The Dove!

photo by ana traina

The Doves

by

Katharine Tynan 

                                                                                      

The house where I was born,

Where I was young and gay, 

Grows old amid its corn, 

Amid its scented hay. 

Moan of the cushat dove, 

In silence rich and deep; 

The old head I love 

Nods to its quiet sleep. 

Where once were nine and ten 

Now two keep house together; 

The doves moan and complain 

All day in the still weather. 

What wind, bitter and great, 

Has swept the country's face, 

Altered, made desolate 

The heart-remembered place ? 

What wind, bitter and wild, 

Has swept the towering trees 

Beneath whose shade a child 

Long since gathered heartease ? 

Under the golden eaves

The house is still and sad, 

As though it grieves and grieves 

For many a lass and lad. 

The cushat doves complain

All day in the still weather;

Where once were nine or ten

But two keep house together. 

Keeping your Flower Vital!

photo by ana traina

Vaginal emollients are not just useful for the woman of a ‘certain age’, no, sometimes when women are very sportive, or under mega stress, this can cause one’s hormones to go wild as well.  The bothersome results being all kinds of unwanted symptoms like dryness, inflammation and irritation of the ultra sensitive vaginal region. 

Here is a terrific recipe for Vaginal Emollients that I found in Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair, by Dina Falconi -- 

YONI OIL

A gentle, nourishing, lubricating and soothing oil for your Flower.

2 oz. Chamomile-infused olive oil

2 oz. Violet leaf-infused olive oil

3 oz. Shea butter

20 drops Fennel essential oil

Place Chamomile and Violet infused olive oil in a heat-proof measuring cup and add Shea butter. Place cup in a hot water bath. Stir oil and Shea butter until the butter is melted. When cool, it is ready to use. Apply the oil inside the vaginal walls and around the vaginal opening as needed.  

A Bit of Odd and End Advice ~ Remember, it is always best to keep things vital!

Waitin' on the Crocus!

photo by ana traina

The name crocus is krokos in Greek, karkom in Hebrew, kurkama in Aramaic, and kurkum in Arabic and Persian. It means yellow, presumably referring to the saffron spice obtained from the autumn saffron crocus although the petals of this flower are purple! Saffron is made from the sexual organs of Crocus sativa.

Although many of our garden crocuses are "Dutch," they are not native to the Netherlands but were first brought there by an ambassador from the Holy Roman Empire.

Homer referred often to the Goddess Eos as saffron-robed.

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Some sites claim that saffron is $200-300 per ounce.  It was used to dye the robes of royalty and was once a symbol of status and wealth.

Saffron has been used for treating a variety of illnesses including measles, bladder, kidney and liver disorders and diabetes. Modern studies show that it may be useful in treating cancer by helping to fight tumors and easing the discomfort associated with chemotherapy. It has also been used to treat recovering alcoholics and is said to help repair damage done to the brain by alcoholism. An infusion of saffron is said to help relieve depression.

Saffron Lemon Rice Pudding, Recipe by Ivy from PTITCHEF

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

85 grams white rice

1 litre of whole milk

75 grams sugar

3/4 cup lemon curd

0,12 grams saffron powder

½ tsp margarine for the ovenproof dish.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Grease a 20 cm or one litre oven proof pyrex dish.

Mix the rice, sugar and milk, lemon curd and saffron in a bowl and empty to the greased, ovenproof dish.

Place the ovenproof dish and its contents in the centre of the oven.

Stir the rice pudding mixture after 30 minutes and one more time after 30 minutes. You may also want to turn the dish around, back to front, in the oven so that it cooks evenly.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 C for 2 hours or until the surface of the pudding is a nice golden brown and the pudding is creamy.

BITS OF ODDS AND ENDS ~ Rinsing bed linens in an infusion of saffron (or possibly a whole crocus) is said to help bring strength to the body while one sleeps.  Saffron can be used to make a fabulous bright yellow dye, paint or ink. You need to use a mordant such as alum to make the saffron colorfast or the color will be gone the first time you use it. It can also be used to color eggs. Use vinegar in the water to set the color. A use in ancient Greece was that the perfumeries used the crocus’s perfume to scent the water while bathing. 

The Woman in White!

birch by ana traina

The Birch tree is one of the quintessentially feminine trees/or Goddess trees of ancient European culture. It is known as the Pioneer Tree, one of the first trees to grow on bare soil and thus it births the entire forest. Interestingly, Birch is also regarded as feminine by Native American nations who have traditionally used her wood for canoes, to make paper and for carrying bags and prayer baskets. Nearly every part of the birch is edible, and it's sap was an important source of sugar to Native Americans and early settlers. The inner bark of the birch tree provides a pain reliever and the leaves are used to treat arthritis.

