Quote of the Week

 

               My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness.    Dalai Lama

Memorial Day

Here in the United States, Memorial Day is the day we honor the fallen men and women in service to their country.  Many people also honor the men and women who have served and are currently serving.   But it is also a time to remember lost loved ones.   So today on this Memorial Day, I honor all service men and women and my father who died last year.

Let me tell you a little bit about him as a young man.  He had been a Sargent in the Army during World War II.  Or as many older gentlemen like to say "The Big War"  or W W 2.   I separated it like that so you could read it the way they say it.  It's always made me want to laugh when they said dubbaya dubbaya two.

My father was just barely 18 years old when he enlisted in the army right before his high school graduation.  He went straight to boot camp in Texas.  Having been a member of the ROTC, he quickly moved to Buck Sargent.   He was the youngest of seven sons.  All but my oldest uncle serviced in a branch of the Armed Forces. There were soldiers, sailors and marines.   It was a time of great pride in his family and the country to service for his country.   My Grandmother would have preferred if none of them enlisted, but 6 out of 7 of her sons did join up.   Amazingly every one of them made it back and without major injuries.   Families of soldiers everywhere know the odds of that happening are very slim.

My Father fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  He spent most of his time in France and some time in England.   He received a medal for being shot.   A bullet pierced his helmet, but didn't seriously wound him.   Good thing, or I may not be writing this today huh?   He rarely talked about the war until he hit his seventies.  When "Saving Private Ryan" came out, he took my mother to see it.  He said it was too much like being there again and he didn't enjoy the film.   Oh he thought it was really good, but that it was too real.   I remember hearing that a lot, when the movie came out.   I watched the movie twice and got a better idea of what it was like for him.   Watching it on a big screen with surround sound enhanced the feeling of being there.  I got why my father wasn't very keen on celebrating the Fourth of July.  He always  hated the fireworks.  Watch the scene where they get off the boats on the beach and you may get it, like I did as to why it was so hard for the veterans of that battle to watch.

Dad had a box full of things he collected during the war and lots of pictures with his buddies.   There were even some spent bullets in the box.  When I was a kid they kind of made me nervous just to look at them.  When my father passed away, my sister-in-law had some of those pictures blown up and framed for his memorial service.  An American flag was draped over his coffin and then folded up in the traditional manner for safe keeping.  We gave the flag to my brother.   I never really paid attention to all of the rituals people perform for fallen soldiers and veterans before, until his funeral.  It's a nice way to honor someone.  I watched the Memorial Day concert from Washington D.C. last night with a new perspective.  Too bad we all can't live together without strife, war and sorrow of loss.   Then we wouldn't need days called "Memorial Day".

My Quotes

       Accept the bad things with grace and the good things will follow.

Until We Meet Again Oprah

Today was Oprah's last show.   She said it was not good-bye, but until we meet again.  It was perfect in that it was just Oprah at Harpo studios talking about all of the years on the show and thanking the viewers.  The smaller audience was made up of some of her ultimate fans.  It was just what I would expect from Oprah.  A quiet, more intimate show sharing the last moments of the show with us, her viewers.

I want to thank Oprah so very much for all of the years of her show and O Magazine.  I subscribe to the magazine and they recently printed my letter about creativity and my blog.  What a thrill just to have that letter in the magazine.  I showed the article and my letter to all of my friends.  It is amazing the effect of just having a letter in the magazine was to all of them.  It was almost as if I had written a featured article that was published in the magazine!  Everyone wanted to share in the excitement of my mini Oprah connection! That's the kind of effect she has on others.  It is a rare thing indeed.  

I will miss her show.  It was one of the few television programs I watched regularly.  Remember kids, I'm all about movies!   One day I may even  get cable so I can watch the OWN Network.  I like uplifting shows and Oprah had many.   Oprah has had a profound effect on people all over the world.  Her leaving is like seeing a good friend move far away and you only get to see them once in awhile.

I really want to thank Oprah for talking about meditation. Because when Oprah starting talking about it, people no longer looked at me oddly when I said I meditated.  I think now some of them have a better understanding.  They may not agree with it, but they may see it in a better light.   As a meditation teacher, I never push my opinions on others, but try gently to let them help find their own way.  That is what Oprah did on her show with a few exceptions.  Those exceptions are; getting the word about child molesters, not driving while texting and not talking on cell phones while driving.  People pay attention to what Oprah has to say.  

Oprah said today that everyone is meant to do something; we all have a calling and we all want to be validated.  I know for sure my "voice"  will continue to be heard through this blog and I will continue to share a variety of things with all of you.  I have been validated, by you the readers.  My calling is to teach what I know, share it with others and to help others in the ways that I know how.  The gift I can give back to Oprah, is the gift of my eternal gratefulness for the years of uplifting and interesting shows and insights. The Oprah Show will be missed and it will be almost impossible to replace it. 

