7 year old witch

I have not been abducted by aliens

2010-12-21T15:04:00.001-05:00

It's true - I'm still on lovely Planet Earth. I'm not sure why I decided I needed a break from blogging, but I did and still do. I'm in the middle of remodeling my new apartment and it's taking a bit longer than anticipated. I hope to be in my new digs in January, complete with a new kitchen! Yay! Speaking of new digs, I've just started setting up a new blog, which you can find here. I'm

A new man in town

2010-09-03T13:12:00.002-04:00

Steamy, hot, sultryA new man in town ~ he says:Hi, my name is Earl. Once upon a time, there was a quiet little village in the French countryside, whose people believed in Tranquilité - Tranquility. If you lived in this village, you understood what was expected of you. You knew your place in the scheme of things. And if you happened to forget, someone would help remind you. In this village,

Haiku my Heart Friday

2010-08-27T08:39:00.001-04:00

'Fridge nearly emptyPasta, shrimp, garlic, white wineDinner last evening Yes, it was true - the 'fridge was nearly empty last night, but I managed to eat well! Amazing how a few ingredients can make such a great meal. Add a little fresh basil, lemon and some Grana Padada cheese and it was sublime. Happy Haiku my Heart Friday! For more delicious offerings, head on over to Rebecca's place

Cat lover extraordinaire

2010-08-22T11:07:00.000-04:00

Since this is the last day of Leo, I thought that this video would be appropriate. The relationship that this man has with lions and other big cats is truly amazing and inspirational. I believe that the more we strengthen our bond with the natural world, the more human - and humane - we will become. The video will probably view better over at You Tube than here. Happy Birthday to all Leos!!

Haiku my Heart Friday

2010-08-19T23:11:00.001-04:00

" butterfly dancing,dainty feet tickle flowers....caterpillar dreams. I remember reading "Illusions" by Richard Bach so many years ago...one of the passages he wrote went something like this: "The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls the butterfly." I also recall the Gary Larson cartoon

Haiku my Heart Friday

2010-08-12T19:51:00.006-04:00

Pretty green parrot ~White eye looks into your soul.Her sharp beak draws blood. Ah, Millie - she is a Maximillian Pionus parrot who is sweet sixteen - we've been together since she was 4, when her owner decided to give her up for a dog. Now, I had 2 dogs at the time and couldn't bear the thought of her going to a place she didn't know - or worse, a place she didn't survive. So, she came to

Ruby Tuesday - again!

2010-08-09T19:48:00.004-04:00

Yum!! Strawberries and blackberries with vinegar....Balsamic Vinegar! Delicious! I thought it sounded quite horrible when I first saw The Barefoot Contessa make it - but, I was brave and decided to try it a few weeks ago. O. M. G. Was it delicious!! I bought some organically grown strawberries and blackberries the other day and decided to do both of them with the Balsamic Vinegar....it

Dogs, Dolphins and Love

2010-08-08T12:34:00.000-04:00

What could be better? Not much for me! This video is best watched over at You Tube rather than the small screen here. Forget that the language isn't English and that the video runs 11 minutes - just enjoy the story and the photography. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Oh - I needed a couple of tissues while watching...just a warning!

Haiku my Heart Friday

2010-08-06T11:40:00.002-04:00

Sultry steam bathing,cool dressing on exposed flesh ~Potato Salad! I have no idea why I cannot write a serious haiku! All that goes through my little brain on Thursday evening or Friday morning is silly stuff for haiku - today it's potato salad, because I made some yesterday and just had a small bite of it. The haiku demanded to be exposed! My recipe is simple and delicious - at least, I

Haiku my Heart Friday

2010-07-30T08:18:00.004-04:00

Biting the appleNew knowledge flooding through me...iPhone is way cool! I've been preoccupied with my new iPhone and MacBook - so much so that I feel like I'm in computer class most of the time! I'm sure this obsession will pass and I'll be back to some sort of routine that isn't geared around these sorts of Apples! Happy Haiku my Heart Friday!! For more offerings, head on over to Rebecca's

Lullaby for a Mouse

2010-07-29T15:25:00.002-04:00

Love comes however She wants, whenever She wants. A very sweet YouTube for a special love. This is what was written about this little guy: Zeus, our beloved Duirmouse, May 12, 2009 - June 20, 2010. Abandoned by his mouse mommy at one day old, he crawled out from under our washing machine and lived, despite the odds. I fed him every two hours and took to carrying him in my pocket or in my

Hummingbird don't fly away....

