Rain

Into every life a little rain must fall...
Have you ever heard those wise words?  Perhaps, if you are blessed enough to still have a grandparent, you may have been imparted many little hidden wisdoms like this one.  Heed them well!

Into every life, a little rain must fall...
It's Natural.  It's the ebb and flow of the ocean.  It's the change of seasons.  It's the breathing in and breathing out of Life.  Sometimes it's a sprinkle and sometimes it's a torrent, but it comes.

The clouds drift in, the rain begins, the wind might blow, tears may flow but you must always know it will end.

There are umbrellas and raincoats, kind words and faith that help to get us through the storms in our lives.
It takes a little practice to know which one to reach for, but that comes with time and age.  I suppose that's one good thing about getting older, we learn when to find a tissue and when to grab an umbrella!

April showers bring May flowers.  What do February showers do?  Tell you it's too warm outside to snow?
Wash away the remnants of that last snowstorm?  Rinse the birdpoop off your feeders?  All of the above, plus let you know in a whisper that the Earth is preparing.

She's preparing to have a party!  To burst forth in all Her multi-colored, festive finery.  The budding artistry has begun!  The trees are thinking about blooming.  The watering of silent roots and sleeping creatures beneath the surface is in progress.  They soon will emerge hungry for the hors d'oevres of Spring... more rain (and sun eventually).

The Fairys will dance in the garden once again.  The airy cloud Sylphs float overhead on white whisps of moisture.  The elves and their kin will soon be tending to Life's unseen celebration.  All unbeknownst to us.
All because the rain sent out the invitations.  All because of the wisdom of Nature.

She sees around the corners, through the fog, past the storm and into the forest.  And beyond the dark woods of uncertainty, there is a rainbow that makes everything "right as rain".

If you listen, the rain speaks to you.  There is a whining in the wind, a whistling in the trees, a rhythm in the raindrops.  It's saying "All is well.  This too shall pass.  Into every life... a little rain must fall.

A Pair o' Ducks

****This morning I awoke to a perfect blanket of pure white snow. The kind that sticks to every little twig and tine of chickenwire fencing. It looks like a warm snuggly, fuzzy blanket. Ha! I wouldn't want to roll around in that! It's a "pair o' ducks", you know, something that seems like one thing and turns out to be the exact opposite!
****Our backyard is once again secluded just like it is in the late Spring when everything is green and blooming; another pair o' ducks. It makes me think that I live in a much better area where you can't see the neighbors. I can dream, can't I? (At least until later this afternoon or tomarrow when all the snow melts.)
Its supposed to be 60 on Sunday.
****Nature always seems to find Her balance. Even though something looks odd to us, She sees it as normal, Natural. To Nature a pair o' ducks is just a couple of Mallards. All is well. If you pushed those ducks below the surface and let go, they would bob right back up on top of the water again. Balance.   
****The sun is out now and the contrast of blindingly white snow on branches and leaves against the rich blue sky is a thing of beauty. Don't you get fooled when the day is clear and sunny and looks warm but isn't? (Another "pair".)
****I don't know about you, but I think it's arrogant of us humans to think we have any great power against the force of Nature. She seems to function just fine without consulting us one iota. We may not understand Her ways, and we certainly don't have the scope of vision to stand outside our limited bubble of life and observe the overall vista of the plan of the Universe. Its probably all a pair o' ducks!
****The immense power of tidal waves and cyclones, volcanoes and lightening, the changing of seasons and the cycles of Life and death are baffling to us. For eons our ancestors have tried to change and control the ebb and flow of Mother Nature's ways to suit themselves. They have danced and prayed, sacrificed and  chanted their way through history. Are we not still doing the same thing? If there is global warming, perhaps it is because Ms. Nature wants it thus. "Its not nice to fool with Mother Nature!" (Old commercial for you young'ns!) Not that I'm for polluting or disrespecting any of this beautiful planet or the wonderous Life on it. But, could it be that we are more like fleas on a dog, than destroyers of the balance of Nature? Maybe we are just an annoyance.  Maybe we are loved no matter what havoc or mischief we create, just as the birds of prey or lions or crocodiles are a part of the program even though they are aggressive and deadly. Are we not as valuable as the lillies of the fields and the sparrows of the woods?
****Do you know that after a forest fire, there are elements available that actually help to create new life? Some plant's seeds grow better after they charred. If Life can fight back after something as devastating and deadly as a fire; if the earth can spin on it's axis for millenniums; if civilizations of crazy humans of every shape, color and form can ponder the ways of the Universe and try to effect a change upon It (to no avail I might add); then what detrimental effect could little us really have? Aren't we arrogantly and ignorantly just following our ancestors pair o' ducks, all the while thinking how sophisticated and advanced we are?
****Face it people! We're just a bunch of fleas inhabiting a flock of Mallards floating upon the pond of Life!

