Deep Off Grid Living at 4670 feet elevation!

Hello I am April from Cold Creek Homestead my family and I are passionate about living off the land rather it be from our gardens and livestock or hunting, fishing and gathering! We own a 100% off grid homestead in the heat of the Blue Mountains in NE Oregon. And when I say off grid i mean we live 12 miles back a very rough untended logging road! I have to awesome kids who are unschooled ages 11 and 7 and we really hope you enjoy following along in our journey! be sure to visit our website www.coldcreekhomestead.com

[coldcreekhomestead]

One bead.. Two beads.. Three beads.. Beading is such a form of meditation for me. The time it takes steadies my mind.. Quiets my thoughts and calms my heart.. Find your peace in what you do..find your center.. Your zen moment where the world stops and worries drift far from mind.. It is imperative... ➳ 🌲➳ 🌲➳ 🌲➳ 🌲➳ 🌲➳ 🌲➳ #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchy #beader #beadwork #seedbeads #crystal #larkavite #norwegianmoonstone #magick #moonstone #witch #meditation #zen #nativewitch #celticwitch #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

🌲Today we ventured into the desert lands on NE Oregon. Oregon state is extremely diverse but a little known secret is that NE Oregon is full of micro climates. ★ So you can be at 7000+ feet elevation in the eagle cap range and watch snow fly in late August or you can go down the umatilla river (the reason the Colombia river exists) where summer temps easily hit °115F steadily from Late June-September. 🌲Shoot North west by 30 miles and be in a semi temperate rain forest and everywhere between! . ★ But today it's all sand and big sage brush (Artemisia tridentata) which is 100x more traditional for tribes of the PNW than the ever so common, highly commercialized, over harvested white sage ($5 bucks says that's the sage you smudge with). 🌲In reality white sage was not a common affair past the far reaches of southern Calie and northern Mexico. ★ It also has (white sage) an extremely small native growing range and is rather fragile. 🌲Where as Big sage has a HUGE growing range(from the west coast to the mid west) and is one tough green ally that can exist in some serious climates due to it's extreme adaptability. ★ So it is the right time moon wise to gather aromatics, meaning do expect to see some beautiful big sage smudges and smokeless smudges made with my new hydrosol still come my next shop update (🔜May14th⏰! 🌲This sage smells nothing like white sage, it is fire, it is wild, it is protective male energy, it is spice and sand. 🌿🔥🌿🔥🌿🔥🌿🔥🌿🔥🌿🔥🌿 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #neoregon #easternoregon #naturalwitch #herbalist #bigsage #sage #sagebrush #traditionalmedicine #magick #wisewomantradition #wisewoman #wildcraft #witch #witchy #witches #witchcraft #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #plantmagic #witchesofinstagram #spirituality #selfie

[coldcreekhomestead]

➛ 🌛☕Moon Blood Tea☕🌜➛ I am so happy to introduce larger packages of my hand blended Moon Blood tea! I have perfected this blend over the past two years to help myself with severe dysmenorrhea (very bad cramps and an extended cycle). I truly needed something that would not only bring me relief but give me the nutrients needed during my moon time, the nutrients all women need. 🌿Wild Crafted raspberry leaf~Tones the uterus, softens the cervix allowing our waters to flow less restricted, lessens heavy bleeding. 🌱Wild Crafted Nettle~ A power house of nutrients, restores energy without being a stimulant, reduces bleeding, as a natural diuretic is also reduces water retention and bloating. 🌿Lemon Peel ~ lymphatic support helping reduce breast tenderness and general swelling. 🌱Chasteberry ~ natural source of progesterone. It helps normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen, and subsequently provides relief from the monthly symptoms associated with our moon time including bloating, cramps, acne, breast tenderness, and mood swings. 🌿Lemon Verbena~ relaxes the nerves and muscles, calms the mind, alleviate depression, ease anxiety, and provide a general overall feeling of peace. 🌱Linden flower ~ A relaxing nervine, specific for anxiety, tense shoulders, muscle cramping, tension headaches, sleeplessness. 🌿Cinnamon~A potent antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. This offers pain relief. 🌱Rose Petals ~ subtle calming, cramp relief. 🌿Stevia~ So less sugar based sweetener is needed. Sugar=Cramping/inflammation ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ ➛ There will be 6 of these new larger packs in the shop update! (🔜Apr.16⏰) Please feel free to ask for a tag here when they are available! ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ #she_is_of_the_woods #herbalist #teawisdom #wisewomantradition #moontime #wildwoman #wisewoman #beyourowndoctor #plantmagic #herbaltea #menstrualtea #magick #pagan #wicca #witchy #naturalwitch #witchesofinstagram #witchesofthepnw #paganism #wiccans #witchcraft #womenscircle

[coldcreekhomestead]

