I've lost weight. My knees feel better. I lost a shoe size - I guess because my feet aren't as flat or my toes aren't as chubby. I went down another pant size. So, with some new clothes acquired, I have to get rid of clothing in the spirit of the 100 Thing Challenge. I'll go through the closet tomorrow and cull the herd.

I've been playing darts with intermittent progress. I'm going to play in a blind draw tourny tonight - or maybe not. I'll go down and see what's happening. The bar is a smoker and I hate smelling like smoke afterwards.

In the category of "what was I thinking?" I almost asked a gal home last week.

I've been re-reading "Inevitable Illusion" for some insight.

At the butcher shop, today, I had a small sip of a local cab-shiraz. Delish. I picked up a bottle to take over the holidays.

The gutters must be done tomorrow. I must climb the ladder. I can do it.

I picked up a new scent from Aveda last month. Nice. I hardly wear perfume, but I'm feeling girly.

I'm also planting the bulbs (daffodils, tulips, gladiolas, and the nekkid ladies) in front of venus.

I managed to get a few shallots out of the garden with another harvest of parsley, oregano, and thyme. I'll be drying herbs this week.

It's Saturday night. Have you hugged your loved one tonight? Do so.

Lemon balm tea.
Oregano in the tomato sauce.
Kale greens.

I'd take a picture but I left my camera at work. Tomorrow.

Finally....we have chicks!! in the robin's nest.

Hail Salvia!

I harvested all but one of my sage plants this morning. The house smells...savory. Sage is a wonderful herb. Sage has silvery-green, rough, oval leaves. Fresh sage has a tangy flavor with citrus sharpness that fades in the dried plant. Like many herbs (and let's face it, most plants), sage has antioxidants, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, and flavenoids. All those good phytonutrients. When consumed, sage aids digestion. Burning sage clears the air and acts as a natural deodorant. In ceremonial use, burning sage is used to purify and cleanse not only the physical but also the energy in a location. Sage can be used as an antiseptic, antifungal, and contains small amounts of estrogen. Anecdotal information (from my grandmother who was Shoshone) says that sage tea is effective for "women's problems" such as menstrual cramps and menopausal hot flashes.

The house smells like herbs. I harvested the sage, salvia with purple flowers, basil, thyme and oregano. I'll harvest the tea herbs Tuesday or Wednesday: catmint, spearmint, peppermint, and lemon balm. I'm still getting tomatoes - the ones sheltered inside the stand - and peppers that survived the frosty mornings a couple weeks back. I don't know what's happening with the brussel sprouts. They've lost their big bottom leaves but there appears to be no stalks growing from the center. Brussel sprouts were my experimental crop this year. It may be a bust.

I use the box fan method to dry herbs: place herbs between two or three furnace filters and tie to fan. Herbs dry in about 48 hours with the fan spreading delicious scents through the house.

Away to mow the lawn; the heavy dew is enough to make it raggity.