My primitive artwork began as a small drawing about things I'm grateful for but...I couldn't stop. If you begin a similar project, you might want a larger sheet of paper!(If the entire family starts counting their blessings you might need one of those paper tablecloths and lots of colored pens.) Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and thanks for being a friend.
There are good ideas and bad ideas. Leaving oaks for palms
was not one of my better ideas. Perhaps I mentioned on a different post that I
missed big trees while living in the desert. Of course, I had a great
connection with my lemon tree and will always miss her fragrant blossoms and
juicy, plump fruit. Lately however, I've reunited with some old
friends and though I remember certain mighty trees, do they remember me?
Most ideas start with a seed that develops into something
great and tall like an oak or they shrivel...withering away... if not watered
and protected. Nurture your ideas and they will grow!
Going on a hike is a wonderful idea!
Yes, pay the small
day-use fee and let’s go.
Hiking boots are a must.
Even though it's mostly flat terrain
there are rocky sections and tarantulas.
Which way should we go? A Robert Frost moment.
Is this tree gorgeous, or what?
Before we moved to the desert, we lived five miles from the Santa Rosa Plateau and EcologicalPreserve. It is a great place to go hiking--observe nature and sometimes--even wildlife. Yesterday,
on a lovely November Sunday, and after a nine-year hiatus, we finally returned. Though looking a bit dry, I was elated that our new home is still only six miles away.
You should see this place in the spring!
Dry grasses reflect the seriousness of the California drought.
Remarkable and strange due to the international news this area created during a
deluge about a month ago. Huge floods just down the street were washing cars
away. Lightning and thunder shook our home and a lake formed on a lot next
door. There was also rain last week and evidence of lightning strikes up in the
preserve.
Once home to the Luiseno tribe, it’s a serene place now
consisting of 9000 acres. The preserve has coyotes, mountain lions, mule deer
and other animals roaming free in their natural habitat. We saw two large,
gold-colored coyotes but hurried along the trail so they wouldn't alert the
rest of the pack.
There are vernal pools, meadows for horseback riding,
mountain biking and the oldest standing structures in our county called the
adobes.
It’s only a 2.5-mile hike and a lovely way to spend the day. There are
picnic benches surrounding the adobe buildings and it’s very quiet. The only
sound was the woodpecker banging his bill into the 400-year-old oak above us.
Here are some interesting facts about
the adobes.
* Built in 1846 by a
rancher called Juan Moreno--the last Mexican governor of California territory,
Pio Pico, granted him 48,000 acres.
* Moreno sold his
ranch in 1855 for $1000 and some livestock.
* In 1876 some British businessmen bought the
land for $1 an acre.
* In 1894 it went into receivership.
* In 1964 it was sold to Kaiser Steel for 21
million.
* In 1984 it was purchased by the Nature
Conservancy.
Have you heard
of the Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion trees campaign? Now that’s a great
idea!
Is Anything Pinky Proof? Welcome to the Dog Toy Trials
Pinky is the official dog toy tester. She is being compensated and doesn't endorse one product over another. She is not an actor.
Dragon with a missing brain.
Rescued dogs seem to take all their frustrations out on
their toys. Even after ten years....
Gutless camo-wearing squirrel
I usually wait for her to get to the stuffing and then remove as much of the white fluffy stuff as I can, as well as the squeaky thing.
Once all that is in the garbage, I return her toy. She misses the squeaky part
but still enjoys chewing on the toy.
A bird on it's last legs
I thought she’d mellow out by now but she’s as playful as
ever.
Guess I should count my blessings.
Tried something a little less plush and after one hour....
I realize there are tougher toys out there but they are
usually hard rubber.
Squeak-no-more Skunk
Any recommendations?
The packaging said it was very tough--made from automobile seat belts.
If someone you know makes a living designing toys for dogs, please suggest making them more durable. The above toys total $50 or more and though Pinky loves having fun with them--my trips to the pet store are now being monitored--because---someone around here thinks buying dog toys is a waste of money! Can you imagine?? So far the winner is brainless dragon but only because our official tester temporarily lost interest.... Pinky and I hope we have helped other dog owners in the quest for the best toys.
I've been thinking about energy lately. The kind of energy
that unites souls. Some people call it animal magnetism or auras but I think
there’s more to it than that. Besides, animal magnetism doesn't really apply to
heterosexual, same-sex friends, does it?
Perhaps our greatest human strength is not physical.
Think about the last time you sat in a car and stared into
another car. Did the passenger or driver look back? Coincidence right? Maybe
not. Maybe it’s your energy? Are we ready to acknowledge our innate wireless
connections? Have you ever showed up at someone’s house only to be told they
are so glad you came and they were just about to call you and invite you over?
Maybe you got there just in time to cheer them up or save them from a house
fire because you noticed they left the stove on.
While quantum physicists are explaining their theories
regarding atomic connected-ness, I’m thinking about it all the time. I don’t
need the theory of relativity to tell me we’re related.
I remember Christmas shopping in a store that gave me bad
vibes. By the time I left, I had accidentally cut myself on the sharp-edged
counter and was bleeding profusely. Was it something they sold? Was it the
building? Was it the people who worked there? Why did I feel so uncomfortable
and why did I end up punished in a sense, for not liking their store? Sure, it
seems silly to take it personally and yet there was a definite feeling hanging
over my shoulders, making me feel like I wasn't welcome.
