"At the end of life, our questions are very simple: Did I live fully? Did I love well?" -Jack Kornfield

I have a not-so-secret desire to imprint a songbird. I know better than to actually do it, but it doesn't quell the want. Is the underlying reason that I was initially attracted to horticulture actually a quest to control nature?
This little wren flew into my window and knocked herself out. I didn't cage her; She flew away shortly after I took this picture.

First Ride of the Year on The Trace

You may wonder what has been happening since not many blog postings. Over the last 2 months, I had a CT scan that showed a mass in my left lung. Eight nights in the hospital for a biopsy - which showed the mass to be lung cancer.

My doctors let me make my trip to the mountain bike festivals - I needed the break. On return, it was more tests (MRI, PET scan, Pulmonary Function) and doctor appointments. We (doctors and I) decided to treat the mass with radiation.

A week of heavy, pin-pointed radiation treatment and all of the trips to the doctors took it toll on me.

The Spring was rainy. When I felt like riding, it was a pavement ride. Today, I decided it was time for this year's first ride on the Wabash Trace. While it was a bit windy (from the North) the temperature was perfect (mid 70s) with filtered sunshine. Parked the car in Silver City.

Mounted the GoPro camera on the handlebars of the mountain bike (my Trek 4300). Since I knew I would be battling the wind on the way back, I rode non-stop from Silver City to 305th Street. Ended up with a little over 40 minutes of video.

My original plan was hoping to make it as far as the Silver Creek Bridge. When I crossed the bridge, I felt pretty good, so continued another mile to 305th. This made the ride 5.5 miles one way. Figured that was plenty for this ride, knowing I will be riding into the wind on the way back.

Shut down the GoPro at 305th and stopped several times on the way back, taking still photos. This gave me time to rest at times on the way back. By the time I got back to Silver City, I was exhausted.

Lots of folks riding their bikes on The Trace today. Don't think I have ever seen so many along this section of the trail. Had to be 20 or more that I met on the trail in my 11 miles ride. Think everyone had the same idea - could not pass up a day like this without spending part of it on a bicycle.

Today's photo was taken about 1/2 mile North of 305th St. The foliage along the trail is very lush, not surprisingly with all of the rain, humidity, and heat over the last couple weeks.

GUILT

As the day has progressed, the wind has increased. It is beautifully sunny, but the wind is wild - not that I have felt any of it.





I have been happily occupied reading and sewing, but every time I look up one or other of the dogs gives a sigh ...



I am still confined to indoors because of my wretched toe; George has not found the time to get down (from the top shelf of the dressing room) the one pair of shoes which I think may fit me, despite my taped toes.





This could be a deliberate ploy, he knows how impatient I am to get moving again.





So I have been confined to quarters. All day long I have been made to feel guilty by two pairs of brown eyes - Pip and Toby. Pip is disappointed that I have not taken her to the wood so that she can take the opportunity to steal some food from the hens, Toby wants his normal walks.





George has walked them, but as far as they are concerned that is an optional extra. Only the walks that I take with them are counted.





Sorry dogs, I just can't do it - especially without shoes!





Your Dad has been busy working on the headers for the patio wall - photos will follow when I am able. It is looking really neat though, Jonny.





George very kindly took a photograph of some beautiful mushrooms which have grown

can you guess which part of the garden this is Jonny? Goodness knows what type they are, but we won't be making mushroom omelettes from them. Aren't they beautiful though?





This is what we are actually having for tea

I plan to roast them, along with some garlic, black pepper and olive oil,when they are almost done I will sprinkle them with grated cheese and put them back into the oven, along with some home-made garlic bread and we will have a feast.





It was wonderful having such a long chat with you this afternoon Jonny. You were looking really well.





