Halloween Glow: Poem

 Halloween Glow: Poem

Today, I was on the cloud nine

Right as rain, and it is perfectly fine

To have to believe in magic 

To find it, to avoid tragic.

It is time to leave, according to the code.

Let's hit the road.

What for? -

To follow the happy law.

I want to know more,

Everything to the core.

What for? -

I want to grow.

In this case, I will count till four 

Until you will soar.

My dear, you were born to glow!

Tomshinsky@2024

Bread in 10 Minutes!

 Bread in 10 minutes! No oven! This is the tastiest thing I've ever eaten! Anyone can do it.

Ingredients:

For the Bread:

4 cups (480g) of flour

1 cup (220g) of yogurt

1 cup (200ml) of water

1 packet (10g) of baking powder

1 teaspoon (8g) of salt

1 tablespoon (10ml) of vegetable oil

Wandering in Wonder

 

WANDERING IN WONDER

Keep your heart open to life's quiet miracles - they hide in morning dewdrops, dance in afternoon shadows, and whisper in evening breezes. Each day holds countless moments of wonder, waiting to be discovered by those who pause long enough to notice. Look for magic in the curve of a river, the silhouette of mountains against sky, the gentle sway of pine trees in the wind. These simple wonders are nature's gifts, freely given to those who remain curious, who never lose their capacity for awe. In a world that rushes past beauty, be the one who stops to marvel.

Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo

 

Pablo Picasso needed no introduction when he came across Frida Kahlo, the artist invited by André Bretón to present her magical realism in a Paris gallery in 1939. The admiration was reciprocal, and the connection was immediate - and forever - between two of the artists. most influential of the 20th century, authors of their own, unmistakable and universally recognizable style.

After expressing his admiration for Frida Kahlo's paintings, Pablo Picasso summarized his perception of the Mexican artist's unique style in one sentence, in the form of a recommendation to a friend:

«I recommend her to you, an enthusiastic admirer of her work, acidic and tender, hard as steel and delicate and fine as a butterfly wing, adorable as a beautiful smile and deep and cruel as the bitterness of life.»

The artist from Malaga gave the Mexican painter some earrings in the shape of hands that she herself captured in one of her self-portraits, making them an iconic element.

Frida with the earrings that Picasso gave her, Photo by Nickolas Muray. 1939

If You Have Pain: Poem

 "If You Have Pain:" Poem

If you have pain

In your blue vein,

It means - you are alive.

What can you do? - It is life.

On the bright side,

If I do not mind,

You are not a mechanical robot

With a small heart as a dot.

Believe me, or not,

Pain makes us human.

Painless follows by pain

That makes you a fighter,

Lighter, and brighter

For the painless life

To keep you alive.

Tomshinsky@2024

Buttered Eggs

 Another unique Irish culinary invention is buttered eggs, a tasty way to preserve eggs and one will be offering at our farmers markets.

Invented in time immemorial, probably due to the proliferation of butter in Celtic culture, the Irish developed this way to preserve eggs. It became so popular that exportation of buttered eggs to England numbered in the tens of thousands of dozens every year during the English colonial times.

Because there is so much missing from Continental Celtic culture history there’s no reason to not believe that the continental Celts practiced this as well. Butter was a form of currency with them from Spain and Gaul to Galatia in modern day turkey

Because the shell is porous, it absorbs the butter to form a more protective seal. Today buttered eggs are a delicacy, largely vanished from Irish farmyards and pantries. You can't butter eggs by machine, as it’s an intimate practice involving the hand. Everyone needs to be done by hand. Farmers' wives used to say it was a task most difficult to execute in winter, when the butter was harder, and their hands were colder. So perhaps in addition to the egg and the butter, what I taste is the memory of an Irish woman whose palm coaxed butter lovingly all the way around a fragile shell, hoping to preserve it for as long as she could.

That might seem counterintuitive. Why waste butter on the outside of an egg? But clever Irish farmers had hit on buttering eggs as a way to preserve them during winters, when hens produce less. Taking freshly laid, still-warm eggs, farm families rolled them in their buttery palms. The butter helped solidify the hot, brittle shells, sealing off the yolky contents from the outside air.

Animal husbandry must take the forefront here because the eggs are never washed. These means super clean nests. 

Buttered eggs take on a shiny gleam. And, as an added bonus, the taste of butter permeates the egg, making it even richer when cracked opened and cooked. Eggs preserved this way keep for up to six months in a cool place and I have had them last even longer. It’s not surprising that buttered eggs were a Cork specialty, seeing as it’s also home to the Cork Butter Museum, a tribute to the region’s status as a butter-producing powerhouse.

They can be found at markets in Ireland, and I make them regularly as a homestead specialty. I will be releasing them at the markets to let you all get a taste of them too

Ground Cherries: Wild Perennial Crop

 

Bumper crop of wild perennial ground-cherries (Physalis virginiana) at the farm this year! The fully-ripe golden fruits, with or without the purple blush, are really delicious — evocative of pineapple and citrus. We've never been able to harvest enough to offer it in the catalog, but I expect we will this year (each little fruit has dozens or even upwards of a hundred tiny seeds) thanks to a previously unnoticed patch of the plants in a weedy stretch of ground where we haven't had anything planted in years.

