Think On This

Let your eyes look straight ahead

Fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet

Take only ways that are firm.

Proverbs 4 25-26

Shadows - January Spring Preview

Early morning shadows

Sunny 60 degrees

Walked the meditation path

through the woods

Cleared limbs along the way

Birds were chattering wildly

Simple lunch outside

Curled up in the lounge chair

Miss Callie beside me

Sun - you feel wonderful

What is this on my sleeve

a fly ... what is this on my slacks

looks like a tick

Guess I am not the only one

who is ready for a real Spring

Dawn

A beautiful day is beginning as I view the moon from the deck at the edge of the woods.

When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive -

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love ~~

Marcus Aurelius

Thief In The Night

When day breaks
I will see if my visitor has returned

Suet cake holder
pulled out of tree
found a distance away
unopened
on the walking trail

Wired more securely back onto tree

Took care of that...

Yesterday morning
holder found further down trail

Plus - iron pole that holds
bird feeder
both on ground

Wonder - if this is a Raccoon
if so

You are strong and may
be a good size

Did not know bird seed
was part of your diet

But if hungry
guess it would be fine

Daybreak
just checked

You did not visit...

Good

Smile - A New Day Is Beginning

One day
snow covered ground

Food a must
healthy thoughts
even in her hibernation

Nestled in the fruit bowl
one small butternut squash

Perfect for evening and a lunch

Blender whirling
cooked squash, carrot, celery, onion
oh - don't forget the garlic

Simmered to perfection
blend of cream and milk

Served with special bread
olive oil, tea

And homemade orange cookies

Sometimes the simplest
Meal is the best

Sun to shine

Quick - meditation and yoga

Oats, fruit and tea

bird feeders to be refilled
snow to melt
more grass seed spread
limbs to be picked up

Smile

A beautiful new day
at the edge of the woods

Is beginning

Heart Knows

Always listening to her heart

Spring is on the way

Remembering

15 hours ago

bird feeders restocked

grass seed was spread

Was she dreaming ~~

Prayer Bracelet

I have always felt that I had a deep sense of intuition. Feeling led to once again share about my prayer bracelet. I clicked on Laura's site to see if it was still active - yes - and discovered that her current entry is about Jade beads .

Interesting, made me smile that my entry was meant to be .........



This is an entry that was written and posted about 15 months ago. Daily I wear this bracelet and sometimes it is noticed and I might receive a compliments on it. It is very simple but has a lot of special significance to the one who wears it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arriving home from a belated birthday luncheon on Friday.... a gift to myself had arrived.

In my mailbox was a prayer bracelet that I special ordered. A mala I requested to be made in a
special way. If someone asks what it is, I will probably compare it to a beaded rosary.

This is something I am adding to my prayer life, mindfulness and the cross I have worn around my neck for over 40 years. As I am aware of it on my wrist may it help keep me focused.

Many who know me may not understand why I am adding this simple bracelet. It really does not matter whether they understand or not. It is something I am doing for myself.

It is made of Jade which is associated with abundance, healing, good health, peace and joy. It is said it can draw the earth's life force to one, especially if worn or carried while one is outdoors. It helps one to send peace and loving-kindness to all those in one's surroundings. (peace that promotes friendship, respect and peace between all faiths and people in our world). Physically, it helps to strengthen the energy system.

It has a coral center bead, which is said to bring power. Tibetan Buddhists have prized coral for mala-making for centuries.

Laura, thank you so very much.

http://heartofcompassionmalas.blogspot.com/

Dreaming

Snow melting in fields
I smile

No new snow
as predicted

Temperture will rise
Upper 40's

Thinking of Spring

As 4 dozen orange cookies
cool on the rack


Spring In The Garden

After a night of rain
I go out, wearing clogs

Wrapped in an old overcoat
against the spring cold

water pours white
through the open dikes

peach blossoms glow red
beyond the willows

fields of new grass spread away
edged and checkered

poles rise from the wells
at the wood's edge

I go back in
to write at my small desk

evening arrives, I'm alone
happy among green weeds

~~Poem sent to me - from my son - December 2002~~

Right Speech Gives Peace

Right Mindfulness helps us slow down and listen to each word from the birds, the trees, and our own mind and speech. Whether we say something kind or respond too hastily, we hear what we are saying.

