Jonquils, Daffodils and Narcissus

Narcissus was the Greek hunter who stopped to take a sip from a pool, saw his reflection and fell in love with his own beauty. He lingered so long he died, and the nymphs, when they gathered to bury him, found a flower grew where his body had been. The scent of the same flower attracted the attention of Persephone long enough for Hades to abduct her.

That's a lot of mythology for a flower to live up to.

Although the nodding heads of jonquils are probably closer to the image of Narcissus staring at himself, all daffodils are botanically Narcissus. Today, Narcissus are available from bicolored 'Fidelity,' with its the long, pink trumpet and pale yellow petals, or perianth, to the short-cupped, nodding head of pure white 'Thalia,' whose scent must rival the one that preoccupied Persephone. With 13,000 hybrids, it should be easy to find the right daffodil for any garden.

If the gardener chooses the right combination of very early to late blooming daffodils, the period of bloom in zone 4 gardens averages from mid April to late May. While early blooming daffodils emerge shortly after the crocus and give a welcomed relief from dull winter landscapes, the late blooming daffodils offer more opportunity to mix with other blooming plants. Creeping phlox, Virginia bluebells, grape hyacinth, and tulips blend or contrast well with the bright to pale yellows, pinks and whites of daffodils. For best effect, plant plenty and plant them in groups of at least three, preferably more, for a single daffodil is a sad thing.

Grow daffodils in a sunny spot or under deciduous shrubs and trees that leaf out after the daffodil has finish blooming. Usually daffodils are trouble free and will continue to grow and expand over the years. They are easy to dig up every three to five years. After the foliage turns yellow, lift the bulbs, divide and replant with a few tablespoons of bone meal and a sprinkling of fertilizer.

The biggest complaint against daffodils is the foliage that can last into July. The thin, long, strappy leaves don't have much to recommend them and are often unsightly in emerging spring growth. Don't cut the leaves away. They make food that is stored in the bulb for next spring's flower. Try disguising the foliage by growing daffodils among daylilies, or under shrubbery.

Daffodils need water only during the driest spring, so unless you live in an arid location, no watering is usually needed. The occasional frost doesn't seem to bother daffodils, but spending the summer in a constantly soggy soil condition will rot the bulb. Once the foliage has died, they no longer need water. Fertilize the bulbs when flowering is over if you remember. Either way, fertilized or not, they will bloom next year.

The days of yellow-only daffodils are long gone, but a large bouquet of yellow daffodils or a swath of their golden flowers spread through a garden will convey cheer like pure sunshine. Although bulbs are traditionally sold and planted only in the fall, many catalogs offer great sales on bulbs in spring. If you're already on catalog lists, you've probably received a sale flyer. If not, go look online. Next spring, you will be as enamored of Narcissus and Persephone.

Narcissus 'Fidelity'

For more on daffodils check out my garden blog.

Royal Wedding

Like millions of people, yesterday I spent my day in England. Glued to the TV, I followed the crowd to the wedding of bonny Prince William and the lovely Kate Middleton.

I woke up at 5:00 am and settled on my sofa with a cup of coffee. Did you notice how they decorated Westminster Abbey with little trees that gave an outdoor feeling to the somber church?

The entrance of the children with Pippa Middleton deserves a Best Picture of the year and Pippa herself was stunning from front and back.

Now the bride stole the show as it should. My mother was a fashion designer and I consider myself a self-made expert in fashion. The bridal gown was exactly what I expected Kate to wear, simple but so elegant, the lace of the top lending a touch of endearing old-fashioned to the perfect bell-shape line of the skirt. I loved her hair down and flying with the veil when she turned to smile at the crowd.

It was funny to see Harry turn around to peek a look at the bride and whisper something to his brother, probably: “Lucky bastard, she’s gorgeous.” William stoically avoided to turn his head but then smiled to his ears when she reached his side.

