"Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably lacking in civility, there is much to be said for nice."
Molly Ivins, The Fort Worth Star Telegram (1994)   REST IN PEACE SASSY LADY.

 "No one is ever warmed by the wool pulled over his eyes."
Marcelene Cox, Ladies Home Journal (1948)

"A good deal of tyranny goes by the name of protection." Crystal Eastman, Equal Rights  (1924)

August Moons  1 New; 8, 1st Qtr; 16, Full;  23 Last Qtr; 30, New.  Drive slower to save gas!

September Moons  7, 1st Qtr; 15, Ful1;  22, Last Qtr; 29, New The 22nd is Autumnal Equinox

Updated Thursday evening, July 31, 2008

 

What's the strange picture above?
It's the Troll's left arm, and yes, it is in a cast. How did it get that way?
Monday, July 7, the Troll was working on a project he had just started, an addition to one of
his clients' summer house. He was at the top of a ladder, hoisting a heavy piece of plywood
over his head as he filled the hole left by the removal of a window, when the ladder went out
from under him. He had to throw the plywood aside, not wanting to eat it  or wear it
permanently, and by the time that was accomplished he wasn't left with many options
when he landed. His left wrist ended up caught between the ladder and floor.
The upshot is that the wrist-end of his radius, the bigger of the forearm bones,
was broken.  The new blue hard cast went on a couple weeks ago, a process that left his
hand badly swollen for several days.  As this is being written he's still typing with one
--even occasionally two--fingers of his bad hand--an improvement over how he had
to work up to this point because it means he can hit a letter and the shift key at the same time.
So he's recovering, able to do some things, but not others. He can cook and weed in the
garden, but can't tie his hair back.

The gardens are doing well, especially
since the Troll can weed one-handed.
Pictured at left is Sue-Ryn at one end of
the main garden. When this was taken a
few days ago the tomato plants on this side,
and the pumpkins at far left were up to her
shoulder. They're taller now. We've had beans,
cukes, squash, one pepper, and of course
greens. The tomatoes are going to start coming
fast and heavy as soon as  we get a few days
of sunshine. So we're managing.
Having just over half a Troll on duty has put a bigger load on Sue-Ryn,  but we're glad we're
not still doing the Faire!

Sue-Ryn has some shows lined up for the summer! They are:
August 1-3, Stone Mills Craft Show, NNY Agricultural & Historical Society Museum, Rt. 180, Stone Mills NY,
Admission charged.
August 23 & 24, Handweaving Museum and Arts Center Show, Clayton Arena, Clayton NY; 9-5 23rd, 10-3 24th, Admission charged.

There is a bunch of eco-friendly Green Cleaning information on the Streak Free Page. Streak Free cloths are the high-tech chemical-free method of cleaning glass. I use them--maybe not as often as I should--and really like them. As for the green cleaning info, maybe it can help you stop using nasty chemicals!

The Gardening page has been updated with new information on gauging soil conditions by what is growing there, nutritional teas for young plants, and notes on astrological planting. Plus seed and plant sources galore!
Plant! Plant! Plant!
If you can't grow your own, buy local! Vegetables from halfway across the planet might as well
have exhaust pipes, and damage the planet!

Sue-Ryn's got a couple of articles out there in print!
One is in the current Metaphysical Times that should be on the stands at your favorite store now. The other is a short crafting article in The Essential Herbal. The Essential Herbal is a wonderful small magazine by, for, and about herbs and the folks who work with them. It's a great resource and network to tap into. People share some really wonderful recipes and insights. Visit http://essentialherbal.com  for more information. You can download the March/April 07 magazine for free at their site. Check it out!

The Troll spent part of the winter working on a secret project, a rather large satirical website. Now it's up and running. If you have a sense of humor and can deal with a warped Miss Manners Anarchist somewhat leftist viewpoint then he invites you to check out Celebrity Cooking Magazine and its public service arm, eatthefamous.org
But if you don't like political and social satire then pretend we never mentioned this.

Fans of the Troll's peculiar cryptic puzzles (if there even are any) should know there's a new
(as of early April '08 cryptic puzzle posted for your aggravation. 
Now the Troll keeps a running Puzzle Page, with not only a link to the new  puzzle, but links to puzzles of bygone times.

We have to leave this part up for a while yet because absurd rumors STILL abound.
Farewell Northern Paradise. . .
If you get our catalog you already know, but if you don't, here's the real story: Northern Paradise is now closed for good, and the building has been sold. Why?
A lot of reasons. After seventeen years the shop has continued to plug along, but never consistently brought in enough to justify all the money and time it's taken to keep running. The time is a crucial issue. Hill Woman mail order takes up a lot of time, and Sue-Ryn can do more shows and events if she doesn't have all her time tied up at the shop.
Family is taking up more time. Animal rehab is taking more time. Just like when we gave up the faire, we were getting spread too thin, and something had to give. But the shop has sold to friends who own the building next door to it, and they plan to use it as an extra showroom for their antique business. We feel good about who it's going to. They will cherish the funky old building, not bulldoze it. The sale even reunites two pieces of property that were broken apart back in the 70's, and going in the opposite direction of subdivision feels good (and apt). So Northern Paradise is no more, but Hill Woman is still here.

