What did you think when you saw each of these photos? I bet you never thought that they were elements of a tree. A M
adrone tree to be exact. These were photos I took a few weekends ago when we were out driving around and got out of the car for a moment to walk the dogs.
Things never appear to be exactly what they look like on the surface. When I soak in my tub and stare out at the trees, I see patterns in the leaves and branches. I see faces; Indians with great feathers. I see smiling faces and sometimes sad faces. I squint and see things that I know are trying to be seen "if only" someone would notice. Well...I notice. I see things in nature that some people don't. That is my gift I think.
"All nature loves an honest person. He need not run after things; they will run after him."
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Russell Simmons says in his book "Super Rich" that "Every one of us has a unique gift that they'd like to share with the world." So true. One of my gifts is this blog. I feel creative here. I feel connected and alive. I learn things from others and I hope that in some way I inspire others too.
I have thought long and hard about my blog, about the photos that I take, about the poetry and words that I write, and about what my message (my gift) is and if I want to keep sharing it or let it drop off the face of the earth as though it never meant anything. I think that I have something to say. I think, like Sri Swami Satchidananda, that all nature loves an honest person. I AM AN HONEST PERSON. Honest to a fault most often. I will not let one or two people who look at my blog dissuade me from being my authentic, honest self. I have value. I have worth.
My friend Karen of "Maggie's Secret Garden" wrote some beautiful words to me today that I would like to share with those of you whom I consider "friends" here on my blog. She wrote this:
"...continue expressing as you do so eloquently with love and share your life with the friends you have made here on the blog. Go on being Teri...the beautiful spirit that you are...continue to come from a place of love in your heart and the universe will take care of the rest."
Thank you Karen! If you didn't live so far away I would drive, run, or walk over and give you a hug. You ARE a dear friend to me. I value your friendship, your words, your sharing. You inspire me, you point me in directions that I never knew existed, you make me perk up and think about possibilities that I never thought of before, and you "get me". What more can someone ask for really!
This fits perfectly into the lesson I heard in church yesterday. The lesson was on The Four Noble Truths and Buddha. Basically this:
- Living brings suffering
- Suffering is caused by clinging to impermanence (and everything is impermanent).
- Freedom from suffering comes from freeing ourselves from clinging and attachment (basically learning to detach).
- To find this freedom we must follow a path of practice.
The rest of the lesson went on to say: How can you be compassionate and detached at the same time? This seems like a contradiction Pastor Mark said. And, can we appreciate a person even when they don't act the way we want them to? Good questions Mark. I love how your message on Sunday always is EXACTLY what I am wrestling with and need to hear.
The answer I heard: LOOSEN UP OUR GRIP TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER POSSIBILITIES. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. RELEASE THEM WITHOUT REJECTING THEIR WORTH.
Even though things are not always the way they appear, I can continue to "go on being Teri" and "expressing". And, as Mark pointed out too, I can "release them". And follow a path or practice.
The sun came out today, after what seems like months of rain, snow, and clouds. But, behind every cloud is a silver lining and today, the sun made its way out from behind.
At the end of last week the east-west corridor was virtually closed from around Applegate, California all the way to Nevada. The sign warned truckers that the road was closed due to zero visibility. So, what is a trucker supposed to do when his truck is loaded and ready to make the haul? You guessed it: pull over!
And that is what you saw at every turn-off: trucks parked. I hope you weren't expecting any supplies at your local CVS Pharmacy. This truck was parked at the off-ramp of Meadow Vista, west of Applegate.
Every off-ramp you drove past had trucks parked, just waiting. 
I'm not sure what time during the day (or night) they opened the highway. The weather was horrible all day long and with zero visibility going over the summit toward Lake Tahoe and Reno and points east, it was definitely not safe to allow trucks to pass. You never really realize how many trucks make the trek from east to west and back again. But, during times like this you are aware of the volume of trucks that haul things to and from. And these were just the trucks. What about the trains that could not pass over the summit that day also? I heard on the news that day that some of the resorts have over 700 inches (yes...seven HUNDRED) inches of snow. And more was deposited. I can only imagine what the valley will look like once the snow begins to melt and the rivers start to fill up even more than they are at the present time. Nature sure has been doing some strange things lately: floods, earthquakes, snow storms, etc. Mother nature is a force to be reckoned with, wouldn't you say?
Today, I spent some time with my daughter, my friend and her dog Bella. Bella is a love. She greets you with her voice when you first arrive and showers you with kisses until you almost pee your pants laughing. I don't think there is anything as pure as the love of a dog. They love you unconditionally and would do anything to please you. Just look at that smile on Bella's face! I don't think there is anything more wonderful unless, like Harry S. Truman says, it is children. They, too, love unconditionally, shower you with kisses until you almost pee your pants laughing, and would do anything to please you. I don't think it is an accident that Harry S. Truman has put dogs and children in the same category. They are the essence of pure love. What an incredible reminder to us.
Anyway, here is my lady bug and my grasshopper. I bet if you had some of these show up in your yard you wouldn't shew them away, would you??? These are the best kind of bugs to have ever. And I should know...I used to work as a bug trapper for the Agriculture Department. And besides, I am the Grandmother of these cute bugs. What could be better??
It must be getting closer because all the stores have bright colors featured. I can hardly wait to see these fabric colors blooming in my yard. Spring is going to "spring" isn't it?
I repeat an affirmation that Katherine Treffinger sent to me the other day for Japan. It states:
This house, this wonderful house built for our family with the hands of my husband, will soon not belong to us. In some ways, this saddens me. In others, it invigorates me. 
What did you think when you saw each of these photos? I bet you never thought that they were elements of a tree. A Madrone tree to be exact. These were photos I took a few weekends ago when we were out driving around and got out of the car for a moment to walk the dogs.
In the early 1900's, UC Davis was considered the University Farm, an extension of UC Berkeley. But I think seeing a wild turkey outside the housing offices on campus is not what you would think of when you think: University Farm!
This turkey appeared outside of my daughter's office at Orchard Park, one of the housing offices on campus. I have been seeing many posts in the last couple of weeks regarding turkeys that people have been seeing on their land but this seems unusual to me. Maybe it just feels safe now that November has come and gone; safe to wander the streets for another year!
I used to love sherbet ice cream,