Cherries, baby Barn Swallows, great new 'recipe' & first recording in a new series - 'Key of ...'!
Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Living a Wellspring Life on
Singing Aspen Farm
In this Issue Four, you’ll find:
Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls: "A Key of C Three Minute Respite"
My Artichoke Crema recipe. A quick & versatile dip (or maybe spread?!)!
I hope these updates bring a little joy and inspiration to your day!
And, if you like what we are doing, please share our newsletter with your friends!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS
Weaving Crystalline Sound for Health & Wellbeing
Tuesday, October 7th
Carnegie Art Center on 120 S. Broad St. Mankato MN
Add to your calendar:
First & Third Tuesdays 6:30-8pm
BREATH
I have talked about my ethereal & incredible Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls, but many of you have not heard them. Yet!
I want to share that never in my wildest dreams did I ever envision I would be in a Sound Healing Academy (never!) & certainly never thought I would ever have not only one, but two incredibly beautiful sets of bowls! Never!
My life feels very serendipitous & I know I am totally blessed! The most wonderful thing about the bowls is I can share their incredible sound, their original, ethereal vibrations, their energies ... in person & virtually. It is true! It works! It really truly works! I have experienced incredible virtual effects with Alchemy Crystal bowls & I have testimonials that others have had similar experiences! It is absolutely totally Win-Win! I love, love Win-Win!
The idea for this series popped up not too long ago & I truly hope you love it! Please understand I have not done alot of recording. Yet! Most of my virtual playing has been for distance sessions, which I referred to above!
So, to finally get to the point, this issue features my first recording for you:
"A Key of C Three Minute Respite"!
I am going to launch the series with my Travel Set which has all of the keys of sound healing plus a B octave pair! In sound healing, there are the whole notes & sharps, no flat notes!
I am going to start with the Key of C for a three minute recording & then thinking I will do a Key of C for six minutes for the next issue in order to offer something a bit different & to get your opinions! Three minutes is really short, but six might be better! We will see!
I will do my very best with my little set up, but I am sure it will not be perfect. I appreciate your understanding & feedback very much! Thank you!!
I am a relatively newbie in the world of sound healing, but I try & do love it❣️
Another thing we talk about a lot is the power of intention. I hope you can set an intention for an open mind & heart! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time & intention! My intention: The bowls & I create a lovely experience for you time & time again❣️❤️❣️
I hope your first 'Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowl Respite' refreshes you!
KITCHEN
Wellspring Kitchen is the spot for all things related to nourishing ourselves & our loved ones, with food prep, gardening, herbs, body care …. It will all be in this space! I welcome positive feedback & ideas! I also love to research & try new things, so if there is anything in the plant-based world you would like to learn about, please reach out!
"Sharing good food & good company is an art that feeds body & soul."
Artichoke Crema Recipe
My Artichoke Crema recipe was created as a lighter, cool, summer version of my baked Artichoke Dip! I hope you like it as much as I do!
1 - 14 oz can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1 heaping tbsp - Vegenaise
1 tbsp - lemon juice
1 tsp - granulated onion (or more to taste)
1/2 to 1 tsp - dried herb/s of choice, such as thyme, oregano, rosemary ...
3 to 6 - twists of pepper
PROCESS
Using a small food processor, pulse artichoke hearts to half consistency goal. (I want to end up with very small pieces, not a 'smooth spread'. Hmmm, maybe I'll try it as a 'smooth spread'?! You just don't know unless ...!)
Add Vegenaise, lemon juice, onion, herb/s, pepper
Pulse to desired consistency. Taste test & adjust herbs, lemon juice, salt & pepper if needed. Enjoy!
This is another of my 'basic', versatile 'recipes' that goes together quickly, is fun & a little different! I have added soaked dried tomatoes. Roasted red peppers added in at the start could be fun! Color would be entirely different! Taste, as well! Even 'fine dice', crispy roasted shiitake mushrooms would be nice! I just thought of that! Goodness, that sounds good!
Artichoke Crema has the possibility of so many uses! As a summer pasta sauce, mixed into salad greens, scooped up on zuchinni 'chips' & of course, on warm toasted bread!
I'm going to try it as a layer in my Summer Pressed Sandwich Loaf along with the Olive Tapanade as another layer! Yum 😊
If you try this, I would love to hear your thoughts & how you did it!
I took a pic of the can because I really like the company! Native Forest is a trademark of Edward & Sons Trading Company, Inc. An ethics based, Canadian family owned vegetarian company since 1978. I love their business model as well as the quality of all of their products.
