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 Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:40 pm
Quote: 9.6.05 Hi, Jornal! Yesterday, I lerned about, commas. Feenix, sais you put a comma were thered be a pawse in a sentens. You also put them after Proper Names and things like that, or if you want to conect 2 sentenses. If you dont put a comma, thats called a RunOn Sentens. Feenix sais Im getting reely good at writing, but I still have, lots to work on. A cuple days ago, we went over to the Centre. Feenix, sed I needed to get out of the hous, and so did she. And I got to meet som1 new! His names Kiro, and he has a Wisp named Tzukee. Tzukees reelly cute, but his name is hard to spell! Kiros colecting impotan imformation for somthing, and Feenix told me I culd help. So Kiro put me on a scail, and took mesurements of me. I wonder wat thats all for. Me and Feenix go for a walk evry day. We luk for new flowers and plants, and we bring them back to the hous so I can find them in my plant books.
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:14 pm
9.17.05
Dear Jornal-
I lerned about Apostrophes today. That's a reely big word. It's a hard one, but Feenix made sure I culd spel it rite. You put Apostrophes in wen you put 2 words together to make 1. Or you can also use them to make Posesive Nouns. I'm not sure I get that part yet, but puting 2 words together is not so hard.
Feenix sais we're going to the beech tomoro. She sais that we're gonna play with Fae and Peblo. I ges that's good, but I'm kinda scared. I havent seen Peblo in a reely long time. Wat if she dusn't like me anymore? I don't even know what she luks like now.
But here's something good I did today. Feenix helped me make a tea. We blened the Herbs together. I used Black Tea leaves, Peppermint, Hybiscus, Chamomile, and Orange peel. Once it all dries, it will be a nice tea that will help you sleep. I think it will also make upset tummies feel better.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:21 am
(Cetalu- Beach)
The weather was nearly perfect- late summer breezes carried across the salty smell of the ocean and the cloudy blue sky made sure there was plenty of protection against the harsh sun. Fae had arranged the meeting place with Foenix at the beach to catch up with each other and allow the Aerandir some playtime of their own. The young woman flattened the wrinkles out of the beach blanket and re-folded towels after a certain Aerandir trying to carrying them in a stack in her arms. Meanwhile, Pubelo sat on the edge of the blanket and stared at the sand, wondering. But then her eye contact was broken and her ears twitched to a certain sound of entrance behind her.
"Nehanda, come on! We're going to be late. Pueblo's waiting for you." Foenix looked over she shoulder at the little girl. Nehanda was trudging along, head down, kicking at the dirt as they neared the beach. "But what if Pebwo doesn't wike me anymore?" The Aerandir child hunched her shoulders. It had been such a long time since she'd played with Pueblo, and they hadn't even been human-form! When they'd seen each other at the Centre, she hadn't even recognized her old friend. "Don't be ridiculous, sweetie. Pueblo's the same, she just looks different!" Foenix stopped, reached down, and swung the child up into her arms. "Now come on. We're almost there." True to her words, the dirt path had eventually turned to sand. They could see Fae through the break in the trees. "Hi there, Fae!"
Haunched over, she spotted Foenix and Nehanded between her legs and waved an upside-down hand at them. "Ello!" She grinned and flipped her hair out of her eyes as she stood up. Her attire was different today- jean cut-off shorts and a white t-shirt tied and twisted at the middle of her stomach. Her sandals were put to the side so her toes were free to feel the smooth warm sand. "How's it going?" she asked the two as she pulled out a picnic basket. She wasn't the best cook of Cetalu, but she could still make some pretty decent salads and sandwhiches. Pueblo immediately got up and ran across the blanket behind her guardian's legs. She peered from behind at Nehanda and smiled broadly. "Hi-lo!"
Nehanda looked down from Foenix's arms and gulped. "Hi, Pebwo. How are you?" Feeling considerably better at the warm welcome, she squirmed until Foenix put her down. Trotting over to her old friend, she reached into her little carry-sak. Pulling out a deep purple blossom, she offered it. "I picked dis for you. Feenis says you wike to dwaw and stuff, and you wike colors. So I tought you might wike dis." Foenix grinned at the long0winded explanation. Plooping down next to Fae, she nudged her and whispered, "Nehanda was really nervous about this. It's good to see them together again!" Leaning back on her elbows, she lifted her face to the warm sun. "That spread you brought looks really fabulous."
