Monday, March 31, 2008

J. Krishnamurti

Here is the path by my house that I wander down quite often.
Deep thoughts pour through me as I try to escape them into nature.
I ran across this excerpt and feel the urge to post it so that I may look back later on it and remember................



"Over the hills in the far distance was the wide, shining, sparkling sea. We have broken up the earth as yours and mine - your nation, my nation, your flag and his flag, this particular religion and the religion of the distant man. The world, the earth, is divided, broken up. And for it we fight and wrangle, and the politicians exult in their power to maintain this division, never looking at the world as a whole. They haven't got the global mind. They never feel nor ever perceive the immense possibility of having no nationality, no division, they can never perceive the ugliness of their power, their position and their sense of importance. They are like you or another, only they occupy the seat of power with their petty little desires and ambitions, and so maintain apparently, as long as man has been on this earth, the tribal attitude towards life. They don't have a mind that is not committed to any issue, to any ideals, ideologies - a mind that steps beyond the division of race, culture, that the religions man has invented.
Governments must exist as long as man is not a light to himself, as long as he does not live his daily life with order, care, diligently working, watching, learning. He would rather be told what to do. He has been told what to do by the ancients, by the priests, by the gurus, and he accepts their orders, their peculiar destructive disciplines as though they were gods on this earth, as though they knew all the implications of this extraordinarily complex life.
Sitting there, high above all the trees, on a rock that has its own sound like every living thing on this earth, and watching the blue sky, clear, spotless, one wonders how long it will take for man to learn to live on this earth without wrangles, rows, wars and conflict. Man has created the conflict by his division of the earth, linguistically, culturally, superficially. One wonders how long man, who has evolved through so many centuries of pain and grief, anxiety and pleasure, fear and conflict, will take to live a different way of life.
As you sat quietly without movement, a bob cat, a lynx, came down. As the wind was blowing up the valley it was not aware of the smell of that human being. It was purring, rubbing itself against a rock, its small tail up, and enjoying the marvel of the earth. Then it disappeared down the hill among the bushes. It was protecting its lair, its cave or its sleeping place. It was protecting what it needs, protecting its own kittens, and watching for danger. It was afraid of man more than anything else, man who believes in god, man who prays, the man of wealth with his gun, with his casual killing. You could almost smell that bob cat as it passed by you. You were so motionless, so utterly still that it never even looked at you; you were part of that rock, part of the environment.
Why, one wonders, does man not realize that one can live peacefully, without wars, without violence; how long will it take him, how many centuries upon centuries to realize this? From the past centuries of a thousand yesterdays, he has not learned. What he is now will be his future."
by J. Krishnamurti

car repairs



We have found some of the parts to repair Bay's car. It has been out of service for over 6 weeks now and I am ready for it to be completed. She had to go to court for the ticket that was given to her. I still do not understand why she received the ticket but oh well, she has 48 hours of community service and 2 appearances at teen court and she still has to pay. This is the part of parenting that I don't too much care for...

Friday, March 28, 2008

Whats new in the garden?


Lots of new fun stuff is starting to arrive in the garden. Spring is getting busy! Are you?

Here are some of my finds on my daily walkabout.....

Wisteria



Chinese Snowball (next week it will be completely open)




This is a branch of a tree that is blooming. It is a passalong from my mother in law's garden and I planted it 3 years ago when it was a seedling. I do not remember what it is.

Buttercups that I never planted and now they have taken over and I am trying to weed them out but they move so much faster than me.

Almond Bush (pretty little button flowers in spring only)

It is a overcast cool day, which is a nice reprieve after yesterdays balmy 85. I just love the changes that springtime brings. Each morning I wake to a new surprise!


Family PMS

What do you do when your family is PMSing? Yesterday was a definate pms day for my household. Everyone was in a terrible whiny, gripy, bad, unreasonable mood. When I arrived home from work it was all quiet and then everyone came home and oh my!, the moods went flying. I did not know what to do to keep the peace so I suggested Roby and I go for a walk to clear our minds. Guess what, Roby brought his cell phone so we were not alone. Finally, I said dont answer it, just let it ring. Next week for 2 days we will be going south looking for wildflowers and staying in an Elegant Bed and Breakfast. It could not come soon enough. We need some pampering away from it all even if it is just 1 night.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Oh my!

