Hello Friends!
I have, at long, long last, after so much searching, found my Tribe! Yesterday evening was the first Zoom meeting of my year long Wild Welsh Herbal Medicine course. I cannot throw enough synonyms for the incredible feeling of having come home to my Tribe to describe how I feel. Ever since I was a child, I have picked leaves and made "tea", dabbling in hedgerow medicine, but never taking it any further. So overwhelmed was I that I couldn't even speak to introduce myself, other than stuttering a few incomprehensible words between my blubbing.
This morning I made a nettle smoothie using the nettles I harvested last evening. I stuffed my Ninja goblet about 2/3 full of nettles, added a ripe banana, a handful of walnuts, a tablespoon of linseeds, a teaspoon of pure cocoa powder, and topped off with oat milk. Whizzed it up and enjoyed every drop! Tomorrow I shall attempt some sort of savoury with them.
I have just completed my sixth day of the Fundraiser for Parkinson's. I did one of my usual routes this evening. I took a few photos of some more of the kinds of obstacles that I never used to notice before I developed mobility issues. Things such as:
badly finished repairs that leave gutters across the pavements
or hedges that are not clipped back leaving very narrow pavements on a blind corner that has oncoming traffic:
But on to the prettier things I see, the flowers!
Three days ago, this grassy area was full of yellow dandelions, now it's covered with the silvery white seed heads
and the lilacs are in bloom again
Google Lens informs me that this is Weigela {over to you}
I did misjudge the angle of the evening sun and as I came down the homeward stretch I found myself dazzled as the road traverses a due west aspect. What didn't I have with me? Why, my sunglasses of course!
My Tee shirt for having raised over £100 arrived today, so if the weather is good, I shall be wearing that in future to help raise awareness. I will take photos tomorrow as it's in the wash right now.
I have to say, I expected my legs to hurt but it isn't my legs, it's my arms and shoulders. It can only be the pushing of my rollator. It weighs about 18lbs, so a bit of a weight to be pushing out in front of me, especially going up hill!
I'm so happy for you, my dear friend! Finding where you feel like you are home and people that feel like family is no small feat. I knew this Herbal Course would be good for you and I did hope that you would sign up for it. I'm glad all the stars lined up and made it possible.
ReplyDeleteYou are now "walking in someone else's shoes" for sure and can now see the hardships others face that you didn't give a thought to when you were younger. I think we all could use a lesson in this, just because we may not have problems, we need to look at things as if we do, to be mindful of others that may have to walk by our house and do not need our plants or trees sticking out in the way.
Beautiful flowers as usual, Wonderful to see where you are walking. Proud of you and your dedication~
Thank you. Yes, we should all walk a mile in the shoes of others, perhaps the world would be a better place if we did. I am certainly seeing things very differently now. Once safe, well trodden and known pathways are now strange, alien, and often dangerous. I am worried my photos will become same ol' same ol' as the hazards will limit my range.
DeleteIt's lovely to hear about the herbal course and more photos. Keeeeeeeeep Walking!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful. I know it's putting a {huge} dent in my budget, but it's something I have always wanted to do and opportunities like this don't always happen at the right time.
DeleteThere's always something new to see, even on the same ol', same ol' routes... like your dandelions. Our lilacs are beginning to go over here, further south.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely weigelia... I pass a large well grown shrubs in full flower at the moment.
Your potion- making tribe sounds just the right one for you.
Thank you for the identification help. Google Lens doesn't always get things correct, a bit of a worry if you are trying to ascertain safety! I love watching the seasons change and unfold on my walks.
DeleteI am SO delighted to hear that you did take the plunge and join the course and that you are at home amongst your tribe. Keep on with the walking and so glad that you are coping with it, despite it tiring you so.
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes, where there's a will and all that! Ha! just thought, where there's a will, there's inheritance. Oh, I am naughty! tbh, I don't know how much of the tiredness is the change in routine, or the Parkinson's.
DeleteI am so pleased for you. Your course sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeleteOur local parish council has sometimes asked people to cut back hedges that restrict footpaths after receiving complaints. I think they say that the homeowner can either do it themselves or they will arrange for someone to do it and send them the bill. Perhaps you can track down contact details and email your parish council to ask if they can do something about it, as that situation does seem very dangerous.
Oh, the Councils and their laws and by laws of hedges, ownership, and responsibility of said hedges are numerous and confusing! Obviously, I couldn't deal with a Privet Hedge but have considered taking my secateurs alone to snip off any long stems, such as that Valerian, overhanging the path.
DeleteThe course sounds really interesting so pleased you have joined it. Well done on the walks you have taken. Sorry I have no idea of the identity of your flower. We have lots of dandelions going to seed here and saw a Bullfinch eating the seeds! Take care Debbie.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Aforementioned plant identity is confirmed, Google Lens got it this time! Bullfinches are such a lovely bird.
DeleteWell done on your fundraising. And I'm glad you've found your tribe. It's interesting -- the things one notices when mobility is impaired. When I couldn't walk any distance (I wasn't supposed to be on my foot at all for 8 weeks) we went to the performing arts center. Rick dropped his (mobility impaired) mom and I at the front and went to park. It was a LONG walk in -- to get to the handicap entrance, you had to go through the pay parking ramp. I never noticed that before. I'm sure you've noted a lot of things and perhaps your observations will make a difference. Do I see an article by you in your local newspaper in your future?
ReplyDeleteThank you! No, there won't be any journalistic attempts by me in the local rag! I think that if we have an impairment to any one of our faculties, then the others pick up and we become more sensitive in noticing things in other ways. In my case, it's discovering the pitfalls of getting about safely!
DeleteThe lilac is lovely and the weigelia wonderful ... one of my sons has a bush in his garden and his too is blooming :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it is your rollator that is causing aches/pains in your arms and shoulders, 18ibs is quite a weight!
Take care and as it's Friday night as I type this I wish you a good weekend.
All the best Jan
Thank you. Oh, it is most definitely the pushing of the rollator causing the pain. I don't know what to do, in fact there's not much I can do other than hope it builds stamina and becomes easier.
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