Musings of a modern mystic

Listen, the earth speaks wisdom, tells when and how to move. Sets a cadence for the rhythm of our days, our lives and unleashes the wildness within.

There comes a time in our lives when we are called to believe the unbelievable. If we allow ourselves to believe, we open the door to the infinite possibility of who we might become.

Double click to enlarge and see the hawk.

Frosty Sunday Morn

Good Morning - Let's share a cuppa coffee together shall we?
Here is a quote I hope you will think about today -

This would cure the poor sick world if every day each soul waited before Me. Gradually you will be transformed physically, mentally and spiritually into My likeness
-
Words from Creator

I am listening to Andrea Bocelli's In Canto. My sunday ritual is to avoid the TV news and listen to Andrea sing. Pavarotti once said that if God had a human voice, it must be Andrea Bocelli. I couldn't agree more. Yesterday, on public tv, they replayed the Live Concert at Tuscany recorded in August. What an experience!

As evil and darkness continue to fight for it's survival against the infusion of Light and Love across the planet, take sometime for beauty and joy in your life.

Yesterday, I drove to Rutland to shop (yes, me the non-shopper)at Michaels, I didn't find much there but the trip up there was breathtaking. I had to leave my camera at home to charge the battery. At first I was very frustrated with myself and my camera because it wasn't with me but then I realized this was as it was to be. I could focus on allowing the pure beauty of the snow covered mountains against the deep blue sky to replenish my inner landscape. The camera would have distracted me somewhat. I promise though I will go back and take some shots to share with you.

Near the orchard where I worked is a large pond and marshland. In fact, the autumn photo I had on this blog was taken there earlier. Yesterday, there were thousands of Canadian Geese perched on the ever advancing ice that will soon shut out all floaters. I did take a photo with my phone and will have to find out if I can upload it to this pc. I wrote about a similar experience years earlier in my book, Born Of Fire. I will find that paragraph and post it soon.

Please keep those who travel in mind and prayer. My dear sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Emory, are on their way to Naples, FL in their motorhome.

I am off to church in town. Please be a Beacon Of Light and Love for all, even those who would attempt to snuff out your Light.

Blessed Be,
Donna

saturday

It is with a heavy heart that I report the death of the little finch I wrote about 2 days ago. I found what was left of his small body on the deck yesterday. I am trying to figure out who would have wanted to make a meal of him. The scene has all the markings of a cat but it is hard for me to believe a cat would have climbed up on our deck to hunt a bird. Sebastian and I were here during the attack. I was decorating my house for Christmas. Now I question feeding the birds.

I spent most of the day yesterday carrying my Christmas decorations up from the barn to decorate the house. It was a mild day - maybe the only one for another week so I took advantage. The house looks very festive.

Hartford Tanagers, our HS girls basketball team, played in a tournament here at home yesterday and today. They lost badly to Granville yesterday. I went up to watch. They played hard but Granville really had it together.

Today I am driving to Rutland, VT, about a hour away, to go to Michaels Crafts. The problem with Hartford is there is nothing nearby. I miss Goochland, VA and Naples, FL not just for the warmer weather but for the ease of finding what I need. I am not an avid shopper but I like convenience.

Gloria and Emory are leaving tomorrow a.m. How I wish I were tagging along with the Bearfoot Coach. As the days grow shorter and grayer, it becomes more challenging to stay positive about this move.

Note the snow flurries in the one photo.

First Day of Gratitude

I have a tiny Purple Finch who seems to be living under my eaves over the deck. He comes to the feeder that Pete made to eat. I will try to capture his photo. I picked up a dead Finch in the yard last week. I think it was this little fellow's mate. He seems sad and lonely.

As you can see I changed the title photo to the guardian of this house. Here are some shots I took this morning on our circuit. My front door with one wreath but I have another that I made years ago and have carefully saved. That one will go up soon. There is a shot of the bird feeder Pete made me and a shot of my winter flag. I must be thinking snow. Hmmmm?

