Wishing all a very Merry Christmas from the little house in the Wooded Hills. For the last month our little tree has brightened each day with words and memories from friends all over the globe. Today, Leah in New York City has added the final contribution to our circle. Off to the East coast we venture once more, with illuminated hearts and much gratitude for so much love and friendship.
The community of Etsy has an abundance of creative and beautiful souls, one bright star is Dennice. Her shop happens to have the same name as one of my favorite TV shows and is filled with beautiful knitwear. Although she has a degree in science and math her passion lies in fibers, colors, and textiles. Come join us around the sacred Pine tree and hear the thought full scent impressions from a twinkling spirit.
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”
~John Muir
In four days from now my sweet heart and I will be celebrating our first anniversary and eleven years of happiness together. Today, in this present moment, I bring you some scented holiday cheer from his domain. Please welcome our poet for the day here at the Illuminated journal, award winning artist Master Gregorio, aka Greg Spalenka.
The Scent of Revelry
Growing up in a large catholic family (with two brothers and three sisters) was accompanied by a healthy dose of mayhem. Being the first born I was lavished with “you are the apple of my eye” attention, but that ended about a year later with the arrival of my brother Paul. Like clockwork subsequent siblings joined the party embedding a strong singular mantra in each of us, “What about me!?”
It was soon learned by the clan that whoever yelled the loudest was a good candidate to catch Mom’s ear above the din of other pleading voices. It usually worked, but crying babies would generally swing that motherly radar knocking out the other competition. The neighborhood always knew when the Spalenka’s were home.
This was especially evident at the dinner table, which started out calm enough but soon escalated into a giant OHM vibration as everyone attempted to talk over everyone else. A downpour of conversations about wanting more mashed potatoes or chicken or whatever, lamps getting broken, who tore the Barbie arm off, who tracked mud on the kitchen floor, stop throwing food, essentially versions of “What about me!?” turning into “What did I do now?!”
Visiting friends were initiated into the family way with this dinner of decibels. Watching each of them handle this shock and awe was a testament to their fortitude or not and was revealed by whether they ate, or stared wide eyed at the phenomena. Many times the TV blaring in the next room added to the complexity of volume. The meal was consumed quickly and everyone departed. My Mom took on that glazed eyed zombie look, and slowly cleaned up the dinner carnage.
This gives you a precursor into what would happen when the holidays would roll around and all the Spalenka families got together! My Dad’s sister and three brothers with all their kids (this made 24 kids in all) turned mayhem into insanity pretty quickly. But what sweet insanity! For us kids “What did I do now?!” turned into “What can I do now?!” and just “Wow!”
The meals became gigantic feasts with roast beef, hams, turkeys, chickens, barbecuing in the afternoon air. This was California where barbecues are held all year long. Every sort of salad, from green, to macaroon filled giant bowls, and of course all the after dinner cakes, pies, cookies, and sweets.
One of these sweets always stood out because in a way it represented this revelry and spirit mayhem. I will never forget my Dad and his siblings making popcorn balls! They popped up the corn and filled several paper bags, then heated up the corn syrup in different colored batches. When the corn syrup was at just the right bubbling temperature they would dribble it over the popcorn in a large porcelain bowl and turn it with a gigantic spoon. The family would line up and stick their well buttered and or ice immersed hands into this scalding hot stickiness and form balls very quickly while shouting, swearing, and laughing at the same time. One after another they jumped into line, picked up a glob of molten sweetness and with loud expletives molded it into a family ritual. It was a circus of the soul creating multi colored treats that we kids inhaled and ate with a relish. When the Christmas presents were opened the adrenalin rush was complete, with all senses spent.
So my family upbringing especially during the holidays have included the scent of chaos, and a loud rebel yell. Ultimately this helped me keep a focus on the eye of the storm and kept me on my toes.“What about me!?” has morphed into “What is the possibility?!” as I continue to navigate the Spalenka whirlwind of love.
Here is a Popcorn Ball recipe for you to try. Make sure you bring the temperature of the mixture to a hard-crack. Have a cup of cold water near you and when the temperature is close to 300 degrees drop a little of it into the water. If it makes a cracking sound your ready! Don't overcook or you will burn it.
Ingredients
* 2 cups white sugar
* 1 cup light corn syrup
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/4 cup water
* salt to taste
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar (optional)
* 5 quarts popped popcorn
Directions
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla or vinegar; mix well.
2. Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 1 minute and shape into three inch round balls. Mixture will be very hot so have a bowl of ice to cool your hands.
~ Gregory Scott Spalenka
See Greg's artwork at his website Spalenka.com
Currently Greg is empowering Artists to follow their vision with his workshop's Artist As Brand™. Check out the debut of the Artist As Brand blog on January 1st!
The number 22, like 11, significant in numerology and considered a "master" number due to the repeating double digits. According to Avia Venefica this numeral is represented by the tarot card the Priestess. On this auspicious day I bring you a very sweet friend with an enormous heart who I cherish and value tremendously, Davis Alexander.
The Advent of Sense Memories
Holiday
fragrance
float up our nose
buzz our brain
land safely in our hearts
on wings of air.
An Air Sign, I find myself easily caught up by a wisp of scent. I rise on redolent updrafts, suspended in time and place by the seasons’ smells.
A child, I got feverishly drunk on spring’s lily of the valley.
I languished in summer’s saddle soap and suntan oil.
Reawakened by fall opening a new box of crayons—
I was ultimately seduced with cinnamon and sage.
And in winter, I rose,
refreshed by the cleansing absence of odor.
Winter was a white blanket that muted musky leaves.
Winter was a freshness masking the perfume of rot.
Winter was breezes of blinding snow that snuffed out my sense of smell . . .
Until . . . days leading up to the holidays . . . as though sneaking down the chimney . . . entered the sharpest, most vital bouquet of all . . .
It is said the Inuit language has, what, 47 names for snow?
English falls short in so many ways, but none more so than in
giving words to smells. To smelling. To experience.
As much as the recordable sight of a returning robin or sound of a perennial bell-ringing Santa, it was a season’s scents that oriented me. Yet, while I can relate what fills rooms, streets and yards, I fail at describing what lives in mind and soul. Neither the attars of scent, nor the extracts of experience can be satisfied by words, for those temporal yet enduring imprints live on air—intangible, meta physical.
Sense memories of the December holidays are familial. They are personal. Even private. Mine are uninterrupted ruches of ribbon candy and endless layers of petit fours. They are as sweet as simmered apple sauce and as tart as cold sour cream. They are awakening and soporific, comforting and melancholy. The balm of cedar . . . my father’s Royall Lyme . . . smoked white fish . . . menthol . . . mulled wine . . . cigar . . . my mother’s Bal a Versailles all mixed up together like a heady cocktail. They can be named, but their effect on me will always remain indescribable.
Davis Alexander
story ~ structure ~ style davisalexander530 at yahoo.com
Round and round we go. Here we are once more at the big turn of the seasonal wheel to find ourselves at the Winter Solstice. To call in the light during the darkest part of the year we have the Mistress Bard herself. Please light your candle and gather round while Beth at Perfume Smellin' Things shares a bit of gratitude and a splendid Solstice Celebration she has been preparing with her sister.
Sunday, December 20th, the fourth week of Advent takes us to visit Kathi Roussel owner of two shops on Etsy. Kathi has a beautiful aesthetic, I am quite found of her vintage shop 5 Gardenias. This talented artist lives with her family up in Buffalo, New York. Off we go, in our one horse open sleigh to visit Kathi in upstate New York.
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Images: ADVENTure blogging banner by Roxana Villa.
Twinkle, twinkle, little tree
How bright and luminous you now be
Speaking of luminous, have you met Q Wendy yet? She's an artisan haute couture shoemaker and a lover of fragrance. I had the supreme delight in meeting Wendy while at a Sniffapalooza Perfume event in Los Angeles a few years back. We hit it off immediately and since then I've been craving a pair of her glorious, brocade or satin wonders. They are just the right look for an alchemist perfumer don't you think?
Join me in a stroll over the Santa Monica Mountains and into Silver Lake to visit Wendy as she adds another page to our daily dose of memoirs in fragrance.
Walking through the grove of perfume blogs a few years ago, the aroma of flowers and leaves lining my path, a fine golden ray illuminated a passage. With hurried footsteps I followed the beam to discover Perfume Shrine.
This blog is one of my very favorite perfume reads due to the writers devotion to history, beauty and what sometimes she refers to as "nerdy" details. I myself have a bit of that nerdy side and really get into all those interesting historical facts. Combine this with beauty and perfume, wah-lah I am toast, just as was Marc Antony when he walked on board Cleopatra's fragrant barge.
