Dandelion Wine Recipe

2024 is shaping to be an excellent year for the dandelion crop. Below is a recipe for dandelion wine I copied from my mother's recipe box many many years ago, but I've no idea of the origin of this recipe: 

Dandelion Wine Recipe

1 quart dandelion blossoms- packed solidly

1 gallon water, boiled for 10 minutes

Add blossoms to water and cook for 10 more minutes. 

After cooking, strain off the blossoms

Add 3 1/2 lbs. sugar to juice and 2 packets of dried yeast

Add about 4 oranges whole and 5 lemons whole

Add 1/2 lb. raisons

Soak one week with raisons. 
Stir well at least once a day while soaking during the 2 weeks.

Divine Breath

The Holy Trinity  

by Corrado Giaquinto, circa 1754

This morning, I was inspired by the homily of our local priest, Fr. 'Tim.' He was referring to the Holy Spirit (Ghost) and the Hebrew term for spirit: breath. Hence, I penned the following: 

Divine Breath

Enter the Holy chamber; kneel before Divinity 

present on the altar in the form of a simple candle.

Surrounded by a feeling of His welcoming Spirit,

a Blessed breath causes one to inhale 

the Cleansing Air of love and forgiveness,

to exhale the chaos of hate and compromise.

Over and over, this choice is made:

to breathe in the Holy Spirit and offer Love and Forgiveness

of His Divine Breath to all of humanity. 

Repentance... Salvation: 

the salve that soothes the wounded soul.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

© Jeanne Iris Lakatos (2024)

Cognitive Revolutions: Creative Revelations

Photo by me, Full Moon over Danbury

Today, the Gospel Reading at Mass was the story of Jesus, meeting His disciples on the Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35. It made me think...

We learn to recognize aspects of our lives that create impressions, unaware of the cognitive variations that our minds and bodies interpret and reinterpret. Yet, we continue to gracefully move through our personal universes. How often have we affected others? How often have others affected us?

Revolution of thought is inclusive of awarenss within the mind, the body and their inter/intra-connections. Very simply, as we perceive and cognitively organize our environment, we slowly create the opus that is only ours to share. To consider this concept in a positive way, that opus can move humanity to a higher consciousness.

Just think! If individuals elevated their thinking to those matters that pertain only to the goodness and creative genius that dwells within, how generous we could be with each other! How marvelous this experience could be!

As we concentrate intently on our thoughts and their influences, we affect our reality, and thus, we open the possibilities of  individual connection with the Divine.

Blinds Open

This was a Poetry Bus prompt with which Karen challenged us:
Write about one of the following:
(1) a time you had to choose between two clearly divergent paths
(2) a time you were called to walk a path you didn't choose for yourself
(3) a time you refused to travel the path you were called to follow.  
I've chosen to write about a situation that caused me to make a decision. It all began with the closing of blinds to shield my eyes from the setting sun. 

Photo from Google Images

Blinds Open 

A blinding

moves her

to close the blind

shielding her

from the intensity.

Outside-

the hour of dusk

palpitates

with a creative verve

releasing brilliance.

Within-

a beam expands

that cannot blind

for memory

sustains the weakest eye.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

Easter: Renewal

Pysanky eggs that I hand-painted... Whew! a tedious, but rewarding process.

Easter Tridiuum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday)

A Joyous Easter to You!

I took this photograph of a flower growing in the sidewalk on NUI campus, Galway, Ireland.

 Awaken

Awakened

moments, conceived 
meiosis of human spirit,

evolve 

into a vision ~ 

Divine intercession.

A festering wound

bleeds 

to hasten the quickening 
toward conscientious

 Awakening.

         © Jeanne I. Lakatos

Ode to Skunk Cabbage

The first day of Spring has passed, but I just had to submit this little ode to one of the harbingers of Spring, the Skunk Cabbage, as an illustration of the connection between artist and nature. 

photo of skunk cabbage from Google Images

                   

Ode to Skunk Cabbage

Bursting forth from its ruddy milieu,      

it erects from its hooded spathe.

This courageous prophet boldly faces

the chilly air with unique confidence, 

guided by a mighty force.

Radiating silently, as if to say,

“Come to me, for I offer

the nourishment you need now,”

his sweetness within calls upon

the daring creature to receive its warmth.

And she responds, and she comes:

the beetle, the spider, the queen bee,

warmed by the generosity 

of Spring’s first.

Odoriferous, proud, protective,

he inspires the fragrant flora

to engender beauty.

Now, Spring has arrived

with the burgeoning

of the exceptional skunk cabbage.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

Fiddlehead Feast

Here is a poem that I revised a bit on fiddlehead ferns, another group of plants that are harbingers of Spring. I included a recipe for Fiddlehead Quiche below the poem. Bon appetit!

photo from the front garden at my home

Fiddlehead Feast

Did you happen upon the fiddlehead fern

growing in the woodland mulch,

amidst the other springing buds

like skunk cabbage, crocus and such,

unfurling its primitive merit

with vitality richly designed?

Relentlessly, I search for the fiddlehead fern;

its presence seen, not much,

but then it boldly appears to me,

and I honorably prepare it to touch

my awaiting, salivating palate

that accepts its flavor divine!

What blissful company with which to dine:

this fiddlehead fern ~ a collation so fine!