Lots of love





Mum

xxx

Prime Thyme Mysteries 3

Thank you, Karen, for hosting me today! This blog tour celebrates the launch of Nightshade, the sixteenth China Bayles mystery. China (for those who haven’t yet been introduced to this mystery series) is a former criminal defense attorney who has opted for a quieter life as the owner of an herb shop in Pecan Springs TX. Each book in the series includes a signature herb that has something to do with the story, the characters, and or/the themes of the book. In this post, I’ll be telling you something about the herbs in Books 7, 8, and 9. (For posts on other books, check out the tour calendar.)
Chile Death

In China’s seventh mystery, Pecan Springs is rattled by the news that somebody has put peanuts into an entry in the chili cookoff. Peanuts in Texas chili? All by itself, that’s a crime (Texans never put peanuts in chili)—but it gets worse when a cookoff judge dies. Was it a culinary error (bad enough) or premeditated murder (worse)? The investigation takes China into a couple of hot spots and nearly costs her life. But the good news is that lover Mike McQuaid (shot in the previous book) is on the mend. Are those wedding bells we hear, or the crackle of chiles roasting over an open flame?
The signature herb? Chiles, of course! Chile peppers are not only super in your salsa, but good for what ails you: poor circulation, headaches, stomach distress, and ulcers, maybe even as an alternative to Viagra. (Chiles have long had a reputation as an aphrodisiac.) While the heat of capsaicin (the chief chemical compound in this herb) can burn, it also takes the pain out of shingles, rheumatism, and arthritis.
There’s lots more about this hot herb—a member of the nightshade family—at Wikipedia. If you’d like to try one of China’s favorite chile recipes, add some jalepeno peppers to cornbread. Or put some chile powder in your hot chocolate for an exotic (and seductive) drink.
Lavender Lies

I always think of this book as the “wedding” book—although between a murder investigation (a local real estate broker is shot to death in his garage) and a surprise guest named Hurricane Josephine, China’s wedding almost doesn’t happen. But it does, and of course it’s an herbal wedding, with rosemary for remembrance, thyme for courage, sage for long life and happiness, and lavender for devotion.

If you’re devoted to lavender, you're not alone. The clean, refreshing scent of its delicate flowers was cherished by the Egyptians (who used it, with other herbs and spices, to make mummies), the Phoenicians, the Greeks, and the Romans (who called it lavender, from their verb lavere, to wash), and by gardeners everywhere. Lavender is used to scent soaps, cosmetics, potpourris, and sachets. You can also use it in your bath, or put a few drops of essential oil on your hair brush. To help you sleep, put a few drops on your pillow. You can even use lavender flowers to flavor cookies and cakes, make tangy vinegars and punches, and brew fragrant teas.
For recipes from China’s and Ruby’s tea room (newly-opened in Lavender Lies) and ideas for a lavender tea party of your own, check out this page. And for a very good review of lavender’s medicinal properties, read this article from the University of Maryland.
Mistletoe Man

It's Christmas, and China has opened her home for the annual Pecan Springs Holiday Home Tour. But she's also worrying about her friend and partner Ruby Wilcox, who hasn't been herself lately. To further complicate matters, China has to round up a supply of mistletoe, the season's most popular herb. It seems an easy enough task—until her chief mistletoe supplier turns up dead.

Mistletoe is rich in lore, mostly due to the unusual growth habit of this parasitic herb. (In fact, some linguists trace its name to the Old English word mistil, meaning different.) Mistletoe grows on host trees, from seeds planted in the bark by the birds who feast on the white berries that ripen during the winter. The plant has been a part of Yule or winter solstice celebrations since the Druids, and the "kiss of peace" that was once exchanged under this plant by warring North Country clans has now evolved into the Christmas kiss. In folk cultures, mistletoe has been used to enhance fertility and to treat epilepsy; medicinally, European mistletoe is used as a sedative and to slow a rapid heartbeat. Recent research suggests that it may also slow the growth of cancerous tumors, and it is employed in Germany to supplement chemotherapy. Mistletoe is not a culinary herb, but the berries are not deadly, as is popularly believed. Please note that European and American mistletoe are not the same species. Many traditions link the two, but they are very different.
For a serious discussion of mistletoe’s medicinal properties, go here. For a more general overview of the plant (and another view of its cancer-curing properties), check out this page.
Readers often tell me that they enjoy learning about herbs while they are entertained by the story. But I have to say that China Bayles has taught me so much about herbs. For instance, I don’t think I would ever have taken the time to explore the herb mistletoe, if China’s supplier hadn’t gone and gotten himself killed!
Thanks again, Karen, for hosting me here at Rurality. And thanks to all you folks who are trekking through cyberspace with me on this blog tour. I appreciate your notes and comments—I’ll be gone for a couple of days this week, but I’ll be dropping in again when I get back.
About the book drawing and Susan’s blog tour