Thus, on this auspicious Venus day, please embark with us as we sail to Greece and visit Helg at Perfume Shrine.
As the lights creep up our little tree we grow ever so much closer to Christmas day.
Thus, on this 17th day of December, the Artful Wendy joins us to add a little fusion style to our band of wonder filled traveling adventure.
Wednesday brings us tidings from the Silver Moon Witch, Mrs. B, a mom with a hearty dose of wit. So, hop on those broom sticks and fly on over to hear the Confessions of A Pagan Soccer Mom and her musings on this adventurous day devoted to Mercury the messenger God.
More and more luminous each day our little holiday tree grows. The light on this 17th day of Advent is provided by fellow artist and Etsy seller Lee of One Clay Bead. Like an aromatic synergy each of us adds our own voice to this round robin and the fabric of life. It is a great honor to host each of these luminous beings here at this journal. Please head on over, red rover, to The Beauty you Love blog. Lee shares a fun story featuring her kitty Loca in the leading role of her families blended Christmas/Chanukah tradition.
The moon rules over Monday and is attributed to the divine feminine. Noelle of Xenotees has joined our merry band of bloggers with a some mouth watering memories. Wish I lived in Philly!
This evening, here at our little woodland home, we illuminate the third beeswax candle of advent in our garden.
The third light of advent, it is the light of beasts,
The light of hope that we may see in greatest and in least.
While at our circle Donna, who goes by the alias Flora in blogging circles, joins our holiday banquet today with a journey down a Fir lined memory lane. Come take a fragrant stroll with us as I light the fifteenth candle on our little tree.
I'm super fond of stories, in all their manifestations. Usually books and films do it for me, but, the best is sitting around with friends and listening to a really good story.
This is what Gaia has contributed to our circle today. As I light yet another candle on our Holiday tree please grab a warm blanket and head on over to the Non-Blonde for some good old fashion story telling.
Ah, it's Friday, the day attributed to the planet Venus. Last night I attended the High School orchestra performance at Highland Hall Waldorf School. My daughter Eve plays the flute and this year she also sung back up for the Brazilian samba piece titled Mas Que Nada by Jorge Ben.
As I witnessed the amazing performance of a very tight and cohesive set of young musicians, I had a thought. This blogging event is much like all those different instruments in the orchestra, or even different types of music: Jazz, Polka, Oriental, Classical, etc. Each voice adds their very own special imprint to our song.
Samba music is happy music, it makes you want to get up and dance. Nicole of Lillyella, our featured contributor today, is a bit like the sunshine one finds in Samba music. Thus on this day attributed to love, Nicole adds another little light to our tree and shares with us the aromas of crafting and a recipe which contains the scent of Christmas for her.
So, get those outrageous costumes on and your voice ready as we Samba our way over to a very luminous soul who I admire greatly and has taught me quite a bit.
Need some levity? If so, today's contribution to our daily dose of Scent and the Holiday's is the one you've been waiting for!
Being part of the Etsy community has brought some really terrific treasures, one of those being the relationships formed with other artists devoted to the handmade. I'm so happy to share some of those individuals with you here during our blogging adventure. Catherine Ivins of Polarity and UnCorked is one of those sparkling gems. Please head on over to her blog Olive Bites and if you are looking for some fun and eco gifts for your friends and family check out her shop links too.
With each contribution by a community member our little Holiday tree gets more and more abundant with light. Today's post is from Trish in Portland, she shares her family traditions and what perfumes she most likely will be wearing at holiday festivities. Fly on over to the Scent Hive to gather your pollen and a secret into the perfect latke.
The journey today is to one of my favorite hometowns, Brooklyn, for a contribution by a most luminous wordsmith Lucy of the blog Indie Perfumes. I first encountered Lucy many years ago while reading Perfume blogs. Last year Ida was ever so kind to introduce me to Lucy, a kindred Leonine.
Thus, today the ninth day of advent, the 7th day of December I light yet another candle on our glowing tree for a beautiful, radiant soul in Brooklyn, New York.
Sunday the eighth day in our Advent Circle also happens to be the feast day of St. Nicolas. In many regions of Europe children receive their gifts today.
The contribution to the Circle today comes to you in combination with my daughter Eve, who is now in the 11th grade.
St. Nikolaus
This morning when I exclaimed "Happy St. Nicolas Day!" to the family over breakfast Eve shared a little morsel from her German class this past Friday. Her Swiss German teacher mentioned that children in Switzerland are visited by St Nic who brings one large bag with gifts or hands out individual bags to each child.