 © Jeanne I. Lakatos  

YANKEE FIDDLEHEAD PIE (OR QUICHE)

Recipe by L.L. Bean Book of New England Cookery:

Serving Size : 8  

  4 Eggs

  1 c  Milk

  1 c  Fiddleheads, cooked, chopped

  2 Tbs Leeks -- chopped, cooked

  1 Tbs  Parsley, chopped -- or 2

  1 c  Cheddar cheese, mildly shredded

  Salt to taste

  1 Pie crust, partially baked, 9  or 10"

  8 Whole cooked fiddleheads

Beat the eggs with the milk until blended.  Fold in the chopped fiddleheads, leeks, and parsley, and half of the grated cheese. Season with salt to taste. Turn into the partially baked shell and sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Decorate the edge with whole fiddleheads.  Bake in a preheated 350 º oven for 40 minutes, or until set.  Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Upon Viewing the Bog Bodies Exhibit at the National Museum of Ireland

On one of my research trips to Ireland, I visited the National Museum and viewed an exhibit of Bog Bodies. These were individuals who had been discovered buried for centuries within the bogs throughout the country. I was struck by my own emotions as I viewed these remains. At one point, I just wanted to place a warm blanket over their leathered remains and wish them a safe journey to be with our Lord. 

I took this photo of the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, 

whilst sitting on a bench just outside the National Library.

Upon Viewing the Bog Bodies of Ireland
Inside
the exquisitely sculpted rotunda,
behind exhibits of gold and amber adornments,
exposed in tombs of plexiglass,
lay remains of people
who once held hands,
smiled gently to their loved ones,
kissed softly on moonlit nights.

Centuries pass,

and as her silent witness meets theirs,
she senses a tear's warmth
and whispers a prayer
that their spirits are far away
and at peace.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

My Hands, a poem

Below is a poem with the theme of my use of hands, 

which some may think is archaic in this current era of technology:

My Hands

Turning 

weathered pages of a centuries old book,

my fingers touch a piece of history

for this page was once turned by gloved fingertips

of a lady sitting by candlelight on a blue velvet chair

her cotton dress, flowing around covered ankles.

Strumming 

the strings of a vibrating harp, melodic echoes, soothe

the mind of my precious dog who lives to protect me

love me, comfort me. It's the least I can do for her.

Kneading 

dough that clings to each finger until I apply 

one more dash of flour to create 

the soft ball that will miraculously rise

to form into the sweet, aromatic sustenance of life: 

bread, feeding my family and friends.

Threading 

a needle with just the right length and colour 

of waxed cotton,

slowly I turn remnant pieces of cloth

into a quilted memory to comfort 

through the warmth of artistry and pragmatism.

Digging 

into rich, brown soil I plant a seed

water, nurture, protect until one day it grows

into a savory food, the source of my love's smile.

Holding 

an extended hand, I feel the presence

of a life force, strength, our fingertips, touching

then brushing the tear from a child's eye

warm today, cold tomorrow

fond memory of the gentleness.
Praying
palm against palm, I sing a song
of praise.
Humbly, 
I give thanks to my Lord
knowing His Love as undying, strengthening,
guiding my every step as I fulfill His Purpose for me.

Loving 

from hand to heart.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

Heart and Consciousness

http://c2.api.ning.com/files/euULXEQgkJUGj1mAEzxJvFNLBjVEllILVGKtFKYHLMwbAtayRWlrIfNQpBtcLNH-D4aSS5qfcj-s-jNiaaK3NVc6GMSnitGu/AlexGrey_HeartConsciousness.jpg

In her book, Patriotic Sketches of Ireland, Sydney Owenson observes:

 Political philosophy is an extension of the mind’s eye to the whole great scale of civil society, and demonstrating the close-linked dependencies of its remotest parts, affords to the benevolence of the human heart, and the comprehension of the human understanding, a social system, gratifying to the feelings of the one, and ennobling to the faculties of the other. (33)

The human heart and 'comprehension of understanding,' which I will identify as consciousness, are two distinct entities, for the heart, aside from its organic characteristics, contains the essence of human emotions. In contrast, comprehension of understanding involves the assimilation of intelligence and critical analysis as they interact with the psycho-physiological structure in a wondrous flow of human experience. I reflect on this concept in the following poem:

Flow I

Passion creates verve

whose song desires voice;

now boldly sing

radiate stillness

encircle fear: enflame!

This fervor flows

with molten resonance

angled benevolence

evolution through revolution,

illumined by 

the intricacy of simplicity 

adorned

transformed

with interlacing

flow.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos

A Sonnet: Four Soles, Soulful Foursome

The photo below is one on which I've based my sonnet, written in a Spenserian Sonnet format.

For fun, click onto: Billy Collins former United States Poet Laureate, to read his satirical view of sonnets, cleverly entitled, "Sonnet."

Four Soles,  Soulful Foursome

Idyllically, they travel with an aim

and quickly learn that truth rests in a friend, 

for surely, they’ll discover life’s no game. 

A splendid road will definitely bend. 

These traveling souls of four know not of end, 

for they rely on trusting gifts of love: 

one pulls with strength, one’s job is to attend 

two brothers with one mind, blessed from above 

with dreams conjoined like wings that lift the dove. 

Four souls of spirit and vitality

advance with might and shared awareness of

their vision for determined liberty.

A humble vessel pulled by four strong soles,

transporting dreams, fulfilling simple goals.

© Jeanne I. Lakatos 

Sydney Owenson (Lady Morgan): 19th Century Awareness of Cultural Change

           

From pages 17-18 of my book: 

    Revolutionary philosophy of the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries provides momentum for the transformation of consciousness, circuitous pathways of innovation and circularity within societal parameters, creating awareness of cultural change, often through literary articulation. 

     During the long eighteenth century, Sydney Owenson constructs her national tales by configuring lexical combinations of Irish, English and European colloquialisms, drawing upon the historical and philosophical perceptions of René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant to transform her romantic tales into narratives of political inquiry. 

     Her voice maintains a necessary fortitude in terms of her feminine perspective, placing Irish ideology into the center of English culture at the onset of the Ascendancy, while she illustrates foresight in challenging the political stance of the United Kingdom in the early decades of the nineteenth century.

Ha' Penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland