SIGHTS THIS WEEK

It almost Halloween. Actually, the stores think that it is Christmas! Have you noticed all the decorations in the stores already? We don't even have time to enjoy one holiday before it gets here.I saw this at the entrance to a property way out in the middle of nowhere. Come to think of it, that could be read "Now Here". Sometimes you don't know where you are going until you get there!
A reminder to slow down and enjoy the ride!

Creativity has no limits. All you need is imagination and viola...a Mandarin orange! (This is at Miller's Honey Farm where he also grows mandarins).

A reminder (at least to me) that man has a hand in all things related to nature and some of them can be permanently disfiguring and detrimental.

And finally...another shoe along the road. The picture says it all!

MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY...

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? This is Phil. Phil is on my route and I visit his garden every-other week. He is an organic farmer and takes me around to show me just how things are doing when I come to check the traps on his property. He chats to me about the coddling moth that is attacking his apple tree. He tells me of the spider mites that are invading his tomato plants and is discouraged because he did not spray them with some sort of oil when he first saw them. I am always amazed at his garden when I am there.Here he is (he removed his straw hat just for the photo) standing in front of his tomato plants. These plants are over 10 feet tall! Amazing! While I am taking some of the photos, he is telling me that he had to plant the tomatoes twice and that the second planting seems to be doing the best but he is worried about the colder nights that we are having. And, he tells me about how he will eat well this Winter when he begins to harvest some of the vegetables.

This is the beginning of his Winter garden. These are beets that are two weeks old. I know this because I was at his garden two weeks prior and he was just preparing the soil. In just two weeks he has an entire bed popping up and thriving. And he has a really unique way to plant the tiny seeds of carrots and beets. He has devised some sort of grid that allows him to evenly space the seeds. He has been doing this for awhile. It is quite evident. Trial and error is always the best teacher.

These are some sort of Asian bean. You can see how long they are! Phil tells me that if they get too big (and thick) they become tough and are not worth eating. I have never seen this variety. I'm sure there are some of you who could even tell me the name of this bean because you have such wonderful gardens yourselves (Bethany: I am thinking about you as I write this.)

These are the same beans but this shows you how he trellises them so that they are easy to pick and that he still has room to walk on his pathway too. Pretty ingenious, I'd say. I'm not sure I would think that far ahead. Phil makes use of every inch of space and has many successions planted so that when one bed of potatoes is being harvested, another is waiting in the "wings".

This cherry tree was something that Phil was particularly proud of. He made me walk all the way to the other end of his garden just so he could show it to me. I'm glad I obliged. I have NEVER seen a trunk that large on a cherry tree. We planted a cherry tree years ago and it is probably just half that size.

This is one really great benefit to my job: being able to meet new people, to hear their "story", to learn and see and do. I try to be as observant as I possible can when I am out and about daily. If I take the time to slow down a bit, I find that something unique always seems to make itself known to me. And, since I have my camera always at the ready, I can capture them as the day progresses.

How does YOUR garden grow?

EARLY MORNING INSPIRATION

It's been a busy week. It seems that we have been running back and forth to Auburn quite a lot lately. Between two retirement parties and work it really makes you assess what you want out of life and where you live.

This photo was taken this week around 6:30 AM. I was on my way to work and the sun had not even peeked up over the hills in the background. But, when I glanced out the window of my car it gave me reason to pause, stop the car and take a photo. The thought that came to mind was "purple mountain majesty", like the song. How lucky I am to wake up each morning in a place that is so beautiful. I have very few neighbors close by, no traffic noise, no dinky little fenced-in backyard, no street lights blaring in the windows at night, no need to even have curtains or drapes (although we choose to for energy efficiency). And, thinking about the retirement party made me realize how fortunate I am to have the FREEDOM to enjoy all this each day!

My job this summer is almost over. Soon, I will have time to sleep in late if I choose to, to go for long walks every day, to ready the yard for next springs garden, to read and sew and paint, to plan for the new baby that will grace us with "its" presence next year...this is retirement TOO (I just don't have the retirement paycheck to go along with the freedom). But, when you think about it, money isn't everything.

NPR had a segment yesterday regarding how rich is "rich". It seems that no matter how much money you make, you will always spend accordingly. So, maybe the key is to do with less. After all, like that old saying goes "you can't take it with you."