I am going out in a little while to join the group but for now it is peaceful and quiet. The sun was shining but is no longer doing so. Another thing to be grateful for. So many.......

Peace and Joy ya'll

Donna and Sebastian

Wednesday

My apologies to my loyal readers. Gloria had some questions about signing on my "family reader log". So I just signed on as some of you would. You do have to have a google account with a password. But after you are on they give you two choices: Sign on visibly or Sign on Anonymously. To Sign On scroll down on the right hand side to "Friends and Family Readers", then click on "Follow This Blog".

Try this link, I insert this as an experiment but if it works, you will enjoy it:


http://www.reflectionsofsouthbreeze.com/Pages/RealTalkingDogs.htm

Frosty this morning at 29. No school today. I am going to the gym and then gonna try to string some lights outside. Brrrrr!

My prayers for all of you and your loved ones.

Tuesday b-4 Thanksgiving

Trust and be not afraid. Life is full of wonder. Open child-trusting eyes to all I am doing for you. Fear not.
--Two Listeners

I worked yesterday in Glens Falls as a teacher aid in one of their elementary schools. It was extremely cold and unpleasant doing recess duty. This morning it was again very cold, rainy and raw. Work called me at 5 a.m. and I turned them down. Bashey and I slept in until 7:30. What a treat. This is the toughest month here in this part of New York. March is tough too but at least the sun is warm if it is visible. There hasn't been any sunshine of late. Day's are short and getting shorter.

I have been slowly decorating my house for Christmas. I love to decorate the house with traditional greens, cones and poinsettas. If it is not raining tomorrow, I hope to string some lights on the plum bush on the corner of the house. My neighbors lit up their spruce tree outside and it looks lovely from my bedroom window.

I drove to Wellsley, MA with my daughter Jill and grandson Will for the weekend. We stayed with my granddaughter Kate. What a hoot. We really just hunkered down since it was extremely cold. Will went to visit Emanuel College. Kate and I went to a craft fair. We ran between heated car, heated home and heated buildings. Walking outside was impossible.

I still don't have any photos for you. I planned to take some shots of the stark mountains against the cold gray ski but for various reasons, I didn't do it.

Don't forget to sign in on this blog. There isn't any obligation, passwords or anything like that connected with it. It lets me know who is reading it.

I am grateful for all of you my friends and family. May you be blessed.

TGIF

I have worked all week long in the glens falls elem. schools. As a typist, then in special ed classes as a teacher's assistant. It hasn't been difficult but I find I am quite tired and very happy to sleep in this morning snuggled with Bash. I plan to take Fridays off if I can to do energy sessions in Pawlet. But today I am preparing to travel to Boston with Jill and Will to check out a college for him in the fall. He is a fabulous student and will do well. He actually wants to be a lawyer and has been clerking after school this semester.

It is terribly cold here (16 degrees this a.m.) The wind makes it extremely cold. It is early for this even here. It seems the climate is reflecting the extremes in our financial future. I am very grateful to have a job. It is time to hunker down for the long haul. I try to find all the ways I can save a bit of money, energy and the planet. Reducing the size of my planetary footprint. There are so many things we take for granted. Those of us who are Lightworkers or mystics, have preached for many years about being mindful. Nows the time folks. Be always mindful of all you do, say and think. Our thoughts are prayers - watch what you pray for.

Many loved ones, human and animal, are sick at this time, some are leaving us behind. There are reasons unknown to us why we must experience the grief and separation along with everything else that we are going through. Try to stay in prayer and trusting love with your God. Don't judge yourself harshly when you give in to the sadness and the fear. It is all around us and as compassionate human beings, we cannot always rise above it. Forgiveness of yourself for your frailty is essential, then allowing God's Loving Light to surround and envelope you in Trust.

I wish I had some photos to publish. I hope to have some after this trip to Boston. As I drive I have met a few motor coaches towing cars headed southward. Getting out of "Dodge" - off to points warm. I find myself longing to do the same thing sometimes but I know my place is here for now. Maybe a road trip in mid-Feb. if the money is there.

