One of my favorite things to pick in the garden is white sage.
The scent of the fresh leaves is everything summer to me for some reason.
I get a strange scent déjà vu of my childhood from the fresh leaves.
Like, suntan lotion and faint fruit and a fresh healing scent.
A scent of freedom and life, and anything is possible.
I can't describe it.
I fill bowls…
And baskets with it.
I never really bundled it together to make smudge sticks.
But my neighbor, who recently moved, loved burning them.
After she moved I had a smack on the forehead moment.
Hello, I have patches of white sage.
I could have made her oodles of smudge sticks.
This summer I have gifted a few, as I have been having gobs of fun bundling white sage.
You just need a hearty bunch…
Pinch the leaves as you go to release the scent.
Then look for me, as I might be hiding somewhere pinching all sorts of herb leaves.
In fact, every evening I walk around doing just that.
Pinching basil, mint, eucalyptus and rosemary, sage and dill – even lemon tree leaves.
Lemon and orange tree leaves smell so good when you pinch them and hold them up to your nose.
I looooove crushed lemon leaf scent.
I can't smell it enough.
I call it, scent therapy in the evenings.
I, like you, have every day worries and woes too, so scent therapy is the bestest for relaxing.
Give it a try?
Pinch pinch…
But where were we?
Ah yes, back to bundling sage.
Grab a good handful, and line the bottoms up…
Squeeze them tightly, as you wrap them with a sturdy thin string.
Let them dry a couple days…
And then, they are ready for burning.
Some people use them as incense.
Others as smudge sticks.
Always be extra careful with anything that requires fire, of course.
Light an end…
And then blow.
Keep blowing to keep it going…
Or let it burn as long as it wishes on its own.
Before I go, I wanted to share a little book I have been loving the last couple months…
It's a little treasure for those who love eclectic decor, with mixtures of styles and color and textures.
It's called –
Bazaar Style by Selina Lake.
I think it's a re-release, as it came out a few years ago?
I for one am so happy it's back, as I hadn't known about it years ago.
You?
The decor really speaks to me.
Especially this image…
I love decorating with flowers, and so want this cabinet in my house today 🙂
I have flowers all over my country pad.
Love.
Anyhow, it's so pretty.
Inspiring for those of us who haul treasures home from estate sales, antique stores and flea markets.
Colors, texture…
Collections.
Yumm.
Well, I am half way done with cleaning up the studio.
I have to finish today.
Have to.
I got sidetracked.
I have had 4 paintings going for a couple of months –
When did I become the slowest painter ever?
I used to be someone who would whip out a couple paintings in a day.
Impatient and filled with paint splatter madness.
Now, I take my time, sit with a piece, work on teensy details for ever.
Who am I?
Hahaha!
See you extra soon.
Love, V
ps: Just because…
A photo.
My shadows.
Where I go they go.
All day long 🙂
Yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of Baby's death.
June 25th.
Life teaches you so many things.
How to love, and open your heart greater.
Losing Baby was terrible sad, to say the least.
She would have loved our crazy dog life.
Inspired by her.
But, we would have never met our angel Miles, if it wasn't for her passing.
And she is the one who taught us how to really love furs.
So…
Life.
Flows and crashes and whips around, taking and giving – opening eyes and hearts along the way…
If you let it.
🖤
Hmmmm….white sage. I wonder if it grows wild around these desert mountains so close to me. I’ll have to check into that.
That book is right up my alley. I believe I need a copy. Thanks for the heads up.
Awww..Baby. 🖤🖤 I remember her passing.
I remember Miles coming into your life and opening your heart even further.
Sweet Miles and Matty.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
i want to grow white sage but can never find anyone in my area that sells it. i’ll have to keep looking. so is that a book or a magazine? it looks heavenly. i’m going to go google it now.
love & blessings
~*~
Its a book 😉
I would love to send you a bundle!! 😉
E-mail me your address….
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 6/26/2013 1:23:33 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Hi Vanessa.
I love this post. So many things in it that resonate with me. (That sounds so pretentious but I can’t think of another way to put it! I am not pretentious honestly!) Firstly the smudge sticks and the sage. I have not got sage in my garden though I have quite a few herbs. But a while ago I was going through a very difficult time at work with a particular person and madly I bought myself two necklaces. One a St Michael whose avenging qualities appealed, and a little amulet bag which the lady who I brought it from recommended that I smudge with a smudge stick of sage. In the end the situation at work was resolved and I didn’t feel the need of any kind of spiritual necklace support but it was like a secret strength in my mind. So now I know what a smudge stick looks like thanks!
At school this year we have been in a classroom not meant for nursery, with a small and totally barren playground. Nothing growing, not even the tiniest weed. As soon as the weather began to slightly improve I brought in herbs for the children to plant and to squeeze and sniff. They love them. I feel really happy when I see one of the kids sniffing a herb! Now we have tomatoes, marigolds, two courgettes, petunias and beans(the beans are not doing so well but never mind!). As a result we also get lovely bees visiting.