I was hoping the groom would forget to be a stuffy prince and kiss his bride right after the vows, but the Archbishop never gave permission and the regal grandma wouldn’t have approved a display of bad manners, American style, right in her church. So the newlyweds acted properly and curtseyed to the queen after signing their wedding contract. With the crowd I clapped hands and waved as they passed in their carriage.

As a multipublished romance writer, I know a thing or two about happy ending and I can assure you, their smiles revealed genuine happiness.

When they appear on the balcony to greet the crowd, Kate couldn’t hold a: “WOW” We all read her lips. Notice he gave her a quick peck on the balcony, then decided what the heck, and gave her a second longer kiss. Way to go, Your Highness.
Wishing them a long happy life together.

Weeding

I used to love gardening. Flowers in my landscape. I planted annuals with extra care every year. Lots of annuals. And I got the weeding done, but I don't really remember doing it. Perhaps there were less weeds back in the day.


I used to take my morning tea outside and walk 'the real estate' as my late father used to call it. I marveled at every bud and bloom, front and back yard. I'd also walk it in the evenings. Not that I ever had a large parcel, but to me, it was heavenly.

I got away from looking at flowers. Planting them. Weeding became a dreaded chore for me and the kids. Eventually we did it, surly and miserable. Then it got so bad that only my dear sweet husband bothered weeding.

My current OCD is the FlyLady. I am blessing my home, inside and out with her guidance. Last night I took my timer out and weeded the front garden for 15 minutes. Today I did 15 minutes more, two separate times. Then I finished up and put down Preen for weed prevention (even though it hasn't seemed to help in the past few seasons). And I sprinkled Miracle Gro in the two garden areas that are now weed free.

After lunch, dear daughter and I will zip over to Wal*Mart and if need be, Lowe's. We'll select some beautiful flowers and I'll plant them. This year, I will bless my gardens by weeding them 15 minutes every morning. Too many bugs in the evenings.

I will once again take my cuppa outside and look over my real estate and feel the zen.

Do you love flowers? Do you garden? How do you handle weeds?

If only...

Blogger didn't hate me so much, I wouldn't be late with my posts!

Winter is more or less over, which means aside from yesterday, our rains are likely to stop for six months. I'll miss them. During the rainy season in California, we have running water everywhere!
Now the few pools that remain are filled with tadpoles and water birds. Unfortunately, they'll dry up quickly - when your soil is volcanic clay, evaporation is an issue, so those froggies better grow fast!

Yesterday Jake and I took advantage of the downpour to hike at our favorite park all alone. We saw a gray fox, three deer, countless squirrels, one sleepy owl and a pair of pileated woodpeckers (who resemble prehistoric dinosaurs). The animals come out in bad weather, which is why I'm there too.

The Scales Meditation

Writers work in a world of make-believe and it is all too easy to feel a bit light-headed and out of sync when we set our work aside and refocus on our everyday world. So today the meditation below is a simple yet powerful one for you to try.

When you take a familiar image and/or concept and use it to bring your world back into balance it also helps to keep you grounded between the two worlds a writer works in.

I call this The Scales Meditation

That said this meditation is suitable for anyone who has been meditating for a while.

A note before you begin- read through the meditation and if you find the word ‘energies’ disconcerting, try exchanging it for ‘thoughts and experiences’’

When you are comfortable and ready to meditate…

take three deep slow breaths…

in… out… in… out…in… out…

feel the tension of the day begin to unravel…

then imagine yourself in a safe place…

allow yourself to walk in any direction...

           

in front of you is a huge statue of a woman

           

holding the pans of a set of scales in each hand...

           

as you reach the woman... you see it is yourself...

           

in your truth and reality..

           

in your place in the universe...

           

huge, important, essential..

           

your presence is maintaining the harmony and balance that is essential to all things, places, people, events wishes and dreams...

           

in the universe..

           

without you the balance and harmony would not be quite right..

           

it would be off kilter...

           

as you look at the pans of those scales...

           

you are invited to place all the harmful energies that are causing harm to our environment into one pan....

           

take your time to think about what you want to put in there

it may be that what you perceive as harmful is in reality

harmonizing the effect of something else that would cause great damage on its own...