I just finished 40 minutes doing a pilates workout. I always thought "Whats the big deal, it is just stretching and breathing, how hard can that be?" Boy was I wrong. I am so out of shape, I am exhausted and exhilirated at the same time. It actually made me sweat. Ha

Snippet from the book I am studying

"The past lives in you as memories, but memories in themselves are not a problem. In fact, it is through memory that we learn from the past and from past mistakes. It is only when memories, that is to say, thoughts about the past, take you over completely that they turn into a burden, turn problematic, and become a part of your sense of self. Your personality, which is conditioned by the past, then becomes your prison. Your memories are invested with a sense of self, and your story becomes who you perceive yourself to be. This "little me" is an illusion that obscures your true identity as timeless and formless Presence." Eckhart Tolle

Deep stuff, I know but oh so helpful in life.

We have to learn to live without carrying around regrets, hostility, guilt, and resentment. Imagine how light we would be if we would just LET IT BE!

Okay I will now step off my soapbox and practice just letting it be.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter

Pretty Easter Girl Kylee
Egg Hunt

We had a great day! I was so busy taking pictures of the little ones I neglected my own kids and only got back and half shots of them. Oops!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Roby!Here is his bestest friend ever! She adores him and so do I!






New blooms

I found some new blooms in my garden today.
It has been such a beautiful Friday and Saturday!Wisteria budding

Rabbit holding Shasta Daisy

Blue Moss Phlox

Old Blush Rose

Texas Columbine


Thursday, March 20, 2008

Awakening Exercise

Here is an awakening exercise from the book I am studying, I find this very helpful in overcoming negativity around me:

Recurring negative emotions do sometimes contain a message. Any changes that you make, whether they have to do with your work, your relationships or your surroundings, are ultimately only cosmetic unless they arise out of a change in your level of consciousness. When you reach a certain degree of presence, you won't need negativity anymore to tell you what is needed in your life situation. But as long as negativity is there, use it. Use it as a kind of signal that reminds you to be more present.

Try This-->
Whenever you feel negativity arising within you, whether caused by an external factor, a thought or even nothing in particular that you are aware of, look on it as a voice saying, "Attention. Here and now. Wake up. Get out of your mind. Be present."


Feel yourself becoming transparent, without the solidity of a material body. Now allow whatever you are reacting negatively to—the noise of the car alarm, the dog barking, the traffic jam—to pass right through you. It is no longer hitting a solid "wall" inside you.

My Favorite:
Become like a deep lake. The outer situation of your life, whatever happens there is like the surface of the lake—sometimes calm, sometimes windy and rough. Deep down, however, the lake is always undisturbed. You are the whole lake, not just the surface. Practice being in touch with your own depth, which remains absolutely still.

Just something to think about!!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

CELEBRATE




Yesterday I took mother to her last red devil injection.


She is done with Chemotherapy!


Yippee!


Celebrate!


She will have her last 10 down days and then it is up up up!


Yippee!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Vegie garden planted!


I planted the vegetable garden and now wait with much anticipation for all the delicious vegies to grow and produce scrumptious nutritious food.
Here is a list of what I planted:
Garlic
Roma Classic Tomato
1015 Onion
Red Sweet Bell Pepper
Arugula
Goliath Tomato
Yummy Petite Orange Bell Pepper
Park's Whopper Tomato
Yellow Sweet Bell Pepper
Next year I am going to double the garden's size. I saw so many other vegies that I wanted but didn't have the space.
I saw my first super large butterfly of the season today. I did not have camera in hand. It felt like spring even though it is not quite yet.

Look at what is blooming

Baylee's Bradford Pear! We had one at our old house and it was Bay's favorite so we planted one here for her, however we made sure we got the right one this time, the one that blooms first and then gets leaves. At the old house it always had leaves and blooms at the same time. Here is a Japanese Snowball bush (viburnum).
It gets more exquisite each year.

If you could smell on the internet you would be amazed at how wonderful and sweet this stock smells. Everything is fresh and white!
Oops! I do have dandelions trying to take over in the area with sparse grass!
Viburnum one more time.