Birch can help us point the way forward, for when we are lost in the forest, the shining whiteness of the birch trunk leads us onward - it offers guidance and orientation in the darkness of our journey. The very word 'birch' derives from a root meaning 'bright' or 'shining' in nearly all languages.

In Scandinavia, switches of birch are used on the body to stimulate the process of purification in the sauna. 

Criminals were at one time birched to drive out evil influences on them, to renew them for the new year. Birch was associated with Thor, probably in recognition of his role as an agricultural and fertility deity. 

The Birch shares with the Ash the distinction of being used as a representative of the Cosmic World-Tree - the Axis Mundi. This tree links the Underworld with Middle Earth and Heaven Above. The shaman climbing the Birch uses it as a sky-ladder to symbolize his ability to visit other worlds.

Bits of Odds and Ends -- It is said that the Oak and the Birch are husband and wife, and where the Birch takes root, the Oak will come and grow nearby.  

The Quickening Moon!

the quickening moon by ana traina

The full moon in February is known as the Quickening moon, it marks the official end of winter, and the quickening, the renewal of all things. While the skies are still gray, and the weather is cold, beneath the surface, life begins to secretly stretch and stir. 

The word Quickening is also used to describe the first magical moment in pregnancy when a woman feels the movements of her baby. So too, this is a time when new life is beginning, but still lies dormant. The earth itself is quickening, as seeds and bulbs far beneath the soil begin their journey towards the light. We know these things are coming -- and we know also that this is a good month to make plans. We can dream and hope, and set goals for ourselves, by accept responsibility for the messy mistakes we've made in the past, and try to move on.

"I stood beside a hill
Smooth with new-laid snow,
A single star looked out
From the cold evening glow.

There was no other creature
That saw what I could see--
I stood and watched the evening star
As long as it watched me."
-  Sara Teasdale, February Twilight 

Introducing Ms. Penelope Flutter!

drawing by ana traina

Ms. Penelope Flutter sometimes spoke with a lisp and a stutter.

This was most likely caused by fact that she never had a mother.

Yet, when alone, she always sashayed with such a surprising swish, 

She and her nurturing flying-goat-fish; 

Like they were whirling a top a millpond butter dish.

...And, "O, OO, o, ishy pishy pottle and peas,” the others did mutter!

NOLA 2011 Scott Cohen's Manly Diary... you do that voodoo so well...

Bourbon St., Decatur, Royal, Esplanade, Chartres, Dauphine, St. Louis, St. Peters, Basin, Rampart...

The French Quarter.  It took some time but the music rose to a crescendo that deafened the lost soul living within.  How could it not?  

As I walked the streets of the Quarter, day in and day out, the beauty of this city claimed its victory over me.  Under what seemed to be a full moon I walked Bourbon St., a frightful conglomeration of haunted corners, modern sleaze and drunken revelry.  Awesome.   As I passed St. Peter's St. a marching band of young kids paraded down the street stopping traffic and tourists.  A transvestite taking a break from a Gentleman's Club, threw down her cigarette and decided to control the upset motorists from driving into this improvisational moment.  A hundred kids, at least.  Bass drums, tympani, flutes, trumpets, baritones, tubas, marching and playing as if it was just any other monday night.  Where did they come from?  Where were they going? It didn't matter really, it was pure heaven to this outsider.

The Quarter is filled with these moments.  Appearing from nowhere, music rises above the politics and turmoil of the time.  There are no budget cuts, no protests, or war.  There is only the limit to which you place on yourself to enjoy, participate or inevitably live in the French Quarter.   

The music that is coming out of here now is so interesting.  The recession has placed a greater emphasis on young muscians coming here and forming bands with ukelele's, guitar, banjo, washboard, dancers, bass, and singers. They play music from the 1920's and 1930's.  So many young, with diry faces, fingers and barefeet, wearing newsboy caps and suspenders, singing songs that talk about hardtimes and struggle.  Appalachian tunes that now carry such weight.   Some are playing blues or ragtime with clarinet, improvised drumsets, harmonicas, electric guitars. Every corner, every street boasts a new duo, trio, band or solo player.  The talent is mesmerizing, the individuality is inspiring.