              

keep filling the pan until you have nothing left to place in this pan.....

             

and when you have finished...

             

turn your attention to the other pan....

              

and begin filling it with all the energies that you feel will enhance, harmonise, balance and stabilize the planet and everyone and everything on it...

              

keep filling your pan until you have nothing more to put into it...

              

now study both pans carefully to see which one is the fullest...

              

and turn your attention back to the pan holding all the harmful and negative energies and gently begin to blow on them....

              

as you do...

              

notice that they begin to crumble away into dust...

              

as you continue to blow, this dust flows out into the universe to be recycled and turned into positive energies....

             

 you may find that despite how much you blow at your dish some apparently negative energy wont crumble away....

             

accept this…

and release it to the Source..

              

turn your attention back to the pan with all the harmonizing energies...

             

 one by one, try moving the positive energy into the other pan, to see if you can balance the contents...

             

 like night and day...

             

some positive and negative energies have to work in harmony to create the right effect...

              

keep adding positive energies to the negative pan until your dishes balance and are in complete harmony...

and when you have perfect balance and harmony surround both dishes in a colour of your choosing...

knowing that the energies left in both dishes are essential for perfect harmony and balance in our lives.....

           

you can send this light out to any person, situation, event, dream or whatever...

           

and whenever you feel the need to do so....

           

and for as long as you feel it is required...

           

when you have finished balancing your dishes and surrounding them in light...

             

thank the statue for being there for you and accept your own strength and ability to make these changes...

           

and then walk in any direction...

           

and take three deep slow breaths...

           

and in your own time come back to the room you are in and the present time.

             Namaste.

(c) Sherry Gloag 21-08-05

Easter

Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter. I'll be back next Sunday with an amazing story that I'm anxious to share with you.

Lessons Learned from Gardening

I'm sure the great philosophers must have been gardeners. Gardening teaches so many life lessons, indoor as well as out. Indoor gardening means houseplants. I only admit to having thirty. This is down considerably since moving here ten years ago, but many more than moved with me. Only the 'special' ones came, the Clivia, the cactus dish garden, Killer (a Barrel Cactus now thirty-nine years old which has nailed everyone at least once and sent one family member to the emergency room), my Christmas Cacti, a Saddle-leaf Philodendron start and the Pony-Tail.

Liking a challenge and wanting to do something different, twenty years ago I bought five Pony-Tail (Beaucarnea recurvata) seeds from Thompson and Morgan, a specialty seed company. Most books speak of the Pony-Tail as a novelty plant of not much beauty, but I disagree. It grows thin, tough whips for leaves, all emerging in one generous splurge from the top its main attraction, a swollen stem that enlarges over time to form a bulbous base. The enlarged stem is a survival mechanism, a water-holding reservoir for the arid habitat of the Pony Tail's native Mexico. Because of this, the plant makes a great houseplant, interesting looking and capable of surviving neglect.

The seeds arrived with some brief instructions which I followed and set the pot aside to sprout. It took months for the one seed that emerged to make its appearance. It grew into a fine small sprout that in a few years developed a nice bulging stem with an airy mass of long green leaves that look somewhat similar to a horse tail held straight up in the air. They remind me more of an umbrella with coiling straps flowing down over the stem.

A February storm marred our move from Missouri, a five-hundred-mile trek in freezing rain and snow that ended in Grand Rapids. Overnight luggage and the houseplants were moved into my in-laws house for night. The next day the houseplants were delivered to a friend in Lansing to care for until I could take them back. That night, back in Grand Rapids, I found the Pony-Tail, frozen solid, still tucked inside the truck in a safe place for the trip. It had never made it inside, and it was a sad-looking thing, its fresh green leaves frozen an olive brown.

I was going to throw it out, but my son said no, let it go and see what happens. Give it a chance. He didn't understand -- gardeners hate looking at dead plants. All winter it remained a blot on my existence, a dead trunk of a plant, a shadow of its former self, but no one would let me get rid of. In spring I put it outside, under a tree and out-of-sight.

