Does Not Take Much To Please Her

Out in the garden
picking the few red and green tomatoes
and another pepper
before the impending frost.
Going to make a couple of jars of salsa.
Never planted turnips before
always liked them
only when very small
Today at market one was purchased
to add to turnip greens
that I just finished eating.
Checking the turnips
in the garden
there they were
two

just my size
and ready to pick

You Did Well

Little kitchen garden
you were not a disappointment.
Plenty for One Woman and a little
too share.
Now if it had not rained so much
there would have been more
squash and cucumbers.
At present turnip greens are turning
yellow because of the rain.
A few tomatoes and green peppers
on the vine
Clean up time
and will plant a small row of

Egyptian onions.

The weather is magnificent
cool in the morning and night
Pleasant warm days

"Would you know a simile for life and death?
Compare them then to water and ice.
Water binds together to become ice.
Ice melts and turns back into water.
What has died must live again.
What has been born shall return to death.
Water and ice do no harm to each other.
Life and death are both of them good"

Cold Mountain 100 Poems by Han-shan

Wish I Was There

I find my son's letters so interesting
occasionally will share.
This was received several days ago
after I posted about my books...

Hi mama !

I like your new journal entry about re-reading old books !

After reading dozens of Buddhist philosophy books over the years, I now generally just re-read the better ones - it is difficult to improve upon the likes of Ajahn Chah, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Charlotte Joko Beck ( highly recommended - 2 upstairs somewhere... ). Ajahn Sumano ( Question from the City, Answers from the Forest ), and of course Sayadaw U Jotika....I have been very fortunate to attend lectures by the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Sayadaw U Jotika - and have spent the afternoon chatting with Ajahn Sumano outside his cave in rural Thailand - in fact my monk friend who I spent last Sunday with is contemplating another visit to Ajahn Sumano in the near future and I shall tag along....

Sunday with Phra Frank was quite enjoyable - he is in the midst of his 3rd rains retreat - Thai monks spend 90 days in the summer at one location during the rainy season and intensify their practice - for his pre-noon meal he requested I bring tuna fish sandwiches, olives, m & m's , pastries, and cheese - so I made the sandwiches in his hut and we had a good lunch - after lunch 3 young Thai people who spoke English stopped by with meditation questions so he gave them a one hour Dharma talk and then we went and listened to the Abbot give a Dharma talk.

Friday night at the Shangrila in my free room was great as expected - I loved having my sliding glass door to the balcony open and listening to the river taxis chug along til midnite - they have a pool overlooking the river with lounge chairs around the pool or you can face the river - which is where I rested and read a book for a bit before the late Friday rains moved in - Saturday morning a breakfast buffet outdoors - ( I passed on the $120.00 dinner buffet Friday eve - but did enjoy just looking at it - mountains of lobster, oysters, and everything else under the sun in large quantities....)

Today, Monday, I taught 2 classes back to back this morning - the last week of every month we focus on restorative poses and sometimes do some pranayama.

November I go for 3 days to Siem Reap, Cambodia and in February visit Tim in Vietnam - I called him the other day and he is getting ready to head to Nashville in a couple of weeks.

OK all for now - time for dinner...

Love, Jimmy

I Think Of This

Often think of sleeping on my screen porch.
The night sounds would be wonderful
might just try it.
Noticing a lot of small lizzards coming through
the porch floor which is like a deck.
Wonder, would they bite me ?
Also, hopefully Miss Callie would not bark
through the night at the creatures in the woods.

picture from http://livebold-helen.blogspot.com/

Book Thoughts

I have bought a number of books lately and when I begin to read them - just cannot get into them.
One such book yesterday.   Another donation to the local library..
So I have decided I am not going to buy any more books.
Many on shelves of bookcases, sitting by my chair and on my nightstand that are my favorites.
They are dated and passages underlined.
Many I have not picked up in years.

One in particular, "The Shell Seekers" by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is dated 1987 by me and I made a comment that is was a favorite.
I went through a period where I devoured her books
probably have most of them.   Just pleasant reading that took me to another time and place.
As my son's interest in Buddhism grew I began to read a lot of books about a philosophy that
was totally foreign to me.
If I reread all of my favorite books and special interest that I study that will take a number of years.   So that is my plan.
Also my son has a library here at the cottage.   Recently introduced to Chinese poetry through his books.
I would never have thought this would interest me.
Pleasant surprise, I love it and can relate to those who made a move to the mountains and have a garden.

"I live here quietly and peacefully, but this isn't chance happening
I worked very hard for it.  It's about hard work, not just good karma.
I chose to live quietly and peaceful.  Every day I choose to live quietly and peacefully, it's a constant choice.
Needs a real strong determination, a letting go.  We can't have our cake and eat it too."

Snow in the Summer by Sayadaw U Jotika

Beauty In The Woods

This quickly caught my eye.
looks like a sculpture
It was sitting on the stump
of the huge tree that was
cut down about a month ago
Sure created at a rapid pace.
The woods are amazing.....

"Our appointment with life
is in the present moment"

Thich Nhat Hanh

Morning Smiles

First thing in the morning
I always check my email and
seems that is the time the
 inspiration to write makes
an appearance.

I smile this early morning
at these special notes.

One from my grandson who is
attending local university
He is coming for lunch tomorrow
So I am planning on cooking.

A welcome letter from my son in
Thailand. He tells of a visit to a
riverfront hotel and watching the
river taxis, wooden boats and barges
go by.   Oh how I would like
to visit that beautiful land.  On days
that I feel good - like this morning
I am ready to go.  On other days'
it is a dream that will not materialize.
Wish there was someone to fly
with me.   What a major accomplishment
if I could do this solo.

Another letter from a granddaughter in
New York.  In music school for her
loved French Horn. Is vegan vegetarian
loves to cook and guess what she now
has a job in the morning like 4:00 am
at a bakery. http://serotoninforbreakfast.com/ 
I tell her what wonderful
experience even though she shares
she has burns on her arms and is making
mistakes.  Grandma told her if she had to do this
for nothing it is wonderful experience.
Then she goes on to school.  So proud
of her for undertaking this challenge.
She shares of a morning photo shoot with her
woodwind quintet and an upcoming performance
at a wedding for the first time as a group.

My youngest daughter is recovering
from horrible fall where she passed out
so thankful she did not have major
injuries  http://blondemomblog.com/

Up at 4:30 and it is still raining
the rest from gardening and outdoor
work is welcome.
Banana bread in the oven
hummingbird sugar water simmering on stove
they will be visiting for a while.

What would I do without my computer.
at this time of life?

Sharing words and the love
 received

A lifeline to the woods.....