Just a quick and dirty page to start getting my newsletter up and running online. Sometimes they get lost in spam folders.
Middle-Earth Wellness: A Journey to Relaxation and Tranquility
Greetings dear friends,
As we journey through August, we have much to celebrate and share! This month marks the second anniversary of my clinical massage services, and to show my gratitude, I’m offering special gifts at every appointment.
With Hobbit Day on September 22nd, there’s ample time to plan a grand celebration, whether at home or by joining the festivities at Lemon Hill Cafe and Bookstore.
I’m thrilled to update you on the progress of our Elvish-inspired Victorian home in Montesano and introduce you to a local herbalist, Wisp of Petrichorum.
Additionally, I’m excited to share two new Elvish songs I’ve composed for the future ethereal Elvish garden.
Discover new activities, delightful recipes, and immersive book recommendations that transport you to Middle-Earth. Join me on this magical journey to relaxation and tranquility!
Celebrating 2 Years!
As we step into August, I am filled with gratitude and excitement. This month marks my second anniversary, and I can’t thank you enough for your continued support and trust in my clinical massage services.
To celebrate I will have a special gift for everyone who comes in for their appointments each week. I always love introducing people to new artists, and herbalists, and supporting our well-loved local scene. I am giving away a medley of crafts and yummies. It’s while supplies last, but if I run out of the following listed items, I will always have a little gift for you. No worries!
Some of the things you may see:
- Shower Steamies by Rainchild Apothecary. Shower Steamies! As they dissolve in the shower, they release aromatherapeutic essential oils into the steam. I had ones for relaxation, ones for energy, and ones that are helpful for sinus and respiratory issues.
- Because I am always recommending books to read, you may see Celtic and fantasy-inspired wooden bookmarks made by a local woodworker, Matt Orrin, in Montesano. He often sells at the local Monte market on Saturday!
- Orrin Woodworks https://www.instagram.com/orrinwoodworks/ Valhalla Ladders(driftwood art) from Fired Fern Studio by Jenna Waddell. She describes herself as a passionate artist, archaeology student, knitter/crocheter, hiker, fierce friend, book devourer, nerdy fan girl, and mother of three in the PNW. She’s local to Monetesano. https://www.instagram.com/firedfernstudio/
- And other little surprises
Tiny Thoughts:
Remember, Instead of saying “You’re going to treat yourself…” Say instead, for morale.
For example: I will be celebrating National Hobbit Day, for morale. I will be making scones and clotted cream, for morale. I am going to the WA Ren Faire, for morale.
A Journey to Middle-Earth
I am thrilled to share updates on constructing an Elvish-inspired Victorian home in Montesano. We’ve broken ground by clearing the building site. My husband Chad put in a rough driveway up from the road. Next week we make a call to get a transformer installed and power on the site. Our projected date for living on the land full time is next spring. We have done everything we’ve set out to accomplish this summer. Huzzah!
While this is my private residence, I plan to host occasional events(already lining up medieval and fantasy vendors and caterers) there to share its Middle Earth themed beauty and serenity with you. And as soon as this is constructed we can start on the Hobbit Hole in the garden.
The Hobbit hole will be an immersive Airbnb experience with themed massage option. I’m actively building a community of artisans to help bring a little Middle Earth magic to the experience. I’m especially excited because my office in Olympia focuses mostly on clinical work. So this respite into themed relaxation is welcomed for variety! The Hobbit Hole will be my official second office. I am still going to maintain my clinical office in West Olympia.
I’m also considering starting a YouTube channel to provide updates on the construction project. Once I have content, there will be a QR code on the old victorian news board for people to scan and visit.
Introducing A Herbalist Friend
This month, I am delighted to introduce you to another local herbalist, Wisp of Petrichorum. They are also local to Montesano and often can be found peddling apothecary products at ren fairies and fantasy events locally. https://www.petrichorum.com/ . Wisp is a whimsical purveyor of scent alchemy infused into individually crafted salves, quaint art soaps & other topical body care made with sustainably sourced and unrefined natural ingredients for folks with sensitivities and ailments 
Ethical, local & sustainable sourcing. Raw, food-grade & organic ingredients. NO Preservatives, harsh chemicals, or other nonsense. They are not in the office yet, but if you decide to order from them, tell them I said hi! I tentatively reached out to ask if they would be interested in attending events on the property and they expressed interest.
Get Active and Unwind!
- WA Western State Fair in Puyallup, August 30th-Sept 22nd https://www.thefair.com/ Makah Days in Neah Bay; August 24th https://www.facebook.com/makah.days/ WA Renaissance Festival in Snohomish, the dates left are Aug 9-11 and 16-18 https://washingtonfaire.com/
I believe in the power of nature and activity to reduce stress and anxiety. Get outside and have some fun!
Hobbit Day Menu and Books in Montesano
If you are not doing a Hobbit party but still want to imbibe and enjoy tasty Hobbit food, then this section is for you!
In honor of Hobbit Day, Lemon Hill Cafe and Bookstore in Montesano will be hosting a special Hobbit Day menu available from 10am to 9pm. This is not a reservation event, so just show up and enjoy being a Hobbit for the day.
If you’ve been reading my newsletters for awhile, you will know that I love Lemon Hill Cafe and Bookstore. They are our first choice for catering Hobbit events on the property and just recently I asked if they would be interested in our project and got an enthusiastic yes! Tolkien people are the best people!