2010-07-23T13:57:00.001-04:00

Someone sent this to me in today's mail. It is a short You Tube video of the Nature program on Hummingbirds and it is astonishing in its photography. Scenes were shot in high definition, so if your computer has high def, you are in for a treat! It is worth the 9+ minutes to view these incredible birds. I know Abi loves hummers and so does Inanna - hoping you both enjoy this! You might want

Haiku My Heart Friday

2010-07-22T19:56:00.003-04:00

Morning symphony...Robin, Cardinal ~ then, Jay.Mockingbird solo! These birds are just amazing! There is one who sits on the antenna across the street and sings. SINGS! At just about 4 pm daily - every song. The entire repertoire. So beautiful. So amazing. How can this be improved? It's Haiku My Heart Friday - again! I hope it is a great one for all of you! To see more offerings of

Happy Ruby Tuesday!

2010-07-19T19:50:00.000-04:00

Aren't they both adorable? Neighbors from the old 'hood - both he and his wife took in baby squirrels and raised them until they were ready to be released into the wild. This little guy is named Joe - the other one (they actually had the courage to raise 2 of them!!) was named Ross. Both boys wreaked havoc in the house at times and, at others, charmed everyone. Including me! I didn't run

Haiku My Heart Friday

2010-07-15T20:09:00.007-04:00

Sweet Gardenia ~Foregoing the holiday...Billie sang the blues. I just got my computer back from the Apple store and I can't find the downloads file for the Haiku my Heart icon....sigh. This is what it is this evening...I'll try again in the morning and see if I can figure out what is going on. Been gone for too long... To see more haiku, go on over to Rebecca's place and savor the

Haiku My Heart Friday

2010-07-08T15:15:00.000-04:00

This image made me laugh because I tend to read words backwards just to see if they spell something different. I blame it on my mother as she used to do that. For example, Dunkin' Donuts became Stunod Niknuds in her world. One of my pastimes when riding the bus in NJ prior to moving to California was to pick the longest word on any advertisement and see how many words I could find in that

Luminous Tease

2010-07-07T09:15:00.001-04:00

LUMINOUS TEASE Change yourself in the way you want everyone else to change Love your enemies in case your friends turn out to be jerks Avoid thinking about winning the lottery while making love Brainwash yourself before someone nasty beats you to it Confess big secrets to people who aren't very interested Write a love letter to your evil twin during a lunar eclipse Fool the tricky red beasts

See you in a bit! With an update...

2010-07-03T08:47:00.002-04:00

This is Lilith, my new computer. She's a MacBook Pro that I bought in March of this year and she's having some issues. So we're off to the Apple store for a morning appointment to see what is wrong with her. I'm also taking Evie, my first Mac, an IMac, in to have the information transferred over to Lilith - it will take a few days, I'm told, so we won't be around until Monday - I hope it's

Haiku My Heart Friday

2010-07-02T09:14:00.000-04:00

Black and white streaks byLeaps, pounces, growls, spins, then barks"Throw it again, Mom" More haiku offerings can be found at Rebecca's place - go visit!

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T10:30:00.000-04:00

I spent 3 glorious summers in Nova Scotia as a teen in the '60s and just adored it. It was my first trip out of the country by myself, going to an all girls camp for the entire summer. I really fell in love with Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy, whose tides came in like a speeding locomotive through the cove. I remember rushing across that cove, mud squishing beneath my feet, in order to get

Garden dance

2010-06-30T08:43:00.000-04:00

URBAN SOLACE IX Garden Night —Mitz Sackman, Murphys She looks out the kitchen window Her small garden a picture of stillness In the fading light She has worked hard this summer Planting and harvesting Been abundantly rewarded by fresh food and herbs She reflects on the turning of the year Solstice but a distant memory The cross quarter day approaches Her garden dance of thankfulness is due She

It's Ruby Tuesday!