Pueblo watched the vanilla colored girl bound up to her without flinching. Accepting the purple flower, she beamed at its glory and gave a little childish gasp. Her eyes widened and then she suddenly begun to dance around with it in her hand, pretending she was some sort of fairy-princess like the ones in those other books her Fae read to her. She really liked those books. She tapped Nehanda on the nose with the flower's soft petals. "Want to pway fair-yee pwencess or draw?" Pueblo asked and pointed to her new sketch pad that her Fae carried around for her. Fae watched Pueblo find a sudden burst of energy and rose her eyebrows. "They look fine. Actually, Pueblo never acts like this around anyone but me," she said astonished. Giving Foenix a quick look and then to the ground, she smiled silently. "Well whenever you guys get hungry, just help yourselves."
Nehanda looked at the sketchpad. "I doesn't dwaw much, but dat sounds fun. I bet you're a much gooder dwawer den I am. Wet's sit on the bwanket." And so saying, she smiled shyly and moved over to plop her little butt down on the blanket. "She's really adorable, Fae. You must be so incredibly proud," Foenix commented as she watched the two little girls. Thanks for putting all of this together." Foenix picked up a sandwich and bit into it hungrily. "So, what have you been up to since I saw you last? These past couple of months have just been so busy.
"Okee!" she said enthusiastically and raced back across the blanket, the purple flower bouncing up and down on its stem. "Well, eets mine job," she considered as she laid down on her stomach and placed the pad of paper between them. "Wut's yers?" she asked and dumped the box of colored pencils in front of them. Immediately she begun to draw, starting with the purple pencil. "Nehanda's vocabulary is pretty clear herself," she commented and pulled out two carbonated waters. She offered one to Foenix- she didn't know too many people who liked fizzy water. "Oh, just trying to cram in everything I know into Pueblo's brain, ya know. I just moved the studio, or aka, crazy painting arena, into the storage space outside. Pueblo's been making and mixing her own paint and slopping up the walls in random doodles of flowers and bugs- you know, children-chicken scratch. She's almost better than I was at her age." She unscrewed a lid to her own carbonated water and took a sip. "I don't know where to go next. I suppose pottery, since it's in the job description, but we haven't any clay to work with. Aly was supposed to have put in an order for it." She took another sip before she asked, "And what's new with you and Nehanda?"
Nehanda picked up a green pencil and started to doodle. "I's a Herbawist," she said, emphasizing the H. I gwow pwants and make potions and stuff to make people feewl better. And Feenis takes me out on walks so I can wearn about all the diffrent pwants on Cetawoo." Foenix accepted the water enthusiastically. She loved fizzy water. "Nehanda's just learning in leaps and bounds. She's still having some trouble with her L's and R's, but I'm sure she'll grow out of that. Her handwriting's atrocious, her grammar's improving, and her plant knowledge is frightening. It's as though she instinctively knows which herbs to put with which to make the different teas and salves. Of course," she broke off and chuckled, she can't cook to save her life. I asked her to bring in some herbs to go with a salmon and she brought me a truly disgusting mix!"
Fae grinned as she pulled out a salad bowl covered in plastic wrap. "Ah then I heard there's a cook on Cetalu," she thought and emptied a packet of balsamic vinagerette into the bowl and mixed it around with plastic silver ware. "But isn't is amazing how much they know already on their own? Even Pueblo can foresee what color the paint will turn out to be before it's combined. It's like they can /feel/ these things. Talk about a 6th sense." She took a fork full of leafy greens and crammed them into her mouth. Pueblo looked at the flower for a moment, then back to the paper, and then back up again as she set the purple pencil down. "Taht's cool," she simply but full-heartidly said. It wasn't complicated discussions that the children had. "I need da green pencil, pwease. We can trade?" she offered and flickered her emerald eyes to the swan-horse. "Wat you drawing?" She leaned forward a little onto her forearms to see what her friend was creating/
Nehanda shrugged as she exchanged pencils. "My garden. It's the onwy thing I dwaw a wot. Dat and the gweenhouse I want Feenis to build for me." She slid her eyes slyly over toward their guardians, to make sure Foenix was listening. "If I had a gweenhouse, I could gwaw a wot of other pwants. Even during the winter season. So if peoples got sick, I'd have what I needed for medicine." Foenix smirked as she took up her own fork and tasted the salad. "This is really good. Just listen to her, the little sneak. She thinks that if she hints enough, I'll build the damn thing. I'm trying to wait until she's a bit bigger. That garden of hers is already enormous."
