tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65397229898051862612024-02-06T22:34:37.387-08:00Notice Quiet NatureI love to discover quiet, sacred and magical places out in quiet nature!
I practise contemplative landscape photography as a means to share my deep connection with the natural world.
The Notice Quiet Nature Blog is created to share the insights of Ecopsychology and Deep Ecology that can inspire us to shift our attention and feel a deeper connection to anything in Nature.
When we sense this deeper connection, we feel attached to the interdependent web of life.Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-46961086502760642682012-07-22T20:06:00.005-07:002012-07-22T20:52:01.317-07:00Exploring Peterson Creek and Waterfall in Kamloops, B.C.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcrRy62A4e7N8xVysF38LkL2179xhA8jDn9ZGo-r2ogtbLBgmymOGDRCELcAv0kLoigFr3Z0RTOwxxyW3jFDbFub4yaVyJy0eO9SvptVKaMBUE0FCDcEMSLsuFuv3oB4o3VlOePvZNJA/s1600/Peterson+Creek+Waterfall+stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcrRy62A4e7N8xVysF38LkL2179xhA8jDn9ZGo-r2ogtbLBgmymOGDRCELcAv0kLoigFr3Z0RTOwxxyW3jFDbFub4yaVyJy0eO9SvptVKaMBUE0FCDcEMSLsuFuv3oB4o3VlOePvZNJA/s400/Peterson+Creek+Waterfall+stitch.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
live in <b>Kamloops, British Columbia</b>, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">which is one of the most wide spread cities in Canada! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> We are surrounded by rolling grassland hills, clay bench lands, volcanic rock formations and plenty of sunshine on our semi arid landscape.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">This photo journal is about <b>Peterson Creek Park</b>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">The</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> park is considered right in the heart of Kamloops, BC.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">This is a great hiking park perfect for exercise and adventure! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">It is also accessible from several neighborhoods</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> that border the park property. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">There are several paths from the downtown </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">in the valley, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">as well as from the higher elevated bench land neighborhoods.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4JFoz-9SEVXKzAz_xSum8wlZ2hgWWND0-_oJxTGCS_FNe3l_aCNPaWASayeKYvrSmLE31pyHNd18Kv1OYHJ2omFOwMBa52vGssg1mPR_LxCTJp5ZVBec4mnRGYuB7KjRyCN-eU68aXw/s1600/P1080161Looking+North-Peterson+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4JFoz-9SEVXKzAz_xSum8wlZ2hgWWND0-_oJxTGCS_FNe3l_aCNPaWASayeKYvrSmLE31pyHNd18Kv1OYHJ2omFOwMBa52vGssg1mPR_LxCTJp5ZVBec4mnRGYuB7KjRyCN-eU68aXw/s400/P1080161Looking+North-Peterson+Creek.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do crooked photos get your attention?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Nowadays
the Trans-Canada Highway crosses </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">over top </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">of the Peterson Creek ravine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">So the
traffic noise is something people have to tolerate </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">while hiking the trails
nearest the highway.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qfppGrWAIXfrvTcVbozKulWNWxLIcs88Pu1R0teyrEq1_fimARpxcUYQyZGQsdqSOWZ4tEw_OAf3V6WNYy5Rv62jbnCwfghPnIbnrY9wQtT4D0bAqDDBdCgFvvKfhWYn_zhkme7mmPY/s1600/P1080151Peterson-Plateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qfppGrWAIXfrvTcVbozKulWNWxLIcs88Pu1R0teyrEq1_fimARpxcUYQyZGQsdqSOWZ4tEw_OAf3V6WNYy5Rv62jbnCwfghPnIbnrY9wQtT4D0bAqDDBdCgFvvKfhWYn_zhkme7mmPY/s400/P1080151Peterson-Plateau.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plateau above Peterson Creek</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">When I see a patch of dirt cracking open like this, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">I know something is busy growing underneath! The earth is alive!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHbJ1F45dB7SWUqV5WPEwz6FrT5cCcaPGBWNOK3gNUNxGbmJ6uKn_aEkgjYF7ptZ8IWrTObOCMPlfA0O4p0TtRpuerBPdvbW3Uvf6G7dOITwZ_JcgR-f3wge-OWic_2MNazDu2XXBxqM/s1600/P1080131PetersonGrasslands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHbJ1F45dB7SWUqV5WPEwz6FrT5cCcaPGBWNOK3gNUNxGbmJ6uKn_aEkgjYF7ptZ8IWrTObOCMPlfA0O4p0TtRpuerBPdvbW3Uvf6G7dOITwZ_JcgR-f3wge-OWic_2MNazDu2XXBxqM/s320/P1080131PetersonGrasslands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some of the late spring wildflowers blooms linger due to heavier rainfall this spring</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNfW6-iS2_WcgsRYGMx8BO-SSi-GSKHWTWhKvQz784PIjv72aCVYzQrHykvmkIdHg1nTB9wTKxSlwSuCe7DDltGkipIBBTe_CXXLM2It5nQCUOftwXuF5aUivkffQoSgF96ZjCX2egI/s1600/P1080132PetersonMariposa+Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNfW6-iS2_WcgsRYGMx8BO-SSi-GSKHWTWhKvQz784PIjv72aCVYzQrHykvmkIdHg1nTB9wTKxSlwSuCe7DDltGkipIBBTe_CXXLM2It5nQCUOftwXuF5aUivkffQoSgF96ZjCX2egI/s200/P1080132PetersonMariposa+Lily.