I guess what I am trying to get at is that each of us makes a choice each day to live and do exactly what we want. Some of us have chosen to live in neighborhoods with street lights and dinky little backyards with fences. I am not saying that this is wrong. Just not for me. When we have been looking at new homes to buy in the last few months, these are things that we take into consideration. Do we want close neighbors? Do we want lots of land? Could we stand that street light in the cul-de-sac shining into our bedroom window at night? What are the neighbors like? Ultimately, at least for me, it's going to have to be a house that "speaks" to me when I walk in. And who knows? We just might decide to stay put right here. After all: there are just some things that money cannot buy.

I am thinking that this is probably the most difficult time in our lives, as far as trying to figure out what is really important and what is not. Things that never entered our minds before were "does it have stairs" and if so "are their bedrooms located on the main level?" "How much land comes with it" (Do we want lots of yard work the older we get or could we be happy with just a postage-stamp yard with low-maintenance?) Driving time, hospitals, location in regards to our children and grandchildren, access to cultural events---these are all things that start to enter the mind. I guess the only thing is to meditate on it and let things happen in their own time. Things always have a way of working out the way that they were meant to.

SIMPLICITY

"Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon is brightening the bamboo, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things."

------------Okakura Tenshin

MAGPIE TALES

It's life's cruel joke, isn't it?

Just when you think you have plenty of time

the glass gets pinched in the middle,

squeezing, constricting, pinching

the time we think we have.

The remainder of time

fills quickly,

ever so

swiftly,

until

before you know it

you are now at the bottom of

the glass, looking back at the pinched neck

and wondering where all that time you thought you

had, disappeared to. Where did it all go? In the blink of an eye

your children are grown; are married; are having children of their own.

And you? You are at the bottom of the glass, looking up, piled high with sand in

your eyes, trying to dig yourself out for one last moment, one last shot to be at the top.

The saving grace is that each one of those grains of sand are a part of you. They are all with you

at the bottom of the heap, surrounding you with joy, with laughter, with love, and you...?

You wait for

the glass to be turned

over and it

starts

all

over

again!

Visit Magpie Tales for more wonderful posts!

YES, IT'S TRUE!

Yes, I'm going to be a Grandma again! It is the most exciting news to happen in awhile around here. The "stick" confirmed it but then, you're never quite sure about that being accurate, are you! So, an appointment with the doctor and a blood test confirmed it.

April is due around the end of May...coincidentally, that is when her twin sister had her daughter. So, wouldn't that be interesting if April's baby arrived on or near Kimberly's daughter's? After all, they are identical twins who married brothers...what are the odds of the cousins arriving on the same day? Will they really look a lot alike being that both sides are related that way? I'll definitely be interested to see what the official due date is. I guess B and I will be babysitting again. We can't wait. That time just zips by so quickly but it is time that is filled to capacity with love and affection.

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

MY COUSIN'S SON'S VIDEO

My cousin's son, Kyle Buthman, has made a surfing video and you can view it here and vote (along with 9 other videos) for the top choice. I think it is pretty exciting, seeing the talent this young man has with a camera. Some of the shots are in "the tube" of the wave. How he does this, is beyond me! Kyle, along with his family, lives in Santa Cruz, California, and he and his brother have been surfing since they were young. Amazing!

If you'd like to see other videos in the competition you can go to: innersection.tv/video/165. There you will find the Top 10 listed. Some really creative young people if you ask me! And that surfing talent is phenomenal!

WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT?

Did any of you hear about this on NPR today? Now, you can burn an image of Jesus on to your toast in the morning. "Give us this day our daily bread". How do you feel about it? Hate it? Think it's funny? Blasphemous? Would you pay $40 for it? There are other images available too. Hemp, a peace sign (I'd be more apt to buy one of these myself) to name two. What they won't think of next! The one "saving grace" is the fact that if anyone buys it, it might help them to remember the rest of the passage: "and forgive those who trespass against us". AMEN!

TO THE MOON, ALICE!

..."FINDING NEW WAYS TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF OURSELVES ALLOWS US TO PROPEL FORWARD IN THIS QUEST. "... Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

"Your Sacred Self, Your Erroneous Zones"

JUST PEACHIE

JUST WISHING YOU A PEACH OF A DAY

FRESH PEACHES FROM OUR TREE---YUM!

