Words Of Wisdom

A great Tibetan teacher of mind training once remarked that one of the minds most marvelous qualities is that it can be transformed. I have no doubt that those who attempt to transform their minds, overcome their difficult emotions and achieve a sense of inner peace, will, over a period of time notice a change in their mental attitudes and responses to people and events. Their minds will become more disciplined and positive. And I am sure they will find their own sense of happiness
grow as they contribute to the greater happiness of others.

~The Dalai Lama ~
Hindustan Times, India
12/31/2010

Very Busy Morning

The dead tree is coming down

The trap is set

Wonder what kind of critter
is going under this
concrete pad?

Never A Dull Moment

Torrential rains,high winds and lightning
for several days and nights
Ground saturated
Gutters on cottage are running over
filled with tree debris
During break yesterday picked up many
wheel barrow loads of limbs
Iris are blooming and beautiful
A huge old tree by walk to terrace will
have to come down
Damaged during construction
kept thinking it would live
I will miss it
May be cut down on Friday
I find this sad..
A visitor keeps digging under
the concrete pad the air conditioner sits on
Have filled the hole many times and put some
discouraging items in the hole
Has not worked as another big hole this morning
Callie is not outside at night and that is when
it visits
Would not want her to get hurt...
A call and a blessing
County Animal Control is bringing live trap
when rain ceases
I think it is a groundhog mama that is trying
to make it her home
Will see if I am correct
Do not want to have "it" tunnel under cottage
Image of Fuchsia plant on screen porch
taken while in a position that I was hopeful
I could get back up ...

Early Easter Morning

The garden is still
even the creatures of the woods
are quiet
Still amazing to me
that I have only lived in
these woods for about 18 months
all the plants have
made themselves at home
guess just like me
It rained during the night
everything looks so fresh and clean
Silly thought for this
suppose to be old woman
I looked at my wonderful new garden
and had the thought
my mother and grandmother who were
gardeners - would be proud of me
could sense them smiling through
the trees....

Silence is another kind of space. When everything is quiet and suddenly there is noise, we ordinarily say the silence was shattered. But it is more accurate to say that we forgot the silence and listen only to sound ~Ken McLeoad~

Getting Ready

Easter lunch tomorrow
kites and jelly beans
for little girls
my grandson is joining us
a busy day ahead
table to be set
even though food preparation
is much simpler
then in times past
There will be an empty seat
soon to be filled
I look forward to
smiles and hugs....

Is This Me

A poem I just received
from a special online friend
As I read
I had the thought
Is this "me"


Reckless Poem
Mary Oliver

Today again I am hardly myself.
It happens over and over.
It is heaven-sent.

It flows through me
like the blue wave.
Green leaves – you may believe this or not –
have once or twice
emerged from the tips of my fingers

somewhere
deep in the woods,
in the reckless seizure of spring.

Though, of course, I also know that other song,
the sweet passion of one-ness.

Just yesterday I watched an ant crossing a path, through the
tumbled pine needles she toiled.
And I thought: she will never live another life but this one.
And I thought: if she lives her life with all her strength
is she not wonderful and wise?
And I continued this up the miraculous pyramid of everything
until I came to myself.

And still, even in these northern woods, on these hills of sand,
I have flown from the other window of myself
to become white heron, blue whale,
red fox, hedgehog.
Oh, sometimes already my body has felt like the body of a flower!
Sometimes already my heart is a red parrot, perched
among strange, dark trees, flapping and screaming.

Early Morning Thoughts

Meditation is not a hobby. It is important to address the problems of the world, of our society, to express our understanding through compassionate action. But if the world is truly to be a place of peace then we need to understand our own minds. Because what is happening "out there" is simply a manifestation of what is happening in the mind. ~Joseph Goldstein~

Five Rules For Happiness

Free your heart from hatred (forgive)
Free your mind from worry - most never happen
Live simply and appreciate what you have
Give more
Expect less

~copied and among my special quotes~

The expect less is on my mind a lot. I cannot expect the attention I sometimes desire from my children. They have busy lives and mom chose to move to the woods.
Especially true through this last experience of shingles and sciatic nerve problem.
Guess I had a needy spirit.

Kaveri, your recent comment about my leaving the city and returning to my home place - touched my heart.
You are so talented with words...
"from city to country
external to internal
material to earth
fear to love"

Wherever you are on this planet
May you have a day filled with happiness
health, safety and peace.....

Where Have All The Flowers Gone

An errand in the big city yesterday
drove by my home that was sold one year ago
grass has replaced my beautiful garden
second picture
The home sold 5 years ago
first picture
same thing has happened
A piece of each of these flowers were
moved to the country
they are flourishing
Life goes on for One Woman
and her plants....

Early Cold Morning Treasures

38 degrees and an early morning walk
revealed the beginning of my garden
May Apples are blooming but it was
difficult for me to get a good image
If I got down on the damp woods ground
was wondering "could I get back up"
Trilliums are beautiful
first yellow rose is struggling to open
and first iris does not look cold at all

One Woman put up her heavy jackets and gloves
anticipating warm weather
they were retrieved this early morning

Warmer weather and sun today.....