The music is New Orleans.  There is no other city in the world that this exists, like this.  There is no other city in the world where you can dance and sing in the street and not be admonished for your behavior or judged or criticized for your choices.  It is as close to a democracy, a musical democracy that we could possibly come to.  All is accepted, nothing is the same, and every note is loved.  The music rises above all else.  The music is King.  And New Orleans its providence.

Waiting on the Forsythia!

photo by ana traina

When I was younger I used to marvel upon my mother-in-law's great love for the forsythia bushes...a beautiful and radiant smile would just fill her face when she spied the first tender yellow buds.  Then she would say, “Ah, spring is near!”  Now, as February makes its way through the icy remains of late winter and its grey days, I find myself not-so-patiently waiting for that first burst of sunshiny yellow.  I check the forsythia to see if the buds are swelling in hopes that springtime will soon be here. 

In Korea, there is a legend about the forsythia; it was not only the first sign of the return of spring but also of returning love. A man once went on a long journey. He had been married for some time and, as often happens, he began to take his wife for granted.  So he did not worry about being away from her for a long time.  When he returned he saw his wife waiting patiently for him in the garden, and he was struck by how beautiful she was.  He wrote a poem that said while forsythias and apricots bloom and fade, “In the bamboo shade of my mountain home forever abides my Love, my All.”

Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae (olive family). The forsythia's flowers are impressively remarkable with the fact that they are able to produce lactose (the milk sugar). Lactose is very rarely established in other natural sources except milk. 

A Bit of Lore

Forsythia has been used in Chinese medicine for eons. It is valued chiefly for its antiseptic effect used to treat wounds and boils. Like calendula of the West, forsythia flower petals also contain powerful bacteria fighting properties which make it an important dressing.

A RECIPE FOR FORSYTHIA SYRUP

The syrup could not be easier; it is essentially a simple syrup (1:1 ratio of sugar & water) steeped overnight in fresh blooms.  Then filter and store.  The syrup tastes like forsythia smells, springy and bright.

A Maude Green Update!

photo by Ana Traina

Due to Maude's hectic schedule the release of her new film, "The Romantic Fiction of Maude Green," will unfortunately be delayed. However, she did want to send her love and best wishes to you all for a very funny Valentine's Day! OXOX

A Couple of Mallards Standin' Around and Shootin' the Gab!

photo by ana traina

SCENE ONE.

It's a cold and bitter day in New York City. The almost exact location, somewhere in Central Park. 

(SILENCE as the trees whistle in the sharp wind... then we hear the faint sound of ice cracking.)

MALLARD #1
These winters are killing me... The webbing between my... Oh forget about it... What's the use of complainin' anyway, right?

MALLARD #2
Right.

Silence.

MALLARD #3
I played my number today.

MALLARD #1
Yeah. Good for you.

MALLARD #3
Yeah. I played 555, and if I win I’m headin' south. Way south. As far south as I can get. That's how far south I'll be headin'.

MALLARD #1
Well, good luck ta ya. That’s a real good number.

MALLARD #3
Yeah.

Pause

MALLARD #1
I like the number 5... it has that certain, I don’t know what it is...(nodding his head) Yep. That's a real good number you picked.

Silence.

MALLARD #3
Oh fuck it! It’s not my number, it’s my sister’s number.

MALLARD #1
It’s still a good number.

MALLARD #3
Yeah... It’s a palindromic number --

MALLARD #2
A what?

MALLARD #3
It’s palindromic. A palindromic number... it's a number that is the same when you write it forwards or backwards or even sideways, it’s scientific, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Silence.

MALLARD #4 
(shifting back and forth to stay warm)
Well, somethin’ good's bound to happen soon... cause there is a 75% chance that there is a 98% chance that something really good is going to happen.

MALLARD #2
Let me ask you a serious question, do you pull these statistics out of your ass, or do you spend your entire day looking them up?

MALLARD #1
Oh, the webbin' between my left flipper is absolutely fuckin’ killin’ me.

The ice cracks. Black out.

Scott Cohen's Manly Diary - Entry - NOLA 2011

photo by scott cohen, new orleans - razed home

Dear Zingertale Readers,

As an off again on again contributor to Zingertales for the past 7 months or so I have been given the honor to share the passion, the mistakes, beliefs, goals and ultimately the loneliness that lives within a man or, humbly I might say, an artist on his journey through the tumultuous seas.  It has been a wonderful year of traveling.  From the great state of Hawaii to the dark and intriguing past of Mexico.  This life, the acting life, has brought me to the far reaches of the world.  It has allowed me to learn of cultures as unbeknownst to me as the Maori of New Zealand to the most familiar as a Jewish family in Brooklyn.

