Friday, October 17, 2008

my place of sorcery

Enter our home from either door and you enter the kitchen. My country kitchen is homey, amply sized and somewhat eclectic. We don’t have a separate dining area, so the kitchen truly is the central place in our home where the majority of my day’s activities take place and where people seem to gather when they visit. It’s where the action is and where magic happens, where cupboards are filled with a myriad of ingredients and items for magic making.

The antique medicine cupboard on the east wall is abundantly full of herbs and spices to conjure up a most scrumptious meal or culinary treat.


The farmhouse cupboard on the southwest wall is stocked with more herbs most specifically for tea and medicinal use.

Behind the glass doors reside essential oils as well for aromatherapy potions and massage oils. There are bottles and jars both empty and full, and crystals tucked in baskets along with books on herbs and oils as well as my own secret recipes written into my book of shadows.

The bakers rack in the southeast corner hosts my most loved and most used cookbooks.

A small wooden chest houses those more rarely used herbs and you can see soap curing on another shelf. Beside the bakers rack resides my wicker chair at the window, situated intentionally for reading, recipe browsing or simply relaxing with a cup of tea.

Above the stove is a plaque purposefully chosen for that space. It shows the Kanji symbol representing love.

I believe the energy of words and thought are as real as anything.

I consider love a most essential ingredient and a constant in any sorcery that takes place here. Therefore, it’s most assuredly all good.

Last but certainly not least, there is my kitchen table where much if not most of the magic happens. You’ve seen it time and time again in photos I’ve shared. Appropriately it takes center stage. We purchased it in early 93, specifically for this kitchen during our first residence here and just shortly before we learned we had to move. Eventually it was passed on to our son. When his family no longer needed it was put to use at our daughter’s house. It has had fifteen years of steady use, of dough rolling, cookie cutting, kid climbing, card playing and dinner eating. It may look rough and in need of refinishing, but it’s imbued with all fifteen years worth of good vibes from family and friends gathering round it, so to me how it appears doesn’t really matter. It's value is in memories and function. Like me, it’s a bit careworn and weathered, but like me it has come home and together we make magic happen.

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony c

9 comments:

  1. Sounds welcoming and comfortable. your family is blessed to be making so many wonderful memories around your kitchen table,

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  2. Your house looks cozy. Sounds like our kitchen. My favorite room!

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  3. What a comfortable and well-stocked magic kitchen! Most importantly, the good intentions and kindness look like they are there in abundance.

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  4. My favorite part of this post is how you use words. Words used as keys to unlocked the best in all of us.

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  5. Thanks all for the nice comments.

    Peggy - you know the old saying, no matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like the kitchen best, seems to hold true. I agree, we are very blessed.

    country girl - yep, my favorite place as well!

    city mouse - thanks so much, you always say the nicest things.

    Robert - that means a lot coming from one whose words I admire so often. Thank you.

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  6. Reading this makes me long even more for the day my husband and I are able to build our home.We have already decided that our kitchen has to be special.A few years ago we took over preparing all the holiday meals and get-togethers for the family.My grandmother used to do this at her home but since she is unable to any more (she's 91 and in a nursing home now)I feel it is my duty to take care of our family.

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  7. Hello Trisha. I think the kitchen is the most important room in the house, most definitely a special place. I hosted and prepared meals at the family gatherings for many years but now that my children are grown and have families I have been allowing them the opportunity to start traditions of their own and take on those responsibilities. In many ways I miss it, but in other ways it's kind of nice, too.

    I know we are very, very fortunate to be back renting this old house where all our best memories are. It feels more my home (and always has) than any place we've actually owned.

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  8. this house looks so cozy

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  9. Baby Phat - Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. I strive to create a welcoming and warm environment so when someone validates my efforts it is truly appreciated.

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I sure appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts. I may not always have time to respond or acknowledge them but I do read them all and highly value your presence here.

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