FEMININE LIVING TRADITIONS FOR YOUR HOME...HEARTH..AND HEART SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER musings...

How I love this month...for it is the soothing beginning of the Autumn cycle...my favorite time of year. It is not just the colors...scents...and food of this season that I adore so much...but the feeling of release and "gathering in"...within myself...into my home and kitchen. The busy days...of completing goals and projects...out of town trips...and social gatherings of Summer are gone...to be remembered with fondness...of course...but gladly now...opening myself to the gentle offerings of the Fall season.

I cannot think of anything better...or fulfilling for me anyway...than going grocery shopping at my favorite organic shops...and seeing all the beautiful foods of the Fall season on display.

Big fat pumpkins...overflowing bins with their round orange faces...makes me feel like a child again...excited...that some of those pumpkins on an evening soon...will be transformed into a scary jack o' lantern for Halloween night.

Apples...of all colors and sizes...are stacked high...row after row... their aroma filling up the aisles...smelling like I have stepped into an  orchard...have me thinking about baked apples and honey...and my favorite fruit dessert...apple pie.

Squash ...beckon me to smell...poke and pick them up...and within minutes of exploring all the different types of this Fall root vegetable... makes me what to prepare it... in my family's favorite squash soup I cook... with fresh cream...leeks... and basil.

Bins of walnuts...and other nuts...look like little brown gems from the Earth...heaped to over flowing...ready to be scooped up and bagged...to go home with me...to eat...and to place in bowls for the Fall season table decorations.

And each year...I find just the right ears of Indian corn...stalks left on...to grace my kitchen table...as a harvest centerpiece...that I love so much...each colored kernel...reminding of all the abundance I have in my life...that I am so very grateful for.

My light sweaters come out of hiding from within my closet...and stacks of books...waiting to be read...on crisp Fall evenings... have me looking forward to the change of the season.

I have reflected these last weeks of issues and certain items that I really want to let go of...this month...and am planning my own private ceremony of "inner release" when I feel the time is right...for me to really purge these out grown and unwanted energies from my life. I will create a special little shrine or altar on my office window sill...and place fallen leaves...and dried up flowers...that I have gathered...and then place them on my shrine as symbols of  my "release". At the end of September... I will bury them in my backyard...declaring my freedom from this baggage in my life...knowing for certainty...by being willing to release...and do the inner work with that release...something more loving and positive will come into my life.

My wish for you this month of September...is to enjoy and relax into this soothing month...of reflection...returning to the comforts of home...hearth...and family. Make a big pot of soup...bake some bread...light some candles...and know you are blessed.

Because you are.

Warm hugs,
Victoria


AFFIRMATION FOR SEPTEMBER

"As this cycle of the Autumn months begin...I have the wisdom to release and let go".



WORLD TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

September 1st...Labor Day in USA... September 7th...Grandparents Day...September 21st...UN International Day of Peace...September 22nd...Fall Equinox...September 23rd...Worldwide Day of Prayer and Meditation To Help Heal Mother Earth.


FULL MOON is September 8th

FLOWERS OF SEPTEMBER...The narcissus...lily

GEMS AND STONES...The peridot...and citrine



FACTS ABOUT SEPTEMBER

The Autumn. or Fall Equinox is still celebrated around the world today in many cultures with festivals...food...and celebrating the harvest season.



HARVEST FESTIVALS IN USA IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

I am so pleased that so many states here in the USA are still celebrating the timeless traditions of the harvest season. Here are a few listed below...although you might not be able to attend...you will enjoy reading about them...or looking for them on the internet.



HERITAGE HARVEST FESTIVAL AT MONTICELLO
September 12-13
www.heritageharvestfestival.com

This harvest festival celebrates the harvest and legacy of revolutionary gardener Thomas Jefferson.



WINE AND HARVEST FESTIVAL IN HISTORIC CEDARBURG,WISCONSIN\
September 20-21st
www.cedarburgfestivals.org

Wine and foodie lovers...celebrate the harvest season,


MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL IN PAONIA,COLORADO
September 25-28th
www.mountainharvestfestival.org

Art...music.. food... and local products make this harvest festival a special yearly event.



FEMININE LIVING TRADITIONS...