2010-06-28T15:18:00.000-04:00

A blast from the past. We're under a severe thunderstorm watch right now - it's hot, humid, the breeze is picking up. It is the PERFECT day for some lime mango sorbet! Lime Mango Sorbet Ingredients: 1 cup sugar1 cup waterZest of 1 lime (or more to taste) 3 ripe mangoes, about 2 1/2 lbs.1/2 cup lime juicePinch of salt3 Tbs. tequila Method: Heat sugar, water and lime zest in a small saucepan

Lunar Eclipse

2010-06-26T10:25:00.001-04:00

THE MOON CIRCLE —Joyce Odam, Sacramento (based on “Maiden Moon” etching by Elaine B. Rothwell) Death is dancing with the maiden in the moonlight. He has made a ring of light for them to dance in. She lifts the hoop of light and dances away from him. He is left standing in the circle where he is powerless to follow. She has stolen the power of his intention with her refusal, and

Haiku My Heart Friday

2010-06-25T08:17:00.003-04:00

Muchos besos meansrolling in the hay somewhereA loose translation. More haiku offerings can be found here.Image is Klimt's The Kiss.

Swimming lessons

2010-06-23T14:32:00.003-04:00

I love otters. They are so funny and endearing with, it seems, endless amounts of energy to PLAY! Someone sent me a link to this video and it is just adorable. Watch Mom give swimming lessons to the baby, whether it wants them or not! Notice how Mom grabs that back leg as if to say, "Oh not you don't buster! Get back in this water right now!" (You might enjoy the video better by viewing

It's Ruby Tuesday!

2010-06-22T08:22:00.000-04:00

I have become a real fan of grilled vegetables - these were some that I made the other evening: red and yellow peppers, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, red onion. Cut them up, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle some kosher salt and ground black pepper. Heat the grill pan to screaming hot and throw on those vegetables - grill them separately and then toss them together in a bowl when

Happy Summer Solstice!

2010-06-21T08:36:00.005-04:00

Summer night -even the starsare whispering to each other. ~Kobayashi Issa~ Image from Photobucket John Waterhouse's "Midsummer Night"

Nothing better than a baby laughing and playing with a dog!

2010-06-18T10:48:00.000-04:00

Message to Tony Hayward...

2010-06-16T12:38:00.000-04:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Ruby Tuesday - for 15 June 2010

2010-06-14T10:21:00.005-04:00

I love tomato sauce. It's one of my comfort foods, in all kinds of weather. But, I have different variations for this sauce depending on the weather: it's slightly richer and more robust in the cooler weather and lighter in the warmer weather.The recipe is easy and doesn't take all day. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago when the weather was warm. The ingredients were: one whole

SOS

2010-06-13T12:08:00.000-04:00

Most of you know about my reactions to the Gull Oil disaster - horror, rage, crying jags. It is a difficult thing for me to deal with because I feel this so viscerally. I read a lot of blogs daily, more than a few of a political nature. Today, over at The Confluence, a commenter wrote the following with respects to the oil kill. She had posted a video that had a phone conversation with

Because I need something other than the horror of The Gulf

2010-06-11T11:46:00.026-04:00

Salutation to the Dawn Look to this day! For it is life, the very life of life, In its brief course Lie all the verities and realities of your existence The bliss of growth The glory of action The splendor of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream And tomorrow is only a vision, But today well lived makes every yesterday A dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well,

Sorcerer's apprentice?

2010-06-09T11:31:00.000-04:00

We have been massively intervening in the environment... Like the sorcerer's apprenctice, we are acting upon dangerously incomplete knowledge. We are, in effect, conducting a huge experiment on ourselves. ~Barry Commoner~ Images from PhotobucketQuote found over at Medusa's placeYesterday, 8 June, was World Oceans Day

Ruby Tuesday 8 June 2010

2010-06-07T15:29:00.001-04:00

It was incredibly hot and humid in NJ yesterday - it had been that way for the entire week. Nothing is more cooling to me that a good fruit salad on those kinds of days and yesterday was no exception. This fruit salad is made of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, papaya, cherries and watermelon. Normally, I add several kinds of mint, but since I don't have a garden at the moment (boohoo!

