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Gail Butler

Heartsease Cottage

As a childhood mud-eater (I don't remeber this, but my Mom tells me it was so), I've spent most of my life digging in the dirt - rockhounding, gold prospecting, gardening - and am happiest with my hands in the soil communing with its mysteries.

Interests: Anything "dirt" oriented and writing.

Recent Activity

Ship Shape...

I enjoyed my own private stateroom - an approximate four-foot by four-foot compartment with bunk beds that I named, my "Cozy Cubby. Continue reading

Posted Oct 31, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Golden Leaves of Indian Summber

Just outside my balcony an old crab apple puts on leaves of gold to celebrate Autumn Just after the death of the flowers, And before they are buried in snow, There comes a festival season, When nature is all aglow— Aglow with a mystical spendour That rivals the brightness of... Continue reading

Posted Oct 23, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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My "Winter" Garden

Here in far Northern Idaho we're expecting our first frost anytime! On the living room bench under a bank of south-facing windows I've gathered my geraniums from front porch and balcony to sit out the Winter safely from the frosts, freezes, snowstorms, and ice. Temporarily, I brought in my hosta... Continue reading

Posted Oct 9, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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October!

Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves. ~Humbert Wolfe, P.L.M.: Peoples, Landfalls, Mountains, 1936 Continue reading

Posted Oct 1, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Gathering and Drying Homegrown Herbs

I simply must have herbs wherever I live! Continue reading

Posted Sep 19, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Never Forget...September 11, 2001

Never forget. Always remember. September 11, 2001 Continue reading

Posted Sep 10, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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I Love A Place Where Deer...

I love living in a place where deer feel at ease enough to have a "lie down" beneath my balcony. * * * How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude! ~Emily Dickinson, letter to Mrs. J.S. Cooper, 1880 Continue reading

Posted Aug 28, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Summer's End

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter I have so enjoyed this Summer. Yes, it's been mostly smoky with a few hot days in the 90's, very little rain, and two or three days over 100-degrees. Smoke from the fires burning all about. The last few... Continue reading

Posted Aug 22, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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The French Paradox: Solved!

Oui! Oui! How do all those French people consume all that butter, those creamy sauces, and simple carbs and still not gain weight? Continue reading

Posted Aug 13, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Eat Your Broccoli! All of It!

The stalk is actually the tastiest, tenderest part of broccoli! Really! The trimmed stalks of broccoli are wonderful for raw eating. Use them in healthy appetizers such as crudites for dipping or chopped for salads. Or, you can steam them, chopped, right along with the budding tips. First, stalks need... Continue reading

Posted Aug 7, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Corn! Best Way To Cut Corn Off the Cob

Summer's corn is here! Sweet, delicious, and seasonal corn is here and ready to eat cooked with butter, salt, pepper, roasted on the barbecue, or cut from the cob and frozen to enjoy the rest of the year. Living at the Cottage, I grew a patch of heirloom sweet corn... Continue reading

Posted Aug 1, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Foraged and Homemade Pine Salve

Because I spend time rummaging around in the forest I first wanted a pine salve to apply to cuts, nicks, scrapes, and bites. Continue reading

Posted Jul 23, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Poults On Parade!

I heard "gobble, gobble" as I sipped my morning dande-ccino (roasted dandelion cappuccino) whilst sitting at my front porch bistro table doing a crossword puzzle! Looking over the railing I saw this flock of wild turkeys with their poults/chicks meandering over the lawn. I wondered if one of the hens... Continue reading

Posted Jul 16, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Recover Project for My Chaise Lounge

Recovered! My chaise now wears traditional fabric slip covers! I also made a slip cover for the lumbar pillow * * * * I have such a wonderful balcony to enjoy! When I first moved into my condo I bought a chaise to relax, read, and nap on. My chaise... Continue reading

Posted Jul 10, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Easy Black Pepper-Cherry Crepes for Independence Day

Happy Birthday America! Continue reading

Posted Jul 2, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Pharmacy At My Feet

"Weeds are medicine for the people" Continue reading

Posted Jun 25, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Wild Flower Walk

A lovely forest-backed meadow along Ohio Match Road My foraging friend, Joanne, and I took a drive out Ohio Match Road to look for alpine strawberries, other edibles, and things in bloom. We found very few strawberries because they're harvested by wildlife before we can get to them. We also... Continue reading

Posted Jun 18, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Encounter With Wildlife...A Turkey Hen and Poults

On my morning forest walk I encountered a protective hen with her chicks, also called "poults" The forest path where I walk in the morning So, I'm ambling happily along seeing what's in bloom, what's ready to gather, and simply enjoying a late Spring morn in the forest close to... Continue reading

Posted Jun 12, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Foraging for Coral Mushrooms

Morels are finished for the year, but these dandy coral mushrooms are coming up now! While morels are very desirable and lots of folks hunt for them, corals are more abundant, larger, and not too well known among most foragers. Corals are much easier to spot than morels and their... Continue reading

Posted May 31, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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In Honor and Memory

Honor to all who've served our Nation This 48-star flag survived World War I On Memorial Day the Nation honors those both fallen and still serving who put their lives on the line to protect the American way of life. Today, I am especially thinking of my grandfather, Alvin Benjamin... Continue reading

Posted May 27, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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In Full Flower!

I can only describe the light sweetness by what it is not. Continue reading

Posted May 16, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Beginnings...

Spring is a series of beginnings... The season for coral and morel mushrooms is just beginning! These are cleaned and ready to saute in butter with shallots, thyme, a splash of dry vermouth and a dash of salt and pepper. They were enjoyed by Joanne and me with a tasty... Continue reading

Posted May 8, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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When the Rhubarb Comes Up...

...it's really, really Spring! There've been small signs of Spring for several weeks, but for me it's all about the rhubarb! When I see this, I am assured that Spring is fully here! It's not quite ready to gather, but given a week or two I'll be gathering, canning, freezing,... Continue reading

Posted Apr 23, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Wild Mushrooms Medley & Garlic-Pepper Grits

A melange of wild mushrooms atop garlicky grits is delicious and comforting In a week or two it will be time to hunt for wild mushrooms. In the meantime I need to use up the last of the frozen wild 'shrooms I gathered last spring and fall. This dish is... Continue reading

Posted Apr 14, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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Tree of Life

A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible. ~Welsh Proverb Continue reading

Posted Apr 2, 2018 at A New Heartsease...

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