Look for the Robins

****Crisp! Yeah, that's what it was this Sunday... a crisp 18 degrees! Fresh and dry, no humidity, not one molecule! In the Summer when the humidity is 80%  you don't get to experience the joy of becoming your own science experiment.  You know what I mean... how long will the bolt of blue lightening be this time as I unwittingly reach for the door of my car! ZAP! Wow, that was exhiliarating! It's so crisp that... thats what your face becomes when you spend more then 5 minutes the delightful fresh air.
**** And the birds, dodging that beautiful Cooper's Hawk (the one who wants to have them for breakfast). That's how they get their exercise and keep warm.  He just keeps them on their toes. Unfortunately, as they're fleeing to save their lives their beaks and heads are what slam into my window, not their toes!
****Just look at that adorable, fluffy little squirrel. She's so friendly. She lets me run right up to her, waving my arms wildly, making a spectacle of myself, before she reluctantly unhinges her teeth from the suet I put out for the hungry woodpeckers!
****Then there's that cute little kitty. I love cats almost as much as I love dogs. Funny thing though, I never saw a dog hide out scheming under my porch steps trying to figure out the best way to bat one of my favorite Carolina Wrens right out of the air! Uughrr!!
****All tongues-in-cheeks aside, complaining gets us nowhere. Too bad its so much fun. I know a trick though that works for me when I'm feeling, shall we say... Uughrrr! Actually, its kind of a game.
****Now you can't go from sobbing to giggling unless you're schizophrenic, but you can purposely catch yourself feeling lousy and challenge yourself to do something about it. Its hard to remember that you can feel better especially if you have trodden a rut in the road to Yukville. Its a familiar trail. But, if you can remember once, you can intentionally climb out of the doldrums anytime. Here's how...
****Think of something you like. Not something you like that you can't have (that's the road back to Yukville). Think happy, think memory of a good time or a good feeling. Think of someone you love or something funny the kids said. If you're really down there you might just have to get mad. Rant and "uughrr"
your way to frustration. (It feels a lot better than grief or despair.) From mild annoyance you can pick up the binoculars and distract yourself into o.k-ness. There's always something going on out there to take your mind off your troubles, at least until your in a better frame of mind to deal with them. Uh-oh, there's that @#^&*/
cat again! Maybe a little upbeat music instead! Bundle up and take the dog for a walk. Watch a funny movie.
Sit by the window and watch for frozen people out walking their dogs and laugh at them. Pet your INSIDE
cat. Exercise releases those good feeling brain-chemical endorphins. Exercise! Ugh...Guilt...back to Yukville!
****Today the first thing I saw as I opened my front door this morning was a flock of about 50 Robins. What a beautiful, hopeful sight! They began to sing like they do in the evening in early Summer. There will be Spring!  Remember: The warm sun is always shining. However, it may currently be temporarily obscured by a Nor'easter.