When Patoosway and Fragrant Cedar Combine we have powerful medicine. Protection from sincere negative influences from masculine energy of Patoosway blends with the love pulling feminine energy of the fragrant cedar. These massive medicine bundles will be available in a limited amount (only 4) come the next shop update (🔜Apr.14th⏰) 🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchcraft #witch #witches #witchcraft #magick #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #herbalist #treemedicine #plantwitch #wisewoman #witchesofinstagram #spirituality #empath #spiritual

[coldcreekhomestead]

🌲The New Moon in Aries is upon us. How I have been waiting for this event. 🔥You see it is also a Super Moon and if there was ever I time to start burning old ways, old beliefs, old paths and old doubts to the ground it is now! 🌲With new life of spring all a flourish we simply do not need to drag that which holds us deep in winters grip along the way. 🔥But such a long slumber can leave our eyes glazed over. Quite simply put the light always hurts our eyes when the wheel turns to spring. 🌲We often need our guides to take our hands. So we ring the bells, we set fire to crackling cedar smudge. 🔥We pull in the attention of our ancestral guides. We cast the teeth of elk medicine to give voice to our knowing. 🌲We pull upon the oracular knowing of the crow. We pull out what knowledge is needed most in this powerful cycle. 🔥This is my offering to you in a limited quantity for the sake of quality. 🌲This deep reading may be obtained in my shop, link is in bio. 🔥All readings will be done within the New Moons energy. But please do allow up to a week for your reading to be delivered as this takes sincere energy and time on my part. 🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲🌑🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchcraft #newmoon #newmoonblessings #newmoonritual #supermoon #moonmagic #taro #tarot #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarotreading #oracle #castingbones #crow #newmooninaries #witch #witchy #witches #magick #spirituality #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccans #nativewitch #naturalwitch #celticwitch #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

I thought the earth remembered me, she  took me back so tenderly, arranging  her dark skirts, her pockets  full of lichens and seeds. I slept  as never before, a stone  on the riverbed, nothing  between me and the white fire of the stars  but my thoughts, and they floated  light as moths among the branches  of the perfect trees. All night  I heard the small kingdoms breathing  around me, the insects, and the birds who do their work in the darkness. All night  I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling  with a luminous doom. By morning  I had vanished at least a dozen times  into something better.- Mary Oliver 🌲★🌲★🌲★🌲★🌲★🌲★🌲★🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #forest #magick #witchy #witch #witches #witchcraft #wildwoman #wisewoman #paganism #pagan #wicca #wiccans #poetry #naturalwitch #nature #selfie #oregonwitch #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

🌲Here's to a successful town run (50+ miles for supplies in any direction) I really REALLY didn't want to go 😒 BUT gahh I had to! 🔥With fire season creeping up and no hopes of it being better this year in the western US I gata have a 2 gallon fire cider brew always in the works. Why? 🌲Well other than fire cider being amazing in particular I keep my husband entire initial attack crew free from camp crud (think a cold+lungs full of soot, dust and fire retardant+SHITTY quality food+14-19 day straight work weeks+14 hour days for basically 4-5 months straight+sleeping on the ground) as it is no joke and is up there in the reasons some call it quits mid way through a season. This year I hower will be selling my 🌲🔥Wild Fire Cider🔥🌲 to you and with every purchase $5 will be donated to the wildland firefighter foundation (http://www.wffoundation.org/) an amazing charity organization that aids the families of fallen wildland firefighters🔥💜🔥 which is more prevalent than most realize! Look for it in my shop update after next😘 🌲🔥🌲🔥🌲🔥🌲🔥🌲🔥🌲🔥🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #freefirecider #firecider #fireseasoniscoming #wildlandfirefighterwife #herbalist #hedgewitch #wildwoman #wisewoman #traditionnottrademark #wildfirecider #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #magick #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

What's in my pocket to help me face a crazy anxiety inducing town run? CBD oil, blue laced agate, herkimer diamond & smokey quartz from the lovely @artemis.creations and a rose quarts pocket stone. But seriously folks CBD oil is a LIVESAVER for any anxiety issues. I have severe complex PTSD and this stuff has given me my life back. I order from a company out of Denmark and am careful to get THC free oil. Because no matter what someone has told you THC is a huge NO NO for anxiety issues! It's all about the CBD and hemp blows even the *highest* herb strains out of the water! 🌟🌿🌟🌿🌟🌿🌟🌿🌟🌿🌟🌿🌟 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchcraft #witch #witchy #pagan #cbdoil #hemp #anxiety #anxietyrelief #ptsd #ptsdsucks #cbd #crystal #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