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Var-nSZ8-G0csV5xjtOSO7b7Iue3tl-XOv_4qBHNM1tCi7lvS28daneXuq3Fpa465p4FQb-rzUu7PWn9wcUMLU34bXkOreiKRphFmynUv9nnYDAWAHgzJ7j5wcr_gAOOUhrdEQ4wVTI/s1600/P1080138Peterson+Arnica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Var-nSZ8-G0csV5xjtOSO7b7Iue3tl-XOv_4qBHNM1tCi7lvS28daneXuq3Fpa465p4FQb-rzUu7PWn9wcUMLU34bXkOreiKRphFmynUv9nnYDAWAHgzJ7j5wcr_gAOOUhrdEQ4wVTI/s200/P1080138Peterson+Arnica.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiG0YclARAGgDSvKa0uXgetPJTwLDjQ1o9l8z9uF73hgJ7LmuWZuvRcJjx146HcDujHvcMsesz3_Hp3ylC_yGHQEh3VkgnlNXGn4TC8EBP17wjcmuIHwnMkypRmv34AZT-tc5aHx0Z9Ug/s1600/P1080139Fading+Purple+Asters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiG0YclARAGgDSvKa0uXgetPJTwLDjQ1o9l8z9uF73hgJ7LmuWZuvRcJjx146HcDujHvcMsesz3_Hp3ylC_yGHQEh3VkgnlNXGn4TC8EBP17wjcmuIHwnMkypRmv34AZT-tc5aHx0Z9Ug/s200/P1080139Fading+Purple+Asters.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">The Pine Beetle attacked many Pine Trees</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> in the past few years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">It was
really, really, sad to see them turn red brown </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">and then dangerously snap or fall
during windstorms etc. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89XFhMKCO9O36Uz40894txwDOH-320R_2IB-aeTm6B_LH7luT_XfY8U9hbNuczA8HU85iwH54OCrLRld0TMi9EGyykN3ADjY7m-8QtL5k3Z9M-G6vt-IoNAsU-AxHyXq0Luv4HvEBtlI/s1600/P1080146Pine+Beetle+Kill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89XFhMKCO9O36Uz40894txwDOH-320R_2IB-aeTm6B_LH7luT_XfY8U9hbNuczA8HU85iwH54OCrLRld0TMi9EGyykN3ADjY7m-8QtL5k3Z9M-G6vt-IoNAsU-AxHyXq0Luv4HvEBtlI/s320/P1080146Pine+Beetle+Kill.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Beetle kill of the Pine tree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Nowadays, many of those dead trees lay toppled over </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">or they have been logged off to
remove the fire hazard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">As
a result, the highway traffic noise has increased in the neighborhoods, because older Pine trees no longer buffer the noise or slow down wind patterns. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">Once you are up on the plateau or further in the ravine, it is quieter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oArgOEUNi369KLGa8c063VHCnlpWJI4LBZf9xhasujaSUUZQxgNmeFw1w_acmRuPGlXCcRSUo49oiuqPTZxDb5Z1i1ZU0e6UluN5r1v5tXsXLzC4pU-85rOHoQPiu4rwvp9-vtr6UBQ/s1600/P1080148PetersonPine+Trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oArgOEUNi369KLGa8c063VHCnlpWJI4LBZf9xhasujaSUUZQxgNmeFw1w_acmRuPGlXCcRSUo49oiuqPTZxDb5Z1i1ZU0e6UluN5r1v5tXsXLzC4pU-85rOHoQPiu4rwvp9-vtr6UBQ/s320/P1080148PetersonPine+Trees.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGnD7Y-HUABaAa6lNRlwlQic_xlkHPRsbWmnqeNX-v7cDYGWoPQKs2oxrxK62O8X7jny9g5UKRt5YR9jxXmLDpxGIrAWWCyXpmJm0tibm3VnQA3yqj0VEPBo52qLlwrcvIF8lw8_HJbg/s1600/P1080147Healthy+Pine+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGnD7Y-HUABaAa6lNRlwlQic_xlkHPRsbWmnqeNX-v7cDYGWoPQKs2oxrxK62O8X7jny9g5UKRt5YR9jxXmLDpxGIrAWWCyXpmJm0tibm3VnQA3yqj0VEPBo52qLlwrcvIF8lw8_HJbg/s320/P1080147Healthy+Pine+Tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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There is just something so exciting and makes me want to jump for joy when I see young Pine Trees thriving so green in the landscape. It is just more precious to appreciate their growth after the devastating pine beetle kill.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold;"><i>When I do go into Peterson Creek for exercise, </i></span></div>
<h4>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i> I like to check out the seasonal changes in the area.</i></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This day </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">I
decided to taste test several <i><b>Saskatoon Berry</b> <b>Bushes!</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b>It
was much like taste testing wines! </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I was surprised to notice taste differences depending if the tree grew
on slopes with less rain with more clay silt soil or flat bench grasslands near
