Herb Garden: The Bitter and the Sweet

The patch of earth beside my front door has always been problematic. Last year I put in a yarrow and Russian sage plant, threw some new gravel over it and declared it a xeric zone. The patch knew I was faking it as much as I did. It was, at best, a temporary solution.

We were supposed to create the huge vegetable garden this summer, but going forward solo, that was out of the question. So back to this little patch. It seems one of my many lessons this year is having the ability to go forth and create, but in manageable quantities.

Gardening is a wonderful excuse for indulging in control. In the inhospitable environment of the high desert, it takes more than desire to grow. It is not "woman vs. nature" as much as "woman working with nature." You really can't get around it - try to bully this land and it will bite back. Hard.

So back to the patch.

As much as my ego was screaming brussels sprouts, broccoli and eggplant, my wiser self acknowledged that perhaps parsley, cilantro, chives, mint and lavender would be more appropriate for an herb garden. A modest, serene herb garden.

One thing about herbs is that they are not so picky about their soil. There's a lesson in there, somewhere. After some time raking out what gravel I could, a handful of soil amender and the patch has now become a garden.

This autumn, I'll relocate the yarrow and Russian sage.

As with all landscaping projects, I always feel an amazing sense of accomplishment, as well as peace and a touch of awe upon completing a phase. A new feeling: bittersweet. Even though I am feeling pretty wonderful, I did find a few tears to help water this new garden. It's times like these the reality that we are pack animals hits home; and that life is best when shared. So I'll share it here, instead.

My yarrow called out to me this morning:

..and of course, it's water colored rendered cousin:

Oh - almost forgot - the sweet: Lemon Coconut Bundt cake for the party

Bumblebees and Buttercream

Three years ago, I had a lovely vegetable garden. A horney toad, named "Bob" took up residence in my parsley. It seems that this summer a Bumblebee has something to teach me.

No sooner did the butterfly bush get comfy, my new friend showed up:

He's not shy and allows me to get really close. I'm so impressed with this photo, I've posted it on just about every online community I'm in, along with this photoshopped version which may have to be my next tattoo~:

Tomorrow is a going away party for a very special person who is leaving Taos. We have been asked to bring dessert. I think I'll have to do a vanilla cake with raspberry & chocolate vegan buttercream filling and icing. I wish I was as good with a pastry bag as I am with a camera, as I'd love to decorate it with bumblebees~

Clouds & Cupcakes

It snowed Monday morning - a last gasp of winter. It was pretty dry here this winter, so the moisture was much needed. The mountains were hidden. It was that typical wet, spring snow.

And, a last gasp of baking - as I am really avoiding sugar lately: the Orange Buttercream (Vegan) Cupcake. It tastes even better than it looks. 

I'm flying out to Florida Thursday for my Mom's 70th birthday. It took 2 weeks of intense negotiating to get me a vegetable paella at the restaurant on her birthday. Really folks, it's just not that difficult. 

Cookies and Philosophy

I managed to crank out a batch of some Cherry Almond Cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. Once again, thanks to Isa Chandra Moskowitz from Post Punk Kitchen.

These are a simple drop cookie made with flour, sugar, brown & white, a pinch of baking soda, some canola oil and 3/4 c of slivered almonds and dried unsweetened cherries, each. I prefer the unsweetened cherries, as the sweetened ones can be a bit much. They are, so far, the best of all. 

Today in the mail, I received a copy of Farm Sanctuary by Gene Baur, the founder. My copy has a pig on the cover, so after my own happy squeals of delight, I'm diving head first into it . I feel I have so much to make up for, karmically, that farm animal rescue is what is resonating most for me. The story of the founding of this organization is informative as it is touching. It is not a 'shock' piece, but rather approaches the issues with factory farming from a historical and legislative angle. It is interspersed with stories of rescued animals. 

I've done so much reading since this summer, I'm putting together a list to share - mostly on Buddhism (Vipassana for the most part), and veganism and compassionate eating. I don't think anything has moved me more than this new awakening. I didn't think that going from vegetarian to vegan would be so life changing. The practices of Buddhism are all tools to cultivate compassion. I was told that when the door to your heart opens, it can be very painful. That's what has happened since going vegan. I can find myself in tears thinking about the treatment of these precious beings. I didn't realize what I was in for. I found myself silently praying when I walked past the meat cases in Whole Foods.

I'm trying to not be too self-conscious about all this. I'm feeling a little 'fringe' lately. But what happens when what was fringe becomes one's norm? 

Anyway, I haven't found any situation that can't be remedied with a nice batch of cookies.