOCK #2: CLOUDS & RAINBOWS

STARTING WITH THE LEFT, GOING DOWN

1.   bright rainbow colours
2.   whirlpool
3.   my head is in the clouds
4.   cloud gate

STARTING IN THE MIDDLE, GOING DOWN

5.   cloud gate
6.   05.07.08: rainbow house on clipper st.
7.   heart from cloud

STARTING ON THE RIGHT, GOING DOWN

  8. top of the pots
  9. lonely tree with cloud and dandelions
10. reflecting on a rainbow
11. rainbow

Craft Block: Pictures of objects that inspire me. Pictures can be all from one crafter,from several crafters, or just pictures I find interesting. :)

January 18, 2010

ETSY SHOP UPDATE #4

I have my 1st item listed!!!! More items to come! My shop is now open!

January 17, 2010

A TALE OF TWO KITTIES

My kitty ZuZu has gray and white fur. My friend Kitty used to dye her hair bright red and now it is white and gray. ZuZu is not a vegetarian. Kitty may be the original vegetarian. She grew up on a farm and her family killed and butchered their own animals. She said it really grossed her out. Kitty is at retirement age. ZuZu is about 11 or 12 years old. ZuZu likes to sleep all day. Before Kitty had to retire because she was sick, she worked everyday without a day off! Kitty likes to make jokes of the unclean nature. ZuZu likes to keep herself clean. ZuZu can be moody. Kitty can be moody. Kitty puts everyone before herself. ZuZu is really sweet most of the time. ZuZu spent the night at the vet because she once lost the use of her back legs. Kitty was sent to the hospital because her lung cancer moved from her lungs to her stomach. Kitty drinks a whole pot of coffee just to wake up. ZuZu does not like to wake up. ZuZu is sometimes scared of other cats. Kitty hates cats but loves Hello Kitty. Kitty lives nine hours away. ZuZu lives zero hours away. ZuZu thinks our house is a hotel. Kitty was my assistant manger for two years and my manger for one year at the Howard Johnson Inn in Asheville, NC. Kitty just went into home Hospice. We love ZuZu very much. Kitty is very much loved.

http://www.hojo.com

I just came back from a trip to Asheville to see my friend Kitty in the hospital. She has had lung cancer for over a year and up till now she has been doing really well. When I found out that she had took a turn for the worst I knew I had to go see her. I had worked at the Howard Johnson Inn for three years. I hated the job but I grew to love the people I worked with. From the outside this Howard Johnson looked like just another very old motel, but from the inside it was very special. We, the employees, were a family. We worked, eat, fought, laughed, joked, and supported each other. Everyone knew each other’s weird habits, shady pasts, and worldviews. It was nice. Sadly I did not realize this until I had moved away, had got another job, and hated it!!! Kitty was not just a manger; she was like another mother and a good friend all in one. This will be the first person I have known to be this sick and it was a real hard trip. She was loopy most of the time from pain meds but sometimes more of the Kitty I knew would wake up. I don’t know if she knew I had came to say goodbye but she must have known that if I was there she was very sick. It was very appropriate that she ended our visit with a dirty joke.

January 15, 2010

THIS WEEK ON THE INTERNET

1. EVERYDAY THE SAME DREAM

Hey if you have ten minutes you should check out this game. Play game HERE. It is a little different than other games you have played before. Click HERE for the web site and HERE for a great review. Hint: Try doing different things.

2. MACHINARIUM

Check out this pc/mac/linux point and click puzzle game. This game has great puzzles, beautiful backgrounds, and endearing characters. Click HERE to play a free demo.

3. SAMOROST 2

Samorost 2 was made before and by the same company, Amanita Designs, that made Machinarium. Samorost 2 is also a point and click puzzle game. Click HERE to play a free demo.