All these countries, cities, states, provinces, neighborhoods, streets and people have taught me that there is so much to learn, so much to understand beyond what I call home.  But never have I been as shocked, as torn, as saddened as when I was in a place I knew to be almost a second home.  A place I grew up in,  so to speak.   I have been to New Orleans many times.  The first being when I was 14 visiting my brother and sister in law and was allowed to explore the city by myself.  This, I am sure, was not condoned by my parents but to a brother...who cares, right?  I found my way around this most magnificent city, was akin to the music, knowing jazz deep down already, fell in love, convinced most I was not 14 and in the end was brought back to my brother's house after a night out in a cop car that to this day I do not remember.  

Subsequent times I spent galavanting around this city as it were my own.  I felt so comfortable meeting the most bizarre people in the streets of the French Quarter and at a very early age knew the importance of places like Tennessee Williams' house, or the beauty of the diversity that lived and created here.  It was a city that proposed the truest of ideals;  being an artist was simply believing you were one.  When I sat in Jackson Square at 16, talked to a man who had traveled across the country to make New Orleans his home, I knew that this was the type of life I wanted to lead.  A wanderer.  A minstrel of sorts.  An observer of the wicked, a portrayer of the impossible.  Why "Scott" is taken from the word "Scottish" which, of course, means wanderer.  Perfect.  And so this is what I became, in so many ways.  I wander across the globe observing and portraying.  If that sounds pretentious I apologize.  It is not meant to be that, only to put why I am writing this Zingertale into context.

I am here shooting a film.  In a hotel, protected from the real life that surrounds me, even protected from the real life that happens elsewhere.  It is always a strange psychology when you are on location.  The fantasy of the city takes over and I live according to the environment.  But something has happened to me this time.  Something that has taken me in a direction I have not really been before.   I started to walk around the French Quarter but found myself strangely detached from the scene.  I walked to Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District, walked past the Super Dome where I saw Pistol Pete Maverich’s play.  Nothing seemed to be inspiring me as before.  Was it because I was older now?  I haven't been here in a decade, could it be that I really wasn't into it anymore?  This idea really depressed me.  Or was it something else? 

photo by scott cohen, abandoned home

I had a day off so I set up a date to hang out with my sister in law, Annie, who still lives here after all these years.  She picks me up and as soon as I get in the car she says to me, "let's have lunch." Awesome.  The food is something I can rap my head around.  A coffee and a beignet maybe.  That'll do it but then she said, "I want to take you to the Lower 9th Ward.  You need to see that."

And then it hit me.  Right.  New Orleans, Katrina, Fema, Bush, the canals, the river, the levees...  I had sat on those levees, had been on the river, walked every inch of New Orleans in all the times I had been there but I had not seen this.  I had not come down to New Orleans since Katrina.  Heard stories, watched news, saw film, pictures, placed blame, watched the city of my adolescence drown in a sorrow I could not possibly have understood.  

We drove across the bridge and it hit me.  I didn't understand what happened to this city, what happened to these people.  But now I saw.  I slowly came to the limited understanding that I could have in relation to such a tragedy.  The area wiped out, known as the lower 9th ward,  is like a ghost town.  The breadth of destruction is so wide, so vast.  Brad Pitt's houses sit in a small area and are slowly bringing life back to one part of the damage.  The musicians community sits in an enclave that houses some but not nearly enough and no where near all that lost homes and lives.  This is 5 years almost 6 years out from this storm and I am seeing such devastation that I am speechless and at the same time hypnotized by it all.  

We traveled the whole day looking at portions of the city that were affected by the storm.  Talked about the change in culture, diversity and population.  This was not the same New Orleans I knew.  This was a different place.  This was a city besieged by tragedy, both natural and man made, and slowly but I guess surely rising from beneath the rubble. Unlike New York after 9/11 New Orleans suffered something that was impossible to defend against or blame.  And so all those ingredients created nothing less than a broken heart.  So difficult to patch.  So hard to rebuild.

I went back to the safety of my hotel after this excursion and sat staring at some pictures I took.  None of them doing justice to what I saw.  I sat there and started to weep. The innocence and protection of a childhood, the armor of an actor on location were shattered.  This is the life I live in.  This is reality.  The horror of the tragedy is what I needed to see.  

