Thursday, March 31, 2011

NOON TODAY

The other day, Katherine Treffinger emailed me a request. It seems that Masura Emoto, emissary for water, has asked for our (global) help today. You can read his request here. If you are so inclined, please join me at noon with this affirmation:

The water of Fukushima nuclear plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you and we love you.

Say it three times at noon in whatever time zone you are in with your hands together in gratitude.

I'll be with you at noon, and at noon, and at noon, and at noon. (You get the idea!)


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

TODAY

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.

We spent the day doing all things related to the move: taking a huge load of stuff to the dump, loading up a large trailer with firewood that we won't be using any longer and giving it to some friends, hooking up the travel trailer for its trip to the new location, and working in the yard. Yes...you heard me correctly...working in the yard!

After all the wind and snow that we had last week there is so much debris in our yard that it really needed to be tended to. Besides, I had to get the plants that are in pots ready for their move too. Things are happening really quickly here and soon, everything that we own (those things that we deem necessary and important that is) will be moved from here to there. It takes time to be methodical but it is worth it. Box, label, move one room at a time and try to enjoy the move. Yes, you heard me right on that one too...ENJOY the move. While some of my friends are off on vacations, we are here moving. But, I am determined to really make this experience one of great joy and organization. I love being organized and this is yet one more opportunity to really make it count.

This week is filled with so many things: haircuts, packing, cleaning, shopping for a baby shower for my daughter, hosting the baby shower at her house (her idea but not a bad one considering the move), and then it will be Sunday. Where does the time go? So, if you don't see me here for a few days, enjoy your weekends everyone. I'm looking forward to many new adventures.

A few months ago it would have saddened me to think that we were moving and my friend Mary Ann would not be part of my experience. But I have turned a corner on that relationship too. I don't feel sad any longer to not have her in my life. What is it you used to say to me Mary Ann? Change is good? How right you were. I just never realized at the time that you meant with me! But that's OK...I wept through it and came out on the other side of sad. Behind every cloud there is a silver lining.

I'm looking forward to starting fresh in a new home, welcoming my new granddaughter into the family in May, and taking that long over-due vacation that we talked about for so long. Life is good. The sun really HAS come out.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Cal Trans Clears Out Record Amount Of Snow - Video - KCRA Sacramento

Cal Trans Clears Out Record Amount Of Snow - Video - KCRA Sacramento

COMMERCE

They say that the world runs on trucks. My professor in college used to tell us that when we stopped seeing trucks travelling the highways that we could be guaranteed that the economy was not doing well. The commerce of the United States is dependent on trucks, on rail, on transportation to get items from one side of the United States (and world) to the other.

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?

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Wayne Dyer's Excuses Begone!

I guess there are some advantages to having the weather be uncooperative. One of them is that I turned on the TV this morning and by chance (there are no accidents in life) saw a show on the PBS channel by Wayne Dyer called "Excuses Begone". His message is what I have been practicing lately as I have been working with Katherine Treffinger. I will write more about my experiences with Katherine on another post but for now, here is what I saw on PBS. I wrote these all down, as Wayne Dyer suggests, and hope to look at them daily to remind myself. I hope that you will do the same.

