While washing the dirty window......

   While washing the dirty window I was looking at my mother's tree.
   Speaking to him as I always do....

   Then I had that moment.
   When it came to rest in my heart.
   Today things changed....
   That breath...  was the beginning of a new me.
   Or is it the true me?
   A new life.
   I let go and my Spirit soared.
   Perspectives changed and I know what I can no longer hold on to.
   I have no need to.
   I look forward into the sky
                                                            and I am free.

And yet another year has gone by.

   "Time waits for no one". The old folks weren't kidding when they said that.
   After fifteen years of caretaking I now find myself feeling exhausted and somewhat lost. Mom passed away the 11th of May, 2017. It was a blessing for her. Heck, she was ready to leave the physical even before dementia took her mind away. She so hated not being independent and able to care for herself. Just goes to prove another saying all the old folks had ...... "You never know what Life has in store for you".     Ain't that the truth!
    So its recovery and new beginnings for me. I can feel my creativity stirring again and that means that it will all be ok! That much I do know.  

Waiting for the storm....

   Well, its been almost eleven months since I last posted on this blog. Once again time has slipped away as if it were caught up in a raging river!  Many things found their way into those chaotic waters.... some literally torn from my grasp.  I find myself exhausted and a bit numb. So I've decided that it would be very therapeutic to return to my blogs, even if its just to post photos. 
   Sooooo..... I'm back!   And sitting here this evening waiting for the storm winds to arrive. And of course the rain. We're supposed to have LOTS of that. But we'll see... you never know for certain what a storm will do. Regardless of all the fancy equipment that the weather folks have!  Things can change in an instant!  Like everything else in life.
    My only real worry this time is the mulberry trees, especially the BIG one out on the corner lot. As you can see from the photos , it took another hit this Spring. Several medium size branches were broken and then the large one in the photo above. I haven't actually measured anything so its hard for me to explain just how BIG this is! Almost the size of the one that was twisted off last year.      These trees are awesome, but the wood is obviously fairly soft. And the fact that the limbs naturally droop downward and those big leaves are like boat sails!   Whew! What a recipe for trouble!
    I'm hoping and praying that there won't be any major damage this time.

Watching the clouds.

   Oh, how I love the clouds! I always brag to folks about the clouds in Florida. We have some of the best I've seen anywhere.  Especially this time of year, when the rains are so prevalent. (Except at my home.... they seem to skip over me quite often!  But then, we always manage to avoid the worst of the big storms here too. Something about the land magnetics.)
   They have always soothed away my cares..... which is something I desperately need at this point in my life. And at times, I've used them as a divination tool. "Ask and you shall receive."   Of course, there are those times when I don't ask, but the cloud people show me anyway! hahaha    I'm always grateful for their assistance, but their beauty and magnificence are what makes me stop in my tracks and gaze upward. I have no words then..... only an amazing feeling in my heart and Spirit.

Looks like Ernesto has found his religious calling!

   I always refer to Ernesto Loco as my "overly familiar" because he is soooo affectionate. But while he acts a tad bit needy I have to say that he has a nice solid feeling energy about him. And that is a true gift while I'm going through all the stress that is part of my life right now.
    My animal companions, even when they're being aggravating, help keep me grounded and walking the right path. What I find endearing is that every time I set up an altar area of some sort....... one or more of the cats appear! Its as if they are being summoned by Energies that I cannot perceive. So I thought it would be a fine idea to put this small statue of Bast in my new writing area. They all came to check it out, but Ernie decided to stay! chuckle    I guess he has declared himself to be the new High Priest of the Temple of Bast.
   I must remember to be more respectful of him!

Mulberry Update

That late freeze nipped the mulberry trees pretty badly, but only around the edges!

The actual berries are fine. Yippee!
My hens are certainly happy about that! hahaha

My, my.... Time just flies on by!!! (from mid-February. Forgot to post, Sheesh)

   Can hardly believe its February of 2015 all ready! My grandparents always told me that time goes by faster as you get older... they weren't kidding!  The last four months have soared by like a Peregrine falcon diving for it's potential prey. Seems I haven't even had time to blink... and "Bam!"... here we are in the second week of the second month! Kinda scary!
    Its been a busy time. Quite a lot of sickness in my animal family members. Brave Dave O'Malley has hyperthyroidism and now cystitis! Poor old man! Jacob is a mass of allergies and reactions. Even worse than before. And Blossom isn't that far behind him as far as skin eruptions go.  Both Autumn and Itty Bitty had to be put to sleep.   Yep, its been a bummer around here.  My mother's dementia is progressing. That's no surprise, but you always hold out hope for the best. Even if it doesn't happen. Sometimes denial is all you have to get you through another rough day.
 