Neighborhood Egg hunt

Excited and ready to run.
Luke is patiently waiting for the hunt to begin. Kylee shows off one of her prize eggs as Luke runs around looking for more.
Here they are patiently waiting!
See the bunny up by the parking lot.

They wouldn't take their picture with him.

Here is some of their loot. They dumped it out and went hunting for more.
We all had a fun time. Sooooooooooooooooooo many eggs and so few kids. I bet they found around 50 eggs each. This was a really nice neighborhood egg hunt to get them ready for the big event on Sunday! I love having my neice and nephew close by, I get to relive the adventures of my own children, plus it is great to look at the world thru a childs eyes.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Quote of the day

"We must be the change we want to see in the world." —Gandhi

Monday, March 10, 2008

Monday

I worked for about 5 hours today, preparing the store for the week. We have so many pretty things in now and more market purchases are due in next week. I just love the beauty of spring.

Tonight I had my class online class again and I am excited. I am learning so much and thinking hard. Eckhart Tolle is a very peaceful and spiritual man who happens to be a very good teacher. He is opening my heart and mind to a beautiful world. I never imagined how much the ego can destroy the joy of life. In fact, I didn't even realize what ego exactly was until now. I feel awesome growth in me.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Snow in March

Bay and I built this guy! She wouldn't let me light his arms! heheheh






So much for Iris!

My dafodil did not like it too much!









Wednesday, March 05, 2008

My first Caucus

I attended my first caucus last night. I was in awe. Even though it was extremely disorganized, it was exhilarating. I was energized by those around me. Everyone had one thing in common, THEY WANT CHANGE! We waited outside in the could for almost 2 hours. It was unbelievable when the Republican caucus person came out and asked for all the people for the Republican caucus to come over to her area, no one came. So she asked again, no one came. She said it one more time and then the whole crowd booed. I couldn't believe that everyone there was for the Democratic Caucus. What I could see is that this country wants change, they are fed up with the powers that be. I hope this momentum carries on and builds towards November. I have never seen such interest in an election in my life. My hope is that whoever is chosen to run as the Democratic candidate is strong enough to endure the torture ahead. It can get very ugly out there with all the needless mudslinging. It was nice last night to see that people from all walks of life were realizing to get change you have to be active and give some of your time. You cannot sit around and wait for someone to do it for you. I have a new hope because of this experience, a new hope that we may get CHANGE!


Here is a quote from the Obama Camp:

"We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end -- the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter to people's lives, the stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope.
But this time -- this year -- it will not work. The challenges are too great. The stakes are too high. Americans need real change."



Here is an excerpt from CNN:
As polling places closed Tuesday evening, Texans were reportedly lining up in bigger-than-expected numbers for the caucuses -- in some places lining up in parking lots and overflowing buildings where caucuses were held.
A CNN I-reporter in Houston reported hundreds of people at his polling place -- saying he had to wait for over an hour just to sign in.
In Austin, about 800 people showed up -- far outstripping expectations and causing organizers to stand on top of tables and yell to organize caucus-goers, one voter said.


Couldn't find anything yet at the Hillary Camp, but I will post when I do!


Isn't this exciting! People are showing interest!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Bunny time



I love bunnies. They signify spring for me. For some odd reason I always think of Thumper from Bambi and I love Thumper. Such a wonderful character. Bunnies multiply at a rapid rate so they mean hope to me. I love their chipper hoppity attitude and cheery cottontails. I love bunnies!

Monday, March 03, 2008

More dafodil shots



With the weather acting up, I hope the good old fashioned dafodils hold up. I want to cut them for a bouquet but I also want to share the blooms outdoors. What to do?

My 1st class with Oprah is tonight!

I have been reading this book for the upcoming class with Oprah online. Tonight is the 1st class about chapter 1. It lasts for 90 minutes. I am so excited about this. It is an excellent book and has helped me with my life. I have learned so much and cannot wait to see what else I can learn through the class. I will be posting later on some of the wonderful things that I have learned.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

birth of an iris

Leap day view of iris6:30 early morning March 1
midmorning view 3-1
noon 3-1
afternoon view 3-1
It is amazing how quickly the iris opened for the sunshine.