AND OF COURSE, NO MENTION OF PEACHES WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT REMEMBERING MY GOOD FRIEND, LELA. SHE WAS KNOWN AS "PEACHIE" TO MANY (HOW SHE GOT THAT NAME IS ANOTHER STORY NOT MANY ARE PRIVY TO!).

SHE SENT ME THIS CARD ONE YEAR FOR MY BIRTHDAY. THE SENTIMENT SAYS:

"THINK OF YOU OFTEN, HOPE WE CAN GET TOGETHER SOMETIME SOON. HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY. L."

AH---REMEMBERING A GOOD FRIEND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THE PEACHES ARE FRESH AND JUICY, IS JUST "PEACHIE". LOVE AND MISS YOU! SHE WAS THE BEST FRIEND A PERSON COULD HAVE. ALWAYS HONEST, ALWAYS FAITHFUL, ALWAYS TRUTHFUL, ALWAYS GENEROUS. AND A DARN GOOD COOK! SHE MADE A HUGE IMPRESSION ON MY LIFE AND WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, EVEN WHEN I WAS SAD OR DEPRESSED. SHE ALWAYS CAME THROUGH FOR ME. MY LIFE IS SO ENRICHED FOR HAVING KNOWN HER.

AN EMAIL FROM MY DAUGHTER

"Always keep your goals away from the trolls"

My daughter opened her fortune cookie last night and this was the fortune. Have you EVER seen a message like THAT? I have a huge box of fortunes that I have saved throughout the years. (I know...it's one of those things I just can't stop "saving"...my therapist would have a field day if she knew about this one!) I get fortunes like:

• Good news will come to your from far away.
• A simple kindness today will soon bring you unexpected rewards. (yeah, sure!! It just gets ignored.)
• You will soon have the opportunity to improve your finances. (Hopefully so.)
• If you think you can, you can. (I KNOW I CAN!)
• A new relationship is about to blossom. You will be blessed. (Thank you!)
• Beauty in its various forms appeals to you.
• You have a charming way with words and should write a book. (Maybe I will...Rene?)
• You'll accomplish more later if you have a little fun this weekend. (Sounds good to me)
• (and finally:) You will be fortunate in everything you put your hands to.

I like fortunes in cookies. They always seem positive, uplifting, hopeful. They don't always come true, but they do give you something to look forward to. But, "Always keep your goals away from the trolls?" I'm not sure how she should take that fortune. I told her she needs to frame it. That fortune is one-in-a-million!

IF THE SHOE FITS...YOU MIGHT NOT FIND IT

Am I the only one who has noticed this "shoe phenomenon" or have any of you noticed it too? Everywhere I drive, I see stray shoes. Shoes on their sides, shoes left by the side of the road, shoes in the middle of the road, shoes everywhere I go! It sounds like a Dr. Seuss book doesn't it? Red shoes, blue shoes, old shoes, new shoes...

I started documenting these stray shoes with my camera lately. I just can't understand how one shoe goes missing. Does someone throw only one shoe out the window of the car? Is someone mad at someone else and says "there! now you have only one shoe...see how far you can get!". It certainly is strange. Do you think that anyone ever picks up these stray shoes and tries to find the matching one? Or, while driving down the road, someone all of a sudden yells "STOP...there's my other shoe!". I'm perplexed, to say the least, about all these stray shoes. I feel sorry for them that they are discarded, never to be with their mate ever again.

Unless...somewhere, out in space, there is a place where all old shoes go to die. And meet their match. How come you never (hardly ever) see expensive shoes on the road? You never see an Enzo Angiolini shoe on the road. I would be so sad if I walked upstairs right now, looked in my closet, opened up my shoe case and one of my Enzo's was missing! That old tennis shoe??? It wouldn't bother me all that much. But I'd sure wonder what road I might find it on some day, when I least expected to see it, waiting to be picked up and taken to Planet Shoe.