Winter -Inside and Out

Sparkling icicles drip, hot cocoa sip
Bare sticks & twigs, raisins & figs
Birds quickly flit, fireplace lit
Outside cold and ice, inside its nice

Kindling collection, boots' resurrection
Winter's harsh chill, bread baked with dill
Kids' sleds to pull, sweaters' soft wool
Snowshovels call, mulled cider will stall

Wind whips the branches, candle flame dances.
Birds on the wire, logs on the fire
Nor'easter storm, cozy and warm
Tools on their hooks, curled up with a book.

Sky's bleak grey hue, rest and renew
Frozen watering can, draw a new garden plan
Observe Nature's way, celebrate the new day
Blustering wind, resolutions rescind

Birds' suet block, warm woolen socks
Tracks in the snow, please let this blog flow!
Hawks on the prowl, hear that wind howl
Leaves that quake, cookies to bake

Green things are few, hearty soup and stew
Frozen lake ice, cinnamon spice
Squirrels dig up acorns, snuggly quilt warms
Let Heaven and Nature sing, hibernate til Spring!


 
    

A Sense of the Season

***Alright, enough of what we shouldn't eat and do!  Its holiday time for goodness sake!  (My husband will be glad to hear that!)   Its time to celebrate the season.
***The ancient peoples of the Earth were pretty smart.  Right smack in the middle of the bleakness of Winter, in the coldest of short days and the darkness of long moonless nights is an oasis.  Lovingly and benevolently placed in the doldrums of the Solstice (at least in the northern hemisphere) is Christmas, birth of hope; Hannukkah, the festival of lights; Eid al Adha, festival of sharing;  Bohdi Day, Buddhist day of enlightenment; Diwali, India's festival of Lights and Mardi Gras (12th Night) celebrated in Rio and New Orleans, La.  They must have wisely known the value of distracting oneself from what's missing, what's grey and lifeless as cloudy skies over brown curled up corn husks.  If you focus on Wintry woes you go there.
***So light the candles!  Let's savor the season and take note of every juicy detail of joy we can squeeze out of the moment.  Let's devour chocolate (dark is best for you!), and revel in it's
decadent comfort.  Let peppermint awaken your sense of wonder as it chills your nose and plays upon your tongue.  Notice the sparkling diamonds in the snow and how beautiful bright red cardinals look against pine boughs.  Breathe in the sweet scent of cinnamon, bayberry,
evergreen wreaths and Mom's sumptuous holiday feast.  Break out the bubbly and delight as the bubbles tingle your nose.  Listen to the crackling of a fireplace log, the squeaky crunch of snow beneath your boot and the muffled sounds of a moonlit fresh-fallen snowy night.
***Its easy to lose our Greater Selves in the rubble of wrapping paper, rambunctuous kids and kitchen prep.  If you remember to breathe you'll restore your balance (and sanity). In the spirit of giving give this to yourself.  A moment of focus is like a big fat mistletoe kiss to your Spirit!
***This season, join me in childhood awe.  What makes your heart sing?  What turns you inside out?  What makes you feel as though you're about to burst?  Taste the deliciousness of that thought.  Keep it close.  Make it your default setting as you go... dashing thru the mall, with the one last gift, hurray!  On the bills we'll stall, laughing all the way! ( I couldn't resist!)
***Keep it Festive, reminisce with family, pet your dog or cat, daydream over hot chocolate and enjoy the harmony of carols.  Bake cookies with children and let them show you how unfettered silliness and giggling restores the Soul.  Taste, inhale,observe the fun.  From our backyard to yours, have a Blessed time!

