Dear Yogis,
I love making, mending and working in the garden, and this weekend passed it is exactly what I have done. I cleaned and put a new band on my hat, beaded a new hat band, made a little owl cover for a heat bag, and prepared the garden for the arrival of quails. I am not sure when they will arrive, but I have them on my mind, so I guess that they will. I am ready for them. I have the little house and run in a protected area close to the house – in fact I can see it easily from my desk in my studio sitting room. I have considered quail because they will eat scraps, and garden waste, and from this produce fertiliser and eggs. They are small, won’t wander off, and are productive. All good.
DARNING: Just in case you thought I am the only one who makes and mends, here is a photo of Prince Charles. He sometimes mends (you can see patches and worn places even on special suits), but here is a beautiful jacket that clearly could do with a mend… a patch or two would not go astray. Even the places that have been patched are wearing out.
I also made some jam in the bread maker loaned to me by Jane (thank you). Although there was a recipe for marmalade, and that is what I made, LEMON MARMALADE. It was only marginally successful. It set, it tasted like lemon marmalade, but were I to do it again I would use more sugar (2 cups instead of one and a half), and cook the rinds before I put them in the bread maker. The rinds were barely cooked. I followed this with a yeastless caraway and date bread. Now, this was hugely successful and the main problem was to stop eating it. It wasn’t “cakey”, and very tasty. I am not sure you need a bread maker though. Either of these can be made in other ways. The jam in the microwave, and the bread in the oven. I have both of these and now I have the recipes so I don’t need a bread maker, and it only made 2 jars at a time.
HOUSEHOLD REMEDIES: As you know, I try to replace the store bought items in the house for cheaper/better/purer replacements, and one of these replacements is FABRIC SOFTENER. We are so used to popping softener in the wash. We are even encouraged by the design of the washing machines – mine has a special receptacle for it. Here is my recipe.. This recipe is perfect for towels and sheets especially. I like it because the sheets retain the lavender smell which as you know aids sleep (not that I need this!) You can use a different essential oil – it is up to you.
FABRIC SOFTENER INGREDIENTS: 500g Epsom salts, 250g baking soda, 30 drops essential oil. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and store in an airtight container until you are ready to use . Put two tablespoons into each load of washing. I have a book “SUPERFOODS SUPERHERBALS” which you will find on Etsy that will give you lots of hints and tips to make and save. www.myyogabooks.etsy.com
COVID AND THE ELECTION. No-one is talking about it in spite of the fact that we have one of the highest infection rates in the world, and we are underreporting by a factor of two. At this stage we are where the world was in 1920. The Spanish Flu was considered to be over – that was not the case, people relaxed and more deaths, more infections occurred. We are reaping the benefits of the high vaccination rate, however, 10% are still vulnerable. Deaths are not going down – 37 deaths a week going upwards. Imagine if 37 deaths occurred on the road every week! We have effective antivirals, but people are not being offered them.
Given in the first 5 days antivirals are hugely effective, and they are freely available and on the NHS. We are not organised around this, and we have people dying who don’t need to. The real worry is that animals can become infected, in this way the virus changes and can come back into the population. Norman Swan says that it will be the cause of another pandemic. We also have the flu virus which is mutating. This scenario is now a part of our lives. There will be another pandemic, and we have to be ready for it – remembering the lockdowns and interruptions to our lives over the last couple of years. Are you ready for another pandemic?
CURRENT STUDIO/ZOOM SCHEDULE: (Studio Yoga – Mondays and Wednesdays at 1pm are Full)
WEKLY STUDIO/ZOOM SCHEDULE (PLEASE BOOK AHEAD – NO DROP-INS, sorry)
ZOOM: Mon. 6.30 Gita, Tues. Herb workshop 7.30, Friday 6.45 Tarot – $50 for 4 Friday classes.
STUDIO YOGA:Mon. 1pm (full) 2pm, Wed. 1pm Restorative(full), Friday 1pm Hatha, SATURDAY 1PM RESTORATIVE or HATHA YOGA.
NEW CLASSES. I am starting a new gentle hatha class from Monday 16th May at 2pm, and looking to put on extra weekday classes as demand increases.
MONTHLY LUNCHEON: Thursday 26th May at 12noon at “The Vic” in Woodend (If you are running a bit late, relax, it’s OK – drop in for dessert).
CONSULTATIONS: Tarot/Bach/Bowen or a combo – by appointment only. $85 including remedy (including postage if zooming) Past-Life (QHHT taught by Dolores Cannon) $250 via email or in the studio. The reading includes Time, date, place of the prior life. To discuss, email yogafirst2@bigpond.com
I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT
NAMASTE – JAHNE
New User Pass – $75 (a great way to try out the Pass!)
(TANTRIC) HERBS
Hope you were NOT among those who missed THE TUESDAY HERBAL CLASS.
TEAS: Custom blended teas