Thursday, May 6, 2010

Birthday Time and Wee Medicine Man

Time flies by. Seems like yesterday I was holding my beautiful daughter Michelle for the very first time. I was immediately a smitten kitten and still am to this day. She is my rock and my best friend, and I am so very proud of the strong, beautiful, dependable, resourceful, interesting, and big hearted daughter I have.

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I love you to the moon and back my darling daughter!

On the gardens and herbal medicine front…. when you have a two year old in tow, everything is done in small increments and I am mindful to be grateful for this time with Dylan. In just a couple short years, he will be in school and this time will have passed like the ephemeral spring it is. We harvest a bit at a time and our medicine cabinet is full of small jars of things like this dandelion oil Dylan made today, all by himself.

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We just simply walked around our yard and he harvested the dandelions we had available right under our noses. He really seemed to enjoy putting them in the jar and filling it with oil. This looks like such a small thing, but it is his first herbal medicine he has made by himself!

Dashed home today and managed to weed a bit of the gardens and get 5 tomato plants in the ground. I was pleased to see some calendula had reseeded itself and that the strawberry plants are in bloom. I used to be the type that would work 12 hours straight, weeding and working the ground for planting. And then work the next day planting. While Dylan is young it is enough to accomplish a foot at a time, as there will always be next year for tomatoes, but only for a few years will he be my constant companion and we are better served walking through the fields and woods and running through the parks and yard right now. His innate love for nature is boundless and I think learning the names and ways of nature is the most important thing I can give him right now. Many times I will point out a plant or tree and talk to him as I would you, and the next thing I know, he is pointing out to me, another of the same plant! I am still new at learning so many plants and I feel so blessed to be learning along with Dylan.

big hugs and much love to all who visit Comfrey Cottages

6 comments:

*Ulrike* said...

I love it that he is taking an interest in all of it!! Teach them while they are young. He is very fortunate that you are there for him, and I'm sure he enjoys it. I hope that your daughter has a wonderful birthday...they do grow up so fast!
Take Care!
Ulrike

Anke said...

Dylan is a very lucky little guy to have you in his life. He is learning so much and hopefully his love of nature will stay with him his entire life. Happy Birthday to you daughter!

Sarah Head said...

Such a lovely post and so thoughtful!

Caddie said...

This teaching your little one about plants is wonderful; something that will bind him to the natural world for his whole life. I feel this is the best of knowledge/lessons. You are a great Mom.

Rita M said...

Dylan is a very lucky boy to have a Granny like you. It is so beautiful to learn our schildren all about nature. Wishing Michelle a happy birthday :o)

Comfrey Cottages said...

thank you ulrike, anke, sarah,sissy and rita:) i am a fortunate woman! oh and sissy, i am dylan's grandma. my children are 32,31, and 30 now. i am blessed to have their children in my care alot. i have dylan when his folks are at work during the day:)