Fae slightly finched at the curse word and darted her eyes over to Pueblo just to make sure she wasn't paying attention. Meekly smiling at Foenix, the question caught in her throat and she let it go with a chunk of lettuce. "Thanks," she politely answered before she was slapped for not thanking people's courtesy. "Oh, is it? Maybe Pueblo and I should make a visit sometime," she squedualed tentatively. Pueblo swapped the pencils quickly and begun to draw the stem. "Iz dat where got you dis flower?" she asked and pointed to the plant with the exchanged purple pencil. Her picture was coming together nicely and it could even be identified as the exact flower.
Foenix noticed Fae's flinch and covered her mouth with a finger. "Sorry about that. It's about the worst thing I say around them. And we'd love to have you over. Nehanda loves nothing more then spending time in the garden. She's very proud of it, and she'd like showing a friend around. Pueblo would be the first Aerandir to spend any real time with her there." "Yup," Nehanda answered. It's a Pwincess Fwower." Tilting her head, she looked over at Pueblo's sketch. "Dat's so good!" She exclaimed.
((That's as far as we got. They spend the rest of the day eating, drawing, and playing in the ocean.))
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:31 am
Foenix walked out onto the porch, looking for Nehanda. The little girl hadn't come in for lunch, and Foenix assumed that she had simply lost track of time while out in the garden.
Instead, the child was sitting on the edge of the porch. Her hooved feet dangled back and forth, and her face was tilted up to the sky. Early afternoon sunlight filtered over her cheeks, touching them with a warm glow. Ever now and again, she would flip a wing out and fold it back in. From the movements of her lips, it looked as though she might be talking to herself.
"What are you thinking about?" The auburn-maned woman crossed and sat down beside her charge. "It's a pretty day, isn't it."
Nehanda looked up at her, squinting a bit against the sun. "Yeah, it's pwetty." She stopped, screwed up her little face, and tried again. "It's pretty."
"Very good, sweetie. I know how hard you're working on those R's." Foenix smiled and ran a hand over large downy feathers the color of clouds. "You looked very deep in thought when I came outside."
"What do you tink it'll be wike to fwy?" She was still having a lot of trouble with L's, but Foenix didn't stop her to correct. "I's got wings, an' I've seen Rahujo fwy, and Acia fwy. And I read dat book you gabe me on swans. Dey's got weally big wings, and dey fwy weally far. So, I guess I's gonna hab weally big wings, too. But I don't wanna fwy far away from you and my garden."
Foenix bit her lip and concentrated on neatening feathers. Such a little girl to be thinking such big thoughts. "You're going to fly someday, sweetie. And yes, I expect that you will be able to fly long distances. But that doesn't mean you have to if you don't want to. And remember, you'll always be able to come back home."
Nehanda tilted her head and smiled. Then she flipped open her wings and stretched them out to their full length. Her wingspan was already wider then she was tall. "Yeah. I can always come back home." She closed them and leaned up against her pseudo-mother. The two sat and enjoyed the sun.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:14 pm
9.23.05
Well, as Nehanda would say (or write, rather), Hello, Journal!
I'm telling myself that I won't read over her entries. I told her that they were private, and that they'll stay that way. But . . . what is my little girl thinking about? What secrets has she been keeping in her cheerful little heart?
A few days ago, I had a bit of a "Mommy" scare. Nehanda was wondering what it would be like to fly away. She says that she doesn't want to leave home, but that's now, when she's so young and innocent. Once she grows, once she matures and those glorious wings will carry her, where will she go?
I expect that all parents feel like this at some point. I suppose mine must have had the same worries about me. But . . . despite my self-assurance that such feelings are normal, I start to panic. What if I cling too tightly, and she comes to resent me? I can think of nothing I would want less.
So, it's something to keep in the back of my head.
In any case, Nehanda's finally settled down to her lessons again. When I think about the temper tantrums I put up with . . . ugh. Such a shrill voice for such a tiny girl! But I think she's finally understanding why learning to read and write is so important. I suspect she still has doubts about the math lessons, but who doesn't?
The other day, she came trotting up with a very serious face. She said she needed my help rooting a weed out of the gardens, because it was poisonous. Sure enough, I found that she had compared the plant she'd found with images in one of the garden books, and I'm 99% sure she's properly identified the weed.
I made much of the fact that she was able to look the information up all by herself, and I think it connected in her head.