Namaste 

Quote of the Week

          Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.   Chuang-Tzu

Helper's? in the Garden

Spring is natures reminder that it's time to put your things in order and recruit your friends and family to help you with the cleanup!   Here is my mid spring garden clean up and my helper in a corner of the garden.

However, my husband got a little too vigorous in helping and even pulled up a tiny rose I had planted last year.  I couldn't find it in the debris in the bags we put out for collection.   I was a little upset for a minute, but he worked so hard I couldn't possibly be angry.   I rooted that rose from a cutting and I can always root another.  Next time, I'm going to mark it with a red ribbon or a flag or something and put a note on it that says, "I am not a weed, don't pull me out!"  I wondered how he didn't notice it was a tiny rose.   I mean after all, it had thorns on it!  You know, I have over a dozen roses, so it's not like he's never seen any roses before!  But when you have helpers, sometimes it's better to suffer in silence and be grateful for all of their help.  But if they start ripping plants up by the armful, then it's time to kick them to the curb!

It's actually the first year he's helped me so much.   I normally do most of the clean up, because I like to do it myself and get it done early in the season.   But the mold season has been very long and much worse than in previous years.   By doing less outside though, I haven't gotten a sinus infection because of all of the wet earth.   Yeah!   Knock on wood, or a tree...!

You can see the bones of the garden and the few flowers that were growing.  Just a mere two weeks later and a lot more has bloomed and already gone. The leaves are coming out everywhere.  It is a veritable explosion of green!   I'll post more later.  You won't even recognize that it's the same corner!  

My Quotes

The sun rises each morning and with it comes the blessings of the earth.

 

Quote of the Week

       Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.   Standing Bear

How Many Seasons?

It seems as if we are just meant to have strange weather; from the snowiest of winters, to the rainiest of springs.  It's rained and been gloomy so often here that I can only recall about five or six days of sun since the beginning of April.  It hasn't rained every day thank goodness, but it's rained a lot more than in previous years.  I wouldn't mind the rain so much, if it would be sunny for awhile between rainstorms.  Geez!  I'm looking outside, trying to will the sun to come out right now!  Nope, no where in sight...

The positive side of all of this unusually wet weather is the state of the vegetation.  The plants and trees are really lush and green.  You've seen my pictures of the flowering plants.  They are so much fuller and prolific this season.  Now I know why Seattle, Washington has such a great reputation for it gardens.  Their gardens are lush and full of green leaves and flowers from all of the rainfall and fair weather.  I can't exactly say the weather has been really fair here, because it hasn't been all that good, let alone fair!   

Well it has gotten warmer here lately, at least I can say that it has in the last week; its been warmer and hotter, then colder.   The temperatures have been pretty extreme though, as if mother nature is experimenting and can't decide if she wants it hot, warm or cool.  The weather's been all over the thermometer too; anywhere from 40 to 60 to 90 and back to 50 degrees.  It's kind of hard to know what to wear on a given day, unless you have a degree in meteorology!  

A few days ago I had to search for my summer clothes and get them out of my seasonal storage, so I could wear a pair of shorts.  I had to turn the air conditioning on because it was 87 degrees when I got home from work.   It took two hours to get the house down to the upper 70's and get the humidity out of the house, it was that humid.  Two days later I needed socks to keep my feet warm and a sweater, then I had to turn on the heat!  Now I check the weather before I get dressed in the morning, just hoping it doesn't snow too.  I'm just kidding, but you never know!  I don't need clothing for three or four seasons, I need clothing for two seasons; hot and cold!  

Mother Nature Used Her Crayons

Doesn't spring just simply burst with color?  Some colors are subtle, while others are almost garish.  But put them all together and they are like a painter's palette, ready for the brush.   A pink here, a yellow there and a splash of fuchsia for a jot fun!  It's just like Mother Nature opened her box of crayons and started coloring the landscape.

Being Creative

I've read articles and often heard people on television give advice about finding what you love and pursuing it.  That sounds all well and good, but in the current economy it's hard to do some of the things one might love as a vocation.  So I say, why not just do something just to please yourself?  Don't worry about making money or being successful, think about just making yourself happy with expressing your true inner self.  

Creativity is very important.  It is a bridge to your inner child and can brighten an ordinary or bad day.  Now when I go walking without my camera I think, "Now, why the heck didn't I bring it?"  That could have been a great picture."  Painters and photographers see things with a different view.  When I walk around with my camera I see the interesting in the ordinary.  It makes me feel like I had a special moment.  It also helps me to relive the moment with the picture.  In yoga they often stress being in the moment.  When you capture that moment, you have it forever.  