I am sad, I spoke without thinking.
One Woman, you read, you pray and you try
Must not be doing these enough
A firm reminder
you are no where near the mark you hope to attain
You said something
To one that is so dear and special
Words should not have been said
A sharp reminder that
You have not attained the wisdom
That you desire
May forgiveness be granted
Peace restored



Words can travel thousands of miles.
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
As lovely as flowers


"The Heart Of The Buddha's Teaching"
~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

Gave Up

More snow and about 5 degrees in my woods

Heavy coat with hood

Insulated boots and gloves

Cell phone in pocket

Bucket filled with bird seed

One of her goals

Many birds visiting

4 feeders out of 7 filled

Gave up

Just too cold and

Too much ice

Unusual for this

One Woman to

Just give up

Remember

When animals in the forest get wounded, they find a place to lie down, and they rest completely, for many days. The don't think about food or anything else. They just rest, and get the healing they need. When we humans get sick, we just worry. We look for doctors and medicine, but we don't stop. Even when we go to the beach or the mountains for a vacation, we don't rest, and we come back more tired than before. We have to learn to rest.

Just allow the body and mind to rest like an animal in the forest. Don't struggle. Our body and mind have the capacity to heal themselves if we allow them to rest.

Stopping, calming, and resting are preconditions for healing. If we cannot stop, the course of our destruction for healing will just continue.

I underlined this last night as I read "The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh

It hit home with this One Woman. Always difficult for her to sit and rest. When not feeling well she would not stop. Her thought "she would not give in to it." Oh, what a slow learner she has been.

She is very aware of what she underlined in this book - but for some reason - has not followed these instructions. She may be different from now on.

Hopefully you are smarter!!!

Have a wonderful day. It is raining in the woods.

New Friend

A trip to town
To restock the pantry shelves

They were observed and
She went on her way
Soon to return

An Orchid

It has 8 blooms and 10 buds
Has a new home

Her old friend of about a dozen years
Was transported to this cottage
A little over a year ago

Held lovingly in her arms
During the long drive

A struggle for a year
Did not make it

A touch of Spring
Has a new home
Sitting on the old chop block

This cold January morning

It makes me smile

Accept

All through the night the word "Accept" kept going through my mind.

Over and over - Accept

Accept that everything is constantly changing and nothing remains the same.

An awesome sunset last night.

Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is sort of the is-ness of the NOW. You can't argue with what is.

Well, you can, but if you do, you will suffer.

~~Eckhart Tolle~~

Woke Up Running

My first day out in 10 days.
Who else would be excited
About grocery, gas, bank
And the birdseed

Washer humming
Loading car
Callie fed
Breakfast and
On the road

Gravel drive still
Covered with snow
Some icy patches on road
BUT - the Sun is going to Shine

Feeling Good
Going Full Speed Ahead

Body I accept your ups and downs.......
At the moment :)

A Gift

I received a comment and an email - early this morning.

This young woman has Sjogren's Syndrome and writes in depth about this condition.

So much information....

I do not know anyone with this condition ---- so her information will be very helpful to me and encouraging.

Forgive me for my whining and complaining over the last weeks. I just so love to be going full speed ahead. In my 70s is that realistic :) Somehow my mind has not yet accepted that number...

I think I have shared in the past that when I feel good - I fly and when I feel not too good - I really sink low.

Do not know any other way to share but with honesty.

http://reasonablywell-julia.blogspot.com/



It's clear to me that my journey from confusion to clarity and from closed heart to open heart is one of continual arrivals and departures, a lifelong process that happens over and over again.

Reminds me that I too can arrive, even if it is again and again rather than once and for all, at that experience of clarity in which I am happy.

Pay Attention For Goodness Sake ~~~ Sylvia Boorstein ~~~

Ginger

My two youngest granddaughters' creation.

They named her Ginger and are so proud of her!!

Now this would make anyone smile ........

Thank You

Because One Woman is not quite as strong as she thinks she is - something happened.

Maybe overload is a good word or rather I crashed!

A loss for words and I am choosing to step back and not write as much - mainly seems like my mind is silent.

The autoimmune disorder I have, comes and goes. After Christmas it came on full force.

No moisture in eyes or mouth, has affected my eyesight and teeth (they have always been perfect) extreme fatigue, could not sleep, lost some weight, and who loses weight at Christmas time.

This seemed to escalate into concern about myself. Seems everything I strive for with my meditation, eating and yoga - just left. Every thing that was forgiven and forgotten seemed to come forth in my mind.

So, I reluctantly went to doctor. Now I am the kind of person who thinks with her lifestyle and beliefs does not need a medical doctor. I knew she would ask "are you depressed? No my answer just trying to find a reason I can accept for what is going on" So I accept I have done too much for quite a while and my system is not as young as it use to be. I am one who goes constantly and it is difficult for me to sit still. The books are calling...