rainwater runoffs with sunshine or shade! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> <i>I also have a Saskatoon bush in my backyard and I can harvest a years worth of berries for my freezer! All year long I can make the
most nutritious smoothies with these berries!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Nowadays, marketing tells us the best <i>super foods</i> that we should consume come from other
countries. Super foods such as Acia berry, Goji berry or drink products
like Monavie, or Chia seeds, Flax seeds etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>But
really~ what our modern society has lost, is the indigenous knowledge of local
foods. It is known in cultures that live in harmony with the land, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>that the
food grown locally, provides exactly what we need </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>because of our interrelationship with the
land.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xF6py14VUi2mcYxq9CyQirxCeb-yAWMSEXCweGtiQcj2t27BGnXq2SzIjM3mTg6M0N-4Es0He1brptYm2QDzZ8CnmI1V8-JqyL8p0Sb0AdVWRFYcA-gn739kL3Vw2YyfJfF5xplPBAQ/s1600/P1080154Saskatoon+Berry+Bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xF6py14VUi2mcYxq9CyQirxCeb-yAWMSEXCweGtiQcj2t27BGnXq2SzIjM3mTg6M0N-4Es0He1brptYm2QDzZ8CnmI1V8-JqyL8p0Sb0AdVWRFYcA-gn739kL3Vw2YyfJfF5xplPBAQ/s400/P1080154Saskatoon+Berry+Bush.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saskatoon bush berries ripen from a red color to a deep blue plump and seedy berry!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b>So
this is the berry bush that I thought was the~ best!</b></i> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">It is higher up on the bench
land, excellent rainwater troughs </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">and plenty of sunshine! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">The berries were very sweet and I
thought </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">the best for pies or jellies.
There were several bushes in this area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>I
kept an eye out for the neighborhood bears too! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>I call them neighborhood bears because we do share their
home! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>But sadly, many bears have been shot because they come </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>onto our properties
for garbage and fruit.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><i>Sad~</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">So
the power of the humble Saskatoon berry contains nutrients </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">that feed
our bodies right where we live, walk, breathe and interact daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The Saskatoon berry has sweetness and an abundance of seeds that provide nutrients
and protein. They are known to regulate blood sugar levels too!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> I prefer not to dress mine up as jam and jelly with large amounts of sugar. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">Instead,
I simply add it to yogurt or kefir, juice or water </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">and blend it into a smoothie with a variety of other foods too! </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Yes,
it is seedy, but that is the natural protein, minerals and vitamins </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">from the local land that we live on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">For
me it deepens my <i><b>sense of connection</b></i> to the land, </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">and gives me a <b><i>sense
of place</i></b> where I live.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
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</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b>The landscape trails are rustic and the grasslands are sensitive. </b></i></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">When damage happens on some trails from cyclists, </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">then eventually the trail needs to be closed due to erosion.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> As the noxious weeds take over and then the </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">natural grassland habitat changes rapidly.</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5wwZvoDiqzpLOzT7UMU2bYC0rW2gJwZoR85_EMM3etT50xOQ1ByIN-apojz2joOWy4Bf-Ai8Kjho4bE4FlK2rYNUA-lWIo-d3CEGWT0MHlz2L110sjeNjpl9_YzQNmuPYG9fmXntDFQ/s1600/P1080163Peterson+Trails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5wwZvoDiqzpLOzT7UMU2bYC0rW2gJwZoR85_EMM3etT50xOQ1ByIN-apojz2joOWy4Bf-Ai8Kjho4bE4FlK2rYNUA-lWIo-d3CEGWT0MHlz2L110sjeNjpl9_YzQNmuPYG9fmXntDFQ/s400/P1080163Peterson+Trails.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peterson Creek Upper trails ~ Spot the jogger!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">I have lived in my neighborhood for 20 years.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16pt;">So while raising my sons, or entertaining visitors,</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16pt;"> hiking the Peterson