Thank goodness. I really don't want to raise a stupid Aerandir.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:16 pm
"Foenix, wook at dis one!" Nehanda raced ahead and stopped before a tall plant. She was bouncing with excitement as she waited for her guardian to catch up. Why did Adult Human-People take such a long time? They were SO SLOOOOWWW! "I'm coming, I'm coming!" Foenix broke into a jog and quickly caught up with the little girl. She had to laugh. Nehanda was so eager! "Yup, that's a really gorgeous one. Is that the one you want?" Nehanda turned and looked at the plant. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, she thought to herself. And this was probably a Hawaiian Sunset Hibiscus. The yellow-and-fuschia blooms were as big as her head! It was the prettiest one they'd seen all afternoon. "Yeah, dis one's good." She turned and looked at Foenix, a little uncertain. Foenix grinned as she pulled out her camera. She'd told the Aerandir child that she wanted to take her first picture ever. So, of course, they had to go out and find the PERFECT plant to take that picture beside. "Okay, sweetie, smile at me, and hold still!" Nehanda reached out and lifted up a particularly gorgeous blossom so that it was beside her face, then turned and smiled. CLICK! 
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:32 am
Nehanda stared at the computer screen. Her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on typing out the herbal information Foenix had so carefuly helped her put together. Foenix had written everything out, so that Nehanda could later put it into her journal. After all, journal entries were one thing, but it was really important that all of this be spelled correctly, with the right grammar and everything. Quote: 9.29.05 Feverfew [Chrysanthemum Parthenium], also known as Featherfew, Featherfoil, Flirtwort, and Bachelor's Buttons. The name is a corruption of Febrifuge, from its tonic and fever-dispelling properties. It is a composite plant growing in every hedgerow, with numerous, small, daisy-like heads of yellow flowers with outer white rays, the central yellow florets being arranged on a nearly flat receptacle, not conical as in the chamomiles. The stem is finely furrowed and hairy, about 2 feet high; the leaves alternate, downy with short hairs, or nearly smooth-about 4 1/2 inches long and 2 inches broad - bipinnatifid, with serrate margins, the leaf-stalk being flattened above and convex beneath. It is not to be confounded with other wild chamomile-like allied species, which mostly have more feathery leaves and somewhat large flowers; the stem also is upright, whereas that of the true garden Chamomile is procumbent. The delicate green leaves are conspicuous even in mild winter. The whole plant has a strong and bitter smell, and is particularly disliked by bees. A double variety is cultivated in gardens for ornamental purposes, and its flower-heads are sometimes substituted for the double Chamomile.
Country people have long been accustomed to make curative uses of this herb, which grows abundantly throughout England. Gerard tells us that it may be used both in drinks, and bound on the wrists is of singular virtue against the ague.
Pyrethrum is derived from the Greek pur (fire), in allusion to the hot taste of the root.
As a stimulant it is useful as an emmenagogue. Is also employed in hysterical complaints, nervousness and lowness of spirits, and is a general tonic. The cold infusion is made from 1 OZ. of the herb to a pint of boiling water, allowed to cool, and taken frequently in doses of half a teacupful.
A decoction with sugar or honey is said to be good for coughs, wheezing and difficult breathing. The herb, bruised and heated, or fried with a little wine and oil, has been employed as a warm external application for wind and colic.
A tincture made from Feverfew and applied locally immediately relieves the pain and swelling caused by bites of insects and vermin. It is said that if two teaspoonfuls of tincture are mixed with 1/2 pint of cold water, and all parts of the body likely to be exposed to the bites of insects are freely sponged with it, they will remain unassailable. A tincture of the leaves of the true Chamomile and of the German Chamomile will have the same effect.
Planted round dwellings, it is said to purify the atmosphere and ward off disease. An infusion of the flowers, made with boiling water and allowed to become cold, will allay any distressing sensitiveness to pain in a highly nervous subject, and will afford relief to the face-ache or earache of a dyspeptic or rheumatic person. Sitting back, Nehanda carefully scanned over everything that she had typed. Yup! It looked pretty good. "Feenix! I finished!" cheerfully, the little girl slid down from the chair and ran out of the room.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:46 am
Looking over her shoulder, Nehanda stifled a giggle as she crept outside. It was still very early, enough so that a thin morning mist drifted over the ground, and the sky was only beginning to lighten to a soft indigo. Stars twinkled overhead, and the little Aerandir child stared up at them for a few moments.
Eventually, however, she shook her head and resumed her mission. She quickly jumped off the porch, so that the tromping of her hoof-feet of the porch planks wouldn't wake anyone. Foenix was a very light sleeper. Once on the ground, she skipped over to the gardens.
