Into the Zen

Spring has sprung at the Sanctuary. The humidity has arrived so it's more like summertime heat. Morning house chores are done quicker so the gardens can get watered before the sun is on full beam. The Zen Garden has taken shape over the years, I walk it daily in meditation and listen to how it wants to take shape. We add plant rescues here and there, put in a few flowers for a pop of color. After strolling and watering , I like to do a bit of hammock reading. The wildlife and I just chill out, for we are one in this space.

Spring & Simplicity

Pink Ladies 

Hymenopappus

Opuntia Nopales

Sunflower

Flora enhancements for the Zen Garden

End of the zen path

Future Tea Time 

April is almost over and May is on it's heels. One more month of school left and simplicity will rule the day (hopefully). We have a Senior graduating this year and she just turned 18, we are full in the moments of milestones. In love am I with Spring this year, all that buzzes and blooms. Two gardens are simultaneously emerging. I'm kept productive as official keeper of the sanctuary( that sounds more soul fulfilling than housewife) for I care and tend to what lives within and outdoors.

                                                    Cheers to the emergence of life's blooming.

Easter Flashback

Welcomed to my one week delay of sharing our Easter festivities. We greet you at the red door adorned with a spring wreath I created from vines in my yard. The rest of the decor is hot glued items from the Dollar Store I had in a closet. The Ostara dreamcatcher was created last year. My hope for this week is that my creativity comes back to me, I have an intense need to create. Below are some of our Easter Sunday traditions.

 

Dying Eggs

Hard Boiled

Doubled Eggs

Egg Hunt

Dog Egg Hunt

New Picnic Table

Notitas ~

 Our Governor has declared all Texas schools will remained closed the rest of the school year. We are working on making the Sanctuary a Summer Camp type feel of homeschool. 

School Is Still In Sessions

It's official Celestial Pines Sanctuary has become homeschool central. So far in our county school is closed till April 3rd and we are encouraged to stay at home. Surrounding counties and major metropolitan cities are on "shelter in place order." The Renaissance man works in one of these counties so we will see tonight if his job is considered essential.  Low tech and high tec options are available to my 3rd grader and highschool girls so we are staying on course with courses. I'm also continuing my hippie homestead schooling, skills will be gained and implemented.

~ POND LIFE STUDIES ~

The Bumper Book of Nature  by Stephan Moss is my favorite children's field guide we've explored since the kids were itty bitty. Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude in the land we moved to. Sitting on our deck overlooking  our own pond to study is bliss, and we are blessed.

We have a variety of frogs and toads, both in the pond and in the woods. Some have huge red eyes and some emit a scared chirp then jump into the water when you walk upon them in surprise. The chorus at night is my sleep time lullaby.

This one's on trend with the camo. It's amazing how they coexsist with all the turtles and snakes swimming around. Imagine the ecosystem under the surface.

Spawn- Ob-La-Di  Ob-La-Da life goes own!

 Turtle families afloat. during the day they can be spotted on the banks basking in the sun. The dogs tend to scare them back into the water once they are quickly spotted.

RED EAR SLIDER  - ADULT

RED EAR SLIDER  - BABY




~ ART STUDIES ~

 {M} {L} & I created a few random clay pieces, keeping our hands and minds busy. Sculpting with clay is a calming therapeutic form of art I discovered I enjoy as well.

~ COOKING LESSONS ~

 {M} made chocolate cookies from scratch and found the recipe himself in a cookbook.


~ GARDENING ~

 Introduction to imperfect food grown at home. His expression is priceless.


~ HAMMOCK READING ~

 My hammock reading usually turns into hammock napping. I'm currently riding the Magic Bus with Paulo Coelho in his adventure Hippie.  Like my boots? It's a necessity because of snakes. Not one but two of my big dogs got bit because they wouldn't leave one alone. Glad the venom was non toxic, I never did get a look at the kind of snake that bite them.

 GYPSY'S bite site.

MANCHA's muzzle.

{M} enjoying Diary Of An Awesome Friendly Kid by Jeff Kinney. Gypsy's on guard looking out for snakes and teenage sisters!

Those are some of the activities going on around here. The girls are less apt to being photographed these days, go figure it's no problem if it's their phones and media.  Side note : Speaking of books I discovered an awesomely beautiful and amazing new library. Stay tuned for that post!

Sending love and light to all as we navigate life during Coronavirus.

From The City of Tree's to My Own Sacred Woods

As much as my heart cries about leaving behind beautiful California, I walk outside into the rays of sunshine filled with birdsong and butterflies, basking with the creatures I coexsist with and together our Circadian rhythm swirl , dance, and create new magic.

                  First Spring in Texas!

Emergence

" They hatched !"

Emergence is the process of becoming visible after being concealed.  We are having a combo of April showers bring May flowers melodrama both in the outside world and within. A beautiful few days at the coast were planned for the upcoming Spring break to finally relax and unwind, but it seems that may change as well thanks to mother nature and her mood. I have been wound so tight this last month I find some days I am gasping for air. The complexities of life keep flowing without hesitation and seem to have no breaking point. These energies are being felt by many and I know we are all going through our own stuff... but I need to vent a little.  So we keep on keeping on especially if we are the glue that holds it all together, even if we are at the point of being the little sticky nub that's about to fall out of  the gluestick. New life is emerging all around the homestead and I cant wait to break out of my shell as well.

Jardin Sol Y Luna

Oh yes glorious spring has sprung. The birds , bees, and blooms are abundant at Casa Sol Y Luna. Morning chores include turning on the fountain and watching nature being drawn to the water. Next is filling the bird feeders, I go through a lot of seed bags. I've also been thinking about getting a bee box .

The rose bushes are abundant and taking shears to clip a few blooms brings me joy as I make bouquets for  indoors. The first available blooms happened to be on the first day of spring and I made a birthday arrangement for {E}. I'm still waiting for the red roses to bloom, the petals are the perfect ingredient to make the silkiest rose water.

 Dandelions are one of the first foods for things with wings coming out of hibernation. Once I know the Renaissance Man is going to mow I pluck away and dry them out for herbal remedies. Lavender is also loved by the bees and we have plenty. I plan on making lavender healing pillows with the dried flowers.

I haven't planted anything yet in the newly build garden area but have started some kitchen grown starter plants. The onion had sprouted on the counter and has grown significantly in the kitchen bay window, on Saturday it was separated and planted in the tire garden section. A few potatoes had grown eyes (yay non GMO) and I have two buckets of potatoes cuttings growing. My pineapple plant has adapted to the outdoors beautifully.

Phase 1

 In February when it wasn't raining I weeded and plowed the soil. In March I made boxes out of wood we had lying around.The Renaissance Man and {M} are measuring for the fencing, we never needed one before until we got Rico who loves to dig.

Phase 2

{L} helps with the fence construction and securing the door.

Phase 3

Soil is added to the boxes and red bark is added as a ground cover. 

Phase 4

I have yet to buy the plants to fill the boxes. Starting from seed is cheaper but I haven't had much luck when trying to garden with this method. How are your green thumb efforts growing?