18 Excuses

  1. It will be difficult.
  2. It's going to be too risky.
  3. It will take a long time.
  4. There will be family drama.
  5. I don't deserve it.
  6. It's not my nature.
  7. I can't afford it.
  8. No one will help me.
  9. It's never happened before.
  10. I'm not strong enough.
  11. I'm not smart enough.
  12. I'm too old or not old enough.
  13. The rules won't let me.
  14. It's too big.
  15. I don't have the energy.
  16. It's my personal family history.
  17. I'm too busy.
  18. I'm too scared.
Now, here are his affirmations to change these excuses into something more positive.
  1. Instead of saying "It will be too difficult" affirm: "I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort."
  2. Change "It's going to be too risky" to: "Being myself involves no risks. It's my ultimate truth and I live fearlessly."
  3. "It will take a long time"----"I have infinite patience when it comes to fulfilling my own destiny."
  4. "There will be family drama"----"I'd rather be loathed for who I am than loved for who I'm not."
  5. "I don't deserve it"----"I'm a divine creation, a piece of God. How could I be undeserving?"
  6. "It's not my nature"----"My essential nature is perfect and faultless. It is to this nature that I return."
  7. "I can't afford it"---"I am connected to an unlimited source of abundance."
  8. "No one will help me"---" The right circumstances and the right people are already here and will show up on time."
  9. "It's never happened before"---"I am open and willing to attract all that I deserve beginning here and now."
  10. "I'm not strong enough"---"I have access to unlimited assistance. My strength comes from my connection to my source."
  11. "I'm not smart enough"---"I'm a creation of the divine mind, all is perfect and I am a genius in my own right."
  12. "I'm too old or not old enough"---"I'm an infinite being. The age of my body has no bearing on what I do or who I am."
  13. "The rules won't let me"---"I live my life according to divine rules."
  14. "It's too big"---"I think only about what I can do now. By thinking small I accomplish great things."
  15. "I don't have the energy"---"I feel passionately about my life and this passion fills me with excitement and energy."
  16. "It's my personal family history"---"I live in the present moment by being grateful for all my life experiences as a child."
  17. "I'm too busy"---"As I un-clutter my life I free myself to answer the callings of my soul".
  18. "I'm too scared"---"I can accomplish anything I put my mind to because I know I'm never done."
Working with Katherine, listening to the sermons at my church weekly, watching things like Wayne Dyer on TV...these are all things that keep appearing in my life. I read similar themes on other's blogs too. I don't think it is an accident. There is a paradigm shift happening and those of us that are aware are seeing the messages appear more and more frequently. We need to quit making excuses and change our thought processes. In doing so, we free ourselves for the possibilities to unfold.

Friday, March 25, 2011

FOR THE LOVE OF...

"Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of our country as Wall Street and the railroads." Harry S. Truman

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.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

The War is Over [Final Cut]


I'm sharing this video that Karen from "Maggie's Secret Garden" posted today. What really stood out to me was what was said at the very end of this video that "we are all one". Think about it: when we go to war, who are we killing anyway and for what?" Maybe we need a huge dose of what happened in the 60's right now: Peace and Protests! Give peace a chance!

Prickles & Goo: Alan Watts Trey Parker Matt Stone South Park

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

LADY BUGS AND GRASSHOPPERS

I know that the title sounds like something that Spring is made of but let me tell you...Spring has NOT decided to make itself known yet. Besides the 5 inches of snow we had the other day, we have had HUGE winds here that knocked the power out for a complete day. I kind of blame that on PG&E for not trimming the trees enough during the months that it is NOT storming. Or, better yet, put the damn power under-ground. Oh yeah...that would mean that people would be out of work after the initial under-ground work had been completed. Corporate America! PG&E's big idea about saving money is CFL's! Big deal!

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??


Saturday, March 19, 2011

THIS IS SPRING??????

Yesterday I opened my eyes after my meditation and saw this!!! The weather- people certainly got this prediction wrong.

I guess there will be no outdoor snacks at this table today!

Later in the afternoon the trees were full of white puffs of snow.

And as the day progressed, so did the amount of snow outside.




We finally topped-out at around 5 inches. And, it looks like we might be getting more today sometime too...unless, of course, the weather-people get it wrong again and the sun comes out!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

SPRING?

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?