Creek area </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 21px;">has been </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 21px;">an easy adventure from our doorstep.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrySvqkYz5s4vZMmKD4Ah2axeK1MzMGquacgMLoyl5M3W8fhb_0e6gfiYT4huV5qnEhHyDJz46TEm7uGYToXtRYa52qVnh1MwgK96dRdWd0vIF1ru_ggEBxaelYirWu7vhZ9OtNFXMz8/s1600/P1080125Above+Peterson+Creek+Waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrySvqkYz5s4vZMmKD4Ah2axeK1MzMGquacgMLoyl5M3W8fhb_0e6gfiYT4huV5qnEhHyDJz46TEm7uGYToXtRYa52qVnh1MwgK96dRdWd0vIF1ru_ggEBxaelYirWu7vhZ9OtNFXMz8/s400/P1080125Above+Peterson+Creek+Waterfall.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peterson Creek seen from the plateau~ Do not attempt to climb above the waterfall- people are rescued every year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Coming back down into the lower ravine, </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>I decided to go see the waterfall.</i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i> I was pleased to see a few families </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>with </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>young children playing in the creek water. </i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ACIO-ymF8-M9y0GLAe68nj9ClGaRYZYe2htTzCHvNfM_AG3MLelPUf2d68oVog3VLhtZ-Gvm-vzaVQ1NxTHCnx2Vd38SKG-dW4d_850jCj9ydoN37IMYt3Nnz3jI6d9K0tL5VTkIcQ/s1600/P1080178Peterson+Waterfall+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ACIO-ymF8-M9y0GLAe68nj9ClGaRYZYe2htTzCHvNfM_AG3MLelPUf2d68oVog3VLhtZ-Gvm-vzaVQ1NxTHCnx2Vd38SKG-dW4d_850jCj9ydoN37IMYt3Nnz3jI6d9K0tL5VTkIcQ/s400/P1080178Peterson+Waterfall+trail.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a designated lower trail to the waterfalls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The trail along the creek has eroded </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">over the years </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and depending on water levels,</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> it may be easy or hard to get up close to the waterfalls. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Older children love to climb up to see the cave! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlHIziz5cbX44EKh1NAQIq8i2ehW4bNemKJjBxK1vKP7ECEsbKAiywMu4jNjw16fZwupKR4JwaZB7qbucUjrWghGIZc8tb6AMekOA_KCXZ_RNubOpMm9qXbTpO2F2LDhwPFfPi0Z3Hgk/s1600/P1080180Peterson+Creek+Cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlHIziz5cbX44EKh1NAQIq8i2ehW4bNemKJjBxK1vKP7ECEsbKAiywMu4jNjw16fZwupKR4JwaZB7qbucUjrWghGIZc8tb6AMekOA_KCXZ_RNubOpMm9qXbTpO2F2LDhwPFfPi0Z3Hgk/s320/P1080180Peterson+Creek+Cave.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like someone lit a fire in the cave recently!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~Warning~</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do not let your dogs, children or friends </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">attempt to climb higher than the cave. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Every ~ year Search and Rescue has to come to assist </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">someone and/or their dog </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">off the rocky areas </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">that are not designated trails!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Be sure to get as close as safely possible...</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
