The Gift of Rain

It's raining out today.  One of those long mid-western soakers.  For the most part, slow and easy one . Just loud enough to reach your ears, a sweet sweet sound  that could rock  you to sleep like a lullaby.

I was excited about setting my trays of seedlings outside. What is it about rain-water that brings such life to plants. Tap water has a very different effect on them. I call it "slow to grow." Carrying  all my house plants (quite a number) plus all my trays, is  no small chore.  The sizable ones are heavy and awkward. The tiny ones a nuisance.

But so worth the effort. I check them all later ...........never know when the rain will turn to a drencher. My favorite Benjamin Ficus looked spectacular. Its leaves were splashed bright green as drops of rain fell  upon them, causing each ravishing leaf  to glisten with color.  It is my most graceful and beloved plants. I'd swear it knows just how magnificent it is. To think three summers ago I bought her at Kroger's. Even in her emaciated state,  I knew she had potential. It took her a while to come around........but when she did..........look-out..........she is a stunner! I am now convinced they all have their own 'personality". I know it sounds crazy but hey...............its been discussed. I have to re-buy "The Secret Lives of Plants." It was written back in the 70's. I tried two years ago reading it but was just not near ready for it. I know I am now...........just what I need....one more book.

The rain is picking up now. As I check the soil, a breath of rosemary  teases my senses and fill me with intense happiness. Such a simple thing........... The scent triggers memories of other springs.....other summers..........and  gardens rich  with fragrant herbs and sun drenched days. A slice of heaven in my own backyard.

A note to add.............the cosmos I planted have sprouted.  That hearty little thing broke ground in just three days and is off and running. I wonder what will pop up next?

   

THINGS YOU CAN'T LEARN FROM A BOOK

  There is a secondary purpose for me staying close to nature.  Aside from the sheer beauty, fascination and charm, nature keeps me humble, leveled and honest.

   Animals, plants, trees. insects......they all take only what they need. They are not hell bent on compromising the enviorement, for their need is only associated with their survival.

They want no fences to mark boundaries.......do not steal from one another...well maybe occasionally but not from greed or envy.....but only for benefit of their continued existence.

They know not corruption, extreme competition, slander, immorality, unprincipled behavior, or deceit..What you see is what you get.........can we claim the same?

 I can only imagine a world where human beings acted upon those same steadfast principles. To take only what we need as opposed to what we want.

The Native Americans understood this. Instead of robbing the earth, they took only what was needed and left the rest. They new the importance of sharing, of replanting and renewing. They understood the laws of nature. And were punished for it.

  Take a walk, visit a park......sit in your backyard or on your front porch....and discover natures laws. They are not hiding. But are there for all to see and experience. For you. For me. For the rest of the world if only we would step off the fast track and loose ourselves in their world for just a small while.

Nature has taught me much.

-take only what I need

-if failure strikes.......start over

-don't complain.......it gets you nowhere

-do not worry.......it keeps you from foraging further in life

-be happy....like the birds...sing a sweet song....or spread your wings and fly

-be thankful

-plant seeds

-restock lakes, rivers and oceans by supporting wildlife

-do not hoard

-share...share....share

-work smart

-get creative

-nature bears no grudges

-it fosters no prejudices

-it does not judge and condemn

-it bears no guilt

-no blame

-no excuses

-it neither deceives nor corrupts

-it knows, it lives, it produces  Do you know that quirrels are responsible for re-foresting the forests? If only I could do something that amazing!

To this day I have yet to witness a sweet common sparrow feel cheated and so set out to destroy a brilliant red cardinal or bright blue bird for its lovely feathers. I've never known of one  heavily pelted animal kill another for its coat or because it like its markings better.

When and where did we learn differently?

Just imagine the simplicity, love and beauty at our fingertips.

Imagine our discoveries.....imagine another world........imagine the possibilities.

Our choices in life exemplifies our values.

A thought worth contemplating.

Your life is but a portrait of what you value. 

There are not "take overs".

There is only this.

Make your painting as pure and lovely as your spirit.

Respect the laws of nature.

The rewards are endless..............

Can't Help But Smile

Two Downy Woodpeckers kissing last spring. What's not to love.

Keep your eyes open. Nature awaits!

