natalini 8/6/21 natalini 8/6/21

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Joel & Jasmine Forestbird @theforestbirds

Celebrate wood appreciation weekend! This is totally made up, however it should be a thing. Wood is so vital to nature and human life. Aside from its aesthetic beauty, wood shelters, warms and shades us. This weekend take notice to all of the wood you encounter throughout your home and activities this weekend. Yes, even the glued sawdust kind. Feel some gratitude for your furniture, the trees that shade your yard and for the bonfire that brings together your family and friends.

natalini 8/4/21 natalini 8/4/21

Healing Wood

Palo Santo or “Holy Wood,” is related to Frankincense, Myrrh and Copal.

Burning Palo Santo reduces stress, relieves anxiety, headaches, depression and is anti-inflammatory. The sweet and woodsy scent is soothing and more mild than the scent of sage. When burning a stick of Palo Santo, keep a flame on the end of the stick for about 30 seconds, then gently blow out the flame or allow it to fade into the white smoke that will burn for a few minutes. The white smoke is mesmerizing so this would be a good time for a meditation. Stare at the waves of the white smoke and focus on an intention for the day.

Palo Santo oil is a topical anti-inflammatory remedy for joint pain. To make home made Palo Santo oil, simply soak small pieces of the wood in a carrier oil like grapeseed or olive oil for at least three days. Apply the oil to the inflamed joint areas as needed. Enjoy the sweet scent and healing benefit of this sacred wood.

natalini 8/2/21 natalini 8/2/21

Spalted Maple

Spalting is the aftermath of fungus that has “attacked” wood. The marbled patterns are unique and resemble an inked sketch. Birch and beech wood can also can become spalted. Here is a piece of spalted maple found at Dueling Maples in Willow Grove, Pa. After searching through each piece of wood for spalted maple, this was one of two pieces with this being the largest at 1’ 2” x 3’ 10.”

natalini 7/30/21 natalini 7/30/21

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

White Sand Beaches are made from pulverized calcium carbonate from dead coral. This weekend, search for the closest white sand beach to where you live and if you’re already on vacation, consider making an extra stop.

Here are 9 White Sand Beaches in the US and around the world:

Coronado Beach, San Diego

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Orange Beach, Alabama

Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barts

White Beach, Boracay, Philippines

The Maldives, Indian Ocean

Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy

Hyams Beach of New South Wales (The “whitest sand in the world” according to the Guinness World Record)

natalini 7/28/21 natalini 7/28/21

The Galia Melon

The Galia melon is a hybrid melon of a cantaloupe and a honeydew and is grown in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Costa Rica, Panama, Hondura Algeria, Brazil, Guatemala, Portugal, Spain, Morocco.

The Galia melon has a balanced sweetness throughout each bite and is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Good luck finding this delicious treasure, it can be tricky to locate in some states.