An informative sampling focused on herbs and tea with an occasional sprinkling of fairy dust and a glimpse into family activities too. The contributions to this blog are the combined efforts of the sisters of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Hawai'i Reflections
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Please Do Not Disturb
you may see on the shoreline.
These honu can usually be found basking in the sun, or resting on the black sand beaches along the shoreline. The turtles are brown all over, grow to about three feet in length and can weigh up to 400 pounds. Their name, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (honu), originated from the color of their body fat, which is green from the vegetation they eat from the rocks on the shoreline.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Aloha Dinner #2
The Balsamic Vinaigrette is Marcella's adaptation from a recipe she learned in cooking school. She has graciously shared it with us.
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T water (sometimes she doesn't add this)
1/2 t salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 t Dijon mustard
2 T olive oil
1 T finely chopped shallot
1 minced garlic clove
1 t dried herbs: oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary or whatever
Put vinegar and water in small bowl. Whisk in the salt, pepper and mustard. Add the shallots, garlic and herbs and whisk. Add the olive oil and whisk until smooth.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Marcella's Aloha Dinner
Aloha Dinner
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hawaiian Farmer's Markets
But the bounty of the Island grown fruits, veggies,
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hawaiian Vanilla Company
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hawai'i 2010
horses, adventure, volcanoes, and more. As the days pass, we'll share our journey. In the meantime, there's news, mail, email, phone messages, laundry, jet lag, and general business to catch up with along with memories to file. As with any vacation, there's no place like home. It's good to be home!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hawai'i
Monday, January 18, 2010
Botanical Bangles and Beads
Many of the seeds above are called Sea Beans or Drift Seeds- these world travelers hitch rides on the oceans currents and then are often found on the beaches in temperate climates. They often have a large tough outer pod that's either thick or spiny or both to protect them through the journey. The large black bean above is called a Sea Heart. It can be polished in a stone tumbler and engraved.
All these beads came home with me from a trip to the Peruvian Amazon.
These are some of my other favorite necklaces. The one on the right is commonly thought to be apple seeds but is actually a legume, Leucana glauca. The colorful corn necklace is a reminder of our trip to the Southwest.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Seed Bead Jewelry- Rosaries
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Botanical Jewelry
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hawaiian Seed Beads
As the white man came to the Islands the importance of kukui in the economy declined. The oil was used similar to a linseed oil and was gathered in large quantities and exported off the Islands. At one time as much as 10,000 gallons of Kukui oil was exported. What a history this plant/nut has. I wear my jet black kukui nut necklaces with pride and am eager to see this majestic tree on our Hawaiian tour.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Family Geneology
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Bottle of Roots....
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
An Herbal Epiphany

These Three Kings came upon a most beautiful herbal stable..........

The hand carved olive wood figures from the Holy Land stand in a creche decorated with anise 'stars', cinnamon bark on the pillars, whole cloves tucked into crevasses, cardamon and nutmeg seeds, and dried rosemary (for remembrance, of course). The original creche is made of small branches, bark, and bamboo or reed, and moss. It was always natural looking, but I like it so much better with the added herbs. It was easy to glue the herbs on with white glue. The creche fragrances the whole room.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Kumquat Pomanders

For a pomander making tutorial using lemons, visit our herbal friend, Tina Sams Essential Herbal blog.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Orange Curd
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! ~ 2010 ~
and we will begin working on that resolution as we prepare for some 'fun in the sun' in celebration of the 50th birthday. . . . Hawaii 5-0 style! In a few short weeks we're off to the Big Island of Hawaii ~ 12 of us, in a rental house ~ If you have any suggestions and/or recommendations of 'must -do's' while on the Big Island, we would appreciate your thoughts! In the meantime, let the fun begin!