And that book! I have that one and it is good. I have a terrible weakness for interiors books. I’ll tell you who else I love-Sibella Court. And Rebecca Purcell-only one book that I know of-‘Interior Alchemy’ which was very expensive but I love it. My first interiors/decorating book was by Jocasta Innes and had lots of paint finishes that were very popular in the eighties. I still have it in the collection!
Lovely picture of your boys. Sad to think of Baby but happy too as you say or you would not have met Miles.
x
I also love the sent of white sage. It makes me smile. A feeling of well being, warmth and comfort.
Your love for Baby will go on and on but remembering her passing will change. I have learned that many times. 4 times to be exact.
I love your fun (gypsy) jewelry. Fun bangles and baubles.
Oh my !!! This post and your last post are just spectacular…so beautiful. I’ve always tried to define my style and really the best I could come up with is, whole wide world décor.
Thanks for the tip on Bazaar Style, it looks like it could be a perfect fit.
Oh, that song in the movie Stranger Than Fiction just came to mind. Will Ferrell sings Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric…love that 😉 Silly me!
Another beautiful post. White sage is very evocative of mysticism for me. I am also blown away by your amazing jewellery, those bracelets in particular are incredible! I am thinking of your Baby, and grateful that you have your Matty and Miles now. Fur babies teach one so much.
Mmmmm, the sage is lovely! I have many a friend who would LOVE for me to grow it so they can use it to smudge. Alas, I only have purple sage. I wonder if it would work the same? Methinks its time to experiment!
If we lived in the same country, I’d ask you to wrap me a cutting in a wet paper towel and then in cling wrap so I could transplant it, but I find cross-country shipping takes too long and it would just mold or die. 🙁
That book is just lovely and that cabinet? Oh my! Simply magical…
Sending you LOVE on this 3rd Anniversary Vanessa. Baby made way for a Bigger Love that you share with the boys and all of us as we join you here! Thank you Baby! Thank you Miss V!
Always enjoying the Beauty you post. <3 & 😉
Ooh I love sage! I don’t really burn it that much, but I love to have it around it smells so amazing. I don’t have any now, but we used to have bushes of wild sage on our property when I was growing up. Memories…..
White sage??? Oh how lovely!!!!! We do not have any wild sage growing around here. I would love to create smudge sticks, if we had it. Funny story, my hubby visited Idaho a few years ago and sent this amazing scented package back to the house – it was SAGE. But it was a friend, and he forgot to save some for us! hee hee hee Silly guy. That book looks fabulous – I can see why you are inspired by it. It is interesting how sometimes sadness can lead to even greater happiness. Somewhere Baby is smiling down upon Miles and Matty. Ginormous hugs to you!
Further research shows that yes, I could use my purple sage for smudge sticks. Nice!
Bazaar style reminds me of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHsunkNhN4
Sage?! Extra spirity cleansing and removal of negative and wonky energies?! You must must try. Be a hippie gypsy woman!
So sorry about Baby.
What a great idea on the leaves. I have a lemon and tangelo, so I will have to try it.
Such a beautiful post. I love sage too. We don’t have the kind that is used for smudging though. I don’t think it is warm enough in The Netherlands to grow it.
That book is wonderful, I love that style.
Sorry to hear about baby, but sounds to me that she was so loved that this made your heart so big, to embrace even more dogs.
Have a magical day.
I love your blog. I read it pretty regularly but hardly ever comment. Viewing life at your place takes me to another time and era. I feel like I’m on vacation and yet I haven’t left my computer seat! Thanks so much for another lovely post.
I was also wondering why there is no picture (thumbnail) on my side bar under “other interesting blogs” where I have your blog posted. Your blog title shows up but no picture. Mine has been doing that recently too and I am at a loss for the reason why? Do you know? Maybe you choose not to have thumbnail?
Thanks so much,
Chery,
Healing Woman
Cheryl, I have no idea, I didnt know my wee thumbnail was not turning
up. How oddly odd 🙂 Gremlins I tell ya. They steal my e-mail
lately, and do this too?? haha!
Thank you for stopping in, its so good to know you are out there.
Love, V
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 6/27/2013 8:37:27 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I just Loooooove Loreena McKennit!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 6/26/2013 6:25:49 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
White sage has a lovely dusty meets thanksgiving fragrance for me. I too love the smells of freshly pinched herbs. Tiz a real pick-me-up, calgon take-me-away kind of thing. It is amazing how our fur babes become total fur love. The Delicious are my constant companions following me everywhere even into the powder room. If one needs a private moment there, one must remember to close the door -lol-
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
Queenie,
This white sage smells so different from my culinary sage —- I wonder if
this one can be used for cooking? Must look into it, I think maybe
not?
Must be careful 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 6/27/2013 1:46:25 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Lovely post. very special.
ok I did my pinching last night lol .. sure does smell nice.
xoxo