...FOR YOUR HOME

Do a complete Fall cleaning...including washing your windows. Put away all your Summer toys and decorations...cleaning them first of course. Wipe down your cupboards with pure essential lemon oil...by adding a few drops of the lemon oil to a wet cloth and then wipe down. Repeat process until all kitchen and bathroom cupboards are clean and done. Oh my... your home will smell wonderful!

Your garbage disposal needs cleaning too! To clean...peel a lemon...into small pieces...put in the disposal and turn on the water into the drain and run the disposal...until the lemon rinds are ground up.

An alternative to this is to put white vinegar in an ice  cube tray...freeze until solid...then place cubes in disposal and run...until ice cubes are ground up,

Make a batch of natural...earth friendly scouring powder...to clean your sinks...with a lovely...fragrant scent. Recipe is below,


FRAGRANT SCOURING POWDER

1 cup
1/4 cup rose petals crushed
2 drops rosemary essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a glass container...one with a shaker top ( you can purchase these at hobby stores). Place lid in glass container...put your hand over top...to prevent spilling and then shake well.Sprinkle a small amount of the powder into sink and scrub with a damp cloth...or sponge. Rinse well.

This recipe makes for a wonderful house warming or holiday gift to give.Just put the finished product in a pretty jar or bottle...and tie a ribbon around the top.



...FOR YOUR HEARTH

The Fall season is the perfect time of the year to return to your hearth...and make more heartier but healthy meals for you...and your loved ones. If you are like me...baking cookies...homemade bread...and roasting meats and veggies in the oven...make for a homey...earthy...and ever so nurturing treats and goodness for your taste buds...and soul... as well as for your family and friends.

Before I add a recipe here in this section...here are a few kitchen tips for you to try and experiment with.

BALSAMIC VINEGAR...Add a few splashes to your spaghetti sauce and it will taste like you have been simmering the sauce all day.

BAKING...Use only glass or ceramic pans...rather than metal ones and you can conserve energy...by reducing the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

ONIONS... That have been stored too long...really have a very strong flavor and smell. But please do not throw them away! Just slice them...and then soak them in cold water for about 15 minutes...then drain and pat dry. Then use as desired.

Nothing says the Fall season like something home baked from your kitchen. This recipe will sooth your soul and create a wonderful aroma throughout your home.

Please try using organic ingredients...this is for health reasons...for you and your loved ones...but also makes such a more positive choice for the Earth.


APPLE AND NUTMEG CAKES
serves 4

11/2 white self-rising flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
11/2  sticks unsalted butter...cut into small pieces
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1 large free-range egg...beaten
2 cooking apples..peeled...cored...and grated

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the lemon rind and nutmeg...then the butter...and mix in with a fork...until the mixture looks like bread crumbs.

Stir in the sugar...then add the egg...and beat the mixture well...to a thick consistency. Add the apple...gently mix into batter.

Place 12 heaping spoonfuls of the mixture on a greased baking sheet and bake in the middle of the oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the cakes have risen and are brown.

Let the cakes cool for 5 minutes...then transfer them to a plate to finish cooling.




...FOR YOUR HEART

Traditionally the Fall cycle which begins September 22nd...is a time of release and letting go...and this includes your inner world. You will feel so much more at peace...empowered and gain more self-confidence when you take the steps to clear up emotional baggage.

One of the most common emotional baggage issues we carry around...is unfulfilled or toxic friendships. Oh my...to have a friend in your life who is toxic...and draining...certainly is not in your best interest or theirs either...you are in truth enabling their behavior...and disrespecting yourself... by not speaking up or closing out a relationship with them.


To get you started on your journey of release this month...take the necessary steps to get completion and closure with unresolved issues in a relationship...by either writing a letter...and sharing your feelings...with your written word ...with the person in question...or speaking to them in person. Either way ...you decide to handle this...come from your heart with this person...speak your truth...and do not attack them verbally...rather be supportive and respectful of yourself....but of them also.

If sharing your feelings in this honest way does not work out...you must be willing to let go of the relationship...and know and trust everything happens for a reason...including the possibility...that this is best for you and the relationship too.

A really great thing happens when you let go of unhealthy relationships...better and more positive ones come into your life!!!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!