A scene of green

2010-06-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

MIDSUMMER A green world, a scene of green, deepwith light blues, the greens made deepby those blues. One thinks howin certain pictures, envied landscapes are seen(through a window maybe) far behind the serenesitter's face, the serene pose, as thoughin some impossible mirror, face to back,human serenity gazed at a green worldwhich gazed at this face. And see how,here is that place, those

Visualizing the BP Oil Disaster

2010-06-04T11:23:00.002-04:00

I lived in this area for 30 years and loved it. I'm now in New Jersey and looking at returning the place that has my heart, the Bay Area of San Francisco. Why did I put the map of "my" soul home? Because I think of what would happen if such a disaster like the Gulf Oil Kill struck. If you click on the link below, you can see exactly how large of an area would be affected if this kind of

Good advice...

2010-06-03T09:20:00.009-04:00

Never let go the reins of the wild colt of the heart. —Japanese Buddhist proverb Image from PhotobucketProverb found over at Medusa's place

It's Ruby Tuesday - again!

2010-06-01T07:45:00.000-04:00

It is so humid this morning and I am hoping that the forecasted thunderstorms arrive soon to cool things down! Happy Ruby Tuesday, everyone! You can find more offerings of Ruby Tuesday here.

From prehistoric mists...

2010-05-27T09:27:00.000-04:00

Dragonflies Dragonflies from prehistoric mists,flying around long before the ice ages, above shallow waterin the shade of gigantic trees – their clear blue wings fluttering,growing deeper, slower, rays still shining on them -such fragile wings, a thousand years old,vibrating, like rainbow drops,in the primeval wind – there were no birds is yet,just the shade of branches, ferns rustling, just,

It's Ruby Tuesday - again!

2010-05-24T21:01:00.002-04:00

Ah, red peppers. And Ruby Tuesday. It's what's for dinner! We had Sea Scallops, done on the stove top grill. With some grilled onions, red peppers, orange peppers, crimini mushrooms - and garlic toast. YUM. It was delicious. Simple. And good. Really good! Happy Ruby Tuesday, everyone!!

Don't worry, spiders...

2010-05-24T14:04:00.001-04:00

Don't worry, spiders,I keep housecasually. ~Kobayashi Issa~

Cleanliness is....

2010-05-23T12:13:00.000-04:00

...next to Dogliness!! Kylie at the groomer and happy to be just about finished!

Winning - Losing

2010-05-22T11:36:00.000-04:00

Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change. –Ralph Waldo EmersonThese opposites have more in common than we might expect. Learning how to win or lose with grace is another way to define how to live and grow with maturity. Richard Bach summed it up when he said: “That’s what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we’ve changed

To the Gulf with Love

2010-05-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

The Gulf tragedy has me so upset - tearful at times, furious at others - and it is always painful. I'm embedding this video about Havasu Canyon in Arizona. It is a beautiful place and the water is clear and clean. I offer it as a prayer for the Water and Her creatures in the Gulf and the shores that She touches. May the purity of these waters help in cleansing those of the Gulf - may my

On her own terms

2010-05-19T11:25:00.001-04:00

No Hothouse Rose No hothouse roseIs SheNo even coloror clipped thornsNo controlled bloomcan She be She is a wild rosefound growing in the brambleRich in color -Fragrant and FreeA rare findOn her own terms ~Raymond A. Foss~

It's Ruby Tuesday - again!

2010-05-17T20:30:00.001-04:00

I'm a bit early for Ruby Tuesday, but tomorrow is grooming day for Kylie and I'll be leaving the house earlier than I usually post. So - Happy Ruby Tuesday!! This is part of a mandala I made when taking an online course with Patricia Ariel about Astrology and the Mandala. I enjoyed it so much. And learned more about myself - this image was made for my Ascendent, or Rising Sign, Leo.

What is born with me

2010-05-17T09:14:00.000-04:00

I saw this poem over at Medusa's place yesterday and was just stunned by it. I had not read it before. ******* WHAT IS BORN WITH ME—Pablo Neruda I sing to the grass that is born with mein this free moment, to the fermentationsof cheese, of vinegar, to the secretspurt of the first semen, I singto the song of milk which now comesin rising whiteness to the nipples,I sing to the fertility of the

Bronte Sisters Tribute

2010-05-16T10:13:00.000-04:00

Revisioning the history of these wonderful sisters! Happy laugh filled Sunday!