Monday, March 14, 2011

JUST ADD BUTTER

SWEET, TASTY IRISH SODA BREAD

SERIOUSLY? ONLY 6 SERVINGS IN THIS ENTIRE LOAF? THAT CAN'T BE!
OR MAYBE I'VE BEEN CUTTING MY PIECES MUCH TOO SMALL!!
BUT THEN, THAT HELPS WITH THE CARB CONTENT DOESN'T IT!!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

AFFIRMATION FOR JAPAN

I repeat an affirmation that Katherine Treffinger sent to me the other day for Japan. It states:

"Divine omniscience, harmony, grace and love is the only truth and power at work now in Japan. We hold this in our minds and hearts and expect a magical unfolding."

"Grounded in faith, I welcome my good, knowing that my proactive, positive thoughts and actions make a difference in the world." (From Unity--1901 NW Blue Parkway Unity Village, Mo 64065-0001)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

THE MAGIC UNFOLDS








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.

I think of all the memories that we have made here: we raised our twins here, ate at this dining room, opened gifts in this living room, made chocolate chip cookies every time it snowed in this kitchen together. I planted trees, bushes and flowers that my grandmother passed down to me at this house. I'm sure a few starts will make it over to the new house when we move...just as a reminder. We laughed here, we cried here, we celebrated and grew here.

But things change as we grow. We change as well. We find ourselves wanting different things from life: less isolation, more stimulation, closer proximity to restaurants and art galleries and the ability to save more money with rising gas prices. Walking distance to stores and parks. And then there is family.

Family for me is the driving factor. B and I would do anything for our family. And I mean that. We drove 45 minutes in one direction for over 2 years to watch Natalie while her parents worked. And, we will be doing that again for the new baby. But, this time we will be closer.

I am thrilled that we get to be a part of our children's lives daily. We don't have the constraints of a job or a need to be someplace at a certain time each day. So, we will be able to give much love and attention to our new grand baby. I think of all the possibilities that await us in our new home. New gardens to tend and build. New decorating to be done. Will it feel like home, this new place? Of course it will! Home is where the heart is, or so that saying goes. I look forward to turning a new page in our lives; writing a new chapter.

A quote from Katherine Treffinger: "Divine grace and harmony is the only truth at work in our lives. Believe in this and believe nothing we do can block the magic of this and magic will abound."

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

DEEPLY SADDENED

There is no image today. Today, there are only words. And sad words I'm afraid.

I follow an eclectic group of bloggers. We all write but what we write about and our interests might be totally different. But I like looking at a wide array of blogs that feature poems, art, foods, gardening, interior design, families, etc. There are things that satisfy certain bits of what I find interesting in my own life.

One particular blogger, Justin Evans of the blog Utah Poet has simply stunned me today and saddened to my very core. Justin is a school teacher in Nevada and today he is sharing a sadness that has hit his town. When I read his post today I was struck down so deep to my core that I had a hard time thinking about anything else.

It seems so senseless. One of his students, Micaela Costanzo, age 16, was abducted and they found her body buried in a shallow grave about 5 miles outside of town. How can this kind of thing happen? How does one manage to keep going on after something like this? And how much worse is it for the people who actually knew this wonderful young girl? Justin says that she was a shining star (I think those are my words not his but you'll see what he says about her when you go to his posting).

Death of any kind is always hard to make sense of but something like this seems impossible. I posted yesterday about "impermanence" and "The Four Noble Truths". This is the ultimate in suffering. One of the truths is that "freedom from suffering comes from freeing ourselves from clinging and attachment (or detachment)" but detachment was defined to me as being cold, aloof, a lack of emotion. How can you have any of these in this kind of situation?

It seems so cliche' to say "time heals all". I know from my own personal experience that the farther I get away from something that has hurt me deeply, the easier it is for me to understand it and make sense of it. But forget? Heal? Maybe you do heal but you have a scar that always remains to remind you of that hurt.

I'm sorry Michaela, that you had to go through this. I can't imagine what you and your family had/have to endure. The thought of this happening to my Natalie or my twins would just devastate me. I'm not sure I could find meaning in the rest of my life. But, our lives are a quest while we are here. We each have different roads and different circumstances. And the reality that I know to be true tells me that they are paved with pain and suffering too.