Healthy Tips-part 2 Holiday Edition

***Just because its the crazy holiday season, that's no excuse to go crazy and resort to unhealthy habits. We feel festive, we feel entitled (especially when we're stressed), we may feel childlike and like this sugar laden, ooey-gooey something is a "gift for me"! Get a-hold of yourself people! It's a gift for your hips and although "hips don't lie", don't trust them! They'll get squishy real fast if you feed them too much of the wrong stuff and not enough of the right stuff. It's all about balance.
***Eating healthy doesn't mean doing without; or being sad and forlorn at the buffet. It means adding a little "girl math" to your meals. (You don't have to ba a girl!) Rachel Ray says that if you eat right you can eat more.
Its like shoes. If you save $$ on a pair of earrings, you can spend that on shoes! -You know, girl math! Eat well, don't be a pig and make sure you get your whole grains and veggies. Here are a few more ideas...
***No matter what the corn syrup lobbist says, there's a difference in how your body metabolizes sweeteners. Dr. Oz, world renowned cardiologist, author and TV host says that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) isn't seen by your body as food. And without going all technical on you, our bodies won't
turn on the 'stop eating' chemical. Yikes! No wonder we feel like we're
going to burst! Read labels. Adjust your diet.
***Agave syrup (right next to the honey on the grocery shelf) has a lower glycemic index than honey or sugar. Again simply, glycemic index means how fast your blood sugar shoots up. High blood sugar = not good. Agave has no
specific taste. Use for baking or instead of honey or sugar in anything.
And, while we're on syrup: Get the real thing! Real maple syrup costs more than brown colored HFCS so you'll use it sparingly!
***Soda is bad- the worst waste of your calorie investment. Try this:
Mix frozen orange juice concentrate with a small amount of seltzer. When smooth, add more selzer to taste. No guilt orange soda! Works with grape juice (make sure you get the good stuff with no sugar or fake chemical sweetener)or pineapple juice, or apple juice.
***Apple juice is a great sweetener too. Use instead of water to cook Old Fashioned Oatmeal. (Not the instant gunk! In fact, the best is steel cut oats, but they take the longest to cook.) I'm not expecting miracles! If you use apple juice and maybe some raisins, you'll use less sweetener. If you miss brown sugar (no better than white sugar), add a dab of molasses. Brown sugar is just white sugar with molasses added. I make my own.
***Get some whole wheat flour and use it for thickening gravy, coating chicken, baking, etc. Forget you ever heard of white flour! Use ONLY 100%
whole grain bread, tortillas, rolls, pitas, etc. (100% means they can't lie about how much white flour they sneak in there!)There is no excuse, they're all available. You have too much else to think about around the holidays to be worrying about if you're getting enough fiber. Make more things automatic and it won't be hard to incorporate good habits.
***Oh, and at the buffet, visit the veg platter first so you can use your girl math when it comes to dessert!
*** It may seem like we're all too busy to start changing things, but if not now then when? There's always something going on. Then again, there's always plenty of time while recovering from any number of diet-related conditions! Too snarky? Consider it a holiday wake-up-call, my little Naturegirl gift to you! Try some little things. Let me know how they work out.
***Rachel Ray has some good healthy ideas, and Drs. Oz and Roizen (Oz's brilliant co-author) have written a wonderful series of "YOU" books; ie
"You on a Diet" and "You, the Owners Manual". All of their books are found on Amazon. For your convenience, you can reach them through the carousel on the right.->
***Have a happy and healthy, guilt free holiday season right through New
Years Eve...less Resolutions on Jan. 2nd!