Keeping the kitten warm at night!

   Does it look like I insulated the cat carrier well enough? He certainly liked it! He thinks he is the king of the world up there. hahaha  It did get below freezing the other night (and was freezing the night before) so this was sure to help.
    Put hay bundles and "nests" everywhere for the outdoor cats.... but some went and laid on top of my baby tomato plants instead!! Yes, I'd covered them with hay to keep them from getting killed off. They survived the freeze but were squashed by the yard cats. sheesh!

   Haven't gone out and inspected the damage to the plants yet. The firebush by the porch took a hard hit! I'm fearing the worst for my eranthemums. Pictured above was one of the bloom clusters right before the freeze. Such a lovely blue color!

From February 19th...thought I had posted this! Ooops

Looks like its going to be our coldest night of the year so far. In Florida when the night time temperature falls into the 20's..... EVERYONE gets excited!!!

 

   I'm very happy to report that we have lots of robins in the area this Winter season! A few years back I hardly saw any... that was kind of scary actually. Look at all the dots in the photo above and you'll see a very small portion of them as they head West and Northwest to roost for the night. If you stand out and watch for a while, you'll see thousands of them.

   Haven't chosen a name for this little guy yet. His mama comes back about once a day to check on him and get food. Other than that, he is on his own. This evening I fortified the carrier. A plastic garbage bag duct taped around the outside to cut down on wind and I put "slabs" of coastal hay underneath, then around the three sides then on top. Hate to leave him out there in this.

   And I'm asking the spirits to keep their eyes on this little baby ring neck. He hasn't been hatched out very long!

   And, of course, I planted my little tomato plants!!! It figures!!!! Pulled the cypress mulch up close and covered them all with more of that hay. Oh goodness! Don't think I'd ever be able to actually live up North where it gets really, really cold!! hahaha     So bundle up and stay safe everyone!!!!!

Just because....

Trying times.... so just try to go with the flow!

There is always light amongst the clouds!

 

   Well, its been "different" around here the last few months. My mother's dementia is proceeding along at a steady pace... but we still have those moments of lucidity. And that's when she expresses her fear about how her mind is not working properly.   As everyone says, it all comes with the territory. We're making the best of it... as best we can.
    Doesn't seem like anything much has happened in four and a half months, but its all the "little" things that I'm realizing have started to add up. I find that pretty exciting! Of course, right now I'm in the midst of garden fever... and little else has the ability to grab my attention! hahaha    BUT I'm trying! Trying to stay focused on the here and now and not make any impulsive decisions that, well, won't work out as well as planned later on down the road. I seem to have a real gift for doing that.   So here I am, trying to plan ahead in a sane and rational manner.... sniggle! Trying to put in some "permanent" garden beds. Whatever that means!! haha 
     Its going to take some work to straighten out the front yard whatever I decide on. The well driller's truck really dug in some ruts out there. But hey, I have my own well now! YIPPEE!! Thought the wisteria was done for.... but I should have known better than that! Its rising up from the chaos and destruction like a real champion! The yellow anise bush is following suit... I was positive that was gone! Whew, the resilience of the plant people is amazing.   And that mulberry tree I was taking down.... still not finished (my back sort of gave out on me!) but its popping out leaves and little fuzzle berries everywhere it can!  Oh goodness, that just makes me feel worse about trying to remove it all.   (insert frowny face here)
    But onward I go! Might as well dream and make plans... not sit around and gripe and moan like some folks do. I never know what will actually come of all my efforts but that's part of the adventure! Might as well go with the flow and make the best of this precious thing called Life.  I'm lovin' it more and more.

Guess I'd better get busy!

   Well, yesterday was the beginning! For a few years I've known that the one mulberry tree was way too close to my home and needed to be removed. I meant to move and replant it, but Life happened and my attentions were drawn elsewhere. Then it was too big to move! And I said to myself  "Better cut it down NOW, before it gets any larger." Well, Self didn't listen!!!  Now, me, my Self and I have a job to do.  (I had figured in late October or November when the temperatures are more pleasant would be a good time for this endeavor.)
   I started by taking down most of that ridiculously tall sunflower that towers over my mobile home. (Saved seeds!!)  In a windstorm it really pummels the edge of my roofing! So it HAD to go!        And speaking of storms, we've been really lucky the last few years as far as hurricanes go. But I still felt the need to make sure that overhanging limbs were removed!
   After I finished with the sunflower and hauled all the plant matter over to the corner lot, I started eyeing the mulberry. It had several limbs suspended over the roof so that was what I planned on cutting.    I got all but one... it has an interesting angle that I wasn't sure how to approach with the pole saw. Will try and figure that out later this evening.
   Anyway, as I stood there looking at this growing pile of limbs and leaves I realized that my original plan of starting the removal of this tree when the weather cooled off was totally unrealistic!!!   In my head, strange little Universe that it is, I had figured on taking out the tree, planting two or three other fruit trees AND doing the brickwork for the raised herb beds AND being done before Yule.  OK... I don't know what the hell I was thinking! Its darn near the middle of September all ready!!!!  Soooo... made a change of plan. From this point on I will try to cut a limb a day. That sounds manageable. Cut and haul the small debris over to the other lot. The bigger pieces I'll dry and carve on them at some future date. Mulberry is such a lovely wood I would hate to waste it.
    Luckily I've been talking to the tree and nature spirits about this for some time now. I've been asking them to relocate their energy over to the other trees and I feel like they've been very cooperative in that regard. I also apologized for my change in plans! They seem to appreciate my efforts... which is really a good thing! And I certainly appreciate all that they do!
   