One day while watering plants I noticed swollen bumps on the enlarged stem of the Pony Tail. In another month, leaves sprouted from a dozen places around the stem. Two years later, six of those bumps had green leafy tails jutting up over the basal stem. A few years later the base began to enlarged again, and it continued to thrive. Now I just need to keep the cats from pulling the leaves off. Even if they tear off all the leaves, I'll know not to give up because the Pony Tail won't.

From Chemistry to Traveling and Writing

For years, the extent of my traveling consisted in spending a week or two in Florida in the middle of August, when we could afford to book a room in a hotel. The summer heat didn’t bother me as I spent most of the days and evenings in the ocean or the pool with my children, and we all collapsed on our beds almost right after sunset.

While my kids were eight and twelve and safely occupied with their own studies, I went back to graduate school and worked on a Ph.D. in Chemistry. After graduation, I joined an environmental company and created a laboratory where I supervised a staff of chemists performing analytical testing and worked on various government contracts. A monotonous predictable life that suddenly changed when I won a contract to refurbish a military laboratory in Belarus.

During my fifteen visits to Minsk, capital of Belarus, I worked with officers, directors, chemists, journalists, was invited to their homes and became friend with their wives. Several contracts followed, taking me to Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

To relax from my hectic schedule, I avidly read romance novels or mentally plotted my own books. I was in a hotel room in the Ukraine, typing my latest work report, when the clamor of characters in my head made me decide to take an early retirement and write the numerous stories I had in mind. Now, I live in sunny Florida with my husband. I like to set stories in the fascinating places I visited.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.

My first book, To Love A Hero, is the difficult and sizzling love story of an American chemist on a mission to Belarus and the Major General of Belarus. French Peril, a romantic suspense, set in the beautiful Loire Valley relates a dangerous treasure hunt for a precious statue by an American architect and a French count. Both books are available at Cerridwen Press.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.
Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON.
Rx IN RUSSIAN just released by TWRP
ww.monarisk.com

Blurb for Rx IN RUSSIAN:
An American Pediatrician
A Russian Surgeon
A man with four adorable sons who badly need a mother
Can attraction and love overcome guilt, duty, and a clash of cultures?

“Mona Risk writes heroes with heart, heroines with spunk in stories and settings that are simply unforgettable!" -- Roxanne St. Claire, Killer Curves, National Bestseller.

New Writer On Board

If you read Friday's post, you're aware we're losing one of our fabulous writers. We wish you all the best, Kerri, and hope you stop by often to either post or say hey. Stepping in to take her place is my good friend Mona Risk who will share with us her travels from around the world. Many of you are familiar with Mona and fans of her writing. Please stop by Friday and welcome her. We're very pleased to have here. Welcome aboard, Mona!

A Spider's Web on a Misty Morning

We were hiking early Sunday morning in the fog, and we came across this web. the light was so dim, my camera couldn't quite catch all the beads of water decorating each strand, but I had to try!

I'm a big fan of spiders...not that I want them in my hair or on my bed, but they do us a great service and they create works of art. Pound for pound, spider silk is stronger than steel.

For several years, enormous spiders lived in our vegetable garden. We knew where the webs were so we worked around them. When they laid their eggs, and died, like Charlotte in Charlotte's Web, we took the egg sacs and put them in a protected area so we could have at least a few of the babies the following year. Last year, all the babies flew off. Since I've planted a big garden this year, I'm hoping they return.

More meditation tips

More tips for meditation

It doesn’t matter how many time you ask a question, the answer will change with your experiences in life.  And so it is with meditation.  This is the case when you first ask ‘What is meditation?’ 

Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. It is a means and opportunity and responsibility for and to change one’s state of mind.

In time one becomes familiar with the habits and patterns of the mind. You only have to think of the term ‘mind games’ to realize they go on all the time in everyone of us.

Regular meditation helps cultivate patience, calm and focused states of mind that can deepen into intensely tranquil and energized mindsets.   

