tulsi, or holy basil

Plants for sale!!! I started these from seed in September. They are now ready for planting. I am trying to sell them to raise money for an environmental organization. $2 - $3 a plant... http://www.amma.org/humanitarian-activities/nature/green-friends.html

So far I have sold some. I am leaving town in a month so will be looking for homes for them.

A close up of a medium sized tulsi plant in my yard, sans flowers. I keep it pinched back so the leaves get bigger.

A fully mature tulsi in a neighbor's garden, with beautiful flowers that bees love.

Tulsi has myriad medicinal uses. I did a little research and have found out more about this amazing plant. Since it is a native plant of India, these references were Indian medical journals and research.

The leaves contain alkaloids, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, terpenes, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. The leaves also contain vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, chlorophyll, and sodium.

Tulsi has so many health benefits. It is adaptogenic (increases body's resistance to stress), anabolic, analgesic, anti-allergy, anti-asthma, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anticoagulant, anti-depressant, anti-fertility (not good if trying to get pregnant), anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, anti-protozoal, antipryetic (reduces fever), anti-stress, reduces cough, anti-viral, helps in treatment of ulcers, lowers blood pressure, modulates the immune system, repels insects, can protect against radiation, and reduces cholesterol.

It can be used to treat hypertension, many central nervous system symptoms, diabetes, cataracts, helps the gastrointestinal system, helps arthritis and inflammation, helps wounds heal, and helps eczema and psoriasis.

It is considered a safe herb. There are no know contraindications, toxic side effects or documented herb/drug interactions. It may worsen hypoglycemia, although this is not verified. And avoid large doses if trying to conceive.

Other than that, looks like it helps just about every ailment I have come across.

Let me know if you would like a plant. Once established in the ground they thrive in tropical weather.

Read more about this project on my GreenMama blog. tulsi

girl's gig

Miss Elaine arranged for Skylar and Annabel to play a short concert with her at a coffee house. The girls came up with their song lists and practiced for a couple of weeks. They were so excited and also nervous. But they did great. Elaine opened up, followed by Sky on guitar and voice performing a few of her original songs. Then Annabel sang a couple of songs from her favorite musicals. They were really quite good! Sky and Annabel were most excited to get tips, which they split three ways, and a free desert and bottle of water. The owner told our girls, "You can come back and sing here anytime."

Gary and I are scheming...hmm...bring guitars...our girls singing in French and Italian restaurants...maybe we could eat for free this summer...tee hee!

home school

"An encouraged child can do amazing things. An inspired child is capable of anything."

I don't know who said these, but I found them in a magazine. I have them posted to my wall in our home school area.

The girls are very happy with home schooling, which we began in January. Annabel is in fourth grade, Sky is in sixth. Here they are with their new teacher, Miss Elaine. She is wonderful. She is teaching them math, science, history/social studies, French, theater, art and music. And how convenient, she just happens to be a professional songwriter! She's really good, in fact she just won an island wide songwriting contest. Here is a link to her music. http://www.elaineryan.ca/

Gary and I are helping teach English and writing. I am also teaching religion, manners, etiquette and a little bit of art, although the girls do art naturally as part of their life now, having grown up with it. Both girls are writing "novels." Sky's first 2 "novels" (Secret Song and Part-Time Angel) can be viewed here: http://www.garymarksmusic.com/skylar-books.htm She is finishing a third.

We will have to post Annabel's when she finishes her first one. Annabel is reading 400 page books now. She sometimes finishes them in two or three days! She is on the 5th Harry Potter book. She loves Greek mythology and stories with magic, suspense, and ones that involve quests. Her novels in progress are entitled Alivia and the Search for Questa and To Follow a Bug.

The girls have school Monday through Friday from 9 - 12, they also have homework every day but Friday. This gives them time to also work on their music and writing. All three of our children are in a Taekwondo class three days a week, which they absolutely love. The instructors are wonderful -- professional and so good with the children. Our kids will be testing for their yellow belts in May.

Sometimes I think we are running a baking school...

Or a cooking school...Oh, did I mention that Sky makes omelettes for us for lunch sometimes? I love when the girls use fresh herbs from the garden in their cooking...

happy easter

May your spring be filled with joy.

music video begins

Sky is doing a music video of one of her songs with Kahu Rennie Mau, who is the director of Gamekids. Gamekids is a professional children's performance group that Sky and Annabel are cast members of. This is a series of photos from our first day of filming.

She invited a friend to come and participate in the video. She also wanted Annabel in the video. Little Miss Annabel was more than happy to oblige. They all had a lot of fun.

Kahu and the girls.

a gardeness

We took the kids to a neighborhood garden tour last weekend. I was there taking mental notes. The kids seemed to wander around and play while Gary kept watch. We didn't think they were listening much. Later that night, I was outside taking down the laundry that was hanging near our ever expanding veggie garden. Shawn was walking around the yard, the dark night sky overhead, faint light from the window guiding our movements, telling me all about growing plants and how to care for them. He went on and on and on!

Then he paused and with utmost pride said, "Mommy, you know what you are? You are a gardeness!"

I asked, "What is a gardeness?"

He replied, "A genius of a garden."

"Or a princess, or an emperess, or a goddess," I thought.

Then we looked up at the stars for awhile. He was quiet after his horticultural discourse.

Suddenly he added, "Mom, want to know the secret of being a gardeness?  Never, ever, ever, ever give up. That's all there is to it."

And he threw his hands in the air and walked in to put on his Spiderman pajamas.

the sweetest boy

The last two weeks were Shawn's spring break. The girls remained in school working with their teacher. This gave Shawn and I an opportunity to have some quality time together. When I asked him what he wanted to do on our last day, he chose to walk to our neighborhood park, bring a picnic, a book, and play soccer. I provided lunch and a blanket.

" That's okay Mom, I'll carry everything!"

" Well, maybe you could carry just one bag."

"Annabel drew the letters, then I traced them, then I wrote them by myself."

Shawn draws a rocket ship with serious concentration.

havin' a blast

And he killed me in the soccer game 6-2. "Mom, go easy on me!" I told him, "No way!"

It was such a sweet day, and so good to have that 1:1 time. He has been an angel all weekend. He was so excited about his book (his journal). He showed me every page and explained the entire book to me. "Skylar drew this. Annabel drew this. Daddy and I played this game. Daddy gave me this test..." So I had to draw something. I asked him what he wanted me to draw.

"A rocket ship," he replied.