Wishing you happy Making & Eating! m
WOOLENS
Errold, younger & a very good looking guy back in the day, is still with us & a fun, valuable member of the 'Fab Four'! Errold is a nice guy & along with Princess Elfa loves to have chin/neck rubs, also having their ears fiddled with & their backs massaged! I do believe they would stand there all day, they love it so much! I can relate! I have an itchy back & Love having back rubs!
Errold was born in 2011 & along with a very handsome twin, Errik the Red! He was also a nice guy, but passed too soon. That is the hardest part, their passing. I always pray for a peaceful one. People ask how long they live. We are finding that out. Honestly, they are just like us. Some have very long & healthy lives. Some have lives that feel way too short. We now have only the Fab Four: Princess Elfa, Errold, Einar & Freynar. Hopefully for awhile!
Everything starts with the flock & their wool!
I entered "Dream No Small Dream" in my first juried art show at the Carnegie in the spring of 2013. I was beyond thrilled to be accepted!
This piece was inspired by a 'quick' pencil sketch my wonderful husband, Jon, drew of the home we were about to begin building! This was in 2005! Jon had added the scrawled words of "Dream No Small Dream"! And, then handed it to me! I almost cried, it meant so much! Jon was having MY house plans built! His faith in me was incredible! I am so grateful we love our home & can't imagine being anywhere else!
"Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
- Johann Wolfgang vonGoethe
Jon's sketch inspired this piece because the Icelandics are a huge part of our life & were never part of any plan, but came to be quite by serendipity! Our usual trip to the MN State Fair in 1997, where (micro version): 'fell in love' - Icelandic ram - Tom & Judy - winter visits - March 1998 tornado - visit Tom & Judy - lambs there - 'fell in love' - call from Tom - I 'threw our hat' over the fence - voila - we have farm w/sheeps!
Thank you, Heidi (l) & Barb (r) for being there for me that day & being such totally incredible friends for a year or ...!!!!!! ❣️❤️❣️
SHAMELESS PLUGS
We are happy to be 'plugging' Ritchie Schaefer of B2B Honey Co. & his honeybees! Ritchie will be bringing ten hives to our farm, where, as last year, they will be tucked into the woods & not disturbed in any way! It feels nice when they are here! We all need bees & this is a safe haven for them, here on our tiny organic spot! Another blessing of being on our little farm!
Jason gave us a lovely box of his honey offerings including Buckwheat honey, jar of honey with comb, Cinnamon Whipped, quarts & ... ! Yum!
At the Sowing Seeds event next Sunday, July 13th, Ritchie will be demonstrating Bee Keeping in Demo Area 1 Skill Shares area at 2:30! We are planning on being there! Fresh air, hopefully sunshine & fun!
Ritchie's honey can be found at the Saturday Mankato Farmers Market, Mankato's Pub 500 & NolaBelle, New Ulm Food Co-op, New London MN Food Co-op, Black Frost Distilling & the MN State Fair! Local is Good!!!
WORDS TO PONDER
"Do not be dismayed by the broken-ness of the world. All things break . And all things can be mended. Not with time as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you."
- L.R Knost
Thank you so much for being part of this journey.
Whether you are joining us for Reiki Infused Alchemy Crystal Bowl Sound Healing, exploring plant-based recipes or interested in learning about the woolen art inspired by our flock, I’m glad we have these moments together.
I’d love to hear from you—feel free to reply with questions, ideas, or just to say hello. And if you haven’t already, please follow along on Facebook or Instagram for even more updates.
Also, please share with any family & friends who like fiber, food & good vibes!
Until next time,
Warmly,
Melinda Kjarum
Wellspring - the place something comes from or starts at, or the cause of something;
'The wellspring of the creative spirit.'
Hi, I Am Melinda Kjarum
Founder of Wellspring Woolens
Melinda Kjarum is the heart and visionary behind Wellspring Woolens. Her journey began with a life-changing encounter in 1997 at the Minnesota State Fair, where a single Icelandic ram sparked an unexpected path toward sustainable farming, handcrafted woolens, and holistic wellness.
Rooted in resilience—she rebuilt her life and home after a devastating tornado swept Southern Minnesota—Melinda’s approach weaves together mindful living, natural materials, veg based recipes, and the gentle but energizing tones of singing bowls.
Through Wellspring Breath, Kitchen, and Woolens, she shares not only products but also a philosophy of stewardship, community, and authenticity. Melinda’s work invites you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience a bit more of everyday life.
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