The gardens had grown and evolved dramatically since that first afternoon when Acia had created them. Now, the once-small plots covered most of the clearing behind the house. There was a large spot that Nehanda had set aside for the much-coveted green-house, but the rest was covered in neat rows of lush greenery.
There were two specific plants that Nehanda was eager to see. First was the pumpkins she and Foenix had transplanted almost a month ago. Nehanda wasn't entirely clear on the "Hallyween" thing Foenix had talked about, but it sounded like a lot of fun! Especially the candy, and the "Jack-O-Lanterns." That's what the pumpkins were for! As many had begun to grow on their vines, Nehanda had carefully selected enough for everyone on the two islands to have one, plus a few extra, just in case. The rest had been pruned away, so as not to seep nutrients away from the chosen several. This tropical temperature was not really the sort of place that pumpkins thrived in, so they needed some special care.
Satisfied that they were growing well, Nehanda galloped over to her next goal. Several lavender blossoms shot up from thick, waxy leaves. Bending over, she sniffed the fragrant blooms. They looked so pretty! This was just for Foenix, and she didn't know about these flowers.
Her morning checks completed, Nehanda turned and scampered back into the house. She was hungry. Time to wake up Foenix for breakfast!
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:04 pm
"Um . . . Foenix? You might want to come out here for a sec . . . We've got a little problem . . ." Kylara craned her head around the door frame, and looked apologetically at Foenix. Her long mobile ears were pressed back against the sides of her head, and she was playing nervously with the tip of her thick tail.
"What's happened?" Foenix raised her head from her sewing machine and blinked a few times as she re-focussed her eyes. "I haven't heard any screaming or crying since Nahda tried to fly off the roof three days ago."
"Oh, it's nothing quite that serious," the Jivvin quickly reassured. "Nehanda's managed to get herself into a little spot, and I'm not entirely sure what needs to be done for her."
"Oh, for-" Foenix pushed away from the desk and stood. "Is she out on the porch?" Taking Kylara's nod as assent, she quickly crossed to the door and hurried downstairs. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Kylara."
Kylara flushed, and waved one scarred hand. "Oh, it's nothing. I owe you so much, and I really do love watching the little ones! Especially now that I'm humanoid . . ." She trailed off as they walked out onto the porch together.
Floenix blinked.
Then she blinked again.
"Nehanda, what have you done?"
The little Aerandir child looked up and waved cheerfully. "Feenix! I found pwetty colors!"
Foenix stared down at the bluish girl. Blue . . . which was not her normal hue . . .
Kylara gestured helplessly. "She was carrying a branch of those berries you two brought back the other day."
"Oh, gods. The inkberries." Foenix ran a hand through her disordered locks before placing it on her hips. The last plant they had brought home to study had come from a large bush covered in little black berries. When squashed, they produced a blue-purple juice that stained everything it touched. Nehanda had shown a liking for the color.
"Now I'm all blue and pwetty!"
Foenix sighed at Nehanda's excited statement. "Yes, you certainly are." Turning to Kylara, she shook her head and snorted. "Start pulling some water for a bath. This is gonna take a lot of soap . . ."
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Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:11 am
"Ooph!" Foenix grunted as she heaved a particularly large pumpkin into the wheelbarrow she had borrowed form the Centre. "I think maybe about three more here. What do you say, Nehanda?"
The little girl looked up from where she was treating the cut stem of the pumpkin vine. "I alweady picked 'em out." She pushed herself to her feet and gestured to three huge, round specimens. "Dose tree will make good jack-lanterns."
"Jack-O-Lanterns, honey," Foenix corrected absently as she studied the chosen three. Yeah, I think those will be very good." Together, the woman and her charge had chosen about two dozen pumpkins of various sizes to bring over to the Centre for Kiro's Halloween party. There should be more then enough, even after a few mess-ups and start-overs, for everyone to bring a jack-o-lantern home with them.
"Okay, after we drop these off, we'll come back and load the wheelbarrow up again. I promised Kiro that I'd bring some pumpkins over to Kami and Keanu. they're cooking pumpkin stuff for the party."
"Yum!" Nehanda chimed in. One of the few things she liked to do almost as much as gardening was to eat.