The chaos that is full fringe work. I am planning to do a double layer adding in swarovski crystal beads at the base💜 this spring violet statement piece will hopefully be available in the next shop update! 🌿💜🌿💜🌿💜🌿💜🌿💜🌿 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchy #witches #witch #witchcraft #beadwork #seedbead #seedbeadwork #magick #viloet #herbalist #spring #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #wildwoman #spirituality #springflowers #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

(Day:1/~30) A lovely month long challenge hosted by @mysticmoons_tarot I don't normally go in for these but well I think I need to.. Maybe you do too! 🍎✦ The Apple Reversed✦ 🍎 There are many choices, many paths.. All of which will lead you to a fulfilling end. But you can only choose one. We would quickly drown with our head in a barrel if we tried to bite every Apple or at the very least have a dissatisfying bite of each option.. Feeding a lonely hunger. ★ The truth of this is painful. But clear. I know me. For many years (nearing 31) I have had my hand in many fires forging a path. It was all I knew, be part of all or go without. 🌲For me the without was not of material things. It was of food and dry places to sleep. Lovers and partners to help keep the cold of the night away, as well as the coldness of the world. ★ It was having many backups in place. Shit it's hard to not continue this. To allow myself to feel secure with the minimum. Only one option can be had out of many. 🌲I am grateful for my life, I wouldn't change my past. But I know I must truly and fully commit to only one path now. Only one fire. Only one purpose. I am grateful to hold this knowledge in my hands. I am hopeful to not be to stubborn in my ways to use it. 🌲✦ 🌲✦ 🌲✦ 🌲✦ 🌲✦ 🌲✦ 🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #taro #oracle #magick #30dayscardsofgratitude #witchcraft #witch #witchy #witches #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccans #wisewoman #wildwoman #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

☔All fools day is upon us. Interestingly enough not a person in this world truly knows how this day came to be. 🍃We know it goes far back in antiquity. But no theory holds ground they all dissolve under the weight of investigation. ☔The month of April.. Has always been a month of tension for me. My name being April I am usually asked if I was born in April.. No I was not.. I make an ass out of myself more than once hearing my name and responding.. They were not talking about me.. The pranks were always brutal as well in honor of my name.. 🍃My name has brought a lot of strife to me in life right down to the fact that my name was the result of a fight and a calendar being thrown out of anger.. ☔So for the past few years I have chosen to dedicate this month to self care and slowing down as much as I can. 🍃Taking away the negative self image shadow it has casted on me for years. Today we will have a large meal of nourishing foods, I started the bread before dawn broke. ☔I also implore people to think carefully on the pranks they pull today as they can cause emotional pain rather it be a fake break up or pregnancy these are not things of humor. 🍃I personally don't partake because we don't truly know what we are celebrating and I'm cautious like that.. 🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱⭐🌱 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchcraft #witch #witchy #witches #april #aprilfools #allfoolsday #mynameisapril #magick #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccans #wisewoman #realfood #selfcare #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

🐾Tracking is such important medicine to my soul. It makes my blood rush, stokes my primal fires insuring they burn with intensity. 🌲This dance is an ancient one, a beautiful one, a pure one. The wild creatures know it deeply, they are born with the chase in their heart rather they be predator or pray. 🐾Just like the coyote tracking the snowshoe hair in the tracks seen here. This is an important part of my existence, my culture. 🌲We are all born of this dance. Death is essential to life. You would not, could not, can not live without death. Rather the death is of a sentient being or a root ripped from the earths clay. We must take the energy of another being existence into our bodies to sustain life. 🐾In winter we are carnivorous. It is necessary for survival in our extremely harsh climate. We thrive on wild meats, roots & squash. 🌲Come the true spring when energy of birth comes forth from the death that was winter we pull deeply on wild greens as all the wild creatures do becoming truly omnivorous much like the bears. 🐾This dance, cycle, primal rhythm runs deeply in my blood. My heart is forever in the true hunt. We will never hide up a tree behind man made blind nor do we cover our scent. 🌲We honor the dance we follow the tracks just as the coyote tracking the snowshoe hair. In this we give respect, in this we make our ancestors proud. 🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲🐾🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #naturalwitch #nativewitch #celticwitch #carnivore #wildwoman #wisewoman #honoryourancestors #witch #witchcraft #witches #witchy #oldways #tracking #animaltracks #pagan #paganism #respectmychoices #wicca #wiccan #witchesofinstagram #pnw #oregonwitch (at Blue Mountains (Pacific Northwest))

[coldcreekhomestead]

Such a beautiful Grimoire from @native_apothecary and @poisonappleprintshop it made this hedge witches heart skip a beat! Ohhh how I've been waiting for this mail day! 🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchy #witch #witches #witchesgrimoire #magick #herbalist #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