Tao Te Ching - another translation

2010-05-14T11:26:00.019-04:00

I cannot believe I lost that entire post! I went in to make a slight correction to give Photobucket the credit for the image and, poof! Everything disappeared! Arghhhh! Let's see if I can remember what I wrote - something about having a few translations of the Tao Te Ching and loving all of them; then remarking on Ron Hogan's translation, which you can find here. Then I think I posted a

New Moon in your astrological chart

2010-05-13T11:03:00.000-04:00

I found this interesting. You can read the rest of her article here. Where is the New Moon in my chart? Look up your Sun's sign and Ascendant's sign to see where the New Moon is starting a brand new chapter in your life. Take time in the next few days to start a project in that area of your life or review the life changes that started in that house in May/ June of 2000. A new cycle begins

Ruby Tuesday

2010-05-11T13:36:00.002-04:00

"As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin." — Pablo Neruda It's Ruby Tuesday over at Work of the Poet. Go see who's participating!

Feliz El Dia de las Madres!

2010-05-10T09:43:00.000-04:00

Today is Mother's Day in Mexico - it is always on 10 May. This article came from the Mex Connect website, which is filled with all sorts of information about Mexico. **** What a special and grand celebration Mothers Day in this beautiful country called Mexico! The beach, restaurants and streets are overflowing with families celebrating Mothers Day. The local stores area packed with colourful

Mother's Day Proclamation

2010-05-09T09:52:00.001-04:00

Arise, then, women of this day!Arise, all women who have hearts,Whether our baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly:"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearnAll that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.We, the

Happy Saturday!

2010-05-08T09:30:00.002-04:00

This made me laugh and wish that I had been there to watch the faces!!

I am just stunned...

2010-05-07T09:09:00.001-04:00

I'm sorry - I just heard about this and am simply stunned that doctors in this country are even thinking about "nicking" female children. Read it and weep. And take action through the Equality Now website, if you are so inclined. Dakinikat also weighs in on this atrocious procedure. **** Letter from Equality Now to the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding its policy on FGM Errol R.

Kitka - A Women's Vocal Group

2010-05-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

Sagewoman posted a link to an exhibit in NY on their FaceBook site and the link featured the music by the group, Kitka. I actually have one of their CDs and haven't listened to it in years, since I left California. The group, from the Bay Area, sings the songs of Eastern Europe, which I find hauntingly beautiful at times. I found one of their YouTubes which, I think, is a nice introduction to

Charter for Compassion

2010-05-05T10:47:00.004-04:00

Rebecca had this over at her place - I thought it bore repeating - not only for humans, but for all living creatures...you can add your name to the charter by clicking here. (Viewed much better on You Tube than here - double click to get to You Tube)

Qigong, LomiLomi massage and relaxing Hawai'ian music

2010-05-04T11:35:00.001-04:00

I could go for this right now. Seriously. I just ordered a DVD entitled The Spirit of Qigong. I should receive it this week and am looking forward to viewing and working with the routines. Since being in a temporary abode and not having the woods to walk, I need some kind of physical exercise. I've been enamored with Tai Chi since 1985 when I took my first class. I have not been able to

For the women in Oklahoma and everywhere

2010-05-02T11:27:00.003-04:00

Rarely do I post anything of a political nature on this blog - it's my "happy place" and politics often put me into an unhappy place. However, that being said, I want to post this OpEd that was in a Florida paper. It is poignant. To have a woman subjected to this sort of obscenity is criminal and perverse. The men who are initiating this sort of war on women need to be shipped to another

The May Queen

2010-05-01T08:47:00.002-04:00

You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear;To-morrow ’ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest merriest day,For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.There’s many a black, black eye, they say, but none so bright as mine;There’s Margaret and Mary, there’s Kate and Caroline;But none so fair as little

Numen - the healing power of plants and the natural world

2010-04-30T09:54:00.001-04:00

This was posted on my Face Book account by the Mt. Rose Herb folks. The trailer is 10 minutes long, and after viewing it, I promptly ordered my own copy of it. I hope you enjoy it and find it as fascinating as I did.