Enviable Courtship

  I woke early with excitement. Today I plant seedlings. I sink my hands into the cool dark soil. It feels heavenly. I'm tempted to play in the thick rich stuff. Back to nature. Back to where I belong.

   I try to think of my yard as a canvas...to be painted with a  contrasting pageantry of colors. My landscaping imagination deserts me.. I need a book....full of color and ingenuity and fire. When it comes to originality,....well, lets just say its not in the DNA....at least not mine.

  Ahead of myself again....I am merely in the seedling stage.........but I have to plan this out.......tentatively at the very least...keeping the possibility that I will meet with inspiration along the way. Divine inspiration. What other kind is there really.

  And so the morning is spent transferring seeds from package to soil, taking care to center them.......allowing ample room for growth. Starting from seed allows me to be a part of each phase of the plants life as it evolves. I think it very creative......There are no duplications in nature...........only endless yields of originals. And to think it all starts in the palm of your hand. Intoxicating conception.

  My kitchen is strewn with fertilizer, bits of small clumps of sticks and soil covered pebbles. Thankfully, most of it is in the 130 or so pods I filled. Using my thin nozzled spout I water gently and place them in the still cool morning sun.....tall white plastic identification tags inserted with care.

  And now, to the very best part of the day. On the patio.....a cup of hot creamed tea..........camera......binoculars...and my trusted bird book close by. I sit....I wait. I lean my head back in the warm afternoon shade to watch....to listen. Birds are singing. A smile turns up the corners of my mouth. I settle deeper in my wrought iron swivel chair and breath a sigh of contentment. Life is good. Life is very,  very good.

  Unless you get caught in the moment, you might just miss it. An expensive price to pay when you meet life unaware.I remind myself again....stay with the moment. That is where the magic lies. In those moments your will of life is revealed. More than you might ever know. So trust this. Its not about breaking old habits. But rather nurturing and making room for the new. The stillness of a moment introduces us to what we have always known but forgotten. Life can be magical, miraculous. If only we fall into the pleasantness of now.

  The bird show this afternoon is nothing short of spectacular....full of wonderment..and a joy that fills your heart with love. I hear a loud familiar song. Through the binoculars I spot a dazzling red male cardinal, perched high in a maple. His resplendent scarlet chest swelling proudly with each note he sings. I reach for the book, feverishly looking up his call. I grin. The grin turns into a full fledged smile. His melody of clear whistled notes is a courtship song.. But hey, its spring. And its utterly amazing.

    While I'm out I need to tend the lavender. It has wintered over nicely. But weeds from last fall are choking them of life. The sweet scent of lavender touches me gently as my lungs fill with its heavenly bouquet. Their spreading abundantly. And I have two more I will be adding to this garden of eleven.

  The two white climbing roses I planted last year have survived. I bend low....its branches are strong and it pricks needle sharp...I learn the hard way as I reach within for more dead leaves....its spear sharp...along with my language.

 Tea still warm, I sit back down. The breeze picks up, tossing last falls leaves high in the air, to swirl and dance, gently falling onto the still brown grass. The wind brings us such magical captivating delights. I close my eyes.........the coconut chimes are swaying.... my ears satiated with music as their circular discs clap and clatter. I remind myself again......the very best things in life are free indeed.

  Another sign of early spring catches my eye. A pair of soft buff grey mourning doves courting their hearts away. Their little hop-hop and wing flutter dance is yet another form of courtship. The female suddenly flies high on a branch. The male follows. If she stays, copulation is imminent.. And then, amazingly, he starts to serenade her. His courtship song is a soft, low Bow-coo ( a lonely mourning song). His beak seems to be closed but his neck stretches and then swells with oxygen as his sorrowful voice fills the air. His perch cooing works, as the female stays nestled closely by.

And to think I use to think of spring as only flowers popping from the ground.

This is good stuff. And tomorrow is a whole new day.....filled with more.......good stuff.