This species can be a weedy troublemaker (notorious among soybean farmers for reducing yields), but it's also an edible native perennial berry, so I'm still a big fan. It's proving especially welcome this year, as an extended end-of-season drought has led to some crop failures. Finding sweet juicy morsels amidst the otherwise bone-dry landscape is an encouraging treat.

Virginia groundcherry, as it's known in English, also has a long history of medicinal use by Indigenous peoples, including against eye infections, gastrointestinal problems, and open wounds. Modern researchers have recently validated such traditional uses by finding strong antibacterial action caused by the presence of a powerful steroid called "withanolide" (which is found in many other nightshades too, including its namesake ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera).

This species is known to hybridize with another tasty native perennial groundcherry species, the "clammy groundcherry" (or Physalis heterophylla), so I'm optimistic about its potential to lead to a productive new perennial crop.

October Surprise: Poem

October Surprise: Poem

I think you are an October surprise

That browses and rise

From the down above ocean and trees

Setting the heart and soul free.

Noticed the autumn is a season of soul

For the heart that wants more.

Maybe in autumn heart longing

For summer and spring,

And great memories ring to bring.

Since we meet

You are very sweet,

You have a heart

Full of treasures and art,

I think you are an October surprise

That browses and rise.

Your heart and soul

Take a full control

Of body and mind

Because you are really nice and kind.

I think you are an October surprise

That browses and rise.

You deserve the best

For any request -

Well deserved,

Everything that have to be served.

I think you are an October surprise

That browses and rise.

Tomshinsky@2024

Washing Your Hands and More

 In the past, people used urine to tan animal skins. Families would collect urine in a pot and sell it to tanneries. If someone was extremely poor, they were referred to as "piss poor." Even worse off were those who couldn't afford a pot at all—they were considered the lowest of the low.

Consider this: when you're washing your hands and complaining about the water temperature, think about how things used to be. Here are some fascinating facts from the 1500s:

1. June Weddings: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May. By June, they still smelled pretty good. Brides carried bouquets of flowers to hide any lingering body odor, which is why carrying a bouquet during weddings is a custom today.

2. Baths and Babies: Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of using the clean water first, followed by other family members. Babies were bathed last. The saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!" originated from this practice.

3. Thatched Roofs and Animals: Houses had thatched roofs made of thick straw. Animals (like cats and mice) lived in the roof to keep warm. When it rained, the roof became slippery, leading to the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

4. Dirt Floors and Canopy Beds: Floors were dirt, except for the wealthy. They had slate floors that became slippery in winter. To prevent slipping, they spread straw (thresh) on the floor. Canopy beds were invented to protect against bugs and other debris falling from the roof.

5. Eating Stew and Leftovers: People cooked in big kettles over the fire. They ate mostly vegetables and little meat. Stew was a common dish, and leftovers were left in the pot overnight. The rhyme "Pea's porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old" reflects this practice.

6. Lead Poisoning from Pewter Plates: Wealthy individuals had pewter plates. However, the lead in pewter could leach into acidic foods, causing lead poisoning. Tomatoes, being acidic, were considered poisonous for about 400 years.

7. Bread and Social Status: Bread was divided by status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests received the top—the "upper crust."

8. Lead Cups and Knockout Combinations: Lead cups were used for ale or whisky. The combination of lead and alcohol could knock drinkers out for days.

9. Graveyard Shift and Dead Ringers: England faced a shortage of burial space. Coffins were reused, and sometimes scratch marks inside revealed that people had been buried alive. To prevent this, a string was tied to the corpse's wrist, leading to a bell above ground. The "graveyard shift" involved listening for the bell—someone could be "saved by the bell" or considered a "dead ringer."

And there you have it! History is anything but boring.

Irish Way: I Short Story

 

In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if, you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.
~ C.E. Murphy

Mystic Road: Poem

 "Mystic Road:" Poem

Shy love is blushing

I guess, I am crushing.

I want to rock your gypsy soul

Before I will get old.

Together we will flow

Before the wind would blow.

It is not odd,

To go down the mystic road.

The way you hold me tight

It felt all so right

I do not want my knight

Disappear in the dark night.

It is not odd

To go down the mystic road.

Tomshinsky@2024

Dandelion

 "The dandelion is the only flower that represents the three celestial bodies of the sun, moon, and stars: The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moons, and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine, and dye for coloring.

Up until the 1800s, people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva and chamomile.

The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely toothed leaves.

Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.

Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind, and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as five miles from their origin!

Birds, insects, and butterflies consume nectar or seeds of dandelion.

Honey from bees pollinating dandelions is quite delicious. .

Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seeds.

Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee.

Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as a diuretic.

If you know dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.

Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist. They are masters of survival worldwide."

A breaking egg story of inspiration

 So tonight, as I was cooking, I was thinking about life. And I said in my subconscious “I’ve reached my breaking point.”