January 10, 2010

CRAFTY FINDS: CLOUDS AND RAINBOWS

1. Color My World by altered abbey

2. Small Play Silks by desert dye works

3. Large Rainbow Stacker by imagination kids

4. Cloudy Hand Embroidered Wool Felt Pincushion by sea pinks

5. Mini Mosaic Eggs by sigmosaics

6.Grateful Dyed.. by wild hare

7. Stripey Day by green island studio

8. Water Feature Detail by chicalookate

January 8, 2010

THIS WEEK ON THE INTERNET

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

"A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal"

This video is wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, and I could not believe that it was all CG!!! Check it out!!! The world that is created within this video is amazing. Also check out the third & the seventh web site HERE

January 7, 2010

HERBAL BOOK LIST

This is a list of some of the books that have helped me get started in Herbalism. If you are interested in herbal medicine and herbs any of theses books are a good place to start.

1. HEALING WISE

www.ashtreepublishing.com
This is the very first book I ever read on herbs! This is a real good book. This book explains the Wise Women Way of herbalism, goes into detail on how to make teas, salves, oils, tinctures, and more, and describes in great depth several wonderful plants. The information in this book is presented in a friend, funny, lively way. and it is packed full of it!!

2. HERBAL HEALING FOR WOMEN

www.ashtreepublishing.com

Wonderful book on herbs and how to heal heath issues many women deal with using herbs. Has a very very helpful chapter on Fibroids!!!

3. GROWING 101 HERBS THAT HEAL

www.ashtreepublishing.com

This book talks about basic growing techniques, pest control, garden layout, medicine making, and more.

4. OPENING OUR WILD HEARTS TO THE HEALING HERBS

www.ashtreepublishing.com

I use this like a directory of herbs. This book gives you, in A-Z order, information on the history, uses, and a basic description of many plants and trees used in herbalism

*BOOKS I HAVE NOT READ YET BUT ARE WORTHY OF CHECKING OUT*

www.ashtreepublishing.com

www.snowlotus.org

www.horizonherbs.com

There are so many more good books out there. This is just a small list to get started. As I find other good books I will add to this list. If you know of a good book to add please let me know.

January 5, 2010

CLOUDS AND RAINBOWS

I have really been inspired by clouds and bright colors lately. The brighter the colors the better and the fluffier the clouds the nicer. Here, in the Outer Banks the sky is a prominent feature. The cloud formations can be really amazing! The sky can seem to go on forever and when I get a day with really big clouds I always feel so small. It is like I am looking up at giant creatures moving slowly and gracefully across the sky. It is not just the sunny days that capture me. On the days when a big storm rolls in, the clouds are incredibly menacing big and black. Sometimes, when it storms, the sky and the air turn green and I feel as if I am under the nearby ocean. It is like someone has put a green colored gel over the sun light turning it from yellow to a strange blue green color. This cloud thing has come out in my art mostly though my graphic designs for my ETSY BANNER and my business cards, my labels. I am just crazy about bright colors and over all fluffiness. I don't know why but I like it!! So in honor of all things light and bright I decided to go all the way crazy with it and make clouds and rainbows a blog theme for the month of January!! So get ready for more.

January 4, 2010

ZUZU CAT AND HER AMAZING EYE BALL CHAIR!!

This is my cat ZuZu (not named after the Zhu Zhu Hamster toy thingy!!) and this is her staring at me. She is a indoor cat and quite old and she is a rescued cat so she has only been with us a short time. We are just now learning her habits. All day long she just sleeps and sleeps and sleeps in her chosen spot of the moment. I know she is a cat and that is like what cats do however my boyfriend and I started to wonder that maybe she was bored. We would be if we just slept all day. We, being thoughtful humans, wanted to maybe give her something to play with. So I found these great CATNIP EYEBALLS on Etsy. Unfortunately, they were not the toys for her. She sadly only smelled them once and is now pretending that they don't exist. We, however still love them and think they are great and think that any other cat would find them most fun. The only thing left to do since she would not play with them was to put them on her chair a la PeeWee Herman!