Meanwhile, we are tucked in warm and snuggly in our little cottage. Be well and be safe.

Oh, sign the readers who read this blog tab. There is no obligation and it lets me know who is out there. I may add a shortcut tab where you can just click and be taken right to this blog whenever something is published.

Blessings---

Monday thoughts

Words to contemplate for today:

Be calm do not feel the strain of life. I am the master instrument maker. Would I ask of it anything that could destroy or strain? No! strain is only when you are serving two masters the world, fame, good opinion of men or carry two days burden on the one day.

Note the changes to this blog site. There is a place where you can insert your name so I know who is reading my journal; there is also a photo of a Monet painting on the bottom of the page. I am trying to add a weather link without success so far. If you would like to see some additions and or changes, let me know.

33 degrees, windy and gray here this morning. I didn't get called by sub-finder so will be going to the gym, baking bread and working on a giraffe painting/sculture I am doing on a large dried palm tree frond I brought up from FL. I plan to give it to my giraffe loving granddaughter, Grace, for Christmas.

Have a wonderful day -

Sunday evening

The weather has done an about-face and it is winter here now. Brrrr! Here is a piece I wrote the day I spent at the BOCES campus with troubled highschoolers. I decided to share it with you:

I was initiated into the 21st century BOCES school system today as a sub receptionist in the principal's office. The experience has left me feeling shaken to the core. To the end that I am seriously considering not accepting any more jobs from this campus. Many of the students are troubled and disruptive. There was a strong contrast between the warm and welcoming faculty and staff and the students themselves. Fear and anger seem to bounce off the tiled walls. I have deep respect for the dedicated people who continue to serve the extreme needs of these teens. I question how the so-called "normal" students function in this environment. When I was a student, I was in a one room schoolhouse in a small farm town in NYS. The older students took turns keeping the woodstove going, the cloak room cleaned up and the desks/blackboards washed. I stayed in that school for six years. At grade 7, our school closed and we were transported to Knickerbacker Jr. HS in North Troy, NY Some of my class were sent to other city schools. Four of us melted into 1200 students. It was total shock for us rural kids but out of that large student body, the rebellious students were a small minority. It took more than half the school year to become somewhat comfortable in the "city" environment and focus on learning. Most of us had respect for our teachers, the administration and our family. Foul abusive language was not tolerated. How times have changed! Why? Is it due to a lapse in parenting, in teaching, in the lack of religion being the focal point of the community or is it in the bigger picture of society itself?

Happy cloudy, foggy, damp Friday

Yes it is that. But this is November afterall. It is supposed to climb to the 60's today - we'll see about that. The cold, cold weather comes in this weekend and next week. I am staying centered and grateful, living each moment for what it is. I don't want to get into that place of disallusionment with the climate here. It is what it is. What I have found with my "new" attitude about living in NY in the cold weather is that I am able to see the beauty of the deep blue and mauve mountains against the gray sky, the deep cuts and gorges that are revealed with the dropping of the leaves, the houses and farms I wasn't able to see before. I have hungry birds coming to my feeders for sunflower seed and suet. I have been buying butcher suet rather than the readymade suet and seed mix. It lasts longer, is less expensive and they like it just fine.

I have had a week and a half of "time off". It has been a blessing since I have been able to work on my "to do" list and also get to the gym in Granville. I do notice a difference in my energy level although my body is still sore. Part of getting older is as long as I keep moving, I feel ok but the soreness manifests when I am trying to get comfortable in bed. Getting older is not for wimps takes on new meaning for me.

I made sour dough english muffins yesterday. It was my first attempt. They came out quite good. Next time I will make them a bit smaller. They even have the crags and crevices that so nicely hold butter and jam.

Pete has a bittersweet bush growing in his yard. Apparently, it produces the decorative orange and red buds every other year. This is the year and I have cut quite a bit of it to decorate my house, outside and in. I wrapped three long branches around my chandelier/fan over my dining room table. It looks fine as long as no one starts the fan.