But bottom line I have so many blessings and so much to be thankful for. My dream came true of moving back to my home place and as I look out the window at the bare tree's I dream of Spring and green shoots coming forth from the ground.

I have the best children in the world. I am well aware that through out my years there have been similar times - but this is different.

I listen to them and their remarks are meant to be kind and with their families and involvement they really do not have time for mom to be "down." I am well aware that in 10 years I built 3 homes and moved 3 times, aware that I wanted a simpler lifestyle, aware of a financial loss when last home was sold. If I could go back 10 years I would do nothing any different. Their thoughts for me have been travel, social involvement and on and on.

I might add that I miss my son - so very much. He has a way in person or with his emails of saying just the right thing to encourage mom - onward.

I am not interested. Oh, the travel if I was brave enough to go out on my own and the social involvement has been tried over and over through the years. Now I just want the peace that this nature surrounding gives me.

Since so many have contacted me and this touches my heart more then I have the words to express. I have never seen you in person or hugged you. But I think many of you know in your heart that you are special to me. I must be to you for you to reach out me and know that something is not quite right.

I know I write and share honestly . How can you write any other way. I do not want to embarrass my grown professional children so their are some subjects I do not go into. Through my writing my grandchildren will know their grandmother better.

So at present I am on an immune medication, potassium was low, prednisone for inflammation throughout my system, something to calm me - WHICH I DO NOT LIKE - I am eating in between my small meals and even during the night having hot chocolate with a couple of scoops of ice cream. I am trying to rest more and just want whatever is happening to go away.

I will be writing and taking pictures as the creative process returns. It brings me such pleasure in these later years. It has been a gift.

I do not hurt anywhere - just maybe in my heart that this has happened. Guess I like to appear more perfect then I am. I know now that I cannot just disappear. I might add that this is the same way I feel about you when you do not write for a while. If I had a number I would probably call you :)

I keep having the thought that what I desire and need - I need to give it to myself. Forget about waiting for it to come forth from others. Just not enough time - with my lifestyl

Mermaid - Kaveri - thank you for giving me this thought.

Love you .... One Woman

Silence

Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit.

What are the fruits of silence? They are self-control, true courage, endurance,

patience, dignity and reverence. Silence is the cornerstone of character.

~Ohyesa~

Books

Much time spent reading
Was her plan
It has not happened
Winter is not over
Maybe it will still happen

Resting

Southern Tradition

As far back as I can remember my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother - always

served black eyed peas on New Years day. I was always told this would bring you good luck in the coming year.

The little girls have been delivered to their other grandmother and I have black eyed peas simmering. Chopped onions and ham added to them.

Also I have been craving turnip greens. There is nothing in the stores that look like the turnip greens I grow ( I will be sure to put many cartons in the freezer next fall). So I purchased collard greens. They are full of vitamins and so good for you. They are simmering with garlic and onions.
Will make a small pan of corn bread, glass of sweet tea and slice of lemon ice box pie, and this will be my good luck dinner for this new day.

New Years Day Morning Memories

Bath, hair washed, lotion and breakfast finished. At the moment no one else I would make scrambled eggs and bacon for one and French toast for the other. Their compliments are worth it. They tell me what a great cook I am :)

With this visit I could tell such a difference in my little girls.

They comment on so much as they wander through my cottage. They like looking at the small items on my desk. One comments on the red glass heart - holds it in her hand and tells me she loves it. They pick up the special stones, pictures and books.

I find myself looking at items that have memories - through their eyes and a special meaning is renewed.

I watch as they carefully fold their clothes - put them in their bags - before putting on pajamas. This is new... grandma would usually fold :)

They want me to tell them stories of when their mom was little. I tell them about our years in the old farmhouse. They laugh at many of the stories.

Their vocabulary is changing and I smile at the words they now use.

Their choice for lunch a local restaurant that makes the best pizza. My eye caught an elderly couple eating and a glass of wine on their table. I made the comment "maybe grandma needs someone special to go out and eat with - what do you think?" the oldest replies "grandma that decision is really up to you" - I smile at the answer.

Not knowing the little one was in the bathroom - I opened the door and was immediately told "grandma this is embarrassing" sorry was said and the door immediately closed.

They entertain themselves with little DS games - I do not think I could use this - look like tiny computers. They read and watch special dvd's they have brought.

I find them so entertaining with all their comments and questions. They are just growing up too fast...

One thing I know - is when they are around they make me smile and feel loved. Better clean the kitchen.

Wishing Peace to all....