Assorted Sunsets

We have been having some of the most beautiful sunsets lately.

Even on days when its all rainy and grey! The clouds are amazing.

And the colors vary from one day to the next.

This is from this evening! It was rainy and overcast almost all day.
Then THIS appeared!!!
What can I say, except that life is beautiful.... you simple have to open your eyes and heart to truly see it.

There is a change coming...........................

   Dreams, dreams, dreams! So many dreams! Of changes, setting up boundaries, discarding what is no longer useful, planting, creating! There are warnings. I'm being shown who to be wary of... what a blessing that is! Lots of things are getting ready to change. Or are all ready in the process!  I'm going to have to take better care of myself! I've got to be at the top of my game as Autumn approaches. All these messages coming through... its a bit over whelming. But such a relief. I've been waiting a long time.
    Ahulee has been showing up a lot lately too. I feel him around me. In little snippets of day dreams I look at puppies, or someone shows me one. I always look at their eyes. He said I'd know by his eyes.  Mind you, I haven't gone actually looking at dogs. If its meant to be then one will come along. Ahulee will either come back ... or send one to me.

It got me to thinkin'.......

   So, the post on the social network talked about "unstructured.... open time....Returning to natural rhythms..." It also asked how important this was to everyone reading it. And how often we made space for it in our lives. It certainly got me to thinking!
   Thinking that "no" I don't really have any leisurely time at my disposal. A part time job, my rescue animals and my mother pretty much occupy my whole day. Its stressful, but there are just phases in one's life where you do what you have/need to do... and that's it! Then another phase comes along, similar but different , and you do it again. That's life in general.
    Don't get me wrong. I've had some fantastic phases! Plenty of time to touch the Universe and swim in the energy currents that flow throughout this world of ours... and beyond. And I still connect to that... but right now its only for short little periods of time.        Then its necessary to pull back in, ground and go bathe my mother, or do the laundry, prepare a meal, head off to work, etc..
    There is an odd, chaotic rhythm to it all. Caring and necessity make up the foundation. And that is where the steadiness lies. When things get too erratic and just plain crazy... I reach down deep and connect.    Stability is a necessity, especially at this point in my life.
    As for aligning with natural rhythms. The best habit I have set into my life has been to light candles when I awaken. No electric lighting. That just puts me in a foul mood!! I have several lanterns hanging from my ceiling on sturdy chains. In each of these is a tea candle. I literally feel my way around until I pull the lighter out of the basket on the table... then I proceed to light whichever candles I will need. On days I don't go to work, the natural progression into the light of the sunrise is such a blessing to my body and Spirit. I feel more balanced and peaceful the whole day through.  And when I can do it in the evenings too!!! Oh, how wonderful!     Once again, its those seemingly little things that have the most impact. No action is as insignificant as you might think it is.

   

   Whatever you do in life, remember to reach for the Light. I took this photo as an example of that. I thought one of my crepe myrtle trees hadn't bloomed because it was overshadowed by the much larger mulberry. Once I got to looking more closely at it... I saw that the branches that had grown high enough did indeed have flowers.  So you see, you just have to rise above it all!! 

There are those moments in Life.... that touch deeply.

It seems he comes into the store almost every day.
Always sad looking, always alone.
Always nice and well mannered.
Riding in a motorized scooter.
When he tries to walk, you can tell he is in pain.
Today he had on his World War II veteran cap.
Today he came and picked out a couple of doughnuts.
As usual I walked around the counter to put them in the basket on his scooter.
He had all ready stood up and then started to lower himself into the seat with great difficulty.
As usual he thanks me, then again..."Thank you" he utters in that hollow sounding speech of the deaf. 
You can tell he has lost his hearing over time.
But today he looked up at me and asked if I had children....
when I answered "yes", he sat up a straighter and said ....
"Don't let them join the military.
  Don't let them go to war!"
Then he sank back down and started touching his chest...
"Thank God. God saved me. He saved me."
He made the sign of the cross and moved his head slowly from side to side.
"Me."
His voice barely a whisper, his head still moving back and forth, he uttered "war" once more.
His hand motions indicated that he wouldn't speak of the rest....
Then a soft "Thank you" before rolling away.

