Dear Yogis,

Things are changing, and I have been flagging this in my newsletter.  I am seed saving, increasing space for my vegetable gardens, learning how to do all these things without giving up my “day job” – gardening takes time!  However, there is also the quest to find out how to take care of heat loss from the house, preferably investing in things (at my age) that will give a return in a reasonable time.

I know like me you are looking to save money in your house.  If you are a young person, and live in a suitable house for solar ie no shade from trees, then obviously solar is the way to go, but there is not much rebate now, OK if you are 35 years old.  Plenty of time to repay for solar and batteries.

Batteries which make great sense,  are expensive and in the next few years, cars will arrive in Australia (as they are in Europe) where they have a reverse battery, so we can plug our house into the battery that drives our car.  This would tide us over for emergencies when the lights go out. Do you buy a new car with a reverse battery that can drive house and car, or a battery that can only power the house?

What if like me you are of a certain age, with no cash to splash? then (if you have taken care of draughts, and insulation in the roof as I have) there are options.  Two of these are Double glazing (or retro-fit), or solar/heat loss insulating window films.

This week I will be experiencing a visit from a window film firm.  They send a representative out (prior to your decision),  who will test for solar loss/gain from your windows.  Once this is established, they recommend the correct answer to your window insulation needs.  The cost of film is considerably less than double glazing and less than retro-fit. I think, no matter what your decision is, this is a good place to start.  Knowing about how efficient your curtains, outside shade, etc are in keeping you house warm, before you invest in heaters, glazing etc..

You can DIY if you buy the film from Bunnings, but I would not think it is easy unless you have small windows in which case it could be.  Wrinkles and badly fitted film would drive me nuts, and the film is not inexpensive.    Better to pay for it to be installed professionally in this household (if I go down that route).  I will let you know what is recommended for me, and how much I could save (and then if I do it, how much I do actually save). There are two qualities of window films – one for insulation and one for privacy.  You can’t have both in the one it seems.

ARTMONEY.COM  This is an important “new idea” for us all.
I am an artist and of course I have a bias, but I believe art is important for our mental health.  It is wonderful to have art on your walls that make you feel good.  There is only one test of good art.  If you have a painting on your wall  and then take it down – if you miss it, it was good art, if you don’t miss it, then sell it and re-invest the money.

To help you re-invest (even on a tiny scale), the firm called ART MONEY (art money.com) will help you.  It is a fancy credit card idea.  You pay 10% of the value of the painting in cash to the artist, and commit to ArtMoney for the balance.  Then ArtMoney will cover the balance and pay it to the artist, in the same way that a credit card does, except a credit card will pay the artist 100%, and you don’t need to pay the 10% upfront to the artist (unless you want to).

Commissions gratefully accepted.  House portraits, plant portraits, pets…. email to discuss.  yogafirst2@bigpond.com

HELP:  I plan to do a painting of a small plant called “WAVY MARSHWORT” (Nymphoides crenata) for the Botanical Art Society exhibition in Melbourne mid year.  I have more chance finding it by enlisting your help.  If you know of and can locate the plant – yellow fringed water plant with lotus like leaves), gently pull one from the water..  pat dry or leave it on a kitchen paper overnight, put in a plastic zip lock bag (with stems, leaves, and a bit of root if you can) and post it to me. It is a small plant and should post flat A4.   There are pictures on google just in case you don’t know the plant.  Thank you.

NEW SCHEDULE:

WEKLY STUDIO/ZOOM SCHEDULE  (PLEASE BOOK AHEAD – NO DROP-INS)
ZOOM: Mon. 6.30 Gita, Tues. Herb workshop 7.30, Friday 6.45 Tarot
STUDIO: Mon.1pm (full), Wed. 1pm Restorative, Friday 1pm Hatha,  SATURDAY 1PM RESTORATIVE YOGA.
MONTHLY LUNCHEON:  Thursday 28TH APRIL at 12noon at “The Vic” in Woodend (If you are running a bit late, relax, it’s OK – drop in for dessert).

PAST LIFE/TAROT READINGS – By Appointment. Tarot $85, Past-Life (QHHT taught by Dolores Cannon) $250. Group Past Life readings by arrangement.  yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT (How terrific!)

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

Dear Yogis,

JUST A QUICK REMINDER OF NEW YOGA TIMES AND CLASSES FOR WINTER.  
CLASS TIMES:  MON. WED. FRI. SAT 1pm YOGA CLASSES
NEXT YOGA LUNCH:  RSVP.  Thursday 28th April, Victoria Hotel Woodend.

What a great day, only hampered by having to visit Bunnings, but really, it was the blind leading the blind.  I went into buy an Ozito garden tool.  I really like the brand and they are economical and have served me well.  I was told by the staff that I didn’t need to buy a battery, that one battery suited all the Ozito range.  Wrong! Consequently I have to make another trip down there to get a battery or have one posted – one way costs as much as the other, so I might as well bite the bullet and visit AGAIN.  This time armed with more information.  Enough to stymie a well meaning salesperson. It will be a long, long time before I do this again.

We had our monthly yoga lunch this morning (I am writing this Thursday evening) Where were you?  What a hoot, and the food was great, and we didn’t have to wait an hour for it.  I personally prefer the Mount Pub, but I don’t like the long wait for service – though I do understand that hospitality venues are under the pump and the pressures of staff shortages  because of  a. covid problems and b. staff who are doing “other things” after lock-down, or c. are re-training also made possible by covid programs.