1) We’ve already discussed counting your breaths to learn to focus your mind. Another method is to use a candle. Meditating with eyes closed can be challenging for a beginner. Lighting a candle and using it as your point of focus allows you to strengthen your attention with a visual cue, which can enhance the power of your concentration. 

2) Eventually meditation will become easier and more natural.  But there will still be times when life intrudes and you find it hard to concentrate.  Do NOT Stress.

The more you stress, the more vicious the circle will become. Hard as it may feel, accept the emotion, and then let it go.  If you can’t, accept it, keep your meditation light, and brief. No matter what happens during your meditation practice, do not stress about it, just do the best you can at the time.

3) If it feels too hard to meditate on your own, then find a meditation group in your area if there is no one at home you can share your meditations with.  It is easy to wonder whether you are benefitting from your meditations. Having the security of a group for meditation can help you stay committed to your practice. Sharing experiences within a group can offer comfort and support.  Although meditation is unique to each individual, members within a group often find sharing their meditation beneficial in understanding the meditation.

Snowshoes

As mentioned last week, there are several breeds that are offshoots of Siamese. One being the Snowshoe. The Snowshoe breed originated in America. They are know for their white boots and inverted V on their face. The breed first came about when Siamese breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty discovered three kittens with white paws in one of her litters. Later Vikki Olander bred American shorthairs and Siamese to create the breed. In 1974 the Snowshoe was accepted by the CFF and ACA as an experimental breed. By 1990 they gained championship status from CFF and ACFA.
While the Snowshoe isn't quite as vocal as the Siamese, they still love to talk. Besides their pretty blue eyes and white boots, one of the most interesting characteristics of the Snowshoe is that many of them are fascinated by water. Some love to swim. The Snowshoe is known for its intelligence and affectionate nature. They adore their humans.
Physically they're more muscular than the Siamese and range from eight to sixteen pounds. Temperamentally, they are known to get along with both children and other pets. I have yet to hear of linked health problems, unless of course, the cat comes from a 'puppy mill and is inbred.' The Snowshoe can live into its twenties.
If you're looking for a Snowshoe try petfinder.com or your local rescue or shelter. Most of the attached pics are of kitties that came into rescue and may not be 'pure' Snowshoes, but they're awfully pretty and mighty sweet, with their blue eyes and white feet.
~*~
Shameless self-promotion.
Shardai is a large sleek cat with attitude. He has the courage of a tiger and the disdain of a king. The fearless feline has only one weakness...his guardian. He would do anything for her, even come back from the afterlife.
Available at Smashwords for .99.

The Ephemeral Garden

Gardens bring both the gardener and the viewer great joy. A few moments looking at a garden filled with a riot of color feeds our souls with cheer and hope. There is no other word for it. A well-designed garden can bring inspiration, sooth the wounded spirit and calm the angry one. Even a single plant in full flower in an otherwise barren yard can make us believe in goodness and that life will outlast the greatest disasters. Yet most gardens are doomed unless under the care of professional gardeners in a major botanic garden. Like all life, gardens are ephemeral moments of glory, because when the garden moves on, nature takes over.

Once the garden is left untended, the environment changes. Only the strong will survive. While nature is a magnificent, and an awe-inspiring force, it is merciless and can devastate an untended garden.

Gardeners delight in growing plants from all over the world, some of these non-natives can outgrow anything in the local habitat and become unwanted menaces. Others only survive because of the gardener’s diligence, and disappear along with the gardener.

Sometimes, however, the remains of long ago gardens can be recognized. One reminder is often the jubilant daffodil. They mark homesteads that have disappeared in time. By their very nature these non-native spring flowers endure.

About fifty species of narcissus are known, coming from Europe and North Africa. Because all parts are poisonous, most predators and insects leave them alone. They grow in full sun or full shade, and while some prefer to grow in warmer climates, most are very hardy. In the right site, they seem to last forever, a monument to the gardener who once grew them, and to the ephemeral nature of gardens.

Once Upon a Time... A Garden

Friday Farewell...