My husband is a real estate broker and has shown me many,
many resale homes where I immediately sensed either a negative vibe or a
positive ambiance. This has nothing to do with cleanliness or staging a home. When
I walk into a home, I often feel there were huge arguments or perhaps painful
interactions that might have taken place. I can be in a sunny, upbeat mood and
feel like a dark cloud has landed on my head. Heading for the door, I wonder if
the house will ever sell. Of course, I've been in happy homes where happy
families lived and typically, I've wanted to linger. Isn't it strange how we
leave behind these energy fields and how can we prevent them from seeping into
the foundation?
While USA Today called Sedona, Arizona the most beautiful
place in America, others say it’s a place of concentrated energy. A place where
spiritual powers feel enhanced from what the New Age crowd calls a vortex and
others say it’s just our own personal reaction to extraordinary beauty. A
vortex is something that swirls like a whirlpool and takes place in water, fire
and even lava. Like dust or snow flurries, they settle down after a while,
unless it’s invisible like energy. The invisible part makes scientists dispute
the energy claims of Sedona because it’s not very easy to prove and scientists
love having proof. All I know is that my fancy Swiss watch had a new battery when
I went to Sedona, and once there, it stopped running.
Home to many different tribes--such as Hopi, Apache and Anasazi--
could the collective energies of their families, their prayers have seeped into
the red stone monoliths to create a kind of outdoor cathedral uniting tourists
and local believers?
We've all heard of the power of positive thinking and the
laws of abundance but what are the consequences of the opposite? With so many
negative things going on in the world, is there something we can do to create
positive energy? Every word, maybe every thought alters the universe. Maybe our
inner strength can end violence, create peace and end war?
We didn't have time to pick apples but stopped to buy a
gallon of cider and a bag of Jonagold apples anyway. Jonagold apples are sweet and have a thin skin. Delicious. With a name like Eve, I'm always tempted and yes, we bought an apple pie too but they used Granny Smith apples for the pie! SOUR!! Pie should be sweet like you, my fine friends. Hope you are all having a great day! It was a gorgeous day for a
drive through our local mountains. Over eighty degrees, sunshine and a mild breeze that cooled to seventy degrees at the 8,000 foot level.
Could this really be the end of October?
I missed trees while living in the desert.
Have you ever picked apples in an orchard? What is your favorite apple? Gala, Fuji and Macintosh are also delicious. Do you like Granny Smith Apples?
We have two rescue dogs. One of them still misses her original owner but is a great guard dog...eh...most of the time. She's only fifteen pounds but acts and sounds like a hundred. Most of you met her a few weeks ago in another post but since I've written so much about her sister Fiona, thought I'd concentrate on Pinky today.
I know, I know--this is not what you expected around here but I wrote this as a researched, example of my writing for a content mill website. They rejected my writing sample and so I'm posting it here and I'll let you judge the article for yourself. Plus, I'm a firm believer in acupuncture. Actually,when a gastrointestinal surgeon said he wanted to operate, simply because I had some sort of irritable stomach disorder, it was time to look for other options. This all happened more than twenty years ago and knock on wood, the acupuncture worked! With Halloween around the corner, maybe I can scare you with this....
Wikipedia
No matter how old or mature we are, the first time we hear
about acupuncture we are slightly shocked at the thought of, what we envision as
huge sewing needles, like the ones our mother used to darn socks with,
being used to cure whatever ails us. In fact, a basic description might be all
we needed to inspire us to live healthy and eat our vegetables.
Once we’re over the fear factory and realize acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that can help improve our
sleep, ease our aching backs, soothe our digestion, dull our headaches/
arthritis, help us lose weight, quit smoking and give us incredible energy,
that’s when considering acupuncture sounds like a wonderful choice for
continual health. The minimally invasive technique uses very thin needles
that are supposed to unblock the negative things holding us back from a happy
life. A trained practitioner pinpoints the exact locations needed to increase
the flow of positive energy and applies the sterilized, single-use needles. Every
acupuncture office has a diagram showing the exact location of these ‘flow
channels’ that are commonly called
meridians. The acupuncture specialist will meet with you to find out your needs
and they will create a personalized treatment program based on your individual
situation.
Though the use of acupuncture has become a controversial
subject in the Western world of health and medicine, there are many, many
supporters and medical professionals, including doctors, who prescribe
acupuncture as an alternative option for continuous care.
Unlike strong medications with serious side effects, the
side effect most associated with acupuncture is an increased bodily awareness.
This awareness, coupled with gradual improvements can feel like a side effect
because of the new, open and now flowing channels of positive energy. In
Western medicine, the doctor might call that feeling euphoric or explain how
endorphins have released into your bloodstream for one reason or another.
Since everything is moving again, you might feel tired but by combining
acupuncture and getting a good night’s rest, you will feel amazing!
In rare cases, there are patients whose skin feels sensitive
and sore for 24 hours after the needles are removed but remember, these are
qualified, trained specialists and the needles are extremely thin.
Your health
and well-being begins with knowing and understanding your options. If it has to
do with your body, your life and your happiness, then you should ask questions,
read all the information available and take control of your health today.
