My Shrink is a Dog

June 29, 2024

Shadow was the first friend I made when I started living in Oregon for summers. He lived a mile away from me at the time. His mom was busy with her dog training business, so she hired me to give him exercise and attention. It was, and still is, a dream job. He’s moved to Forrest Grove and has a Dalmatian sister now. He and I take walks in Historic Forest Grove, which we both enjoy. He serves as my depth psychologist. I serve as his walking assistant. He is really perceptive with shadow issues.

For him the thrills are in the smells, the critters, and the action around the neighborhood. For me it’s all about the landscaping and architecture. There are a couple of trails that go through wooded areas, but we like to check out everyone’s gardens and the changes through the seasons. There are fruit trees that frequently offer low hanging fruit right above the sidewalks. This week we found ripe cherries waiting for us to discover (and eat).

Time I spend walking Shadow is as therapeutic as anything that I have ever done. He is a high quality listener who absolutely does not discriminate. He likes the songs I sing to him (because they are all about him). We are perfectly matched for walking pace. We create an atmosphere of delight on our walks.

His extremely well adjusted attitude is no accident. He lives with his family at his mom’s dog training studio. Jenn’s Dogs offers programs for a wide range of canines. Puppy Playtime is an introductory program for young dogs to experience a safe environment for supervised play. Programs to support more advanced training as well as systems to work with aggressive behaviors are all available.

I’m impressed with his behavior and leash manners. He has vocabulary buttons that can make his intentions clear. He’s a smart guy who loves to play. He’s a very well rounded dog who brings happiness to his family and friends. I am honored to be his canine companion.

Reverse

June 25, 2024

When danger looms over the horizon

The course has been obscured by riddles

It’s a natural time to make a getaway

To consider the exact opposite of this

To escape from the perpetual bending

To a center that stays open and steady

No matter how the winds are blowing

Internal Affairs

June 24, 2024

Wake the interior wizard by casting a light

Set aside the temporary weapons of rigidity

Give room and respect to the dark warnings

Proof of presence will be necessary

to enter the premises

Color Bath

June 24, 2024

Absorbs the energy and power from tides

Receives the imprint of imported populations

Takes the anticipation of the visitors

Turns it all around at the end of each day

Changes are constant

We capture fragments

Distillation

June 23, 2024

I’m a student of the recently deceased monarch of aromatherapy, Jeanne Rose. Her deep knowledge of plants and their uses has been catalogued in her many books and articles. In person the lessons were vibrant and full of interesting stories. Her teaching was thorough and engaging.

I learned distillation from her over the course of three workshops. She taught absinthe distillation at the Hangar One Vodka factory in Alameda, CA. My introduction was to an alcohol for which I have a strong aversion. It served for teaching purposes, but I had no appreciation for the final product as other students did.

Next we distilled lavender in a large wood burning still. This was labor intensive and took a long time because the vessel was so large. We began on the farm for harvest and a lesson about the process. The class then proceeded to the still to observe the way it all happens. The hydrosol that day was very much to my liking. The whole day was luscious as well as educational

The photo above was taken at an orange grove near Solvang, CA, where we met to learn distillation of orange blossoms. We harvested blossoms by the bucket, as my fellow student shows above. Jeanne walked around teaching and guiding us through the process. This day was beyond delightful with heavily scented activities throughout the day, from harvest to final hydrosol.

Learning distillation has helped me to understand how the universe works. I am forever grateful for her friendship and her knowledge. She was a wonderful teacher.

Zsa Zsa and Her Fam

June 20, 2024

I recently had the extreme pleasure of meeting Zsa Zsa the Basset Hound from the Greater Idaho. She came to Carlton to stay with her human family accompanied by her 3 progeny, Meatloaf and Mister are her twins. Winnie is a sister born of the same father at a different time. What a wild and funny group of characters they are. They were visiting a house in Carlton that had been their mom’s childhood home. It’s a rental now, so they chose it as a place to celebrate the mom’s graduation from the master’s program at University of Oregon.

It was my first time staying with a Basset Hound, and I was looking forward to spending time with those ears. I found out that they are so much more than just adorable ear dogs. They have a nose second only to the Bloodhound in sensitivity. They never stop nosing around. Four full time noses active all over the place is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

They love to play with each other and with toys, but do not discriminate well between the two. Once attached to something (like a stick) their tank like strength and determination is astonishing. Being low to the ground gives them extra advantage in tug of war. They have big bursts of energy and are asleep most of the time ( like all dogs).

Being a Rover sitter gives me great opportunities to meet new people and dogs. Zsa Zsa and her charming brood introduced me to the wonders of Basset Hound life. It was a wonderful and enriching day. We had a real good canine time.

Resources

June 20, 2024

Reflection on resources allows exploration

Into distance and horizons not yet imagined

All phenomena that are enumerated

Are stuck within definitions and exclusions

Going beyond that which can be counted

Is the adventure we intend to discover

Beet Kvaas for Health

June 15, 2024

A few years ago I worked at the Tucson farmers market for Suzette Smith, owner of Garden Goddess Ferments. She has developed her business and no longer sells at the Tucson market. It was fun to give people samples of fermented raw vegetable products to try.

The experience has enhanced my health significantly because Suzette taught me how to make beet kvaas. The customers who came from eastern Europe had their own recipes that came from their cultures. This drink is much more popular than I had imagined. Now that I have been on the stuff for many years, I can never imagine going without it. We drink it daily.

It’s easy to make, starting with some of the last batch to stimulate fermentation. It’s the most simple formula for improving bodily health that I know. Beets, salt, and water become a magical elixir. If you’re not interested in fermentation as a hobby, you can purchase high quality kvaas from Suzette at Garden Goddess. She delivers.

Ruta Graveolens

June 12, 2024

Ruta graveolens guards the back door

Herb of grace, a protective plant,

Repels insects and unwanted company

Keeps the threshold clear and clean

An herbal bath of rue cleanses the aura