Dear Night Writers & Readers:

It is with much sadness that I must depart this blogging venture. After making it only half way through our Body & Book Boot Camp, your tireless instructor has broken her foot and must remain on medical leave for the next few weeks.

That new issue combined with other family and professional obligations has forced me to take leave from this wonderful group of talented women.

I do hear that an incredible author will be taking my Friday slot with an exciting new topic and I wish her and the other Night Writers much success!

Thanks to all of you for reading and commenting on my blog posts.

It has been a pleasure.

Until we meet again, I remain...

Weary Writerly yours,
Kerri Nelson

Save Time! Buy Stamps Online!

I love using the unique first class stamps the Post Office produces every year. I don't like waiting in line at my local branch. They have reduced staff to one employee and it seems nobody goes in person to the Post Office unless they have issues. Then it's disappointing to find their selection of stamps is severely limited, sometimes just to the Forever stamps I could have picked up at the grocery store.

Friday I ordered the Sunday Funny stamps and the Hawaiian Rain Forest stamps online. My local branch never had any when I requested them in person. There was a total $1 handling charge to mail both of  them to my house. Very fair, considering the price of gasoline and my time. They arrived Monday. I highly recommend buying U.S. postage stamps online.

Fox Tails

Before we moved to California,

I assumed a fox tail was the tail of a fox, you know, like a rabbit's foot - which is pretty gross when you think about it.

Anyway, it took a single summer day with my golden retriever, Rosie, to learn about fox tails.

Right now, thanks to the heavy rains, the wild grasses are waist high. Jake has to hop to get through them and like most dogs, he loves running through the green grass - two weeks from now, that will be verbotten.

Removing literally hundreds of grass seeds from Rosie's coat and dealing with a dozen fox tails embedded in her skin, taught me that lesson. Once California's emerald green winter/spring grasses begin to dry up, my dog can no longer romp. Smooth-coated dogs have fewer problems, but fox tails are deadly for long-haired dogs. The grass seeds burrow beneath the dog's skin, causing infections and abscesses, muscle destruction, they can even work their way into the heart muscle. The worst is when they get between a dog's toes, or in the hunting breeds especially, in their nose.

If vet's out here were smart, they'd sell fox tail insurance!

Meditation Tips ~ Part Four

Last week I mentioned the importance of letting go, and in her comment Janice said, “People also don't understand that they've probably already achieved a type of meditation when they read or watch TV.”

This is so true.  It is too easy to get hung up with the idea that meditation is something difficult, something that requires tortuous attention to the principles and practices of meditation.  And while, if you want to do something consider doing it well, applies, it is self-defeating if you allow that attention to detail to distract you from the fun and pleasure of meditation.

Most writers have experienced ‘writing in “The Zone”’.  That period when you can hardly keep up with the unfolding plot as you write.  Everything flows and you can’t do anything wrong.  That in itself is a form of meditation.  It is the same kind of ‘high’ you experience from a successful meditation, regardless of whether you meditate for five minutes or much longer.

But there are other ways of maximizing the benefits of simple meditation.

I have already shared what is called ‘the breath’ meditation which has highlighted how difficult it can be to ‘let go’ and focus your mind on the subject of your meditation. 

Now I’d like to share a tip that expands on the theme of The Breath meditation.  It can take thirty seconds or several minutes, depending upon the situation you find yourself in.

a)If, at any time, you find yourself in a stressful situation, such as waiting to enter an exam room or the start of a job interview, take time out to focus on your breathing. If you do this, and deliberately slow the rate of your breathing you will feel calmer.

How many times have you had to take a deep breath and counted to ten when someone has annoyed you?  In its most basic form this is the simplest meditation of all.  All you have to do is take it to another level as and when you need it.  You can do this at any time when you are striving for that elusive sense of calm.

b)I have already talked about the need to ensure you are not disturbed while meditating at home.  But how can you possibly manage that during busy working hours?  It truly is not difficult, because while at work you rarely aim for more than what I call a ‘one-minute-meditation’.