Renewal

***This morning as I began my day. I was feeling a little less than hopeful;
maybe somewhere in the range of blah or ho-hum. (Its Monday). So, I took my own advice and went outside to fill the bird feeder.
***I immediately felt the cool air. It was refreshing. My eye was taken by a shiny something in the grass. What is that? It looked like leftover tinsel from last year's tree. Right in the middle of the yard, in a shadow. ***Then a glistening diamond caught my eye across the yard. Dangling from a low tree was a beautiful large dewdrop. Wow. There was a thick fog last night so a heavy dew is responsible for the sparkle.
***Then I noticed the smell of morning. No, not eggs & bacon, but earth and leaves! My senses are awakening. What better place for them to do that but in Nature. You don't even have to go camping for this delight.
***The colors are drawing me now. A pretty, persistant Petunia is showing me her lavender lushiousness. A happy little Tropicana rose surprises me
by popping out even more beautiful bright orange blooms after resting a month or more. The trees are wearing their Autumnal best and the grass and evergreens show off many verdant shades.
***Nothing is moving. The stillness is most likely caused by a lurking Hawk. "Cooper" has been keeping the residents on their little birdie toes!
They'll be back. They always are. Like the seasons and the weather and the Spring flowers, Nature is continually renewing Herself. And so should we.
***The purpose of this space is so that I can share with you my appreciation
for the "Finer Things In Life". Put in perspective, that's what Nature is.
The renewal, rebirth works over & over. I guess that's the definition of renewal, isn't it? Its a sure thing in an unsure world. I want to convey
to you this deep secure Spiritual anchor to Life Itself that benefits me and connects us all to all that is.
***I was interrupted in my revielle and lost that "lovin'
feelin'". Went back outside and checked on that bright little gem in the grass. It was a tiny delicate web, bedazzled by the dewdrops. There's no "Finer Thing" than that on a late Autumn Monday morning.

Sacred Moment

I love on Autumn evenings how the leaves begin to glow,
The grey clouds seem to hover as the sun peeks out below.
A spotlight shines across my yard and beams upon the trees.
The moment is so beautiful it brings me to my knees.
The contrast of the golden light that plays upon dark tones
of evergreen and sepia and Nature no one owns.

A sunset is a gift from God for just a few to see.
It lingers not, but hurries on. It doesn't wait for me.
For those of us who catch it, a calm and thoughtful lot;
Are the ones who find such wonder, the ones who Time forgot.
It marches on not caring who witnesses the show
So take the time to notice as the sun slips down below.

If you're hurried, worried, harried, you may miss your chance tonight.
But in Autumn, in the evening sometimes there's a sacred light!

A Case for Birding

***These are interesting times. Stressful, intense, fast-moving times. Everyone's in such a hurry. We know stress isn't good for us, but most of us don't have a clue how to take a moment and just breathe. Well Naturegirl has a suggestion for you...
***GO OUTSIDE! No surprise there! But what to do when you get there? Its
great to just breathe in the fresh air, to notice the difference between the scent of Nature as opposed to the stuff we don't even notice wafting through our lungs. Try it, and be aware of yourself in the moment when you do.
***That's enough for some people, but for birders its just the begining.
Pretty much anywhere you are, they are there too -sometimes watching you right back. In fact, you can bet those little flying acrobats were aware of you long before you spotted them. Catbirds in particular love to sneak up on you and check out what you're doing. They get really close and its obvious they are people-watching. One day I swear I'll look up to see one spying on me with a pair of tiny binoculars! Catbirds are great singers from the "Mockingbird school" of tunes. And if you are lucky, when he or she turns to go, you may see the beautiful burgundy patch they keep in hiding on the underside of their tail.
***Bird watching, or birding as we bird-brains call it, is a fun, rewarding
inexpensive hobby. You can do it all by yourself or involve the whole family. Birding is great for kids as it helps to develop skills of observation and alertness. Not to mention it gets them off the couch! Those same skills are also helpful to seniors. Heck, we could all use a trip off the couch from time to time!
***It is very helpful to have a pair of binoculars and a bird book. There are loads of books on the subject and even the most basic can get you started. The same holds true for binoculars or field glasses. See my suggestions on the carousel to the right. My rule of thumb is "never take a bird for granted". Many times I discovered a new species in my yard that I thought was a sparrow I had seen before. Ho-hum turned to oh wow! You never know til you look closely! Lots of beautiful little warblers look quite dull to the naked eye. Especially when they're whipping through the treetops. Even the "usual suspects" are beautiful up close.
***For instance, the Mourning Dove is really beautiful, especially the males in Spring. They appear to be grey and tones of dull beige-y, taupe.
In truth they have extraordinary coloring. Mourning Doves' feet are hot pink! They get patches of metallic gold and metallic fuschia on their necks (to match their feet)! And, they have beautiful wedgewood blue caps on their heads and matching blue eye-rings.
***Don't count out those sparrows either! The Brownish looking White Throated comes in two color schemes. Stripes on the head are brown & beige or black & white and both have brilliant yellow spots between the eye and bill. All have the reputed white throat.
***Have I made my case yet? Are you heading for Amazon to order an Audubon book and some binos? Do it. You won't regret it and your family and/or birding buddy will be forever grateful for inspiring a new lifelong passion. Relax, breathe, go birding!