For Dakota and his mom

2010-04-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

THE FRUIT FELL RIPELY DOWN Fox-childof the old pretendI knowwhere you gowhen the moonlightbendsin the treesand the trees come alivein the night.I followed youagainand sawold brancheslift and gesturein a winter-dancein that forgottenorchard. Fox-child,your sly smilelit the darkwhere no life grievesand the musicclappedits broken-fingeredleavesand you, an acrobat,gamboledin such a

Lilith, Eve, May Queen and Beltane musings....

2010-04-27T10:38:00.012-04:00

Ah, Beltane. I love this holiday as much as I love Samhain. And I LOVE Samhain. It doesn't surprise me that these 2 holidays are opposite each other for one begets the other. Life begets Death and Death begets new Life. And with Life, there must be sex. Beltane celebrates sex and the Life that comes from it. Sex. One of the great mysteries: so celebrated, so despised; so revered, so

Trust + Friendship = Fun!

2010-04-24T11:43:00.002-04:00

Kindness

2010-04-23T09:39:00.004-04:00

Kindness Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate the landscape can be between the regions of kindness. How you ride and ride thinking the bus will never stop, the passengers eating maize and chicken

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-22T10:15:00.008-04:00

My roots are in the Earth. My roots are of the Earth. I see Her Beauty Reflected all around me. I dance Her spiral dance with Her through the starry fields She calls home. Who needs a space ship when we're already on one having the ride of our lives? Happy Earth Day, everyone! It's a beautiful day here in NJ - we had a good thunderstorm last evening which seems to have cleansed

Earth Day Eve...

2010-04-21T10:01:00.002-04:00

The world's great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn; Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam Like wrecks of a dissolving dream. ~Percy Bysshe Shelley~from his poem Hellas

Happy Monday!

2010-04-19T11:15:00.002-04:00

Trout Lily

2010-04-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

It happened that I couldn’t find in all my booksmore than a picture and a few words concerningthe trout lily, so I shut my eyes.And let the darkness come inand roll me back.The old creek began to sing in my earsas it rolled along, like the hair of spring,and the young girl I used to be heard it also, as she came swinging into the woods,truant from everything as usualexcept the clear globe of

Shrine Auction starts tomorrow, 17 April 2010

2010-04-16T13:26:00.000-04:00

Rebecca has the information on the Shrine Auction to benefit the Oaxaca Street Children's Grassroots organization. In order to bid, you'll need to register and then create your profile. I've got my eye on 2 in particular and hope I win the bidding competition! Here is a little information about the Oaxaca Street Children's history. You can find more information at their website, here.

In the dream...

2010-04-15T07:39:00.003-04:00

IN THE DREAM… I was in the hospitalsomething to dowith my heart,probably broken again,it happens a lot... That’s when you came in,but you weren’t you,you were something else,a rabbit,not a huge one,but a big one,maybe three feet long. You had this white fur,with caramel colored patches,lovely.The inside of your earswere very pink,soft,your nose too. You cuddled beside me,under my arm,your

April flowers bring...

2010-04-14T09:53:00.004-04:00

Although this dandelion is a beauty, my favorite flower is the gardenia - what's yours? "Flowers are known around the world to symbolize love, friendship, compassion, and celebration. Flowers are a part of our every day - they enliven our homes with their beauty and fragrance, grace our gardens with color and creativity, delight us, seduce us, and remind us of the beautiful, transitory life we

Song of the Flower

2010-04-13T08:53:00.002-04:00

Song of the Flower I am a kind word uttered and repeatedBy the voice of Nature;I am a star fallen from theBlue tent upon the green carpet.I am the daughter of the elementsWith whom Winter conceived;To whom Spring gave birth; I wasReared in the lap of Summer and ISlept in the bed of Autumn. At dawn I unite with the breezeTo announce the coming of light;At eventide I join the birdsIn bidding the

Sunday at 105

2010-04-09T10:46:00.000-04:00

This film is worth every minute of the 13 or so minutes it runs. Listen to her wit and wisdom...and definitely enjoy her!