If there is no other opportunity, take a break and take one-minute out.  Just think of something that makes you smile and you will relax.  Focus on the feel-good memory and hold it when you return to your work place.  In time, you won’t need to take a break to focus you will automatically call up a pleasant memory and know it is helping you fight against the stress on daily life whatever your environment. 

c) When we meditate we connect with our inner consciousness/our inner self.  For many this is a new and totally alien concept.  Like most things once you become accustomed to the process, once you become familiar with it, the mystery disappears.  You will discover you become aware of small, formerly unnoticed adjustments within yourself, your attitude to everything and everyone around you will shift.  These adjustments may be undetected by others, but you will identify changes within yourself as you learn to accept the principle of letting go.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

When you start to meditate, changes will follow, don’t sweat about them.  Let them happen, be aware of them, accept the ones that fit, and discard the ones that don’t, or you are not ready for yet.

The secret to successful meditation is to enjoy them.

Siamese

One of the ongoing favorites in the cat world is the ever popular Siamese. From this breed has sprung many other great lines: Himalayan, Snowshoe, Balinese and Tonkinese.

This beautiful animal is intelligent with an outgoing personality. It has a high energy level and demands to be part of the family. If you're looking for a couch potato this probably isn't the cat for you. Besides their sapphire blue eyes, they are probably best known for their vocalization. They talk constantly and sound like a crying baby. Their ancestors were highly regarded and lived in temples in Siam.

The average age of a Siamese is from fifteen to twenty years. Elderly Siamese often suffer from chronic renal failure.

An interesting bit of trivia: Siamese are born white. Their points--the darker portion of their coat--come in later. Siamese point colors are most often seal, chocolate, lilac and blue.

Looking for a fun addition to your family? Siamese will bestow upon you their loyalty and love. Sadly, these wonderful animals can be found in shelters and rescues. If you're looking to get a Siamese, please save a life: adopt.
~*~
Shameless self-promotion:

Makita must use her second life to return to earth and take care of her pal, Bennie the Boxer. But finding Bennie is only the beginning. After they're reunited, Makita and Bennie stumble upon a dog fighting ring. Now the fearless feline must use her considerable cunning to breakout the hapless creatures that have been stolen to use as bait for the fighting dogs.

Makita is available as a download at Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/49323)for $2.99.

Spring At Last

I was traveling downstate to go to my mom's 87 birthday, no time to write with classes, meetings, and being on the road, plus picking granddaughter up for weekend visit. Life is meant to be lived even for gardeners, isn't it? Arriving home Lizzy gets out of car and shouts, "Flowers, grandma!" Sure enough spring has finally sprung, perhaps much latter than for many of you, but after a rough winter nothing is more welcome. (Photos of my wild & crazy mom and my sister.)

Selling Media Clutter on Amazon

I finally realized we were bursting at the seams with DVDs. I asked each family member to go through our entire collection and claim the ones they loved and would watch again. Naturally, I was met with balking and eye rolling. The kids piled 95% up and forbid me for even thinking of separating them from their beloved possessions. Hubby reluctantly sifted through the remainder. He did leave several abandoned.

I put them up for sale on Amazon. Really fast. Just entered the sku#'s and voila, my product picture and description appeared. I made sure to price mine competively. I checked back daily, and lowered my prices when needed.

I purchased padded bubble envelopes from Target. I received an email from Amazon alerting me to each purchase. I have a postage scale, so the DVDs that weighed signifigantly less than 13 ounces, I packaged and affixed First Class stamps, as calculated at the USPS site. I dropped them in the big blue drive thru box at the P.O. The boxed sets which weighed close to or over the 13 ounce stamped mail limit, I stood in line inside the Post Office and shipped Media Mail.

I did list some old CDs, and they sold well, however, it was difficult matching them up with the exact product. The same artwork is used for many different versions, years, imports and it was too overwhelming for me. I didn't want to sell someone something inaccurate so I pulled the rest.

Fitness DVDs and Television Boxed Sets sell well.

Used Textbooks sell well, prior to new semesters. Not at all in between.

Used Hardcover books sell very well.

Used Paperback Nonfiction sells well.