I try to do that here in my blog, even if I can't work on it every day.    I'm creative in my garden and in my house.  I've been taking pictures for years, but really didn't share many of them.  I don't need to spend much money.  If you visited my home, you would find lots of photos throughout my house of things I find interesting; plants, flowers, animals and places I've visited.  You wouldn't see many pictures of people.  Most people want to pose for pictures.  It's hard to get them to stop.  Sometimes I try to catch them unaware.  I like the realness of life.  Almost everywhere I travel, I find something I want to shoot.  Some of them may be very touristy, but most are not.  People always say of my photos, "That could be a postcard."  That's really nice, but they don't need my photos!

You would be able to tell something about me as well by the books I collect and the music I play.  When it comes to movies however, I am all over the place!  All you would be able to surmise is either I like everything or a can't settle on just a few kinds of movies.  You might go so far as to guess I am a kid at heart because I have a lot of animated films.  I might seem a bit schizophrenic in my tastes!  You regular readers know that I just plain love movies.  I like a few reality shows and I rent some shows I can't watch because they are on cable.   I may have a good idea for a movie or book, but I have a short attention span!  Hey I even play creative games!

When you walk outside my house except in winter of course, you can't possibly miss that someone is a gardener.  Friends come to our house and say, "You don't garden, you GARDEN!"  I sure hope that's a complement from most of them.  I never ask.  It's doesn't really matter anyway does it?  I'm not going to stop if they don't like it!  Actually most people seem to like it.  Whew!  I feel that my garden is more of an expression of my inner vision.  It's not the dream garden in my mind, but it is very pleasing to me.  I get excited when I see things grow and blossom.  Especially some new that wasn't there before, or flowers for the first time as it matures.  That's all that really counts, now isn't it?!  

If you're like me and have a lot of different interests, being creative opens up your world to many possibilities.  Find one thing that engages your interest and try it out.  Make it your hobby and enjoy yourself.  Life is not supposed to be a struggle.  Take time to stop and be creative!

Quote of the Week

"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."  Peter Marshall

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mom's and to those angels who take care of animals and others too.   This is your day as well!  Blessings to all!

Pearls of Fun

                                                Spring snow storm!

My Quotes

              Spring is nature's way of rewarding gardeners for their patience.

I Thought I Saw a Butterfly and a Kitty Cat

I saw a butterfly yesterday.  It was the first one of the season.   It was kind of late in the month for the appearance of the first butterfly.  Normally there would be a few butterflies around early in April, and then a lot more later in the month.  But the weather must have been too cold, wet and gloomy for them this year.  But it was great to finally see a butterfly, which to me represents warm, lazy days.  

The butterfly looked like it was all white and was much larger than the white ones we usually get here.  There's a picture of one the little ones on here somewhere...  It wasn't a moth though, I thought it might be at first.  I only noticed the butterfly from my window because it was so large. I saw something white fluttering around from the corner of my eye, when I was putting dishes away.  That's my favorite part of washing dishes, putting them away clean.  

At first I thought it was a piece of paper blowing in the wind, only there wasn't any wind; for a change I might add!  Then I stopped what I was doing and looked out of the window.  There was one of the biggest butterflies I've ever seen.  I ran down the steps in my hallway and looked out.  Then I got really excited when I saw it better.  So now you're thinking that I must really lead a boring life, huh?  No, actually it was exciting because it was quite large and all white.  I do love butterflies, I'm sure you noticed that.  

I ran to get my camera, which of course I couldn't remember where I left it last.  But it was gone and I didn’t see it again.  As quickly as it came, it was gone just as quickly.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed and the camera nearby so I can run outside to take pictures if I see any white butterflies again.  Or any butterfly at all for that matter.  Then I will have another butterfly in my collection of nature pictures.  I think maybe I should just start wearing the darn camera around my neck.   Have camera will travel and take pictures.   I should wear it to bed , so I can jump up and start taking pictures.  

 

You see my yard is a veritable paradise for birds, insects and squirrels, except for the cats that visit.  I mean it a paradise for the cats too, but not for the birds when the cats visit!  Every day you can hear the birds tittering and singing away one moment and then you hear dead silence and wham, a series of squawks and alarm chirps from all of the birds. You wouldn't think that sparrows and chickadees could get that loud.  We usually have about a hundred around the yard.   Well it SEEMS like a hundred.  Maybe it's more like 25 or 30.  

I don't even have to check now, to see if a cat's in the yard.  I KNOW when a cat is in the yard.  Sometimes you can see a line up of birds on the telephone lines watching the cat and what sounds like them yelling at it to leave.  The cats can't help but be drawn to my yard with all of those yummy little birdie morsels hanging around.  If the birds are nesting they go a little crazy dive bombing the cat that dares to enter their territory.  I'll often shoo it away.  Those birds go nuts screaming at the cat to leave.  It can get really loud.  

If A skunk comes into the yard however, it's all birds for themselves.  I'm not about to get sprayed by a ticked off skunk.  Their presence usually precedes them!  That's a smell that there's no getting used to is there?  

Quote of the Week

     You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.           Jon Kabat-Zinn