Of course I still love this city.  What isn't to love.  The people, the food, the style, the elegance, the music, the art, the history.  It has brought me from a curious adolescence into an even more curious adulthood, in a very strange way.  The wanderer is still here,  observing the wicked that prowl the streets and now desperately wanting to portray the impossible.  It is the impossible that allows us to see beyond the tragedy and hopefully into a brighter future.  It is the impossible that tells us exactly what needs to be done to better a world on its knees,  with its heart broken, and it's the man who sat in the park with me at 16, looked up to the sky, and saw a small jet flying above.  "Little. Lear. Jet.", he said.  "A little. Lear. Jet...  Oh, what Man can do."  I'll never forget it.  

photo by scott cohen, brad pitt's vision, NOLA's future

Very Important Hints on Etiquette, to Aid in the Fine Art of Wooing!

photo by ana traina

Hints for Etiquette;
 Or, Dining Out Made Easy

by 

The Unknown Lewis Carroll

I recommend this book to all diners-out who are perfectly unacquainted with the usages of fine society.  However, I regret that our author, Carroll Lewis, has confined himself to warning rather than sound advice, and I am also bound to say that nothing here will contradict the habits of the finer circles. The following examples exhibit a deep depth of penetration and a fullness of experience rarely met with:

I

In proceeding to the dining-room, the gentleman gives one arm to the lady he escorts -- it is unusual to offer both.

II

The practice of taking soup with the next gentleman but one is now wisely discontinued; but the custom of asking your host his opinion of the weather immediately on the removal of the first course still prevails.

III

To use a fork with your soup, intimating at the same time to your hostess that you are reserving the spoon for beefsteaks, is a practice wholly exploded.

IV

On meat being placed before you, there is no possible objection to your eating it, if so disposed; still in all such delicate cases, be guided entirely by the conduct of those around you.

V

It is always allowable to ask for artichoke jelly with your boiled venison; however there are houses where this is not supplied.

VI

The method of helping roast turkey with two carving-forks is praticable, but deficient in grace.

VII

We do not recommend the practice of eating cheese with a knife and fork in one hand, and a spoon and wine-glass in the other; there is a kind of awkwardness in the action which no amount of practice can entirely dispel.

VII

As a general rule, do not kick the shins of the opposite gentleman under the table, if personally unacquainted with him; your pleasantry is liable to be misunderstood -- a circumstance at all times unpleasant.

IX

Proposing the health of the boy in buttons immediately on the removal of the cloth is custom springing from regard to his tender years, rather than from a strict adherence to the rules of etiquette.

Lewis Carroll, 1849

“Hints for Etiquette” is a blueprint by Carroll for behavior at the dinner table and was first published in 1855 (10 years before Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland).  In it, he lists 9 “rules” of etiquette.

Abracadabra, LOVE is in the Air!

photo by ana traina

 Dear Zingertalers,

Here is a Valentine's Day treat,  two recipes for Love from Priestess Claudia,  to attract a lover if you are single, or to strengthen your relationship if you are  already in one...

  

To attract a new romance; An easy charm to make to attract love is to take powdered cocoa, a touch of powdered cinnamon and a small pinch of powdered cayenne and mix them together. Make a charm known as a Gris-Gris bag or sachet by putting the mixture in a red felt bag or wrap it in a piece of red felt or use any nice piece of gold, orange, red or pink fabric. If you use a red felt bag, tie the bag tightly with its own (usually black) cord. If you're using a piece of cloth, tie the mixture inside the cloth tightly using yarn or ribbon that is red, pink, orange, gold or white. Carry the bag with you to attract a new love. Wear it around your neck. Carry it on your right side if you're female, left if you are male. You'll be attracting possible lovers very quickly.

If you are already in a relationship, make a fabulous hot cocoa to share with the one you love using the same ingredients as you would put in the gris-gris/ sachet bag. Take powdered cocoa and sugar (or artificial sweetener for those watching their weight) two cinnamon sticks and a small touch of powdered cayenne and add to warm milk to make a sexy hot cocoa. On each of the cinnamon sticks (one for your cup, one for your love's cup) carve both of your initials inside a heart. When you finish your cocoa, let the sticks dry and keep them as charms to keep the relationship continuously growing and strong. Carry them or keep them in a special place where they will be honored and remind you of how much you love eachother. If for some reason you decide later to end the relationship, break your stick in half and proclaim aloud that you wish the other person well, but you would both be happier apart and the relationship just isn't working anymore. 

It's a good idea to do a trial run with the cocoa mix to make sure you get the measurements to suit your taste. Some people like the spice of the cayenne a lot and some not as much. It's lots of fun to do this as a couple and see how your tastes vary and how they're similar.