Used Paperback Novels do not sell well. There are too many listed, with prices too low to break even.

Got media clutter? Have some fun and make some money to buy some more...

Late to the party! Sorry!

When you exercise outdoors, do you wear ear buds or headphones?

I hike in isolated areas and I don't often run into people. When I do run into other women hiking alone, more often than not I'm surprised to see that they are wearing ear buds or headphones, sunglasses, and a hat or a hood pulled over their head. Most of the time, they don't even look up until I'm right on top of them, and then they are scared out of their wits.
Why do I find this surprising? Several reasons...

a. You're a woman hiking alone in an isolated area - it's important to attend to your surroundings. Not only have I encountered mountain lions where I hike, I've seen bear tracks, had a wild pig (and they are nasty) run across my path, and even worse, I've stumbled onto drug deals and the occasional gathering of young men who've specifically sought out these isolated areas to drink and use drugs - knowing there's no way the cops can get back there. Which is why I hike with a big dog.

b. A couple years ago, I was attacked in the most isolated area of one of the wilderness parks while hiking. My older dog defended me and drove the attacker off. The man had been hiding and had I not been paying attention, I wouldn't have noticed him until it was too late...and if I didn't have a big dog? What a scary thought!

I totally get listening to music while working out in a gym or at home or even when running on the street, although in that case you have to be very careful to listen for cars too. But when you're in the wilderness? Not only is is safer to leave the ear buds at home, you won't miss the music of nature - the variety of bird song, the wind blowing through the leaves, the rustle of small animals...
We like to believe we're safe wherever we go. We can help ourselves by paying attention to our surroundings.

Tips for meditation - part three



 MeditationLotus.jpg

320 × 320 - MEDITATION

moonsinger.com

Painting of Alex Grey
To go to the gallery - click on: Alex Grey



One of the biggest hurdles experienced by newcomers to meditation is ‘expectation’.  And yet we live in a world where ‘goals’ have become the new holy grail.

For meditation to work, pr-ordained goals are something to let go of.  To release before you settle down to your meditation.

I can almost hear you protesting, ‘but if I don’t have a goal, what’s the point of settling down?’ 

And that’s the dilemma.

Because the moment you start to meditate you have ruined your chances of reaching ‘your goal’ of relaxation. The fast pace of life often means we have to focus and organize our daily schedules with almost military precision. 

When meditating that is the one thing that is guaranteed to block positive results when meditating.  Letting go of the need to organize (dare I mention the word ‘control’), is not easy, but necessary when opening up your conscious state to meditation.

It is all part of the reason people initially find it so hard to keep their attention focused during meditation.

There are plenty of books out there about meditation that expound the values and benefits of every type of meditating and covering almost every aspect of life. 

a) Read a book (or two) on meditation.  Don’t hesitate to pick one or two up next time you visit Amazon or your local book store.  Unlike fiction, where you need to read the whole story to get the full picture, there will be parts of any ‘how to’ book that will not sit well with you.  You can meditate on that and find out why certain information feels wrong for you.  At the end of the day, meditation is personal.  Like writing, you find your own voice, honor it and stay with it.

b) Invite meditation to become a part of your daily routine. That does not mean you have to give up hours of your time on a daily basis.  To begin with five minutes a day is good, but if that is too much try to organize a meditation slot at least three a week.  Keeping a journal of your experiences, however banal they seem, will on reflection, reveal patterns in your life that may require tweaking to relieve stressful situations.  But don’t stress over the meditations themselves.  Just do the best you can every day, and then let it go!

c) There are instructional tapes and CDs. If it feels right, try one, but go for something simple to begin with. And choose carefully.  There are many different types of meditation, and if you don’t give yourself time to choose wisely it may put you off something that can be very beneficial to your life-style and health.

 WARNING NEVER, EVER listen to meditation CDs or tapes while driving.

And finally for this week, work at your own pace.  If someone tells you of the most magnificent meditation they’ve had, accept it, let it go, and continue your meditation journey at the pace that is right for YOU.