Mid July Doldrums

   What a lovely end to a very odd day! I've been particularly sensitive to just about everything these last few weeks... add on the full moon and I'm just a stressed out mess when I have to deal with the world outside my home and yard. Its times like these that I just want to put up huge barricades and stay in my own little space! I'll gladly let the rest of the world roll on by. 
   With that in mind, I really haven't had much time to tend this place I call home. Everything is ageing and in need of repair. I don't have the money, time, muscle or no-how.... but somehow I'll manage to get through. I always do! I'm asking my Guides, Angels and Ancestors for a lot of extra help. 

   I went out into the back yard this afternoon and took a good look around. As usual, so much to do!  Have to figure out a better container to grow the strawberries in. This just isn't working well. I need to go vertical due to lack of space plus all the animals around here.  Strawberries with cat pee on them is a very bad thing indeed!!!    Found purslane growing in the one pot. That plant will grow darn near anywhere!

   Its been insanely hot so far this summer. My lovely little pansy flowers got fried to death! They just do not survive the heat.    Hmm, the chives need a major trim and perhaps thinning out too. Its only a month and a half till I start up the Fall garden.... have lots of preparation to do.

   And FINALLY I found a fig before the birds did!!! What an accomplishment! I was thrilled! hahahaa  The songbirds have been getting them all lately. And the hens stand under the trees and gaze longingly up into the branches... hopping as high as they can go. When I find a half eaten fig I pick it and tear it into three pieces for the girls. They just adore them!!  Maybe even more than they love watermelon. But then again, maybe NOT!  

Can't Believe Its June !!!

   Here it is the 2nd of June! Good grief!!! My Granny always said that the older you get the faster time goes by. Wow, was she ever right about that! So many things to catch up on... but they'll have to wait (as usual anymore).
   What I did really want to share with everyone is that I FINALLY got the Golden Lotus Incense Heater from Mermade Arts. I haven't had a heater in years and had made up my mind to get this one so I could fully enjoy the beautiful incense that Katlyn creates.
   Well, I am thrilled!!! This little beauty just changed my life for the better. Seriously, my home "feels" so wonderful right now! And smells even better. With all the animals I have... that's REALLY saying something! hahaha 
    Started out with some frankincense to bless the whole thing, then tried the Sweet Earth mixture.  Then dug down into my incense box and brought up the jar of Veil Bakhoor. Its supposed to be at its best burned on charcoal, but the fragrance went to new heights on the heater.... my home has smelled like a temple all afternoon and evening. I could get used to this! Way too used to it! hahaha
    Anyway, if you adore incense and want to enjoy some of the best around, here is a link to Mermade Arts.....    http://www.mermadearts.com/index.php?osCsid=no0k0ceapnc2fp4hovsks0dg43

    Enjoy and Blessings to everyone!

A Little Berry Pickin'.

   One of my favorite places!! Standing underneath the mulberry canopy and gazing at the sunlight shimmering through. The grandchildren came over and picked a few berries today. A wonderful way to spend part of a picture perfect afternoon!

   This will give you some idea of size. That's my grandson down there in the corner. You find more mulberries if you look up under the branches and leaves. So he is trying his best!   Also looks like the camera caught a couple of big orbs. Hey, the Spirits and Angels love it when the children come around! Glad they decided to jump into the family photo! hahaha

     Of course, the best part is the sampling! To insure good quality berries!

   The Nature Spirits really were playful today. Kept putting green berries in my granddaughter's hair!  No one else.... just her. She didn't know they were there when I took this photo. chuckle     

Meanwhile out on the Corner.......

   Will begin playing catch up with the posts!  We've had several cold fronts come through of late, bringing much needed rain and those robust winds that I love so much. The big mulberry tree really dances when the winds pick up! It has those large draping limbs that sweep the ground. What a wonderful tree.

   Quite a few unripe berries fell off..... but there are SO MANY left I don't think it made any difference. As usual, there will be plenty to go around.

   Dug up a patch so I could plant some Liatris spicata for the bees and this is just some of what I found. Lots of broken glass and pieces of metal, tile, linoleum and some unidentified "stuff"! Its going to take a lot of work to get the land back in balance over there.... but I feel like I have a really good start!!!