TEARING DOWN FENCES

Yesterday, I was made aware of a website that is, to say the least, disturbing. It is called "Dove World Outreach Center" which in itself sounds wonderful and innocuous. But, take a closer look and there is a blog there titled "Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran". I was shocked, to say the least. It begins: "On 9/11/10 we are burning Korans to raise awareness and warn." They list ten reasons why "Islam is a danger".

I don't usually talk about religions here or try to push my beliefs on others, but it is worth a look at this site to see how the other side thinks and believes. It is truly a sad thing, disguising hatred in this way.

It is just by coincidence that I also picked up a book by Eckhart Tolle titled "A New Earth--Awakening to Your Life's Purpose". He states in there this: "Many "religious" people are stuck at [that] level. They equate truth with thought, and as they are completely identified with thought (their mind), they claim to be in sole possession of the truth in an unconscious attempt to protect their identity. They don't realize the limitations of thought. Unless you believe (think) exactly as they do, you are wrong in their eyes, and in the not-too-distant past, they would have felt justified in killing you for that. And some still do, even now." (page 17----First Plume Printing, September 2006)

I, by no stretch of the imagination, claim to have the right answers about anything that has to do with faith. But, I don't think that we will get anywhere as human beings by building fences, not tearing them down. We need to be tolerant of each other's choices, of each other's religions. I see this as not being enlightened or even evolving toward enlightenment. The dove is a symbol of The Holy Spirit in Christianity. I can find nothing in an article like this that speaks to enlightenment. This website flies in the face of what the great messengers (Buddha, Jesus, others) were trying to convey. They spoke of transformation. This website distorts and does not transform human behavior. It steps backwards in time, espousing hatred.

MEDITATION PRACTICE

For the past five weeks I have been taking a meditation class every Thursday night from 7-9 PM. It has been a wonderful opportunity to open my mind to the possibilities that exist and for a chance to become centered and relaxed. I have noticed that I am having less trouble falling asleep at night since practicing.

This tree shows the many types of practices that are available for everyone to choose from. Some people do more than one of these. Some of these I never considered "meditation" but since taking this class it has opened up my mind to the possibility that MANY things we do on a daily basis can be lumped into the category of meditation.

Activist Practices include working and volunteering.-- Stillness Practices include sitting in the silence. (This is the type we have been practicing on Thursdays.)-- Relational Practices include dialogue and deep listening. Did you ever consider this meditation? Do you know someone who could benefit from doing this type of meditation? I sure do. (including myself) --Another type is Contemplative Practice and art and journaling are part of this.-- Some people have started doing labyrinth walking. Here in our area there was just an article in the Auburn Journal regarding a new labyrinth that had been installed and is now being used. Walking meditation is also popular. Many people I follow daily do some sort of walking meditation. I'm sure you can think of many people who walk streams, rivers, creeks, woods, etc. picking up stones, thinking and generally clearing their minds. These are all part of Movement Practice.

Today, I spent the morning pulling weeds in the garden that has been established at the Independent Home Study Program where one of my daughters works. The garden had been neglected all summer so the weeds were thick and had taken over most of the raised beds. It was pretty darned hot out there too. But, I believe in service (Activist Practice) so I volunteered to do this and feel good that I accomplished what I did today. I, in no way, finished the entire garden. That would take either more people or more hours but I wouldn't mind going back another day to help complete the task.

Think of ways to help others and I'm sure that you will also see that it benefits you immensely. It is all part of meditating, growing, becoming a better individual in this lifetime, and generally just feeling darn good; about yourself AND others. It doesn't leave much room for hatred and jealousy. It does open your heart up. Give it a try. Most of you might already be doing meditation and never even knew it.

For more information about this you can go to the website listed above or: www.contemplativemind.org

FEAR OF...SPIDERS?

Last week, when I arrived to service my trap, there were these BIG spider webs all over the bushes. They were really stiff webs, like the kind that black widow spiders weave.

Here, you can see my trap at the top of the photo, directly BEHIND the web with TWO spiders poised directly in the middle.

Here's a close-up of the spiders. I don't think they were dangerous. They didn't attack me. They just ran away when I had to gently move part of their web aside to service my trap. We existed in the same space without having to kill each other. Too bad some countries couldn't take a lesson from this. Exist despite our differences. Exist despite our different goals in life. Exist despite what we claim as "our own space". A peaceful existence is possible. There is room for all of us.