I began to make cornbread and cracked these two eggs and I heard “Now I can use you!” You see an egg can’t be used until it’s broken.

I immediately found joy in the breaking!! . Not everyone will understand this but to those who do be encouraged.

Yes you’re at your breaking point!

Yes you are broken!

But that’s ok! You are ready to be used!

Love this so much!!!

Sugar Banana

 

Dandelion: Facts from National Geographic

 

Here are some interesting facts about the dandelion flower:

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. . The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon, and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.

Up until the 1800s people would pull grass out of their lawns to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva, and chamomile.

The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely toothed leaves.

Dandelions have one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant.

Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind, and they travel like tiny parachutes. Seeds are often carried as many as 5 miles from their origin!

Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or seed of dandelion.  .

Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seed.

Dandelion can be used in the production of wine and root beer. Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee.

Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.

Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as diuretic.

If you mow dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.

Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide.

A not so fun fact: Every year countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to have uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and we use 30% of the country’s water supply to keep them green.

Bee Happy Gardens

Iodized Salt

 

How I Stabilized My A1C (fast)

…and Reclaimed My Life By Doing “This”.

It was just another hectic day at the hospital, or so I thought.

I had been running on fumes, barely keeping up with my patients, when suddenly…

The unthinkable happened.

As I rushed down the stairs to grab a quick lunch, my vision began to blur, and the world around me started to spin.

Before I could even react, my body crumpled to the ground, and everything went black.

I eventually came to in the hospital bed with the bright hospital lights shining in my eyes…

Only to be hit with the most devastating news of my life:

"You have Type 2 diabetes," the doctor said, his words like a punch to my gut.

I felt my whole life come crashing down, my retirement plans slipping away.

As a nurse who had worked with diabetic patients for years, I’ve seen first-hand what diabetes does to people.

I’d seen patients lose their sight, watched as they had their legs amputated, and…

Even held their hands as they underwent exhausting dialysis treatments for kidney failure.

And now, I was facing the same fate.

I felt like a failure, like I had let everyone down - my patients, my family, and most of all, myself.

Desperate to change mt fate, I tried everything I could think of to lower my blood sugar.

I cut out all my favorite foods, started exercising until I was exhausted, and religiously took my medication.

But no matter what I did, my blood sugar levels were still a complete rollercoaster.

…And I was at my wit's end, feeling like I had exhausted all my options.

I figured this was just my new reality – a shadow of her former self, forever struggling to keep my blood-sugar under control.

But then, everything changed.

One day, as I was heading to the break room, I overheard something that would completely change my life.

Mary, a fellow nurse who was retiring in a few weeks, was excitedly discussing her BIG plans for retirement with another colleague.

I knew Mary had been battling Type 2 diabetes for years, so I was surprised to hear the joy and confidence in her voice.

Intrigued, I joined the conversation and asked Mary how she managed her condition while still living life to the fullest.

She smiled warmly and told me about the various things she had tried over the years…

The strict diets, the exhausting exercise routines, and the endless medication adjustments.

But then, her eyes lit up as she mentioned the one solution that she truly believed made all the difference.

As I listened to Mary's story, I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in months.

Could this be the answer I had been searching for?

With newfound determination, I decided to give it a try…

And let me tell you, it was the best decision I ever made.

Within just a few weeks, I started noticing incredible changes in my health and well-being.

My blood sugar levels began to stabilize, and I had more energy than I'd had in years.

I stopped worrying about the complications and feeling guilty whenever I picked up a donut.

Now, a month later, I feel like a completely different person.

My A1C is in the normal range, and I've even lost a few pounds!

I'm back to being the nurse everyone can count on.

But most importantly, I've reclaimed my life.

So, if you're struggling with erratic blood-sugar and feeling like there's no hope, I’m living proof that it’s possible!

Autumn Season: Poem

 "Autumn Season:" Poem

Autum season exists to remind 

That things must end 

To begin again to co-find and re-find.

Birds at Autumn

Will leave you in awe.

Autumn in Antarctica

Is always fantastica,

And different from Aruba, Antica,

Or tropical Florida.

Instead of looking 

At what depressing,

Look at what is a blessing

For someone pristine and delicate 

That most deserving.

Autumn is leaving

The best in life

Oh, oh, up to you,

Oh, oh, with you.

Home is where the heart is,

Life is better with you, please,

But the best part in life -

Does not deny 

Or decline - 

The morning's version of yourself.

Tomshinsky@2024

Dragon Wagon

"Dragon Wagon:" Poem

The online communication

Is a positive motivation

For the new technologic age

In the digital exchange.

I cannot wait

If only I could activate

My October Orange Dragon 

With the passenger's wagon,

I would travel in style

Every mile, every mile. 

"Where are you going,

My sweetheart darling,

With the

 choo-choo train?" -

I will follow you to Spain,

And perhaps to Maine.

I hope to get there before the rain,

Just for the one more

Cup of coffee, therefore.

Tomshinsky@2024