If you want a relationship, but don't have anyone in particular in mind or don't know the person you are attracted to very well try wearing some of our fantastic "Come to Me" oil. Ours is the best I've found (before I was married I tried many) and can easily be ordered by contacting us. It's $10.00 a dram, highly concentrated and useful for attracting a lover/lovers any time of year. 

Once again, at Starling we also have a wonderful "Love Strengthening/Love Healing" oil for $10.00 a dram. Oils can be worn as you would any fragrance oil. A few drops can be worn on your chest in the shower or dropped in bath water. You can also put a few drops on a candle to achieve the goal for which the oil is intended. To order call us at 504-214-3701, e-mail us at starlingmagickal@yahoo.com or contact us through

CHRYSANTHEMUM-EGG TEA SANDWICH, WITH A DASH OF LORE!

photo by ana traina

THE CHRYSANTHEMUM HERMIT

Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan, by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918]

MANY years ago there lived at the foot of the Mountains of Nambu, in Adachi gun, Saitama Prefecture, an old man named Kikuo, which means Chrysanthemum-Old-Man.

Kikuo was a faithful retainer of Tsugaru; he was then called Sawada Hayato. Kikuo was a man of great bodily strength and fine appearance, and had much to do with the efficiency of the small fighting force which protected the feudal lord, the castle, and the estates.

Nevertheless, an evil day came. The feudal lord's small force was overthrown; the estates and castle were lost. The lord and his faithful retainer, with the few survivors, escaped to the mountains, where they continued to think that a day might come when they would be able to have their revenge.

During the enforced idleness Kikuo, knowing his lord's love of flowers (especially of the chrysanthemum), made his mind up to devote all his spare time to making chrysanthemum beds. This, he thought, would lessen the pain of defeat and exile. The feudal lord was greatly pleased; but his cares and anxieties were not abated. He sickened and died in great poverty, much to the sorrow of Kikuo and the rest of his followers. Kikuo wept night and day over the humble and lonely grave; but he busied himself again to please the spirit of his lord by planting chrysanthemums round the tomb and tending them daily. By and by the border of flowers was thirty yards broad—to the wonder of all who saw. It was because of this that Hayato got the name of Chrysanthemum-Old-Man.

The chrysanthemum is in China a holy flower. Ancient history tells of a man called Hoso (great grandson of the Emperor Juikai) who lived to the age of 800 years without showing the slightest sign of decay. This was attributed to his drinking the dew of the chrysanthemum. Besides his devotion to flowers, Kikuo delighted in children; from the village he called them to his poor hut, and as there was no schoolmaster he taught them to write, to read, and jujitsu. The children loved him, and the good villagers revered him as if he were a kind of god.

In about his eighty-second year Kikuo caught cold, and the fever which came with it gave him great pain. During the daytime his pupils attended to his wants; but at night the old man was alone in his cottage.

One autumn night he awoke and found standing about his veranda some beautiful children. They did not look quite like any children he knew. They were too beautiful and noble-looking to belong to the poor of the village.

'Kikuo Sama,' cried two of them, 'do not fear us, though we are not real children. We are the spirits of the chrysanthemum which you love so much, and of which you have taken such care. We have come to tell you how sorry we are to see you so ill, although we have heard that in China there once lived a man called Hoso who lived for 800 years by drinking the dew which falls from the flowers. We have tried all we can to prolong your life; but we find that the Heavens do not allow that you should live to a much greater age than you have already reached. In thirty more days you will die. Make ready, therefore, to depart.'

Saying this, they all wept bitterly.'Good-bye, then,' said Kikuo. 'I have no further hopes of living. Let my death be easy. In the next world I may be able to serve my old lord and master. The only thing that makes me sad to leave this world is you: I must for ever regret to leave my chrysanthemums!' Saying this, he smiled at them in affection.

'You have been very kind to us,' said the Kiku spirits, 'and we love you for it. Man rejoices at birth, and feels sad at death; yet now you shed no tears. You say you do not mind dying except for leaving us. If you die we shall not survive, for it would be useless misery. Believe us when we say that we shall die with you.'

As the spirits of the chrysanthemums finished speaking a puff of wind came about the house, and they disappeared. As the day dawned the old man grew worse, and, strange to say, all the chrysanthemums began to fade—even those which were just beginning to bloom;—the leaves crumpled up and dried.