"Exactly!" Foenix grinned. "Let's get those last couple loaded up, and we'll head out!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:25 am
From the Halloween Thread Foenix shoved the door open with her shoulder and looked around. The Centre looked empty of all inhabitants at present. With a shrug, she pushed the door open wider and rolled her burden in. Nehanda ran in behand her, and skipped ahead so that she could place a hand on the wheelbarrow's contents. "I tink everypeople's gone, Feenix." "That's okay, hun. We'll just put these out of the way and leave them here. It's not exactly hard to miss a dozen pumpkins, after all . . ." Wheeling the barrow over to a wall, she started to unload it. There were pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. Huge round ones, tall ones, some funny and lumpy ones, even a few little pumpkins for anyone who wanted to paint a face on rather then carve out a regular jack-o-lantern. Finished, Foenix stretched out her back before turning to face Nehanda. "There we go! Now let's go get the others for Kami and Keanu."
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:46 am
Foenix pushed the wheelbarrow loaded with half a dozen pumpkins up the pathway leading to Kami's house. "I hope they're there."
Nehanda trotted cheerfully beside her guardian. Despite being told that no, she couldn't ride in the already-heavy barrow, she was excited to be out on this little errand. "I gets to see Kayno!"
"That's Keanu, sweetie," Foenix corrected with a laugh. "And that's right! Keanu likes plants just like you. But he likes to cook real food with them, instead of medicines."
"Oh." Nehanda pondered this for a few moments. She hadn't really been that disappointed when Foenix had kindly urged her to abandon her few disasterous attempts at real cooking. "so, he's gonna make lots of yummy foods wit our pumpkins?"
"Exactly."
Kami happened to be in the living room, taking a break for a quiet afternoon of leisurely reading. Keanu was out in the back, playing with Mazin, no doubt. She yawned, and rested her head back, unaware of the little procession that was making it's way towards her house. It was brought to her attention loudly, and abruptly.
Keanu, having seen Foenix and Nehanda, had burst through the front door to tell his mother, greatly excited. "Momma! 'Handa and her mommy are coming!" he cried loudly, jarring the girl out of her relaxed state. He giggled as she jumped, and ran toward her, tugging at her to come and see.
Thegirl groaned softly, but couldn;t help but give a smile, hiding the exasperation of being woken so sharply. "Are they, now?" she asked, setting the book down and following him to the door. And indeed, he was right. She headed down the walkway, a friendly smile on her face. Just as Foenix had said, she was coming with the pumkins. "Hello there!" she called, continuing to move toward the other aerandir caretaker's way.
"Afternoon!" Foenix lifted one hand to wave, but had to quickly grab the wheelbarrow handle to keep the ting from tipping. "We've got cooking materials for you!" It didn't take long before she had pulled up at the porch steps. "So, where do you want these? Or maybe I should ask Keanu, hmm?" She bent down to address the little boy. "How're things, Keanu?"
"Keenu!" Nehanda was too excited to wait for such pleasantries. Rushing up, she grabbed the other Aerandir's arm and started jumping up and down. "It's gonna be Hallyween! We get to wear costumes! You're gonna make us yummy treats! It's gonna be fun!"
"It's Keanu, hun, remember?" Foenix shook her head and rolled her eyes, then muttered to Kami, "I can't think of a single name she manages to get right. She's such a bubble-head sometimes."
"Aah, the pumpkins." Kami smirked. Yes, that's right, they were here to deliver the pumpkins for the upcoming Halloween event. Good thing she had done plenty of research on pumpkin recipes, they;d be sure to have plenty of yummy things ready.
Keanu laughed, not seeming to mind the mispronunciation of his name. He was caught between Nehanda and Foenix for a moment, and turned to answer the woman, blushing rather shyly. "Good!" he stated simply, leaning forward to inspect the pumpkins. He'd never seen such a thing, all big and orange. He could hardly wait to hit his cookbooks and see what sorts of concoctions he could come up with the big squashes. He then turned to Nehanda, giggling at her antics. "What're you gonna dress up as?"
Kami chuckled as she watched the enthusiastic child, glancing to Foenix. "She certainly is cute, though." she said, smiling warmly. "I think they'd do best in the house. They won't spoil too quickly, right?" she asked, to make sure.
Foenix shook her head as she hefted a pumpkin into her arms. "Nah. They should be fine for at least two or three weeks like this. But once you've cut into one, I wouldn't wait more then twenty-four hours. So, why don't you show us where you want these?" Looking over her shoulder at the two children, she had to smile. "I've yet to see an Aerandir kid who wasn't adorable. Keanu's getting so big!"
