Just another Friday at the office

Girls love their shoes and Wild Thing is no exception…4 new ones were the order of the day, this Friday.

Two of her six “shoes” are new from two years ago. The remaining four were due to be replaced a year ago. I have an upcoming trip which you all are welcome to come along on via From the Front Porch. I hate planning trips. Wild Thing will be departing some time after September 1 and no later than September 11. September 11 is the most likely, but you never know :)!

To the point…I was not risking another trip on the old tires.

Karl (see the black furry back end) and I parked behind the Kalispell Tire-Rama, hoisted Wild Thing on her own leveling jacks and let the techs from Tire-Rama mount, balance, shuffle and install, while we napped/worked respectively.

The cold front arrived the night before – the day was pleasant – and we were out and about with visions of an upcoming adventure in our heads. Just another Friday at the office.

Common Yarrow

We went from the possibility of a freeze to HOT – it didn’t reach 90, but it got close. One more day – today, and then a cold front is supposed to whoosh through overnight and “hang on to your hat”, as with that windy front we are due to move straight to early Fall!

Meanwhile, the only thing flowering in my woods is Common Yarrow…another medicinal.

Yarrow is a very valuable medicinal herb, with much scientific evidence of use in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonics, vasodilator and vulnerary. Yarrow is used against colds, cramps, fevers, kidney disorders, toothaches, skin irritations, and hemorrhages, and to regulate menses, stimulate the flow of bile, and purify the blood. Medicinal tea is a good remedy for severe colds and flu, for stomach ulcers, amenorrhea, abdominal cramps, abscesses, trauma and bleeding, and to reduce inflammation. The main constituents are volatile oils including linalool, camphor, sabinene, and chamazulene, sesquiterpene lctones, flavanoids, alkaloids including achilleine, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, salicylic acid, coumarins, and tannins which prove these uses in alternative medicine to be effective. Extracts of yarrow exhibit antibiotic activity and may also act as anti-neoplastic drugs. Externally for treating wounds and stopping the flow of blood. Yarrow oil has been traditionally used in hair shampoos. Some caution is advised , large or frequent doses taken over a long period may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.

Common, but pretty, especially when you look carefully up close at the wee florets: Common Yarrow.

Stocking up

No frost/no overnight freezing last night, but yesterday afternoon while out in the woods with Karl, it seemed like this guy or gal thought NOAA might be right.

This squirrel was furiously running to and from a pile of pinenuts – carrying the loot, one nut at a time from one end of the log to somewhere inside – all of the time keeping a wary eye on me and occasionnally stopping to chitter at me. He or she was determined not to let me get in the way of the stocking up process even though I got quite close.

I have mixed feelings about squirrels – They annoy Karl and I…dropping stuff on us, chittering, teasing and generally being noisy. But they are agile and I admire their speed and athleticism. Karl, not so much…see Dog and Squirrel , but he was some ways away, intent on some other thing of interest in the woods.

I finally got tired of teasing this squirrel with the camera and left it to finish stocking up.

Just shy of full

A cold front swept through yesterday and rain overnight cleared the sky. Today felt like Fall and there is a frost warning for tonight. The day and evening were beautiful and clear. Karl and I walked out past the edge of the woods about 8:30 to catch moonrise. We were a bit late – it was up in the sky.

*The double click of this is a larger crop – smaller moon with more sky.

In Jest

Horsemint, bee balm and some other genus name go with this wildflower, another that can get out of hand apparently, but this is the first time I remember seeing it and I’m pretty sure I’d remember it as it makes me laugh. They look silly – like a court jester’s hat – which is what I’ve been calling them in my head until I finally looked them up yesterday.

I read briefly about bee balm…that’s the name I like, but I’ll probably remember horsemint… – it has medicinal uses:

Bee Balm is edible and medicinal, the entire plant above ground is edible used as a pot herb, and it is also used as a flavoring in cooked foods. The flowers make an attractive edible garnish in salads. The plant is noted for its fragrance, and is a source of oil of thyme. The fresh or dried leaves are brewed into a refreshing aromatic and medicinal tea. An infusion of young Bee Balm leaves used to form a common beverage in many parts of the United States.

Bee Balm leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An infusion is medicinal used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucus membrane, causing an increased flow of mucus). Externally, it is a medicinal application for skin eruptions and infections. Bergamot’s distinctive aroma, found in both the leaf and flower is wonderful for use in potpourri.

It appears to be something of a cure-all.

They have been blooming for some time and continue. At the moment, they are the only thing of color. But, I might just pick a few for my desk – a minty fragrance and a look that makes me laugh would be just the ticket for a Monday morning!

Photo taken 7/19/2010 at the edge of my woods

Saturday morning: The Road Home

I have some incredible photos of “The Road Home” and incredible experiences viewing the road home in all directions as I’ve come and gone on my way to and from my home of the last four years. I breathe deeper and move to that place of peace and serenity, that is home to me, every time I turn onto my road and watch the mountains and clouds.

Sometimes, I think I’ve seen the view every way it can be seen….

…and then – something new on this Saturday morning…on the road home.

The Road Home Series on Flickr