Sometimes people call me Rosemary even though that’s not my name. They call me Roxanne too, and that’s not my name, either. I guess I’m not very memorable because I’m so often referred to incorrectly and it’s actually annoying, even more because my real name is almost always misspelled.
But this is not about ME, it’s about the herb, rosemary. There’s a lot of rosemary growing in the gardens of Casa de Enchanted Seashells. It’s easy to propagate and seems to endure, if not thrive, during our many months of drought.
Here’s a couple ideas to to create a happy home with rosemary…
Rosemary flowers can be eaten, used in tea, or as a garnish. I’ve never consumed any rosemary flowers but I think they’d perk up a salad.
Rosemary Aromatherapy Recipe
Fill medium sized pot with fresh water.
Add 10-15 freshly picked rosemary sprigs.
Bring it to a boil for a few minutes.
Allow it to simmer for about ten minutes.
Turn off the heat and let it steep as long as you like. As the rosemary releases its essential oils, your home will be filled with an uplifting fragrance. Option to add add lemon slices or cinnamon sticks.
Rosemary Infused Bath This could not be any easier. Simply pick a few sprigs of rosemary and toss into the bath as you fill the tub. Try it and enjoy! (Just make sure your rosemary is bee-free!)
After a decent two inches of rain, our weather turned unseasonably warm, nearly eighty degrees, which totally confused my apple trees and they began to furiously bud and flower, at least a month sooner than normal.
It looks like we might receive a bit more rain in the next couple of weeks but I hope it stays warm-ish so that every blossom grows into a juicy, delicious apple.
Good news/bad news time…
It had been a while since I injured myself but that’s no longer the case. The upper garden is mostly planted with California native plants. When it rains, they go crazy because winter is their time to shine.
Flowering white sage
I noticed a white sage that needed to be pruned. As I ran down the steep set of stairs with a huge armful of freshly cut branches, I misjudged the distance because I couldn’t see where I was going, caught my shoe on the edge of a step, and before I could stop myself, I tumbled down to the ground.
This time I didn’t suffer any broken bones, just a sore shoulder (where I fell) and another injury to my knee (also where I fell). As luck would have it, this was the same knee that has already has a torn MCL, so now I’m limping AND again wearing a brace.
The good news is that the garden is nice and tidy…Happy Monday!
That orange POS and his puppet master, Muckrat, are doing their level best to destroy America.
Not only have they fired thousands of government employees, in 2020 his administration delisted the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Some Federal protections for gray wolves were restored across much of the United States a couple years later, but a new threat to decimate the entire wolf population is real.
Regarding the environment and according to Defenders of Wildlife, President Biden took sweeping, historic action to permanently protect more than 625 million acres of United States ocean waters — and the wildlife living there — from the threat of offshore drilling.
Now the target of a Trump administration executive order to reverse course, coastal protections will be fought out in the courts, Congress and through engagement with the American public. At stake are protections for the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean in Alaska. Wildlife is caught in the balance.
You might think that’s bad enough, but this is chilling... Have you heard of the SAVE Act?
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would require all Americans to prove their citizenship status by presenting documentation—in person—when registering to vote or updating their voter registration information. Specifically, the legislation would require the vast majority of Americans to rely on a passport or birth certificate to prove their citizenship. While this may sound easy for many Americans, the reality is that more than 140 million American citizens do not possess a passport and as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name.
Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight—a service 42 states rely on. Americans would need to appear in person, with original documentation, to even simply update their voter registration information for a change of address or change in party affiliation. These impacts alone would set voter registration sophistication and technology back by decades and would be unworkable for millions of Americans, including more than 60 million people who live in rural areas.
Additionally, driver’s licenses—including REAL IDs—as well military or tribal IDs would not be sufficient forms of documentation to prove citizenship under the legislation.
In short, the SAVE Act is disastrous legislation. The flawed leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has declared that passing the legislation is one of their top priorities for the 119th Congress.
These are the actions of the amoral architects of destruction. The people who have now seized power are determined to throw the United States into mayhem.
Are you scared yet?
P.S. By the way, it will always be the Gulf of Mexico and Mt. Denali. We all know that those stupid decisions were just smokescreens for the real damage to our constitution, right?
There’s always more to learn about the musical genius of the Master of Space and Time.
Before A Song For You or Tight Rope, this song, Everybody’s Talking “Bout The Young was released in 1965 by young, twenty-three-year-old Leon Russell. Check out his short hair!
He added his socially conscious voice to the growing anti-Vietnam War movement. Brilliantly set to a strident electric country backing, Leon’s voice sounds a bit like Dylan and Sonny Bono. It wouldn’t take long before he found his own distinctive voice a few years later.
And like all of his lyrics, they’re still relevant after all these years…
Everybody’s talking ’bout the young They forget the damage that’s been done By middle-age adults In Southern sheeted cults So why do they still talk about the young? The younger generation and its plight Ain’t half as bad as hangings in the night We got a monkey on our back In a little Georgia shack So why do they still talk about the young? Congo, Cuba, it’s out of the frying pan China’s got an atom bomb Boy, it’s gonna hit the fan Let’s talk about the young in Vietnam They’re over there a-fighting for our land Yeah, they’re young but they got guts, Bayonets and rifle butts Well who’s a gonna bury all our young? Hey you talkers will you bury all our young?