Nehanda giggled at Keanu in return. "Feenix is making me a butterfly costume! It's gonna have wots of pwetty colors, and we're gonna make my wings wook wike butterfly wings! What're you gonna be?" Following Foenix's example, she reached up and pulled a much smaller pumpkin off of the cart. "I liked growin' these. And once you've cut 'em up, you can save the seeds for your own garden!"
Kami smiled. "Perfect. Follow me!" she said, and lifted another one of the larger pumpkins before heading into the house. She set the pumpkin in a corner of the kitchen, near the table. "This spot should do. We're gonna start cooking them up as soon as possible." he set the pumpkin down carefully, before chuckling softly. "Yeah, he sre is. It's amazing how fast he's grown...seems like only yesterday he was just a little griphon..."
Keanu looked impressed. "Wow, sounds neat!" he cried, and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Dunno....momma said I could, but I haven't thought of it yet." he said, and shrugged, a silly grin on his face. He grabbed a pumpkin as well, hefting it towards the house. He looked amazed at what she said. That would be something! "Wow, I could make my own pumpkins, huh?" he asked, toddling after Foenix and his mother.
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Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:52 am
((Cont. RP with Kami and Keanu.))
Foenix had to grin at Keanu's surprise. "Well, that was the general idea." she put her pumpkin down beside the one Kami's. "And on the subject of gardens, if there's anything Keanu wants from Nehanda's, plant-wise, you should just let us know. She's pretty excited about the idea of trading cuttings. And I think we got started on her garden a little earlier then you did, so Nehanda's plants are pretty extensive at this point. Heck, the gardens take over most of the free ground space in our little clearing!"
Nehanda tripped a little, and extended her wings to help regain her balance. "Dat's right!" she piped up after Foenix. "I gots wots of plants!" She looked over at Keanu. "I'll bet you gots more eating plants then me, but I gots a bunch of herbs and stuff." She studied her fellow Herbalist. "Ya know, I bet you'd wook weally good as . . . a . . . a pirate! You could dress up somet'in wike that."
Kami smiled again, setting her pumpkin down with a soft huff. "That's very generous. We might stop by sometime, and you two can visit whenever you please, of course." she said. "Our garden is coming along fairly well, too. Keanu's just recently started planting vegetables out front." she said, chuckling a bit.
Keanu giggled, and readjusted his hold on the pumpkin. "I love my plants!" he said, glancing over at his little garden as they passed by the front of the house. He couldn't wait until he had his own delicious food growing. His thoughts were suddenly distracted by her suggestion, and his eyes went wide. "Hey, that's a great idea!!!" he cried, nearly dropping the pumpkin in his arms.
Nehanda nodded eagerly as she turned to run out for another pumpkin. "Yeah, plants are the bestest!" She paused for a sec, and looked back at Foenix. "Well, they're almost the bestest. I like Foenix and all my friends, too." She skipped down the porch stairs and grabbed another little pumpkin. "You'd make a great pirate," she returned to the former topic of conversation. "Feenix showed me a book with 'em. You can wear an eye patch, and a red bandana! And you need a sword!"
Foenix eyed the plants growing out front as she went back for another. "Yeah, they really are. Everything looks great! I was actually suprised at how much I enjoy gardening. It's very soothing. Once Nehanda's a little bigger, she probably won't need as much help. But I'll still want to go out and play in the dirt."
Keanu smiled widely, hauling the pumpkin in and scurrying back out for the next. "I like plants too! We just started planting onions!" he said, smirking proudly. He had weeded out the soil and planted them almost all by himself, with a bit of help from kami on weeding and readying the soil. He got excited all over again as the topic switched. "Yeah!" he looked up at his mother hopefully, wanting her approval.
Kami chuckled. "It's true! Gardening is great fun." she agreed wholeheartedly, before catching the look from Keanu. "Of course, sweetheart." she said, winking. Thank goodness it was a relatively simple costume. She didn't have much to work with other than the clothes she'd taken with her to the island. She grabbed to more pumpkins, eager to get them all in the house. "We'll need to get started right away if we want to get everything ready in time for the party." she said, happy to see keanu nodding in his enthusiastic little way.
On her next trip, Foenix grabbed the two last pumpkins. They weren't too big, and she was able to carry them without any difficulty. "I think Keanu will make a great pirate," she agreed. "But I guess we'd better leave you both to it. That's a lot of cooking and baking to do! One thing you'll have to try with at least one pumpkin is to bake the seeds with a little salt. They make a great snack." She shrugged. "It's something I do every year after carving my jack-o-lantern."
