Is that a Christmas cactus I see?

This is the corner. It is a shake my head corner. It is the throw the project into corner. Center stage, we have the science fair project about hydraulics. And off to the right we have a glimpse of the Dead Mau5 head project. We have a grandson’s tossed hoodie, a husbands books and paperwork laying on the top of the couch and the arm of the chair. We have unfolded afghans, tossed carelessly about. The Dead Mau5 project has claimed my living room waste basket. Everytime I go to toss something in it, I have to abort the action and go to the kitchen garbage container. We have a nerf gun and a cardboard tube, because you never know when you are going to need one. And we have to keep every pen and pencil that comes in the house because they certainly come in handy….especially when the ink has dried up. Someone has conveniently tied one of my curtain sheers in a knot; it obviously was in the way. Is it any wonder that I wasn’t aware that my Christmas cactus has bloomed for the second time this year? Shaking my head. What does your “corner” look like? Post me some pictures so I can feel good.

Unavoidably in love with plants

I have come to the possible conclusion that when I post something to a ‘page’, it doesn’t get recognized by wordpress as a real post. Tell me if I am wrong. I have posted the above titled piece on my Subsistence page.

Unangam Hitnisagin with the 3rd graders.

Eagle’s View Elementary Achigaalux was the host for the first week of the Unangan Language and Culture Program this past week. With the assistance of Program coordinator Mary Downs, and volunteer Pat Ellis, I was successful in finishing out the first week without mishaps. Twenty-four 3rd graders participated in learning about Unangam Hitnisagin, or Aleut plants.

We discussed gathering rules, the uses of plants – whether they were edible or medicinal, or both – made Unangam Hitnisagin books, and – best of all – were able to make items from three of the plants that were discussed.

3rd Grade 007a — A student's rendition of blueberries adorns the cover of his booklet.

Monday’s class was dedicated to sixsiqax^ (wormwood). We discussed the traditional Unangan uses, then got right to work rendering the plant in olive oil. By doing this, we took the medicinal properties from the plant material and transferred it to the oil, so that we could then use the oil as an exterior rub for aching muscles and joints. Each student wrote about sixsiqax^ in their booklets, made a label for the container, and then chose an essential oil to add to the plant oil.

3rd Grade 038a — The absolutely indispensible Mary Downs!

Tuesday and Thursday were all about saaqudiigamax^ or angelica. The students learned that the basic process of rendering plants remains the same, but you can go beyond just an oil….you can add a thickener to make an ointment or salve. As the angelica plant is used for relief of muscles and joints, plus curing infections, and healing burns – especially the dread putchky burn – they were all about making sure they got their ointment!

On Friday, the students came in raring to go. They knew that in order to get their final project done, they would have to be on their toes and ready to work. They learned that chngaatudax, or yarrow, was not only good for coagulating blood, keeping colds at bay, and keeping germs out of cuts, but that it also made a wicked lip balm. A little tube of goodness for all those chapped lips.