One more time: Sue-Ryn has closed Northern Paradise, but Hill Woman continues on. Mail order will continue. This site will continue. More stuff that might have ended up at the shop may end up listed here on the site. But closing down the shop DOES NOT mean that Hill Woman is shutting down, down-sizing, off-shoring, selling to Donald Trump or Donald Duck. Really, everything is just fine. Don't worry. The sky is not falling, and wonderful things will continue to go out in the mail, just like always.

If you haven't been here for a while new listings include the Doggy Distress Pillow. We now have Emu Oil products, and a new Aromatherapy Blend, Ancient Gifts. Plus a Mystical Blends Sampler, listed on the same page as Ancient Gifts. 
 
Clearing my shelves has led me to putting certain no longer listed Fragrance oils on sale. Maybe there are one or two old friends here. Available only while quantities last! Special pricing on Cranberry, Honeysuckle, Hyacinthe, Rain and Vanilla. Visit the Fragrance oil page for more info.

If you are thinking of coming up this way, and wonder what else there is to see and do, visit http://www.wellesleyisland.net

We had a winner for our Mid-Summer Indulgence Contest-it was  Diane H!
She won a $30 Gift Certificate.
The new contest is Cast Party Contest
Sound interesting? Visit the Contest Page. We hope you do enter. Come on, join the fun! 
And this time we're hoping entrants will send suggestions as to what we might to in later contests.
Got an idea? Enter and pass it along!

Back by popular demand, the SALE BOOKS page! Check it our for good prices on odd
books on gardening, health, herbalism, paganism, how-to, attitude adjustment and more!

And now available, Kitty Magic Carpets in extra heavy-duty fabric--what we call the 'Sherman the Shredder' edition. Want to check them out? Go to the Catnip Goodies Page There are also some new pictures of cats with their Party Animals  and Mr. Sardini Snakes on the Party Animals page.

Recent visitors to this site or the Faire know this, but for those who don't, summer 2005 was
our last season at the Sterling Renaissance Faire. We are not going out of business,
we have just left the Faire. If you want to know more about the whys and wherefores,
some of the info that ran here can be reached at by visiting the Faire Page.
So once again, here's the truth, and nothing but the truth:
Hill Woman is NOT going out of business! We will continue as before, except we
won't be at the Faire! This is a good thing! We will have more time for the website,
more time for mail order, more freedom to create new products, and the chance to be seen at
other venues. Hill Woman will get better, Northern Paradise will get better,  and our lives will
become a bit less crazed in the bargain. Again, go to the Faire Page for more details.

Our old friend Cindy McGonagle of the Deva Books fame now has her own website!
You can find her at http://www.cindymcgonagle.com

A couple other links to people you should know and sites you should visit.
Sticks and Stones sells  some of my oils, lovingly hand-dug Herkimer diamonds, and
other gift's of nature. Run by John Lincoln-Lovely, his shop has some of my stuff.

Worth visiting is the Pets Page, a listing of tips and resources and books and links for the owner of animals of every stripe, including information on fostering animals for people in the service.
If you are looking for a pet, be it a dog or cat or whatever, you will find a link on that page to http://www.petfinder.org a place that can be  a world of help. That's how we found our Chloe.
Give an animal in need a home! 
What we really want is help making the page (pages, actually) even more useful. Got useful info? Regular mail it to us or email it to troll@hillwoman.com for possible inclusion.

Some more of the Troll's fiction is now available as downloadable versions
(for a modest price) online at Fictionwise. For more info, visit the Stephen L. Burns page.

A personal note from Sue-Ryn:
I frequently joke with customers, saying,  "Accept no substitutes," when asked if I am the Hill Woman who has been around and selling herbs and scents for over two decades. Last summer a few people asked if I knew a few different people who claimed to be 'apprentices' or 'students' of mine.
While I know I have inspired and empowered many along their own herbal and spiritual paths, I have no apprentices, students (or acolytes, or subjugated minions, for that matter).
Anyone who claims to a student or apprentice is not being completely honest with you.

Feeling a bit isolated? Having a hard time finding things to help feed your spiritual side?
Desperately Seeking Serenity is a page listing some sources for books, music and more.
Check it out for a listing of catalogs and newsletters. Got suggestions for listings? Drop
us a line and let us know, please. Knowledge is best when it's shared.

As always, I'm grateful to the many folks who help keep Hill Woman grounded and growing;
the family and friends, the helpers both hired and volunteer.
I count such fine companions and co-conspirators as treasure.
Special thanks are due to each and every one of you who visits this site or reads my
brochure and accords me the honor and pleasure of serving you. Your encouragement,
kindness, and continuing support mean more to me than you will ever know.  And to
those who've visited, used, and  complimented this site, the Computer & Incense Troll
thanks you from the rubbly bottom of his black little heart.