In mourning of my mom

My mom passed away friday night...she died of lung cancer.

It is intense in my life right now for so many reasons, so I am probably going to need some time to work through this. Just letting you all know.
Love KR

Womens gathering under the full moon-the power of nature

Imagine the way it used to be when women actually supported one another. Do you know what that is like? Probably very few of us have had the blessing of that.

Do you take time for yourself doing something that actually nurtures you?

How is your connection to nature around you? Do you fear it or does it soothe your soul?

There are so many thoughts that I seem to understand deeper as I have experienced things the past few years.

I must say that I felt seriously called to come back out to this area and not sure exactly why.
I knew that plant study would be part of my work here, but so much of what is happening is true nurturing to ME.
Granted it has only been a week, but I have my children with me, and still working, yet my physical condition is about 85% better this week.

Allergens and smoke from California fires has crept into the valley, but Bio Allers to the rescue and I am well! (bio allers is a great homeopathic ermedy for allergies that seems to work for me everytime!)
The hikes have been so fulfilling, the water running down the mountains, the smell of lodgepole pine...it all makes me feel loved and ok.
The elder is wild here and the gentian violets are a real treat to see. So beautiful.

Yesterday I decided to scale the side of Teton pass in search of arnica flowers with Ben who is 7 and Olivia who is 4 in tow. What an adventure. I was so proud of my littles for doing so well without fear. We gathered wild sage instead.

Last night however, was such a treat. Womens drum circle with women from all walks of life just visiting, sharing food, drumming, singing, dancing, together....under the full moon lighting up the snow topped Tetons on one side, and the gentle valley mountain silhouettes on the other side.
Looking at the Tetons, it was intense!!!! DID I SAY INTENSE?
The Tetons do something to the emotions in likening of taking your heart and completely turning it inside out, emptying it of all the garbage that is trapped in there. I know that sounds crazy that a mountain range has that much power, but it does here.
The Tetons make you face yourself in a very real way and it puts it in your face so intensely, that looking away at the more gentle mountains are neccessary in order to catch your breath and obtain some calm.

Watching the huge gorgeous globe rise above the mountain peaks was the most beautiful thing I have seen in years. And the sky was lit by the moons light the entire night. I was chilly, even by the fire. But I was nurtured and was called to prayer most of the evening as other women drummed...I was faced with the Tetons, myself, and the intensity of prayer for those around me and definately myself.
We are midsummer....I encourage you if you can, take some time in nature and let her love you and help you. Make friends. Eat, dance, live, love.
One day I can upload the beautiful pictures I have taken, but for now I leave you with a picture online of the Teton range, the intense side.
Just to gaze at the presence makes you feel as though you are on holy ground. Dont let this sweet little photo fool you....lol
Being here is intense and magical. I am certain I am being changed. This is not just book knowledge happening here, it is so real and doing knowledge. An interconnected place...and how long I will be here I do not exactly know. I want the work to be done in me, then in turn I will serve others and myself in a more powerful way. It is a hard journey. Days I feel like I am ready to break down and cry, and yet, I feel more power.
Thank you for being part of this with me


Much love peace and prayers to you all,
KR

Our first week in Wyoming

I have so many beautiful pictures to share, but have to use the library computer. Dont know how I will get these uploaded anytime soon.
We are having a beautiful time so far here.

The trip was uneventful with the exception of a visit with my dear friend Eve Mary.

About an hour from Jackson, we drove over a large mountain pass and once over the Tetons were in a fog in the distance. It was almsot like I was walking into a dream.

The plant life is beautiful here, although the arnica season is ending soon and i still have not harvested. I did get a tour with local herbalist of many mountain herbs and flowers used in Flower Essences. Harvesting wild plants under the graces of the Teton range is amazing.
So far, yarrow, horsetail and roses. Today I found abundant elder and immediately put into oil.

More to come. Jsut no computer access to get it all written down properly yet.

Much love to everyone!

Day .5 and the elder abounds

Jsut a brief update on our first half day on the road. Our suburban is loaded to the brim with stuff....mostly my boys' things they need in Wyoming.
A little opening to see out the back window and the maximum safe speed for such weight is 65mph.

The stereo in our gas machine is very nice, so I grabbed a nice handful of cd's to which John Mayer, Jack Johnston, Metallica, Matchbox Twenty and Nickelback got the first listens while shaking the ole booty and singin loudly. My 3 younger children are with me and really love Nickelback..especially Hero from the Spiderman movie so they played it several times and sang loudly....they were so cute.

We spent about an hour reveiwing multiplication facts and enjoyed watching the airplanes land as we passed the Kansas City Airport.

The elder's are as vibrant here as they are back home....I wonder if this is the peoples medicine this year.
I do not recall ever a time where it was so abundant, which makes me wonder if nature is providing for us this bounty for a good reason.

The loving chronicles of the HERBAL ADVENTURE GIRL

Headed to the Tetons where the air is clean and the herbs are wild this year.
Dragon Lady Tea, Heather Bupp and I are going to spend time visiting and working with the plants, attending a full moon womens drum circle, and I am sure much more.

Her teas rock by the way if you want some yum!

I will be back a changed and stronger herbal woman! WOO HOO

Wish me well...my kids and I are sardines lol

Elder

As the humidity rises in the Ozark air, I can smell the wise mother elder as her blossoms reach out like an umbrella toward the shining sun. I plant myself down under her branches to have lunch with my children. What a pleasant experience of peace and serenity as her aroma fills our space.

She is magical and wonderful adn full of folklore. Her name, ELDER is appropriate. You see, her value is as great as the worth of an elder human.

I know many dont consider older people as valuable, but the older folks have lived through all of lifes twists and turns, and yet they survived. Inside them is wisdom from their experiences which can be helpful to the younger generation if we seek out their secrets.

Elder has many helps for us, if we will turn to her for it.

Gail Faith Edwards shares that grandmothers beleived that you had to build a rapport with elder to get the best energy from her.
She writes that we should find an elder tree and visit it often. When we are in need, respectfully ask permission to use its medicine.

I will be honest, I often gather my elder wild as I find her. The tree in my yard is fairly new and I am allowing her little interferance so I may study her better.

I do thank the trees when I gather. Currently, I am harvesting her flowers to use in winter teas for fevers. You can add this to yarrow or peppermint for this if you want.
I also made up a lovely oil from her precious flowers, and have already used it up in my beautiful lotions, baby balms, and solid perfumes. Next year, I will tincture more, and also make elder water for skincare.
Elder is astringent and helps tighten pores.
It is also good for a mouth rinse, healing sore throats, mouth sores and inflammation of the gums.
I have heard of its use for conjunctivitis and sore eyes, even whent here is twitching, by washing the eyes with elder flower infusion.

The flowers act on permeating kidney cells and by the flowers acting on it, heat is cleared through the urinary tract. Toxic buildup can be released.

Ironically, elder is stimulant and relaxant.
Stimulant in the case of fast acting. May bring energy.
Relaxant in regards to bronchial spasms, sinus problems and excess phlegm. It also relaxes the nerves and helps some folks sleep. An infusion of the blossoms taken of the green stems is what is used.

Elder is alterative, which means it can help renew the health of an unhealthy organ or blood.
Alteratives usually help imbalance and bring life to the entire body.



High in bioflavanoids, and vitamin c, the flowers and berries are also antiviral and immune stimulating.
A hot tea of either will help you sweat out a fever, however most of us like the berries for syrup.
Cold tea is used as a diuretic.

Most common complaints calling for elder is upper respiratory tract.
When we talk about upper respiratory, think of things that happen kind of above the neck. Laryngitis,sinus problems, tonsilitis as well as flu and common colds.

The berries contain a flavanoid called procyanidins which is antioxidant and very similar to the positives found in red wine.
More potent in antioxidants as a matter of fact than vitamin c and e.
Procyanidins help strengthen cappillary walls, maintain collagen for healthy young skin, reduce histamine which may prevent allergies, and more. This is the same flavanoid praised in grapes, cocoa, bilberry, pine bark and other fruits.

The berries can be toxic if taken in large amounts uncooked. The safest varieties are Sambucus canadensis, Sambucus caerulea and Sambucus nigra which are dark purple or black berries.
The red berries from other varieties of Sambucus are most toxic so look for the dark berries kind.
Most herbalist I know use their berries in tea or syrup. All herbalist using elder only have positive experience with this plant.
Maybe that is why the grandmothers wanted to know their elders before using..to earn her good graces:)

The berries also are rich in vitamin a. They also contain laetrile, which has been discussed for years as a cancer cure.
The color of the berries are from water soluble pigments of the proanthocyanins which also prevents build up of uric acid. This is good for gout and rheumatism.

Too many, and you will be running to the bathroom, because they are laxative in a good amount.
Dont let this deter you from enjoying the berries, however. That has never happened to my family. You probably need alot, but it is good to know that it can get things going.

And of course, the famous elderberry wine. One year I look forward to making my own. I have tried some locally, but it was far too sweet for my tastes.
Wine, syrup, tea...all useful and nutritive medicine.

The roots, leaves and stem are safe to use externally. The leaves can be made into strong tea and sprayed onto plants to deter aphids and caterpillars according to Gail Faith.
If you take elder bark internally, you will be very sick. It is highly purgative!
But you can make an oil with it and create a salve good for burns and ulcers.
Some native American indians used bark for toothaches, even fresh however.

Magical and ritual use is wide with this beautiful herb. Elder flower can be burned in ritual, and the stories are vast and wide as to how to use the plant magically.

The emotional healing of flower essence of elder is energy stimulation, vigor, resilience, joy, and our power of recovery and energy renewal.

So when you run into a beautiful stand of elder, caress the umbel and allow your nose to inhale the beauty of our mother elder.
Her pollen will stick to your nose and will make you smile.

HUGE 1 DAY ONLY SALE

I am headed to the rocky mountains armed with 3 children under 11 and a suburban loaded to the brim with my grandbabies furnishings and my older childrens stuff (junk really)

I have made some awesome items to take with me and am running a kick ass sale today.

3 for $10 lip balmThese will come in .5 oz tins with no label.

Handwritten on label, but the quality is still perfect (I ordered the wrong size label)

Made with hand extracted oils of plantain, chickweed, comfrey,elder flower, extra virgin olive oil, raw organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, fair trade shea butter,pure beeswax.



Here are the essential oil choices-

Basil Lime

Lavender Chamomile

Herbacious totally unscented

Hemp ginger lemon

Rose vanilla

Medicine Man-camphor, rosemary, tea tree

Ginger Orange

Orange Dream- orange and vanilla

Lavender Orange

Mocha-with coffee butter and vanilla

Sensational mint-

Mandarin orange

Lemon Lime

Lavender Rosemary

Cardamom Citrus

A word of caution however, citrus oils can attract the sun and create sunburn easy. Use caution when using any lip balm with citrus oils in them.



I have never had a problem in all the years I have been making and using lip balm, and I am a LIP BALM ADDICT, but it can happen.



I dont apply citrus lip balms when I know I am going to be outside, otherwise it is no biggie at all.



So if you are laying out, go with lavender chamomile or herb..you know something without citrus

And we also have this kick ass sale going on this weekend only.



All sales must be final and paid for by Sunday unless you arrange something else with me. So good luck deciding....that is always the hard part for me


soap for $20 ppd
It is one of each in my instock right now. No exceptions. No substitutions. No labels. No frills. Just great soap for a great price.

5 different blends

The Following Soaps are made with costly essential oils and ARE NOT part of the 5 for $20
Flower Power

These are loaded with organic shea, Indonesian patchouli, Bulgarian rose, clove, sweet orange, amber, and ylang ylang.



retail is $8 each
Sale is $7 each
I have a couple seconds for $6 each


Sandalwood Dreams
Another abundant shea butter soap with Sandalwood and Vanilla essential oils

retail $8

sale $7 each


Mother Earth
This is patchouli and sweet orange with moraccan red clay and not as much shea butter.


retail $5
sale $4.50

The Flower Power, Sandalwood and Mother earth are new and will need to sit for a couple weeks after you receive them for best results and hardness.




Bath Bliss Therapeutic Bath Salts

1 # of delightful relaxing Bath salts providing 4-5 baths per bag.


Retail is $15.

sale price is only $10

Mandarin Coriander (this rocks!) I have 8

Flower Power -I have 3

Mother Earth I have 5

Energize ( Spearmint and Eucalyptus) I have 4

Lavender Vanilla I have 5

THEN I have these sweet little 4 oz tubs for $4 each

Mother Earth I have 2

Lavender Vanilla I have 2

Energize I have 2


I have a few handmade creams instock. 2 oz tins.


These are totally natural and need to be used You can store in the fridge to help preserve, but I gotta tell you when you dont use chemicals, creams dont last forever so keep this in mind.



Skin loving herbal oils, grapeseed oil, rosehip seed oil, beeswax, aloe gel, rosewater, herbal tincture, flower essence, awapuhi and essential oils.



Rose Vanilla retail $7 sale is $6

Geranium Lavender Jewelweed-this is made with jewelweed oil, the famous herb for rash and poison ivy relief. Geranium and lavender essential oils are added to help keep insects at bay while outdoors as well as they are balancing to the skin.



retail $7 sale is $6

4 oz Flower Power Cream $14

4 oz lavender vanilla cream $12

4 oz sandalwood vanilla cream $14

4 oz unscented $12

1 oz rosewood Italian lavender handmade Damiana cream $3


Solid Perfume

.5 oz tins

These have handwritten blend names on their lids because the labels I ordered did not fit...wah .....so the price on each is $2.50

Rose Amber Vanilla

Sandalwood Vanilla Rose

Ginger Lime

Bay Rum Coriander

Jasmine Vanilla Ylang Ylang

Mandarin Lime

Ginger Orange

Patchouli Amber

Flower Power (patchouli, clove, orange, ylang ylang) 1 oz tin is retail 7 sale for $5

Mother Earth 1 oz tin retail $7 Sale is for $5

$1 off all flower essence and herbal tinctures in my store http://hyenacart.com/dreamseeds



And lastly, our lovely herbal salves are $6 each for a 2 oz tin.

Retail is $7

Plantain salve (great all purpose-insect bite releiver)

Chickweed Salve(another all purpose with cooling properties)

Comfrey, Cedar and Plantain Salve(I love this for most things this year)

The comfrey causes sores to heal much faster)

Jewelweed salve (for poison ivy and rash) 1 left

All sales must be final by Sunday 7-6-2008


These prices are US only. International orders will have additional shipping charges according to what the post office charges me.



Please email me at dreamseeds@cox.net for your choices and I will get you a total and a paypal address to send to.