ART VENTURES
It is times like this that I am pleased I paint and draw, and can work for myself.  In this way I am never unemployed, and if I am, it is my own fault.  I haven’t paid attention – No-one makes me work.  If my appointment book isn’t full there is only one person to blame.  Me!

I am doing a number of watercolour posters of herbs.  You will find them on instagram and etsy (www.myyogabooks.etsy.com).  I am starting a poster with interesting teapots and herbs.  I stayed up much too late last night doing the drawings.  Starting painting after tea tonite.  I thought I would have tomorrow to do more painting, but I have to go to Bunnings … what a nuisance!

HERBS:  Don’t forget my herbal teas.  They are not meant to be like the teas at Coles.  These are medicinal (as well as nice tasting), and can help ease bloating, heart problems, IBS, tiredness and so on.  I might have a pipe of smoking herbs tonite – I really need a good relax that leaves me bright and bushy tailed to keep on drawing.  Like to try? All on Etsy. www.myyogabooks.etsy.com.

SCHEDULE:

WEKLY STUDIO/ZOOM SCHEDULE  (PLEASE BOOK AHEAD – NO DROP-INS)
ZOOM: Mon. 6.30 Gita, Tues. Herb workshop7.30, Friday 6.45 Tarot
STUDIO: Mon.1pm (full), Wed. 1pm Restorative, Friday 1pm Hatha,  SATURDAY 1PM RESTORATIVE YOGA.
MONTHLY LUNCHEON:  Thursday 28TH APRIL at the Victoria Hotel in Woodend at 12noon (If you are running a bit late, relax, we will still be here – drop in for dessert).

See you on your scooter.  I am still contemplating this with a fabulous grafitti’d helmet! – I REALLY DO NEED A BIT OF FUN IN MY LIFE, and this could do it.

 

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

Dear Yogis,

Don’t forget tomorrow (Thursday 31st March) is our Luncheon date.  The Victoria Hotel in Woodend at 12 noon.  I would love to see any of you who are available at this time attend.  Don’t worry about contacting me, no RSVP.  The Vic are sticklers for the Covid precautions, so bring your proof of vaccination just in case you get asked.

SMOKING HERBS.

I have finished the poster, and I am making more pipes.

If you want to download the poster then go to www.myyogabooks.etsy.com.  I did it so that serious herb enthusiasts could download an attractive poster of their herbs, then before framing make a printer copy to put in their Herb Journal near the entry of the herbs in the illustration.

 

In the photo to the left, I have placed the real pipe on top of the poster just so you could see the size.  On the right hand size is the poster as it is.

 

STELLARIA”  Our range of Flower Remedies specifically for animals.

This is our most recent range of flower essences (based on the work of Dr.Edward Bach). The first set of which was launched for use with animals at the time of the Covid lockdowns which afforded me  the time and space to work on these remedies.  I came up with my own “Famous Five” – Five fabulous remedies to deal with even the most stubborn cases.

Like all our essences, these new combinations act as catalysts for emotional change, helping to ‘nip in the bud’ emotional upsets to our favourite furry companion’s inner balance in any situation,  and to reduce the risk of this developing into a more significant difficulty down the track, which it often does.

The Remedies deal with… * fear * aggression * socialisation * liberation * separation anxiety *grief * and * transition, although we can formulate Remedies designed just for you and your companion.  We call them our “FAMOUS FIVE”.

It is a delight to know that these essences are offering emotional comfort to many animals who may have been suffering for many years, as a result for example, of being taken from their mother too young, or of being re-homed after spending time in an animal shelter, or being in a place where there was no possibility of socialising normally. There is a Stellaria Essence that has been developed specifically for each of these and other emotional states, which give rise to many of the behavioural patterns that can pose difficulties for the animal and owner alike down the track.  A remedy for the animal and the owner who is often stressed..

Every year, thousands of animals are needlessly destroyed, not because they are unsavable, but to give their owners peace from dealing with an animal’s incontinence, destructiveness, noisiness, or other problem.  In this way, behaviour problems become a “terminal disease” and tragically it seems this the greatest cause of the euthanasia of young animals.  With vet bills escalating, the cost is often a determining factor in discarding or putting an animal down.

Correcting a behaviour problem is extremely cost effective on every front – physically, mentally, emotionally and fiscally.  It does not require expensive behaviour therapy or modification on behalf of the owner – it can be brought about in many cases quite simply and inexpensively through the use of our flower remedies – The STELLARIA  “Famous Five”

The ‘Famous Five” a set of five “Stellaria” Remedies for the most common problems * FEAR *  SOCIALISATION * SEPARATION ANXIETY * GRIEF * TRANSITION are available at www.myyogabooks.etsy.com . The cost? $85 plus $10 postage.  I will get them photographed and up tomorrow… and I will let you know when this is done.   (You can of course purchase the remedies singly).  I am sorry that postage is such a high ticket item – buying the set ameliorates this somewhat.

 

WEKLY STUDIO/ZOOM SCHEDULE
ZOOM: Mon. 6.30 Gita, Tues. Herb workshop7.30, Friday 6.45 Tarot
STUDIO: Mon.1pm (full), Wed. 1pm Restorative, Friday 1pm Hatha
MONTHLY LUNCHEON:  Thursday 31st March at the Victoria Hotel in Woodend at 12noon (If you are running a bit late, relax, we will still be here – drop in for dessert).

See you on your scooter (I am still contemplating this with a fabulous grafitti’d helmet!)

NAMASTE – JAHNE