The Laughter of Women

2010-04-08T09:35:00.000-04:00

The Laughter Of Women The laughter of women sets fireto the Halls of Injusticeand the false evidence burnsto a beautiful white lightness It rattles the Chambers of Congressand forces the windows wide openso the fatuous speeches can fly out The laughter of women wipes the mistfrom the spectacles of the old;it infects them with a happy fluand they laugh as if they were young again Prisoners held

I heard the crocus laughing

2010-04-07T09:52:00.002-04:00

First Crocus This morning, flowers cracked openthe earth’s brown shell. Springleaves spilled everywherethough winter’s stern handcould come down again at any momentto break the delicate yolkof a new bloom. The crocus don’t see this as they chatterbeneath a cheerful petal of spring sky.They ignore the air’s brisk armas they peer at their fresh stems, stepon the leftover fragmentsof old leaves.

Ode to Olive Oil

2010-04-06T08:14:00.002-04:00

I love olive oil. Really. I do. I use it almost exclusively when cooking. I tend to use the Kalamata oil, but will use anything which has that deep, rich flavor - and I like it when the color is green, not yellow. I also love the poetry of Pablo Neruda who wrote his odes about everyday things. Olive Oil was no exception. Oda al Aceitepor Pablo Neruda Cerca del rumoroso Cereal, de las

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!!

2010-04-04T09:13:00.001-04:00

My very Catholic Auntie Anne always sent me an Easter card which stated Happy Easter, Happy Spring; she never sent me a religious card. She always included the secular world in her beliefs, something I appreciated. And all of her devotions were to Mary, leading me to believe that she had a secret broom closet in her home that she showed no one! She's been gone 5 years this May and, every

Morning has broken...

2010-04-02T08:37:00.002-04:00

School Prayer In the name of the daybreakand the eyelids of morningand the wayfaring moonand the night when it departs, I swear I will not dishonormy soul with hatred,but offer myself humblyas a guardian of nature,as a healer of misery,as a messenger of wonder,as an architect of peace. In the name of the sun and its mirrorsand the day that embraces itand the cloud veils drawn over itand the

It's April Fool's Day!!

2010-04-01T09:14:00.000-04:00

A few ways this day is celebrated around the world and why it's good to laugh! Iranians play jokes on each other on the 13th day of the Persian new year (Norouz), which falls on April 1 or April 2. This day, celebrated as far back as 536 BC, is called Sizdah Bedar and is the oldest prank-tradition in the world still alive today; this fact has led many to believe that April Fools' Day has its

A Healing and Rejuvenating Yoga Pose

2010-03-30T09:10:00.008-04:00

The Care2 folks had this article up and I'm going to do it for the month of April - no fooling! Click on the link to view the article in a better way than it transfers on Blogger. I have done Yoga in the past, but the only thing I really loved was the Sun Salute. When I discovered Tai Chi, it had the "this is what you are looking for and need" feeling about it. I want to get back to that

And, now for a little afternoon laugh!!

2010-03-29T14:03:00.000-04:00

Earth my body, Earth my soul

2010-03-29T09:37:00.002-04:00

This poem was posted over at Medusa's place - I just love it. The destruction and desecration of our Earth is our own self destruction, our own desecration of all that is holy within ourselves. "Saving the Earth" is really about saving ourselves from annihilation as a species. There is such Beauty here for us to realize that what we behold is what we are... SPIRIT OF LOVE —Barbara Deming

A Sweet Whisper

2010-03-28T11:17:00.014-04:00

A SWEET WHISPER —D.R. Wagner A sweet whisper clipping the tops of waves. The humidity changing the colors to pastels, Opening my eyes in already late morning. I can hear the birds arguing in the palm Trees. It seems they have important things To do. They abandon the yard. I am working over the lyrics to a song I can barely remember. It says that heartbreak Can be overcome if one

Observations of Spring

2010-03-27T11:01:00.003-04:00

Wild Cherry Blossom Fairy, Cicely Mary Barker It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. ~Rainer Maria RilkeLetters of Rainer Maria Rilke

This means something...