Was bringt St. Nikolaus den Kindern in der Schweizi / What St. Nic brings children in Switzerland
Candy: die Bonbons
Oranges: die Oranges
Walnuts: die Baumnüsse
Tangerines: die Mandarinen
Cookies: die Kekse
Fig: die Feigen
Date: die Datteln
Peanut: die Erdnuss
Green Apple: der grüne Apfel
Pear: die Birne
Gingerbread Marzipan Bar: der Biber
Curious about the Gingerbread Marzipan I found a few links and also noticed that in Germany it may be called Lebkuchen. Please correct me if you know.
½ t hartshorn (baking ammonia)
1 Tbl. Rum
40 g candied orange peel
30 g candied citron
200 g ground almonds
50 g ground hazelnuts
40 g flour
A pinch of salt 1 t. Lebkuchen spice
4 egg whites
190 g sugar
130 g. raw marzipan
40-50 Back Oblaten, 50 mm diameter (a thin, tasteless wafer made of flour and water)
150 g whole almonds
Glaze:
1 eggwhite
100 g powdered sugar
1 Tbl lemon juice
Dissolve the baking ammonia in the rum.
Mince the candied fruits as small as possible and combine with the ground almonds and hazelnuts, flour, salt, and Lebkuchen spice.
Add sugar to egg whites and beat until firm and creamy.
Break the marzipan into small pieces.
Add 2 Tbl. of the beaten egg whites and combine until it is smooth.
Stir in the dissolved baking ammonia and rum..
Alternate adding the flour mixture and the remaining beaten egg whites to the marzipan
At this point, the dough can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.
This will improve the taste as the flavors blend together.
When you are ready to bake:Lay out the Oblaten on a cookie sheet.
Don't leave too much room between them, just a comfortable half inch or so from each neighbor.
On each Oblaten, place a small mound of the dough, leaving only a very narrow rim of the oblaten free of dough.
It is optional but traditional to place an almond on top of each cookie.
The full recipe should fill two cookie sheets. Let the cookies rest on the sheets for at least a half a day.
Preheat the oven to 340 degrees F.
Bake the Lebkuchen for about 30 minutes. (Check on the cookies after 20 minutes and shift the sheets if necessary.)
While the cookies are baking, prepare the glaze. Combine the egg white, lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
Glaze the still-warm Lebkuchen, using a pastry brush.
If you have been following all the entries here in our Circle you will notice that Orange has become a common theme. We have many different essential oils of orange derived from the pressing of the peel. The most common are:
Sweet orange, Citrus sinensis or sometimes Citrus aurantium, varietas dulcis
Bitter orange, Citrus aurantium, varietas amara
and
Blood orange: Citrus aurantium, varietas amara
In my experience as an Aromatherapy practitioner and a Botanical Perfume artist I have noticed that citrus is the most universal of all the scent families. Almost everyone, across the board, loves the smell of citrus, particularly orange.
Here is a journal entry from a December of 2007 which focuses a bit on how to deal with stress during the Holidaze. Perhaps there are a few pointers here that will make your holiday a bit more jolly.
they are a life-form rooted in and identified by their community,
by their relationships to and interactions with all other life on Earth."
(Buhner)
I have just returned from the Holiday Faire at Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill, NC. A grand gathering of artisans, children, parents and teachers all dedicated to the passion and excitement of learning and discovery. Since I had been pondering how to weave the growth of community in this advent writing it was perfect to begin the morning with active participation in a community.
Like plants, humans also mean nothing in isolation. We are a life-form rooted in and identified by our community, by our relationships to and interactions with all other life on earth. During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and St. Nicholas day) we are called to reflect on our earthly community: the minerals, plants, animals, elements, and humans of the world.
In my own reflections of community I ask myself: how may I be instrumental in creating community? How may I be of service? How may I share my knowledge and time in communities which need it the most? How does community build the idea of service? The tide of the holidays is strong and in its strength it can sometimes divide more than bring together, it can isolate the self in the fear of ‘not having’, how can I be a representative that what we have inside is of far greater value than what we can obtain outside ourselves? And how can I contribute to the creations of individuals rather than those of large corporations?
Since I entered the aromatic community over 20 years ago it has been a fascinating experience to witness the growth of so many dynamic aspects of the field. The aromatic community includes artisan natural perfumers, clinical aromatherapists, bath and body care product developers and makers, candle and soap makers, herbalists, psychologists, nurses, lay practitioners, and on and on. It is a large community, encompassing many philosophies, approaches, applications and beliefs.