“It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.” Bernard Williams
Photo by Enchanted Seashells
Photo by Enchanted Seashells
Photo by Enchanted Seashells
These photos were taken before we had a few days of much needed rain. There was no flooding around here but I saw video of devastating mudslides in the fire-damaged areas around Malibu — in addition to a medium-sized 3.5 earthquake in the same same general vicinity.
Today was super sunny and warm, a perfect time to spend hours in the garden cleaning up from the storm and getting the raised bed ready for spring planting.
I haven’t had any visits from my coyotes or bobcats in about a month and I’m not sure why. Hopefully, they’ll return soon because I miss my animal family!
I don’t care if it’s become a commercialized celebration or not; I LOVE Valentine’s Day and always have.
A gifted seashell or a Chanel brings the same amount of joy; it’s the thought that counts.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re in the midst of February’s Full Snow Moon. While we’re enjoying some much needed rain so I can’t actually see the moon, I know she’s up there, shining her light on us. This is a time to step into personal power, trust in the shifts that are happening, and believe that everything is aligning for a better, more fulfilling future.
From Leon Russell’s album, Moonlight & Love Songs, here’s the standard, My Funny Valentine. I love Leon’s arrangement, his voice, the song, the Nashville Symphony– everything about it!
The album features Jim Price, Edgar Winter, and Bruce Hornsby.
I hope everyone enjoys a day (and life) full of love. 🎩 💕
UPDATE: Haha, I know that the Philadelphia Eagles won! I didn’t watch it but I’m happy that the appearance of that orange POS caused the Chiefs to lose!
This is probably the first year since 1980 that I won’t watch the Super Bowl.
I don’t care about the commercials, especially not the ones about DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) from Muskrat, the half-time show, nor the actual game.
The Kansas City Chief’s quarterback Mahomes is incredibly unlikeable, as is his magatrumploving wife.
Travis Kelce is OK and the Taylor Swift connection is interesting, but that’s not enough to get me excited about the game.
During the regular and post season, I believe referee favoritism and the officials’ bias made some terrible and questionable calls in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs that caused the other teams to lose.
That’s totally unfair.
Some believe it’s a full-blown NFL conspiracy to boost TV ratings with the presence of Mahomes and Taylor Swift. Others think it’s the subtle bias that allows star players to get favorable whistles.
Another benefit to NOT watching the Super Bowl is not having to listen to the nasal whinging of plastic man and maga Tom Brady — NOT a fan.
Whatever. I won’t watch, but I hope the Eagles win.
P.S. Getting back to reality, we’re fully immersed in a constitutional crisis along with the death of democracy, which I feel is more important than the distraction of a possibly rigged sporting event.
Confession: I’m a hoarder, not crazy enough to be featured on an episode of that TV show, but I really, really hate to throw things away and I love to acquire STUFF.
For example, I have a lovely collection of empty boxes because YOU NEVER KNOW when you’re going to need one, right?
I don’t know if this is true where you live, but here, there’s a local group that gives all kinds of things away FOR FREE, which is total crack for a hoarder. Did I mention that it’s FREE?
They give away everything from furniture to clothing to toys to appliances. In many cases, the gifted items are valuable, like the cashmere scarf I received, also a set of Russian lacquerware.
Since I joined the group, my ratio of receiving to gifting is about 90 to 10. It’s REALLY difficult for me to relinquish anything because, exactly like those boxes, what if I want or need it again some day in the future? But I do and have posted items, especially things the kids no longer need; highchairs, baby clothes, stuff like that.
It’s equally difficult for me to not bring home everything that’s offered because I like to think I’m rescuing whatever it is from being discarded. I often initiate a conversation with myself (not out loud, IN MY HEAD) about whether I reallyreallyreally NEED what’s offered, or if can I live without it. Most of the time, I’m rational haha, but not always. (The very act of talking to myself sounds kinda crazy if I think about it.)
I’ve brought home lots of plants, planter pots, and other garden items, little boxes similar to what I already collect, a giant dollhouse for the Angel Kids; also toys and even bicycles for them.
Recently, we re-gifted the dollhouse. The Angel Kids and I had a discussion about the future of it. They both said they had enjoyed playing with the house but it was time to give to a new home and other children, so I did, with their blessing.
This time, someone was giving away milkweed seedlings SHE had rescued from our local community garden. Another gardener was going to toss them out, but she saved them and transplanted into little cups.
Photo by EnchantedSeashells
This kind woman posted on the site that she had plenty to share and I responded. There were enough for multiple people which is great because we all care about helping butterflies.
Photo by EnchantedSeashells
The woman messaged me her address which was literally only about three minutes away and I headed over there.
Here’s the problem: She lives in a new housing complex with a million apartments. Her very detailed map didn’t help me as I get typically become hopelessly lost in similar situations. I drove around and around for a while and couldn’t find the location where the plants were waiting for me at the front door.
As I usually do, I became a bit disoriented when I get lost, and dejected, I drove home. My navigation skills are sorely lacking and I felt incredibly stupid. I messaged her my apologies and reason for not showing up and suggested she choose another person.
Instead of doing that, this woman that I don’t know — a complete stranger — offered to bring the milkweed to me! It was such a kind gesture that it blew my mind.
I gave her my address and she came by a couple hours later with the plants and we had a lovely chat.
With all the horrible news coming out of our nation’s capital, it’s heartwarming and affirming to realize that there are still good people in the world, those who will go out of their way to help a neighbor AND help save butterflies.
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 