I don't know what else to say except that things like this should not happen. I can't imagine what Justin is experiencing in his classroom, in his town, in his life. I send you love and light. That is something that I can do.

Monday, March 7, 2011

ARE THINGS ALWAYS THE WAY THEY APPEAR?





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.

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:
  1. Living brings suffering
  2. Suffering is caused by clinging to impermanence (and everything is impermanent).
  3. Freedom from suffering comes from freeing ourselves from clinging and attachment (basically learning to detach).
  4. 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.


Sunday, March 6, 2011

SIGHTINGS ON UC DAVIS CAMPUS

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!


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

FURTHER EXPLANATION

I wanted to post the actual paragraph from "The Art of Possibility" for you so that you could see how what I read influenced what I posted yesterday. What I posted was based on this paragraph and this paragraph alone. Perception is sometimes mistaken for truth so this might need a further explanation. To me, it just shows that you can take something and expound on it, change it, etc. and what is perceived by others is how they interpret it. That is "the art" in it to me. Here goes:

"Whereas "should haves" are commonplace in the fault game, apologies are frequent when
you name yourself as the board. That is because when you look deeply enough into the question, "How did that thing that I am having trouble with get on the board that I am?" you will find that at some point, in order to give yourself a feeling of control or equilibrium, you have sacrificed a relationship. Whether you got into silent combat with your boss because he did not take your advice, or you failed to speak truthfully to your daughter because you did not want to upset her, or you just did not recognize how important you are to an old friend; at some point, a relationship broke down or is in the process of breaking down. And your effectiveness has deteriorated with it. In these cases, an apology often serves as a restorative balm."

Zander suggests that "...you rename yourself as the board on which the whole game is being played. You move the problematic aspect of any circumstance from the outside world inside the boundaries of yourself. With this act you can transform the world."

What we write always has some element of truth in it, at least for me. When I paint there is always a story behind what I put down on the canvas. That is how I operate. I think that when Tess posts a photo in Magpie Tales for all of us to write about, this is a function that works for her also. And I am always amazed where her photos lead everyone. I don't think that there are every two alike. I might be wrong about that but I don't think so. Each person brings his or her own reality to what they create, be it a painting, a book, a short story, a poem. Something sparks those ideas. And then, we as artists, take off from there. It is the jumping off point.

When you think about Science Fiction movies it makes you wonder where the creators of them were and what they were thinking when they first came up with the concept. Are there any new ideas or are they all recycled, so-to-speak? They say in art that almost everything has been done but I don't like to think like that. When you put something down on paper for the first time, it is the very first time that has existed; it's the birth of a new idea basically. It might be a totally new paradigm shift; a new way of thinking. It might be just a portion of something that existed prior and now takes wings and heads off in a new direction.

My point it this: when I read this paragraph, it sparked something deep inside me that brought forth the color of sherbet ice cream. Tess' Magpie Tales had that coloration for me. I did not look at the item "per se" as a knife, a lemon, bloody hand print. For me it was a color that sparked the idea and then that lead me to think about what I had read and go from there. A thought process.

How do some of you create what you do, be it drawing, painting, writing, or? Is it one thing that sparks another and then builds? Do you write down phrases in a notebook that hit you when you hear them and then pull from that? Is it a visual stimulation that sparks the first idea? I'd be interested to hear your thought process. Where does your creativity begin?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

SHE (r) BET

I used to love sherbet ice cream,
The tang of the orange
As it mixed and touched
The pineapple,
The raspberry.
That was when I was younger,
Carefree.
Now, the thought of
You...
Your feeling of control...
There is no mixing the three together.
No equilibrium, no control.
Silent combat; speaking truthfully;
Importance of an old friend.
The relationship broke down;
Effectiveness deteriorated.
Sherbet:
Restorative balm.
You bet.
SHE (r) BET


(Inspired by a passage from "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander --Page 149)

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