As the spirits had foretold, at the end of the thirtieth day the old man died. The Kiku flowers died then. Not one was left in the whole district. The villagers could not account for it. They buried the old man near his lord, and, thinking to honour and please him, planted, time after time, chrysanthemums near his grave; but all faded and died as soon as they were planted.

The two little graves were at last given up, and they remain in their solitude, with wild grasses only growing about them.

CHRYSANTHEMUM-EGG TEA SANDWICH SPREAD RECIPE

by Leorna Woodring Smith

FOR 2 DOZEN TEA SANDWICHES

6 HARD-COOKED EGGS (CHOPPED)

1/4 CUP FINELY CHOPPED CELERY

3 TABLESPOONS MINCED ONION

1 TABLESPOON MINCED GREEN PEPPER

1/3 CUP MAYO

1/2 TEASPOON WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

A DASH OF TABASCO

SALT AND PEPPER TO YOUR OWN PARTICULAR TATSE BUDS

BLEND INGREDIENTS AND THEN FOLD IN 1/2-3/4 CUP CHRYSANTHEMUM PETALS, ANY COLOR YOUR DESIRE, AND REFRIGERATE.

BIT OF ODDS AND ENDS: (Chrysanthemum coronarium) - Are tangy, slightly bitter, they ranging in colors from red, white, yellow and orange. They also DIFFER in taste from faint peppery to mild cauliflower. They could be blanched first and then scatter the petals on a salad. The leaves can also be used to flavor vinegar.  Remember - Always remove the bitter flower base and use petals only.

The Romantic Fiction of Maude Green Coming to Zingertales, Soonishly!!

by ana traina

Dear Zingertale Readers,

Maude has given me permission to share this one photo and to say that she is a "Book Gnome"... What is a "Book Gnome"? Well, I'm really not at liberty to say, so unfortunately you'll just have to wait and see...

An Angel...

photo by ana traina

Angels, in the early morning 

by Emily Dickinson

Angels, in the early morning
May be seen the Dews among,
Stooping -- plucking -- smiling -- flying --
Do the Buds to them belong?

Angels, when the sun is hottest
May be seen the sands among,
Stooping -- plucking -- sighing -- flying --
Parched the flowers they bear along.

A Dreamer's Lullaby!

a view from my window by ana traina

"Sleep, sweet little babe, on the bed of roses I have spread for thee; sleep fond little life, on the straw scattered o'er, 'mid the petals of roses, and pansies I've laid thee, in a crib of white lillies; blue bells on the floor." -- Old Latin Hymn

Dream pillows, origins date back centuries, Folklore is full of traditions using herbs to calm, relieve, heal and promote sweet dreams.

For example, in the late 1800's young ladies would place rosemary and a sixpence under their pillows on Halloween, asking for dreams of their future husbands to be. Also, the witty remark, "A roll in the hay" has its origins in the lore that hay enhances fertility.

Even the color of the sac or sachet used to hold the herbs have special meaning in folklore. On the Eve before Valentines’ Day, men and women would place bay leaves in a red sachet to elicit dreams of future mates. A mix of herbs in an orange bag would proffer good luck, and blue bags under the pillow would elicit dreams of peace and tranquility.

Herbs to Avoid for Dream Pillows

Artemisia (except for mugwort) should be avoided, as many kinds of artemisia can cause frightening dreams and, after waking, headaches.

Bay, which sometimes causes headaches upon waking, can also add a gray-brown color and violent quality to dreams.

Fixatives are not recommended for use in dream blends. These include

cellulose (processed corncobs) and orrisroot. Since they contain some

fragrance they may change the texture of the dream blend, making the results

unpredictable. Orrisroot can also cause headaches upon waking.

Oils of any kind are not recommended. Oils are highly concentrated and can

overpower other herbs.

Russian tarragon can cause frightening nightmares.

Sage can create a haunting feeling in dreams. However, garden sage and

clary sage blossoms can be used in small amounts in dream blends.

Tansy, which can cause violent and terrifying nightmares, can also produce

headaches upon waking.

Plants in the Herbal Pillow to Dream On

Many types of plants can be used in herbal dream pillows, but here are some

of the most common and versatile.

Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) -- Curtin's Healing Herbs of the Rio Grande

suggest that in folklore the fragrance of anised keeps men from dreaming.

It's useful in relaxing blends.