Simple Life

Real life lived in the past week
Special visitors
lunch at local favorite
Gift of Tuscany bread and red umbrella

Grandson so fortunate for summer work
internship in New York

Consultation with new doctor in near town
will make it much easier then driving miles
Shingles gone but left a gift of pain in
sciatic nerve. Received shot for this
Hope it is a short visit..

Garden is flourishing
Woods are filled with Trillium's and May Apples
Iris beginning to open
Roses filled with buds and soon to open
Lilacs planted a year ago are beautiful
Hummingbirds making their visits
Turkeys are venturing close to cottage
Wildlife and birds are becoming so use to me
and many times do not leave - just look at me

Received gift from a dear online friend
the song "Earth Mother" sent from Amazon
Did not realize you could send a song to someone
Touched my heart deeply
Thank you Kaveri....

Early this morning, little girls soccer practice
it is cold - in the 50's

Next Sunday - family that is near will
gather for lunch in the woods. Hoping for
a pretty day - kites in order for little girls

Dropped cell phone in toilet
revived it with sun and hair dryer

A cool morning in the woods

Yesterday Seems So Long Ago

Thank you special daughter and granddaughter for spending a few days in the woods.
We talked, you listened, you rested - we laughed and shared. My heart is full of special memories.
Memories of my oldest daughter as a little girl
memories of my granddaughter when she was born
and she would visit as a toddler
A red umbrella makes me smile
as life continues at Woodhaven...

Morning Visitor

Finding The Path

Like someone lost in the forest, if you're not really convinced there's a way out of suffering, you give up very easily. You run into a thicket here, a steep cliff there, and it just seems way too much. But if you're convinced there's got to be a way out, you've heard of other people who've made their way out, you think, "It's got to be in here someplace." You keep looking, looking, looking. Finally you see how the other people made their way out - oh, that was the path they took."

~~Thanissaro Bhikkha~~

Special Days

It looks as though Spring has officially arrived at Woodhaven and the surrounding woods.
Beautiful weather
the many plants transplanted
are emerging.
Seeds are sprouting and my
little garden is thriving.
Grass cut and trimmed for the first time by helper. This will be done once a month and in between I will cut surrounding my cottage.
Cushions for screen porch have been put out.
My dearest friend had several baskets of flowers for the terrace.
My youngest daughter finally made it home from a business trip to Seattle. Found herself in Denver overnight. My little granddaughters were so pleased to have their mama home. Daddy spent some special time with them.
My daughter Beth spent the afternoon with me. Without even searching found 2 four leaf clovers. Reminded me of my mother who could spot a dozen in a few minutes.
She brought me a beautiful candle to put on the nightstand beside my bed.
Tomorrow my daughter Laurie from Tampa and granddaughter Jessica from New York arrive.
I will enjoy this special time with them.
So good to have famiy visit.
It has been weeks since I drove to the big city and they will be bringing my Tuscany bread.
Making Cauliflower/white bean soup, spinach salad and Lemon Ice Box Pie to have on hand when they arrive. Bowl filled with apples, bananas, mango's to add to yogurt for breakfast. Two local eating places will receive a visit. First time ever that I have not cooked big time. At the moment not up to it.
Shingles have finally run their course. The itching has been replaced by an aching back.
This has been a 4 week adventure with this visitor.

The Good Stuff

My friend had 3 buckets of manure for
One Woman to place in garden
Years since they had cattle
But the barn floor is pure gold

It looks like my Red Leaf Maple
is going to make it
First year did not look too good....

The Color Green

As day breaks and I look out the window
This shade of green is beyond description
In a number of weeks it will be harvest time
and this green field will have a golden color

38 degrees in the woods
Spring like weather has left for a few hours

I read that the color green soothes, relaxes mentally and physically
Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety
Offers a sense of renewal, self control, and harmony

At the moment with healing from shingles and also ER visit yesterday for splinter
in thumb nail (need to garden with gloves on)
I am pleased that One Woman is surrounded by the color green

Happy Birthday

Thinking of family times when you return to Woodhaven
Continue on your journey
You warm your
mother's heart
with your special words
and
special memories.....

Shingles

Just took the hottest bath I could stand and covered these huge welts with cortisone cream. Usually this gives relief for 3 hours. I have been totally unfamiliar with this condition. Did think you had blisters on your skin. I have no blisters "thank goodness" just huge red and swollen patches that itch and are painful. Started at the middle of back waistline. Now has progressed to hip and some on my stomach. At this point I will not go on pain medication. Want nothing else in my system as the poison ivy medication and shot are almost out of my system So, will see what happens. Sky, when I will try some of your lotion. I am told this could be weeks or months of this condition and then after many months I can get a shot to prevent it happening again. I will add that never in a million years did a condition like this enter the mind of this One Woman Thank you for all of the encouragement and kind comments I just came inside from filling bird feeders. I do know that I feel better when I am surrounded by nature.
A beautiful day is in progress and I will spend much time in my garden and walking the paths in the woods.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and have my senses put in order ~~~John Burroughs~~