The roses are in full bloom. The Butterfly bush still cranking out new blossoms for the monarchs.

A goldenrod plantation (birds) graces the back fenceline.

I contemplate what can be grown under glass through the upcoming winter.

Old Ranch

Silver Falls State Park

Sublimity, Oregon

I bought this laptop on September 17th to enable myself to begin writing.
I justified it that I had earned it through my work this summer and it’s high time I had another laptop.
Then I went to Ed and Debbie’s for inspiration and I came back with a really cool wide back chair. The art has begun.
Yesterday I hauled stuff out of the bedroom down to the basement to carve out a sleeping space. I now have my room as a sanctuary again.
I will write here, garden here, do art here and above all help my MOM TO HEAL.


The backyard is a jungle or was until this am. I started cutting back the trumpet vine and some of the back patch too. More work to do.
I want to harvest some comfrey root and my 10 year old Echinacea/purple coneflower roots this fall. Tincture time. I moved them from my backyard on Richardson Avenue 5 years ago and they had been growing 5 there.
Sat sept 18
Worked some in the yard and went to north market farmer’s market.
Now I’m on the patio. Too many mossies.

September 20th Monday
I woke up really early and started searching for jobs then info about the Blue Clan of the Cherokee…the clan I most identify with as they were the keepers of the plant medicine knowledge.

This is a mask of the Cherokee Blue Clan
I need to make medicines again.

September 22nd first day of autumnal equinox
Sunny though will be humid I’m sure. Drove Dad over to Woodies to play golf. I will take
Mom to radiation for the first time today.
I need to dig roots too. Echinacea and Comfrey. It is the Aries full moon. Beware of control freaks.

Salmonberry Butterfly Stamp Love

collage

Annie B. Siemer

When I was growing up my Mom always promised us that she would take us to the top of the Levecque Tower, then the tallest downtown building. I still haven't been to the top but

she says all of the people look like ants down there.

These are from 2 old Columbus postcards

Ironically the Mingo grew corn on the bank of the river where

COSI lies now.

everything comes back around in an eddy

Timucuan Pendant on Peridote

Cherokee Blue Clan

the Blue Clan or Blue Holly : Representing SkyMembers of this clan,

the "Ani Sahoi " Those belonging to this Clan were keepers of all children's

medicines and caretakers of the medicinal herb gardens. They became

known for a medicine from a bluish colored plant called the Blue Holly

and were so named after it. They are also known as the Panther or Wildcat

Clan in some regions. Their responsibilities include teaching knowledge

of the panther and its habitat, truth, ability to balance power, intention,

physical strength, grace and growing, preparing and using

herbs for food and medicinal purposes. Their color is blue, their wood is ash.

Home again, home again, clickety clack.

This is one of the colored photos (Upper North Falls) taken by June Drake in the early part of the 20th century that helped educate the public

(and in turn) ,the push to make these "Silver Falls" into a park for all to enjoy.

June Drake

June Drakes picture of South Falls

This is what the old Western Red Cedars would have looked like (pre logging era)

South Falls now, taken by me, Annie B. Siemer

I feel so very blessed to have landed here this summer.

The inside of my favorite Silverton Cafe, Gear Up,

near High School Pharmacy

I LOVE writing in my journal while sitting in this corner!

A Silverton shop window

The Indian part of one of my favorite downtown murals,

"The Old Oak Tree" (also by Lori Webb!)

Part of the "Bobbie Mural" that I previously blogged about

Downtown Silverton

Lori Webb's Silverton greeter

Another Silverton Mural. One of Lori Webb's , who is my favorite of all of the Silverton mural artists.

A snag on the Campground Trail

A bat that I found sleeping under a propane tank a few days ago.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Hani wa/ Ani Wah

It's coming up on the anniversary of the 5th month after my "little brother" Patrick passed on to the great beyond. I have been seeing elements of him in my dreams all week and this morning upon waking, the first thing on my mind was the painting of the Hani wa that I had been drawn to in an art gallery in Eugene back in May. Hani wa are apparently Japanese funeral icons or small statues (but similiar icons appear in Mayan and Aztec art).

So later this morning I went on -line and searched Ani- wah as that was the way that I had remembered the spelling. Well , up pops all of this Cherokee info. This is one of the websites: The similarity in these two terms is not lost on me...

http://www.southerncherokeenationky.com/sevenclansinformation/wolfclanmother.html

Pat was well tuned into our Cherokee blood and definitely had a Cherokee heart. He truly loved any Indian art that had depicted a Wolf. After reading this, I can surely say that he is a member of the Wolf Clan. I ponder the (seemingly) Asian roots of both the Cherokee and the Indigenous folks of Mexico and the connection of all of that. I left the perfect template to create my own version of a Hani -wa back in Eugene. The heat of the moment had me leaving it behind. I have created one piece of art as art therapy regarding Patrick's passing on but perhaps it is time now to create another.
The book I am currently reading "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver has the main protagonist, Harrison Shepard carrying around an icon that he found while exploring one of the Mayan pyramids. At the end of his life, his companion finds it on a dresser. The description of it makes me think (it's mouth a hole) that maybe it too is symbolic synchonicity in all of this.

Living cells of every kind

have a consciousness of living cells of every kind.

Mary Summer Rain

"With only a slight shift in perception, perspective transforms the ordinary into the sublime."

Mary Summer Rain

I am currently reading (yet another amazing) book by Barbara Kingsolver entitled

The Lacuna.

It largely regards a story told from the point of view of one of the household cooks who worked for Frida and Diego. I would recommend this book to any fan of Kingsolver or Frida Kahlo.

I went online tonight to try and put a face to this (historical fiction) character. I didn't find Harrison Shepard's photo but I found this self-portrait of Frida that I hadn't ever seen before.

I have always had an affinity with her. Viva Frida Kahlo!

I took these photos of Upper North Falls, crocheted flags outside of The Purl District in Silverton, the bike that got me around all summer and a log stretched across the North Fork of Silver Creek during this past week.

Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.

Rachel Carson