This is my favorite cafe & bookstore and we have enjoyed their food many times. I highly recommend going any day they’re open and especially when they have Friday night dinners. Follow them on facebook to get a headsup, and make your reservations. Those go fast!
Pro tip: For those avoiding decaf, such as myself, ask for their decaf cold brew. It’s rare to find and absolutely delicious on a summer day! (and maybe a slice of warmed up pineapple upside down cake with homemade whipped cream)
From their website: We serve colonial French cuisine using naturally raised meat from local farms and ranches; sustainable, ethically sourced seafood; organic dairy and eggs; farm fresh or organic produce; and artisan olive oils, cheeses, and breads. While the roots for our food are distinctly French, we are highlighting the flavors of Moroccan, Caribbean, and Creole outposts.
We are dedicated to the art of expressing love, care, and compassion for others through the food we create. Our ultimate goal is to please, delight, and charm our customers so they leave happier than when they arrived… having hopefully tasted something that brought to mind a magical moment, a smell that reminds them of their mother or grandmother’s kitchen, or a texture that brings back a sweet memory of simpler times. https://lemonhillcafe.com/ (BTW their hours are only temporary until Sept 18th)
Plan a DIY Hobbit Day
Host a Lord of the Rings movie marathon! For fans of the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings or J.R.R. Tolkien, celebrating Hobbit Day on September 22 is a must. Known for their love of food and good hospitality, the truest way to honor a Hobbit is by providing good food for your guests (and enough of it!)
The recipes are well-researched from historical British cookbooks, so you know you’re recreating a Hobbit experience for your guests.
“Now we are all here!” said Gandalf, looking at the row of thirteen hoods- the best detachable party hoods- and his own hat hanging on the pegs. “Quite a merry gathering! I hope there is something left for the latecomers to eat and drink!”
Ethereal Elvish Music Project
Many of you have no idea I am composing various soundtracks for the Elvish and Hobbit experience on my land. I have a few songs to share with you!
The first soundtrack will be for the Elvish side as the house and gardens inspired by Mirkwood and lothlorian will be constructed first.
If you are a fan of early medieval music, you will certainly enjoy this as well. If you have a listen, from my google drive, please do reach out and tell me if I am capturing that ethereal Elvish sound. I know the pronounciation could be called inaccurate by elvish fans, but most of the lyrics are done in English. I’m actively looking to hire translaters who speak Tolkien’s Sindarin.
I am also actively looking for musicians that would be interested in performing in the Elvish gardens for the home’s opening. If you have any leads please do let me know.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MneBgvGgiCyiIxEW2RLKKVb-vezxGIp7?usp=drive_link
Book Recommendations
Of course I recommend reading, or rereading, Tolkien’s books, but I am also recommending some recently published books that I just added to my own library collection.
Immerse yourself in the magic of Middle-Earth with these book recommendations:
- The Unofficial Lord of the Rings Cookbook: From Hobbiton to Mordor, Over 60 Recipes from the World of Middle-earth is a book of recipes by Tom Grimm, inspired by cultures “from Hobbiton to Mordor” in J.R.R. Tolkien‘s Middle-earth, as seen through The Lord of the Rings. It was published in 2022. Its contents are sorted by the seven daily meals of the hobbits, including Second Breakfast, and accompanied by photos.
- The Elven Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by the Elves of Tolkien is a cookbook by Robert Tuesley Anderson, author of Recipes from the World of Tolkien (2020). It is inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien‘s sparse descriptions of Elven food and meals, and was published in January 2023. “From Elrond’s famous feasts at Rivendell to Galadriel’s gift of Lembas Bread to the Fellowship of the Ring, the foods made by Tolkien’s Elves are mysterious, ethereal, and elegant. The Elven Cookbook provides readers with an experience from the world of Tolkien like no other, featuring more than 80 delicious recipes inspired by the mythical race. With recipes such as Silmaril Breakfast Friands, Lúthien’s Asparagus Tart, and Rivendell Roast Lamb, this beautiful cookbook captures all the majesty and otherworldliness of the Elves’ way of life, and delivers a treat for your taste buds and imagination alike.
- “The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien: The Places that Inspired Middle-earth is a 2020 non-fiction book by the journalist and Tolkien scholar John Garth. It describes the places that most likely inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to invent Middle-earth, as portrayed in his fantasy books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Those places include many that Tolkien lived in or visited in his early life, as well as sites from history and literature. Most are real, for instance with England as the counterpart of the Shire, though some, like Atlantis, are mythical, and others, like Mirkwood, probably have roots in real places. He notes the ambiguities in some of the connections, and that others have made superficial comparisons, such as of Tolkien’s towers with various modern towers in Birmingham, where Tolkien lived as a child. Garth presents his theories of the likely origins of some of these places, supporting these with maps and photographs.Scholars broadly welcomed the book as a well-researched contribution to Tolkien studies
- The Making of Middle-Earth: A New Look Inside the World of J.R.R. Tolkien by Medieval scholar and Tolkien expert Christopher Snyder presents the most in-depth exploration yet of Tolkien’s source materials for Middle-earth—from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. Fueled by the author’s passion for all things Tolkien, this richly illustrated book also reveals the surprisingly pervasive influence of Tolkien’s timeless fantasies on modern culture.
Stay Connected
I love hearing from you! Share your experiences, book recommendations, and wellness tips with me. Let’s continue this journey to relaxation, tranquility, and often adventure, together.
May your path be green and golden, and the stars shine upon your face.
Barb
P.S. couldn’t resist signing off like an elf!