I have listed my Lenox china on Craig's List and eBay for sale. I don't use it and my children don't want anything that fancy. I began shedding all my extranious stuff over 5 years ago. I just keep seeing things that need to go, kinda like shaving off another layer. For some reason the largest "thing" in my life, the MH, is still here. The reason will be revealed when the time is right.

The photo of Rosie and Sebastian was taken this past summer but I thought you would enjoy seeing it again. It is one of my favorites. There is another one of the two of them sitting in the car together in Hilton Head, SC a few years ago. If I can find it, I will post it.

Here is a quote from my home page:

Love is the key. The way will open. What cause have you to fear. Be calm. Calm in my power.

We remember those who serve

Veteran's Day is always more poignant when we are at war. May all our vets (active and inactive) be blessed. A thought for today -

Love is the key. The way will open. What cause have you to fear. Be calm. Calm in my power.

Sunday afternoon

A great deal has happened in just the few days since I posted here. We have created an historic event that will forever change who we are as Americans. I am very proud to be an American now. Here is something I found this morning -

Wonderful things are happening. Do not limit Me. Do not plan ahead. The way will unfold.

A message from God.

I went to church this morning for the first time since August when I started working weekends. It was perfect as I sat in a brilliant golden light filtered through the south facing windows of the First Baptist Church here in Hartford. We use two churches, one in the summer and the other in the winter. This was the first time in this church for me. We use the two churches to try to keep all factions of this Yoked church happy. Years ago when I lived in Pawlet, we did the same thing. The churches were next to each other. It was very difficult keeping both old buildings up to par. Then after I had moved away, the ME church burned. Now they utilize just the Congo church. I really like Pastor Mike here. He is my neighbor as well - he and his wife Sharon. She is also a pastor. He always speaks to me in his message. I feel a genuine caring from the man. They raise sheep as well.

It has been mild for the last few days. A cold front is supposed to come through tomorrow. The beauty of this respite in the weather is we are well into November with no major problems. That fact sure cuts down on our winter which can be as long as 7 months. I am grateful. I have a snow plowing man ready to do the job when necessary. I have staked my yard to guide him through the first storm. I had my deep well pump pulled a couple of days ago. We had no idea how deep the well was but we know now. It is over 200 ft. deep. At least that is where the pump is. The water level is only down about 30 ft. Which is a good thing. I have lots of storage. I had the wiring replaced and grounded. The pump is fairly old so I may have to do it again next year or so but a pump is a large investment and as long as this one is working fine----.

I am taking Sebastian to the vet tomorrow for what looks like a small tumor on his lip that began bleeding a couple of days ago. I am concerned since my Welsh terrier, Duffy had a malignancy on his gums. It was supposed to take his life but it never did. He lived 11 years after the cancer surgery without a recurrence.

Tomorrow is also the day for a repeat fingerprinting for me. My prints did not come out. The person who took them blurred them. So I will do that in Hudson Falls in the morning then to Granville for the vet appointment.

I haven't written about my first job at Boces from the sub-finder system. I worked five days in a row at the orchard then accepted a job as a receptionist at the Boces campus in Hudson Falls. It was a cultural shock. The students are the worst of the worst. Terrible language, disrespect, fear, unhappiness and hate. I feared for my life a couple of times since the desk I was at was right in front of the principals door. They have several security guards who are very busy. The police had to be called for a student with a concealed weapon, a knife. I don't know if I will accept another job there. I think I will be ok with the younger kids.

Gotta go make blueberry cobbler for supper. I made a beef stew and used up the last of the veggie's from my garden. My carrots are delicious. I have them stored along with the potatoes in the cellar. My herbs are all dried and hung from the rapters in the other cellar. Pete made me a deck mounted bird feeder for the ground feeders as well as the other birds that winter here. I hung one of my christmas wreaths from the past today. We are ready -- I think

Remember: You can't reach the Kingdom of Heaven if you are always looking back to where you came from. Stay forward and focused.