If you’d like to enter the drawing for a copy of Nightshade go here to register. But do it now, before you forget. The drawing for Rurality closes at noon on April 4, ...
Want to read the other posts in Susan’s blog tour? You’ll find a calendar and links here.

Signs of Change

Leaves reminding us of North America's steady march towards winter.

Foam Pool at Manido Falls

Here is another shot from Manido Falls on the Presque Isle River that I've been anxious to share. This is a 6 second exposure that shows the movement of foam below the falls. I loved this little pool on the side of the river because the foam was moving in slow circles which made for an intriguing long-exposure image. I sure wish I lived closer to this river, as it is an amazing one to photograph!

McAllister Park

First off, happy birthday to my sister, Jan. I hope you enjoyed your day today and partied with friends. I look forward to spending time with you in September.

This morning, San Antonio Hill Country Hikers meet-up group met at 7:45 a.m. for a hike at McAllister Park. The early birds were there at 7 a.m. to do yoga warm-up moves before we set out on the trail.

At 7:45 exactly, Paul led us on another trail adventure, faking us out from time to time and taking us around in circles. No disrespect, we love you, Paul. You make the group fun.

McAllister Park is 976 acres with 15 miles of trails on the north side of San Antonio, not too far from the International Airport. Today we hiked seven miles of trails, mainly on the Red and Blue Loops (I think). If you asked me to lead a group of people on the same hike we did, I would be bamboozled as to where, exactly, we went. I'm glad Paul knew where we were going! We didn't get lost in the urban wilderness.

Here are a few photos of our hike.

Paul caught us looking dazed and confused at the beginning.

Now we've got rhythm and someone to follow.

We didn't see any bunnies. : (

Virgin's bower clematis

Snapdragon vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora)

The hiking train keeps on rollin' down the track.

I ran ahead to get a photo from the front and they all had to ham it up.

Paul, our leader, wins for the best model pose.

Lots of deer in this park!

Deer in the headlights look.

After seven miles of hiking, eight of us wanted to have breakfast, so we went to The Egg and I. It was a great group with lots of conversation and some really big pancakes!

Sandy

Ruby ordering.

Jessie with her hazelnut coffee and SmartPhone.

Paul with not one, but two, monster blueberry pancakes.

After the walk and a good breakfast, I went back to the 5er and slept for three hours. (I only had four hours of sleep Saturday night.)

This evening, Bob and I went to see "The Way, Way Back" movie with Steve Carrell and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is a coming of age tale about a 14-year-old boy going on vacation with his mom, mom's boyfriend and the mom's boyfriend's teen-age daughter. They vacation at the shore and the boy is bored, mortified, and angst-ridden dealing with his mother's boyfriend and the interesting group of people vacationing at the beach. He goes to work at a water park where the owner takes him under his wing and helps him deal with being an awkward teen-ager in an awkward life situation. We both recommend this movie.

The short sale on our rental property in Las Vegas is finally going through after we put it on the market a year ago. Tomorrow we sign papers. One more property off our responsibility list; three rentals left in two western states. Luckily, they are all rented and have property managers. Things are looking up.

Travel Bug out.