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) -- Fir needles are a pleasant addition to

relaxing blends, good in combination with lavender, hops, and roses. They

impart an outdoors feeling to dreams.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) -- In folklore it is said that combining

sage and calendula blossoms will make dreams come true. Calendula, in small amounts, can add restfulness to a blend, and moderate more spicy

ingredients.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) -- This herb has been used for centuries to ease

babies' troubled sleep. Today, we use it in adult blends to induce

relaxation and sleep.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) -- Chamomile is used for relaxation and

pleasant dreams. People who are allergic to ragweed should probably avoid

using this herb in their blends, as it sometimes causes similar reactions.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) -- Cinnamon has recently been proved by fragrance researchers to be one of the most erotic aromas for men. Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen tree. Use it sparingly in dream blends for an exotic, romantic texture.

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) -- Cloves add a hint of spiciness, especially

when used with roses in romantic mixtures, but use them sparingly. Just 3

or 4 cloves in a blend is plentiful.

Hops (Humulus lupulus) -- This herb is actually the flower from a perennial

vine and there are several varieties, including some considered "bitter" and

others "sweet". Sweet hop flowers are the ones for dreaming; they induce

relaxation and peacefulness.

Jasmine (Jasmine officinale or J. odoratissimum) -- The delicious fragrance

of jasmine will almost encourage dreaming when you're awake! The dried

flowers lend an exotic and romantic feeling to dreams, especially for women.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.) -- Lavender aids in easing headaches when you are awake, and is useful in relaxing blends alone or in combination with roses and mugwort. Combined with jasmine and roses, lavender adds warmth and familiarity to romantic mixes.

Leather -- While it seems an unlikely ingredient, leather is tanned with a

product that comes from oak bark. The scent of fresh leather trimming adds

excitement and energy to dream blends.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) -- In aromatherapy, lemon balm is used to

relieve depression, anxiety, insomnia, and nervous tension. This herb

combines well with roses, lavender, thyme, hops and mint. A mix of lemon

balm and lavender, in equal parts, is useful in relieving headache and

stress.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) -- A native herb of tropical regions,

lemongrass adds a bit of color and a soothingly safe, mildly exotic feeling

to blends.

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla) -- Native to Chile and Argentina, this

shrub produces delightfully aromatic leaves that can add a bit of lightness,

even feelings of flying, to the dream blend when used in small amounts.

Lilac (Syringa Chinensis) -- Use lilac for sweet, safe, and peaceful dream

mixes, in small amounts. It's also good in mixes for the sickroom, and for

travelers' blends. In larger amounts, lilac adds sensuality.

Marjoram, Sweet (Origanum majorana) -- Sweet marjoram is often used in

blends to ease nervousness and restlessness during sleep. I find that this

herb adds a dimension of warmth, safety and comfort to dreams.

Mimosa Flowers (Acacia dealbata) -- Somewhat like jasmine, only milder,

mimosa can add an exotic, more complex feeling to dreams. Mimosa and lemon

balm are a good combination for peaceful but slightly colorful dreams.

Mint (Mentha spp). -- Just a small amount of mint works like a tuning knob

on a television. It adds clarity, vividness, and color to dreams.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) -- In folklore it is said that this herb causes

the dreamer to remember his or her dreams. It does seem to increase

clarity, while also encouraging relaxation.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) -- Used as a mild sedative in herbal

medicines, passionflower adds a quieting effect to the dream pillow.

Flowers and leaves are both used, but flowers are preferred.

Rose (Rosa spp) -- Rose petals create a feeling of loving thoughts and

warmth. Used with more exotic herbs in romantic or adventurous mixes, roses keep the feeling of the dream grounded in safety and peacefulness.

Rosemary (Rosmarinum officialis) -- In folklore, rosemary was used to ensure

sleep and keep away bad dreams. Rosemary works well with a bit of lavender, roses, mugwort, and hops for a relaxing night's sleep without notable dreaming.

Thyme (Thymus spp.) -- Herb lore of old claims that sleeping on a pillow of

thyme allows the dreamer to see faeries. 

A Bit of Odd and End ~  I found this nifty recipe for the frequent traveler.

THE WANDER'S COMFORT
If you have trouble getting used to the unfamiliar perfumes of the odd hotel room or strange bed, try this calming blend:

1/2 cup mugwort
1/2 cup rose petals
1/4 cup lavender flowers
1/4 cup marjoram
1 tablespoon passionflower, leaves or petals

Also keep in mind that a pinch of Tansy will keep that sometimes frightening incubus at bay... And to cure depression - lavender; To improve memory - rosemary, bay; To prevent daymares - rosemary, anise; To ease headache -elder flowers; To help dream recall - rosemary, broadleaf plantain (seeds).