"We are gradually learning that under our economic system of 'free enterprise'
 adequate medical service can never be paid for as a private cost."
Sarah Tarleton Colvin, A REBEL IN THOUGHT (1944)

 "The more efficient we become in eliminating disease, the more our services are out
 of reach of the people." Alice Tisdale Hobart, THE SERPENT WREATHED STAFF (1951)

"The freedom of man,  I contend, is the freedom to eat." Eleanor Roosevelt
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES

July Moons  4, Last Qtr;  11, New; 18, 1st Qtr; 26, Full Please keep critters cool and watered!

August Moons  3, Last Qtr; 10, New; 16, First Qtr; 24 Full  Aug 21 is Nat'l Homeless Animals Day

Updated Monday May 31, 2010

 June turned out to be even busier than May.
Wildlife rehab continues to keep us pretty busy.
We're at a relatively quiet period at the moment--a quiet we are
sure will end with the holiday weekend.
As this is written, Thursday night, July 1, we have in rehab: 2 separate broods of young starlings, all different ages. Two young robins--we just released another just a couple days ago--and a young blue jay. A seagull with a sprained wing. An adolescent crow who is determined to get in the house and become part of the family. And the two birds at right. We think they are young bitterns, though there are other opinions; as their plumage comes in the ID should get easier and more certain. The jay is pictured below.
 
We also had and have released several rabbits, more starlings, antother crow, some gray squirrels, and other odd critters. We hosted a young peregrine falcon overnight, between the vet and Jean Soparano's big rehab place down near Syracuse.
The domestic critters have also kept us busy. The turkeys are in their pen/playground in the back yard--and escape from it several times a day. The guinea hens live in the back yard and have forced us into fencing in several beds and gardens to keep them from trashing them.
The gardens are going well, getting greens and radishes, should have green beans in a week or two, tomatoes at some later point, and weeds growing faster than everything else.

Sue-Ryn's next show are
Saturday, July 24, 11-6 Mystical Afternoon at the Realmshift Center, Market St. A Bay NY
September 18, 9 - 5 CNY Pagan Pride Festival, Longbranch Park, Liverpool NY
Saturday Sept. 25 & Sunday 26th, Watertown Psychic Fair,  Days Inn, Arsenal St. Watertown NY

We've been experimenting with the recipes and  techniques from the book 'Artisan Bread in Five Minutes
a Day'. Highly recommended. We're not giving up our Zo bread machine, but when there is time to prepare
the dough ahead . . . bread becomes a major part of the meal. Now friends Wendy & Greg have sent
us the next book by these authors, 'Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day'. Next cold snap, we're making dough!

It's the end of an era, of sorts.
This February we had to let Belle the Cat, Mistress of All
the Mousies, go. Her health had been going for the past
couple years; she was deaf, nearly blind, incontinent, and
had other issues. But she had a good run of eighteen and
a half years, and early April we buried her here on the property.
We'll plant a tree or shrub or flowers over her. The pictures
to the left are her scowling at being made to wear a bow, and
sticking her head in a bag of catnip as she 'helped' Sue-Ryn stuff catnip mice. We miss her, but are glad her last days were relatively peaceful--as peaceful as new rescue cat
Mr. Monkeypants would let them be. He's discovered how much fun it is to play with snakes. We've rescued
three so far.

Sue-Ryn has some shows shortly:
July 9th & 10th  Metaphysical Times Psychic Fair,  NYS Fair Grounds   Syracuse NY

For a complete listing of upcoming shows check my Show Schedule.

We're still taking a break from the contests. Why?
Mostly because turnout was so dismal. The last contest had just enough entrants
for there to be a winner and five runners-up. The contest before that drew barely a dozen
die-hards. So to all you contest diehards, thanks for all the great entries, the poems and
notes and other crazy stuff. The contests may return at some later date. Until then,
save up your Dove Dark and Finlandia vodka!

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.