EmaBee's Art

Lenten Rose

It’s been over three years since Timi & Cubby died. The are both buried under the fig tree in my back yard. Cubby has a fern planted next to his grave. A large, native Sword Fern. Ferns are one of my favorite plants. After I buried Timi, I planted a Lenten Rose a.k.a. Hellebore. I selected a white one for him....

Lenten Rose It’s been over three years since Timi & Cubby died. The are both buried under the fig tree in my back yard. Cubby has a fern planted next to his grave. A large, native Sword Fern. Ferns are one…

Yule: Dreaming

I wrote the following in my Winter Solstice cards that went to family and friends this year: “As the darkness and cold deepen, a tiny light of hope comes to us on the winter solstice as the longest night ushers us toward longer days and eventually summer again. The cycle of the seasons continue, the ebb and flow of time will bring us back around....

Yule: Dreaming I wrote the following in my Winter Solstice cards that went to family and friends this year: “As the darkness and cold deepen, a tiny light of hope comes to us on the winter solstice as the longest…

Rest, The Big Dark, Hygge, & Herbs

The PNW has a term for the shortening days of winter: The Big Dark. Many people experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is an onset of depression and sadness due to less light and lower energy resulting in sleep issues, and withdrawal. Scandinavians and Nordics embrace winter’s darkness through cultural concepts like hygge (Danish), koselig (Norwegian), and mys (Swedish), which emphasize coziness, simple pleasures, and intimate gatherings to foster togetherness, rest, and winding down rather than attempting to resist the season and onset of darkness....

Rest, The Big Dark, Hygge, & Herbs The PNW has a term for the shortening days of winter: The Big Dark. Many people experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is an onset of depression and sadness due to less light and lower …

I've committed myself to learning about local native plants since I bought land and decided to make this place my permanent home. I live on and own land on the traditional territories of the Puyallup Nation. I realize that many people, especially of my generation, cannot afford to buy homes. Due to the complicated feelings of owning land I have committed myself to trying to undo some of the harm of capitalism and white supremacy....

Friendship Elderberry Syrup I’ve committed myself to learning about local native plants since I bought land and decided to make this place my permanent home. I live on and own land on the traditional territories of the …

We have passed from early autumn, into late autumn marked by the passage of the fire festival and celebration of Samhuinn. It marks the halfway point between Alban Eluid or Alban Elfed and Alban Arthuan or Alban Arthan. Alban Elfed means "The Light of Water," and is also known as the Autumn Equinox. Alban Arthuan is also known as the Winter Solstice or Yule....

Samhuinn Tisane & Bitters We have passed from early autumn, into late autumn marked by the passage of the fire festival and celebration of Samhuinn. It marks the halfway point between Alban Eluid or Alban Elfed and Alban Ar…

We’ve passed the autumn equinox, now the nights are longer than the days. The autumn winds are blowing, announcing the change of the season. The rains have started to return, quenching the earth after the parching of the summer. I changed out the seasonal oracle cards (from Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion) to “The Elders,” “The Withdrawing,” and “The River.” …...

The Autumn Withdrawing We’ve passed the autumn equinox, now the nights are longer than the days. The autumn winds are blowing, announcing the change of the season. The rains have started to return, quench…

June 19, 2025 Federation Forest State Park I headed out—it is June 19th. I am driving along 410. I just stopped at the Federation Forest State Park. Sadly, the interpretive center was closed, but I walked around out front of the building, and there were a bunch of native plants that were labeled, some of which I didn't know before. I can't remember what their names are right now....

Summer Solstice Journey Reflections – June 2025 June 19, 2025 Federation Forest State Park I headed out—it is June 19th. I am driving along 410. I just stopped at the Federation Forest State Park. Sadly, the interpretive center was closed, but I…

We are in the harvest season which started on August 1st with the Celtic holiday of Lughnasadh, or Lammas. It is the celebration of the first harvest of the year and traditionally a loaf of bread was made with the first grains of the harvest and herbs from the garden to celebrate abundance and gratitude for another year’s harvest. Sometimes an offering was left for the spirits/good people/deities....

Garden Harvest We are in the harvest season which started on August 1st with the Celtic holiday of Lughnasadh, or Lammas. It is the celebration of the first harvest of the year and traditionally a loaf of bread w…

There were only two creatures that bore witness to it all. The soul keepers, the secret keepers. The dream keepers, the life keepers. They hold it all. They held the weight of my world and cradled me to sleep. Their capacity for love and care is endless. These were my comrades through these dark days. They are the thread that keeps me tethered to myself....

Soul Keepers There were only two creatures that bore witness to it all. The soul keepers, the secret keepers. The dream keepers, the life keepers. They hold it all. They held the weight of my world and cradled …

Last summer I made myself a wooden sign from scraps of wood I found in my yard and pieces of extra chain from the shop. I put the sign on the gate to my backyard because my aim to to make the most secret and special garden. Yesterday I had a BBQ with friends in my backyard, so the few weeks prior I have been working hard to clean up the yard....

Secret Garden Last summer I made myself a wooden sign from scraps of wood I found in my yard and pieces of extra chain from the shop. I put the sign on the gate to my backyard because my aim to to make the most …

I haven’t been posting for each season change this year because I haven’t felt called to. But I do feel called to share this one. Hawthorn is also known as the May tree, it gets clusters of pink right around the first of May. My beloved hawthorn is getting a hard prune and some cables on May 19th. I’m trying to prepare that she will look very different but hopefully healthier so that she will last as long as she can....

Beltane. Early Spring. Hawthorn. I haven’t been posting for each season change this year because I haven’t felt called to. But I do feel called to share this one. Hawthorn is also known as the May tree, it gets clusters of pink ri…

Coming to the crest of the hill before I dip down into the valley, the sun nearly blinds me glinting off of the water in the roadway. The road dips, steeply and curves and before I plunge down, I can see all the way across to the other side of the valley and the entire valley is blanketed with fog making it look like a roiling cauldron or a lake....

Foggy Morning Coming to the crest of the hill before I dip down into the valley, the sun nearly blinds me glinting off of the water in the roadway. The road dips, steeply and curves and before I plunge down, I c…