I believe this diversity reflects the diversity found in the world of natural aromas and in the plants which give them forth. What unites this diversity in our community is the love, the passion and the dedication to plants and the natural world.
Unification, diversity, community: ah, what a great blend. In searching for an aromatic representation of this unification, diversity and community, the following comes forth:
A seed to be planted, in hopes of calling forth true intention in community: Carrot seed
A root to ground and center us in our community and in life: Vetiver.
A grass to clear our path: Lemongrass
A wood to provide strength in difficult and challenging times: Cedar
A berry to bring laughter and joy to our spirit: Juniper
A fruit to cleanse, release and uplift the weary heart: Bergamot
A leaf to move the breath of life throughout and within: Eucalyptus
A resin to heal our sorrows and our wounds: Frankincense
A flower to hold our love together: Rose
In closing, I would like to thank Roxana for her ability to gather community in a common cause and purpose and for her always eloquent and thought provoking writing.
Happiness is a perfume which you cannot pour on someone without getting some on yourself. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wishing all a very Merry Christmas from the little house in the Wooded Hills. For the last month our little tree has brightened each day with words and memories from friends all over the globe. Today, Leah in New York City has added the final contribution to our circle. Off to the East coast we venture once more, with illuminated hearts and much gratitude for so much love and friendship.
The community of Etsy has an abundance of creative and beautiful souls, one bright star is Dennice. Her shop happens to have the same name as one of my favorite TV shows and is filled with beautiful knitwear. Although she has a degree in science and math her passion lies in fibers, colors, and textiles. Come join us around the sacred Pine tree and hear the thought full scent impressions from a twinkling spirit.
The number 22, like 11, significant in numerology and considered a "master" number due to the repeating double digits. According to Avia Venefica this numeral is represented by the tarot card the Priestess. On this auspicious day I bring you a very sweet friend with an enormous heart who I cherish and value tremendously, Davis Alexander.
Round and round we go. Here we are once more at the big turn of the seasonal wheel to find ourselves at the Winter Solstice. To call in the light during the darkest part of the year we have the Mistress Bard herself. Please light your candle and gather round while Beth at Perfume Smellin' Things shares a bit of gratitude and a splendid Solstice Celebration she has been preparing with her sister.
Walking through the grove of perfume blogs a few years ago, the aroma of flowers and leaves lining my path, a fine golden ray illuminated a passage. With hurried footsteps I followed the beam to discover Perfume Shrine.
More and more luminous each day our little holiday tree grows. The light on this 17th day of Advent is provided by fellow artist and Etsy seller Lee of One Clay Bead. Like an aromatic synergy each of us adds our own voice to this round robin and the fabric of life. It is a great honor to host each of these luminous beings here at this journal. Please head on over, red rover, to The Beauty you Love blog. Lee shares a fun story featuring her kitty Loca in the leading role of her families blended Christmas/Chanukah tradition.
This evening, here at our little woodland home, we illuminate the third beeswax candle of advent in our garden.
I'm super fond of stories, in all their manifestations. Usually books and films do it for me, but, the best is sitting around with friends and listening to a really good story.
Ah, it's Friday, the day attributed to the planet Venus. Last night I attended the High School orchestra performance at Highland Hall Waldorf School. My daughter Eve plays the flute and this year she also sung back up for the Brazilian samba piece titled Mas Que Nada by Jorge Ben.
With each contribution by a community member our little Holiday tree gets more and more abundant with light. Today's post is from Trish in Portland, she shares her family traditions and what perfumes she most likely will be wearing at holiday festivities. Fly on over to the Scent Hive to gather your pollen and a secret into the perfect latke.
The journey today is to one of my favorite hometowns, Brooklyn, for a contribution by a most luminous wordsmith Lucy of the blog Indie Perfumes. I first encountered Lucy many years ago while reading Perfume blogs. Last year Ida was ever so kind to introduce me to Lucy, a kindred Leonine.
Sunday the eighth day in our Advent Circle also happens to be the feast day of St. Nicolas. In many regions of Europe children receive their gifts today.
If you have been following all the entries here in our Circle you will notice that Orange has become a common theme. We have many different essential oils of orange derived from the pressing of the peel. The most common are:
Today I light the candle for Jade Shutes.