2010-03-26T08:48:00.008-04:00

My friend, Shelly, posted this on Face Book yesterday. I found it amazing, hypnotic and kept thinking, "This means something." Like Richard Dreyfus did in Close Encounters when he was mounding up those mashed potatoes. I am not fluent in the language of mathematics, but after watching this, I wondered how difficult it would be to grasp some understanding of it. Watching it on YouTube is

Longing for the warmth of Summer

2010-03-25T08:31:00.002-04:00

Daisies It is possible, I suppose that sometime we will learn everything there is to learn: what the world is, for example, and what it means. I think this as I am crossing from one field to another, in summer, and the mockingbird is mocking me, as one who either knows enough already or knows enough to be perfectly content not knowing. Song being born of quest he knows this: he must turn silent

You taste delicious

2010-03-24T10:58:00.003-04:00

From the fertile mind of Rob Brezsny comes this: YOU TASTE DELICIOUS You taste delicious Animals understand you Your importance is unusual The funny faces you make are interesting to look at You fight for power in all the right ways Ecstatic gratitude is pouring out of you I see the best in you Your divine attitude You have strong feet and a pioneer heart No one can overflow as well as you

Out of the mouths of babes....

2010-03-23T08:45:00.007-04:00

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. Doublejointedfinger's 13 year old grandson said this...

Note to self

2010-03-22T13:04:00.000-04:00

I have a new laptop and need to have the data from my old Mac transferred over to this one - which means, I have no access to my photos at the moment. Hoping the transfer will be done this week. In the meantime, here's a quote from Leo that I like.

Spring morning musings

2010-03-21T09:09:00.000-04:00

If you are not a regular reader of Recuerda mi Corazon, Rebecca's post from yesterday is sure to convert you. I found it funny, poignant and wise - and perfect for experiencing Spring in a new way. Just as Spring Herself experiences Her seasonal Self in a unique and new way. I love Sunday mornings - today, the Sun is shining through the window as I type this and the coffee tastes especially

Happy Spring, Happy Equinox

2010-03-20T08:20:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful morning in New Jersey and a perfect time to resume blogging. I've missed the blog world and my friends there over the past few months and hope to renew acquaintances in the new Spring season. The video is from The Silk Road Dance Company. Laurel Victoria Gray and her dancers are simply fabulous. I had the chance to see them in San Francisco and even help model some of her

May I Suggest....

2010-02-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

A friend from California just sent me the MP3 of this very moving song. This You Tube shows the composer, Susan Werner, along with Red Molly singing a very beautiful acapella version. Thanks, MA! I'll be in touch....

The correct method of weighing yourself

2010-02-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

Mavericks Surf Contest - Half Moon Bay, California

2010-02-15T13:28:00.002-05:00

This picture was taken at one of the Mavericks Surf Contest on the San Mateo coast of California. They are not held every year, but only when the waves are humongous. Apparently, on Saturday (13th February), they were especially large. There was a rogue wave that crashed into the spectators injuring a few of them. SF Gate has some spectacular pictures of the surf competitors along with

I am an emotional creature - Eve Ensler speaks

2010-02-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

Definitely powerful.

How to cuddle with an Elephant Seal

2010-02-11T15:44:00.002-05:00

When I lived in California, i used to go to Ano Nuevo to see the baby elephant seals - they are just adorable. Ano Nuevo would not let people get this close and kept us on a roped off trail around the nursery. I did get to see a young bull up close and personal as he lay basking in the sun on the beach away from the nursery. We were warned by the Park people to stay far enough away so as not

Scenes from our snow storm

2010-02-10T13:54:00.001-05:00

Kylie California coastal redwood - in New Jersey! White pine I had some problems getting the other pictures to load properly - that is, they simply want to be on their side! If you would like to see the other snow pics, please check my Flickr account here.

Wild Comfort

2010-02-03T15:21:00.002-05:00

May the light that reflects on water be this wild prayer. May water lift us with its unexpected strength. May we find comfort in the “repeated refrains of nature,” the softly sheeting snow, the changing seasons, the return of blackbirds to the marsh. May we find strength in light that pours in under snow and laughter that breaks through tears. May we go out into the light-filled snow, among

Haiti

2010-01-13T10:14:00.001-05:00

What an horrific tragedy in Haiti. I feel so badly for the people there. If any of you are donating to charities to help the Haitians, please check out Charity Watch in order to avoid the scammers who usually come out of the woodwork during emergencies like this.