🌲as sirens sweep the fog beneath sing to me, as beasts do speak where empty seats discreetly sleep, and shrieks might seep through empty streets the sirens call the fog to rise and lure me ever onward 🌲so deeply hollow, the sound my footsteps follow sorrow, down  ground was all but empty now the void in womb beneath the town 🌲beautifully she seemed to pace two broken legs, and sought to bring salvation to the boy in trench (a king in place of lustful joy) with pipe all sins would be erased and emptied skull of gray and grin 🌲her visage that bore no face a slab of skin usurped its place 🌲were all those walking really dead? a death only in eyes that see with breath, i grieved for losses shared and watched the weeping ones relief as nightfall brought them needed sleep. 🌲facades that melt without the sun reveal the pulse which beats me back please, no holy structure could i depend all would fall, with bleeding walls sleepy, still could read the mind always was it reading mine convulsing was the lifeless gate to bring me life in purest form above all gods in angel's flight  underneath in deepest void 🌲as sirens sweep the fog beneath sing to me in beastly speak where empty seats will sleep discreet,  and herders flock like empty sheep the sirens call the fog to rise and lure me ever onward~ Third Orbit Mars  🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲❄🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #fog #mountainfog #naturalwitch #witch #witchy #poetry #magick #witchcraft #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #wildwoman #wisewoman #winterinspring #witchesofinstagram

[coldcreekhomestead]

Pulled a card for a fellow sister and felt compelled to share the message as it may be for more than just one to hear, so I urge you to truly listen in case the story is meant for you as well. 🙏 ★ The Reed in reverse★ She talks to us of direction as she pulls life water from the river, she feels the ever changing flow that the seasons bring. She knows she must move forward even if she cannot see what lies around the bend even if she holds quiet fear in her heart. She holds belief that the waters will not ravage her but feed her deeply and she allows the current to flow as it will. 🌲✴✴🌲✴ ✴🌲✴ ✴🌲✴ ✴🌲✴ ✴🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #celtictreeoracle #oracle #divination #plantmedicine #elkteeth #castingbones #magick #naturalwitch #witch #witchy #seedbeads #beadwork #wicca #pagan #paganism #spirituality #witchcraft #heathen #witchesofinstagram (at Blue Mountains (Pacific Northwest))

[coldcreekhomestead]

Yay! We have a (planned/AKC) breeding💜 Female Pyrenees (in particular those who have pure genetics meaning no sneaky other LGD lines way back in the blood) can fight breeding 100% meaning they never truly willingly stand for the sire. However over the years I have found the more stubborn at breeding the better the mother she makes so it's a willing compromise. With said stubbornness we must hook both of them up or kennel them. With our breeding kennels being up at our cabin (recall we got insanely snowed out) we have to hook them up (which should never be done to any LGD for extended periods) off and on throughout the day so she can't run off and he keeps other males should they come around at bay. Soooo with all of that being rambled for those of you with prior to whelp holds in place pups should be coming earth side in June! Want to read more? Check out the website😊 www.ColdCreekHomestead.com we currently only have one prior to whelp hold open for this years whelping which is an amazing opportunity as we are normally reserved two years in advance BUT I locked up the website this winter so I could focus on well surviving the winter SO that leaves one lucky spot open😊 ★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ ⭐★ #she_is_of_the_woods #akc #akcgreatpyrenees #greatpyrenees #plannedmating #lgd #lgds #livestockguardiandog #PNW #oregon #coldcreekhomestead #farmlife #wolfpredator #predatorproof

[coldcreekhomestead]

🌲Ostara marks the time for us to gather cedar medicines along with the moon fading from full. Cedars make for strong bundles of protection and smudges but each have different energy and it is important to know the difference. 🌲On the right you see a male eastern red cedar(Juniperus virginiana). This is a strong male protective energy. Meant to pull out inner paternal strength and surround the user with such energy. For cleansing it is forceful, long lasting and puts forth serious intent. 🌲On the left you see western red cedar (Thuja plicata) which is of a purifying maternal energy, pulling in love and healing used to open our spirit to the wellspring of maternal knowing that runs deeply in our blood. 🌲White Willow (Salix alba) is used (bark) for natural pain relief in salves and tinctures but is also has sincere protection abilities to it's users. I ALWAYS have a bough above my bead and will bring a braided branch with me while I travel to place under my pillow. She is water magick, moon magick, sincere protection pulling for women and their kin alike filling our hearts with courage and warding off the ill intent of others. 🌲What you see here will be made into smudges, salves, protection oils and talismans. Some of which will be available in the shop update (🔜Apr.14th.⏰) 🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲⭐🌲 #she_is_of_the_woods #hedgewitch #witchcraft #witch #witchy #witches #treemedicine #tree_magic #cedar #willow #magick #pagan #paganism #wicca #wiccan #witchcraft #moonmagick #strongmedicine #pnw #spirituality #naturalwitch #witchesofinstagram (at Tollgate, Oregon)