Healthy Naturegirl Tips-part 1

+++In this age of quick-fix, fast food, instant gratification,microwavable,
life in the fast lane; we have hot-footed our way to obesity, laziness and all kinds of unnecessary illnesses. The only berry most people have seen lately is the black one you talk into not the "blue" or "straw" or "rasp" you savor!
+++Its time to get re-acquainted with the kitchen! I've even heard of some women using their oven as extra storage for boots and handbags! C'mon ladies! Grandma would flip.
+++There are some really easy and quick ways to "cheat" back the calorie overload and add some healthy stuff into the family diet. Maybe even with
no-one ever knowing.
+++For instance, more fiber is essential. Switch to whole wheat or whole grain pasta. If you don't think you like the texture of it just cook it longer so its softer or try different brands til you find one you like. Add (or hide) lots of chunky veggies in the sauce. Onions & garlic are a natural choice, but try zucchini, grated carrots, chopped tomatoes. The more stuff in there, the less likely anyone will notice the extra rich flavor of the whole grain.
+++You can even get real sneaky and pre-cook some extra powerful nutrient-rich super foods such as butternut squash or sweet potatoes. Boil or bake, toss them in the food processor or blender and puree. Add them in to tomato sauce, soup or gravy. Sweet potato, by the way is the single most power-packed thing in the produce aisle!
+++Speaking of gravy. ALWAYS make your own. Boil some chicken in a couple of inches of salted water til done. You can add onion flakes, garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes if you like. Remove chicken, take off skin and any other undesirable bits. Put the stock in the fridge in a bowl til the grease solidifies and discard, leaving only the delicious gel.
+++Place about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a skillet with about a tablespoon of whole wheat flour. (No need to clog up your digestive tract with any more white flour!) Make gravy by cooking out the "paste-iness" of the flour, adding some chicken tastiness and melt in to desired thickness. You may have to add some water. This chicken broth/gel can be used to flavor just about anything from soup to rice. In fact, use it INSTEAD of water for cous-cous, rice, polenta; anywhere you want more flavor! Repeat after me... More flavor/ less fat.
+++One more thing while I'm bloviating on fat. There's good fat & bad fat.
They make good cholesterol & bad cholesterol, respectively. Extra virgin
olive oil, walnuts, salmon--good; hamburgers, doughnuts, butter--bad!
+++Here's a tip to help. (After all you can't do everything at once.) Take your butter- real butter, not the fake oil stuff, and leave it on the counter til it's really soft. Using a whisk, work in some ex. virgin olive oil. You can add as much as "equal parts" or just 1/2 as much oil as butter. Put in fridge in a small container lined with plastic wrap. You can take it out when it hardens and cut it into "bars" if you need to fool someone! Or, when its semi-soft roll into a "tube" shape. Not yellow enough for you?- add a sprinkle of turmeric, need more salt? add a pinch. Some people get really creative and add herbs or bleu cheese- yum! Keep refrigerated and don't use twice as much!
+++Ok, in review...
*Turn on the oven once in a while!(Don't forget to check for boots!)
*Trick yourself into eating more veggies.
*Treat your loved ones (that means you!) to some laid-back, slowed
down, healthy homemade gravy and real butter. You just gotta learn how to cheat! Stick with me, I'll show ya how. (More healthy cheats to come!)