The Advent of Spring

  

  As days go......this was a pretty good one. The weather was very agreeable. Sunny blue sky's and a crisp spring breeze was in the air. The kind that makes you quicken just slightly. A day when you can no longer resist the urge to plant...plant....plant! Even when you know it is too early. And so, impatient as I know myself to be, I decide to jump start my new project, and start from seed. Lots of seed. Lots and lots and lots of seed. Iin no way, do things half measure. No, I must buy 20 packages of seeds from garlic chives to purple cone flowers. And of course, I must have them now! Tomorrow is my day off (from work, Greg and the world)and so the plan is to fill the mini little plastic greenhouses I bought and fill them with seed.

   My work day ended and I was out the door...my bird book (containing all the flowers I need) is right  beside me as I drive to Lowe's. Anxious (as usual when I am excited) my mind is rushing, spinning with all the wonderful things I knew I would find. I remind myself...slow down. Enjoy the drive. In this moment only. Be aware. For the journey is your life. The time we spend coming and going, coming and going........forever, coming and going, is a great big part of our lives.The main part of our lives. So again, I remind myself not to rush it away. Stay with it. Who knows what it will bring.

From the parking lot I could see them.....hundreds and hundreds of bright yellow and deep violet splashes of color. Rows and rows of beautiful, brilliant, hearty spring flowers. 

I look. I admire. I want. Then I move past them to the seed stand. But not before I spotted a rather sorry looking Bog Rosemary with lovely pale pink tight buds sprouting out of a compact evergreen shrub. The deal was too good. And this is a perennial! A better deal yet. I have always wanted violets. And there she was. Sitting pretty and tight, almost bursting from the pot. It too, at 75% off, was certainly something one could not just walk away from.

  I hardly care to admit my overindulgence with the seed packets. But as the project is a bird seed garden I need copious amounts of flowers just to get started. Funds are low......this year lower than usual. But I won't let that stop me.

  My heart was actually racing as I saw all the hundreds of seed packets. My favorite is Burpee brand. I couldn't resist the cucumbers...had to have the dill ( its great on cucumber sandwiches). Then the main staple of the garden, tomatoes. I finished off with garlic chives and green beans..Hmmm. Yummy. Cannot wait til harvest. See. There I go again. Rushing things.

I had a specific list for the flowers. These were vital to the garden as certain species contain hundreds and hundreds of seeds for the birds to eat. Zinnia's are another bird favorite. And their deep reds and picks will draw the butterflies too. Purple cone flowers and black-eyed Susan's will sway gracefully in the warm summer breezes. Bright pink and red cosmos with pretty fluted petals and Mammoth sunflowers with large yellow flowers just bursting with black and striped seeds, will fill out the garden quite nicely.

I'm energized! I anticipate tomorrow with delight. There I go again....leaving the moment. See how quickly that happens.

 On my way home, with my soil, seeds, plastic greenhouses and Jiffey Strips surrounding me, I'm happy......as a clam. Tomorrow would be a good day too.

The Miracle of Life

We're all looking for something...........sometimes we are just not sure what that is. We often think it has something to do with money....power....status...security.......education.....religion....

..health....popularity...... a new boyfriend ....girlfriend....husband....wife.....childern...a better position....a resolved relationship....or even a close personal connection.

The beginning of my answers came in the form of differentiating between what I thought I was looking for and that which I truly WAS searching for. I understand there is a more than a simple consequential difference between the two.

How was I to know what I needed when I wasn't even sure what I had. We all are in possession of so many things that we are unaware of in our lives. We look in the mirror and our reflection is distorted by our own vision. What we see is skewed by our own sometimes, misshapen perceptions.  Sure, the color of our eyes or the length of our hair or the tone of our skin is obvious enough. But there is so much more to meet the eye than just the obvious. Hence, we are often  immoblized before we begin.

Our journey in life is of every importance, but we need to be equipped along the way. This involves a step we are sometimes relunctant to take. It is like looking into a deep murky well. We must look deep....to a debth were there is utter stillness. We have to go beyond our personal fear and "look within". There is where our spirit resides. That is how we "get in touch". And journeying inward becomes the "miracle" that is our life.

Everyday I awake, there is a nudge I feel inside my belly. It pushes me forward......whether I want to go or not. But go I do.

And so my blogs are about life.......how I get through each day. How you get through each day. Whatever lies ahead........what lies behind is now of no concern. There is only forward........journey with me. For my strength lies in yours. And that, my friend, is the miracle of life.