Birds and Turtles at the Iroquois Festival

We spent a pleasant day at the Iroquois Indian Museum in Cobleskill,NY today. We just missed seeing the dancers but got to hear some great stories and see some beautiful art work and animals.

This festival so resonates with that bit of Iroquois DNA in me. While my grandmother knew the Native American portion of our heritage, she was discouraged as a child and young woman to even mention it. In the early 1900's, when she was growing up, it was considered something to ashamed of and she never really got over those early lessons in shame. The real shame is not knowing that part of my history and to be able to pass it on to my son.

The birds in these photos are all recovering from injury to hopefully be re-released into the wild. The turtle lives in a little pond inside the museum with other turtles. This one is the largest and seems to be supervising all the others! The opening photo is of a beautiful Red Tailed Hawk with an injured wing.

SCREECH OWL

NORTHERN HARRIER

HORNED OWL

Tomorrow I'll share some of the art work on display in the museum.

Comments

How to Make Spice Filled Mug Mats

Spice filled mug mats and trivets make a thoughtful, fragrant gift. While they are not hard to make it does take a little time if you age your mix properly. The secret to long lasting fragrance in any potpourri type mix is sufficient aging. You can vary the spices and oils in this recipe to suit your own nose. Mug Mat Mix 1 cup of allspice 1 cup of cinnamon chips 1/2 cup of cloves 1 cup of dried orange peel 1/4 cup of star anise 1/4 cup of dried rosemary 1 cup of oak moss or cellulose fiber chips 1/2 teaspoon of orange essential oil 1/4 teaspoon each of clove and cinnamon essential oils Mix the first 6 ingredients and put into a jar with a tight fitting lid. Make sure it is large enough to allow for future mixing by shaking. Place your oak moss or cellulose fixative in a small jar with a lid and add your oils. Shake well and let sit for several days until the oils are fully absorbed. Add to your spice mix, put the cover back on and shake gently to mix. Let age for at least 4 weeks, s...

Myrrh and Patchouli

Before I get into the uses for these wonderful essential oils I would like to share the importance of doing a patch test before using a new botanical in any of your preparations. It's simple and only takes 15-20 minutes to find out if you or someone else is sensitive to an oil or botanical. Put a drop of the essential oil in question on a cotton ball and dab the inside of your arm right below the elbow. If any redness, itching or irritation occurs within the next 15-20 minutes avoid using that substance in any of your creations. MYRRH ~Myrrh has a warm, resinous scent that is soothing in states of stress, panic, fear, confusion and apathy. To use for this purpose, place a drop or two of the essential oil in a diffuser or bowl o f hot water to help disperse the scent throughout the room. A more portable solution is to take a whiff or two straight from the bottle. ~Myrrh is anti-inflammatory, anti fungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic making it a good addition to topical preparations...

Mosquito Bite Remedy

My favorite mosquito bite remedy is Hens and Chicks, Sempervivum tectorum. It is easily grown in a well drained, sunny area and survives our harsh winters without a problem. Simply break off a nice fleshy leaf, give it a squeeze to release the soothing, cooling juice inside and dab on the mosquito bite. You may have to do this a couple of times depending on how potent the mosquito happens to be. Avoid scratching the bite while the hens and chicks works its magic and the bite will disappear! It is safe to use on most anyone. (The plant is eaten in salads in the Netherlands, I hear.) I have it planted throughout my garden so I always have a leaf handy.Mosquitoes love me! You can also use the soothing juice on minor burns, cuts and nettle stings.

Man in the Moon Herbs

Search This Blog