Nehanda looked a little disappointed when Foenix mentioned leaving, but she took it philosopically. After all, Keanu had a lot of work to do! And she'd get to see him at the party, too. "Onions are good," she nodded to her friend. "They're good for all sorts of things. But I guess Feenix is wight. I gots to go home and make a fist-aid kit for the party. Kiwo asked me to."
"It was good to see you both," Foenix smiled as she took the handles of the wheel-barrow. "We'll have to do it again soon!" She turned, and, with a wave, started back down the path toward their house. As they rounded the bend, you could just barely hear Nehanda asking to ride in the barrow.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:49 am
Quote: Flax [Linum usitatissimum] is one of the English-grown medicinal herbs, the products of which are included in the British Pharmacopoeia, its seed known as Linseed, being much employed in medicine.
Its cultivation reaches back to the remotest periods of history, Flax seeds as well as the woven cloth having been found in Egyptian tombs. It has been cultivated in all temperate and tropical regions for so many centuries that its geographical origin cannot be identified, for it readily escapes from cultivation and is found in a semi-wild condition in all the countries where it is grown.
Bartholomew, the mediaeval herbalist, refers to the making of linen from the soaking of Flax in water till it is dried and turned in the sun and then bound in 'praty bundels' and afterwards 'knockyd, beten and brayd and carflyd, rodded and gnodded; ribbyd and heklyd, and at the last sponne'; of the bleaching, and finally of its many uses for making clothing, and for sails, and fish-nets, and thread and ropes, and strings ('for bows'), and measuring lines, and sheets ('to reste in'), and 'sackes and bagges, and purses (to put and to kepe thynges in'). Of the making of tow 'uneven and full of knobs' used for stuffing into the cracks in ships, and 'for bonds and byndynges and matches for candelles, for it is full drye and taketh sone fyre and brenneth.' 'And so,' he concludes somewhat breathlessly, 'none herbe is so needfull to so many dyurrse uses to mankynde as is the flexe.'
Many traditions are associated with this useful plant. Flax flowers were believed in the Middle Ages to be a protection against sorcery. The Bohemians have a belief that if seven-year-old children dance among Flax, they will become beautiful, and the whole plant was supposed to be under the protection of the goddess Hulda, who, in Teuton mythology, was held to have first taught mortals the art of growing Flax, of spinning, and of weaving it.
The crushed seeds or linseed meal make a very useful poultice, either alone or with mustard. In ulceration and superficial or deep-seated inflammation a linseed poultice allays irritation and pain and promotes suppuration. The addition of a little lobelia seed makes it of greater value in cases of boils. It is commonly used for abscesses and other local affections.
Linseed is largely employed as an addition to cough medicines. As a domestic remedy for colds, coughs and irritation of the urinary organs, linseed tea is most valuable. A little honey and lemon juice makes it very agreeable and more efficacious. This demulcent infusion contains a large quantity of mucilage, and is made from 1 OZ. of the ground or entire seeds to 1 pint of boiling water. It is taken in wineglassful doses, which may be repeated ad libitum.
Linseed oil, mixed with an equal quantity of lime water, known then as Carron Oil, is an excellent application for burns and scalds.
Internally, the oil is sometimes given as a laxative; in cases of gravel and stone it is excellent, and has been administered in pleurisy with great success. It may also be used as an injection in constipation. Mixed with honey, linseed oil has been used as a cosmetic for removing spots from the face.
The oil enters into veterinary pharmacy as a purgative for sheep and horses, and a jelly formed by boiling the seeds is often given to calves.
Linseed is often employed, with other seeds, as food for small birds. Plantain seeds, also a favourite food of small birds, can, it is said, be used instead of linseed in making poultices, as they contain much mucilage, though not so much oil.
Linseed has occasionally been employed as human food - we hear of the seeds being mixed with corn by the ancient Greeks and Romans for making bread - but it affords little actual nourishment and is apparently unwholesome, being difficult of digestion and provoking flatulence. The meal has sometimes been used fraudulently for adulterating pepper. Nehanda turned and looked up at Foenix as the woman checked over her Herbal entry. "That looks really good, sweetie. All the grammar's right, your spelling is excellant, and you're doing so well with the research! I'm not sure if you even need my help any more." "But I like your help!" Foenix colored a bit with pleasure. "That's sweet. You know I'm also here to help you when you want it." They grinned at each other.
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