the waterfall is actually much longer than in this photo! </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You just have to get closer!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcGo8Nz9Q_GQWSMLJgXkK5j5plOt2mOIaGfnfq3p7ynXwoOYRDni4H0iQ62MenCdnX0j_9NBq2duFvw9-78Yc-XTKQXymCGVPNC_Mq7o1f13HKyj2etGjF1AQhZKThO0tvQIy3N5yIuA/s1600/P1080181Peterson+Creek+Waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcGo8Nz9Q_GQWSMLJgXkK5j5plOt2mOIaGfnfq3p7ynXwoOYRDni4H0iQ62MenCdnX0j_9NBq2duFvw9-78Yc-XTKQXymCGVPNC_Mq7o1f13HKyj2etGjF1AQhZKThO0tvQIy3N5yIuA/s400/P1080181Peterson+Creek+Waterfall.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peterson Creek Waterfall 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">For two centuries families have hiked up to this waterfall</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> for picnics and to cool down during the hot summer days.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Kamloops is a great place to live and raise a family, as well as an awesome place to visit!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvjGtefLSlKApeGlHCWmYKwXKdVp1a9l1ZuGHPQjHhvN8itWdUOIdCA0MgJe9KjMmcRQ90Bl789P6yRkCVsYLImdulwFyNxqGTZBM319xL7Vv7gJar-izeGH-1pj9_CULzyXqv6yXYy8/s1600/PetersonCreekTrails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvjGtefLSlKApeGlHCWmYKwXKdVp1a9l1ZuGHPQjHhvN8itWdUOIdCA0MgJe9KjMmcRQ90Bl789P6yRkCVsYLImdulwFyNxqGTZBM319xL7Vv7gJar-izeGH-1pj9_CULzyXqv6yXYy8/s640/PetersonCreekTrails.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north over the Trans-Canada Hwy Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><b>For more information visit:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tourismkamloops.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.tourismkamloops.com</span></i></b></a></div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-13978177294884708572012-06-11T19:09:00.000-07:002012-06-11T19:10:57.465-07:00Equinisity ~ Healing Horses and Magical Forests<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFOXre3jXCgoI9kyS3zs3xd2tvA5jPKVX93X-gVZe0NBeMsuLZEiFH3zVCY09vJgvfc8ilVoBFA1DL7H7Pcsn8VkJWwsE8eGYZDHs0V_EorjQTzUpHPskL-wtQL3vi6CAUFoNdiLOuL8/s1600/Gateway+2+Pano+1Resized+for+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFOXre3jXCgoI9kyS3zs3xd2tvA5jPKVX93X-gVZe0NBeMsuLZEiFH3zVCY09vJgvfc8ilVoBFA1DL7H7Pcsn8VkJWwsE8eGYZDHs0V_EorjQTzUpHPskL-wtQL3vi6CAUFoNdiLOuL8/s640/Gateway+2+Pano+1Resized+for+web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Arriving at Gateway 2 Ranch is like being elevated </span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">to a special hidden kingdom of magical healing horses,</span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> old growth forest and romantic grassland vistas that make </span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">you want to stay longer and let the wind blow your hair around. </span></b></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You can gaze far and wide and feel like you are far, far, away from the concerns of your daily life!</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">~</span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">You too may visit this amazing 320 Acre Retreat Ranch </span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">to rest, reconnect with nature and heal with the Land and Herd</span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Near Kamloops, B.C.!</span></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">*See the links to Equinisity Retreats below this photo journal!*</span></b></i></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwbJCcqefERjq4ldqMOd1MW0EUoaQbaBWM2ktbj95-aoswR6jpFXWbb9BNlEwNVh2R61Lbc8Ac7DddYyyyo5jqxil-IhljXV7ro0seaDyklxxq3ctXn6MngLDAiRMxF-MrGWbATW1T6E/s1600/DSC_7909Liz+Mitten+Ryan+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwbJCcqefERjq4ldqMOd1MW0EUoaQbaBWM2ktbj95-aoswR6jpFXWbb9BNlEwNVh2R61Lbc8Ac7DddYyyyo5jqxil-IhljXV7ro0seaDyklxxq3ctXn6MngLDAiRMxF-MrGWbATW1T6E/s320/DSC_7909Liz+Mitten+Ryan+Resized.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Liz Mitten Ryan</i></b> is an accomplished Artist, </div>
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an Award winning Author of books channeled by the the Herd, </div>
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Horse Breeder and Equine Communicator.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a18; font-family: Garamond;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"There is something about horses that is good for the soul. Openhearted communication between horse and human has the potential to promote self-healing by enhancing one’s ability to recognize an emotional connection and a unified consciousness. Horse therapy has been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, motor development as well as emotional well-being. In short, horses are an inspiration to humanity." </span></b></i></span> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a18; font-family: Garamond;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~ Liz Mitten Ryan</span></b></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">People come from around the world to retreat </span></span>with the horses and land. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>There have been many healing miracles that have occurred during these visits!</i></b></div>
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The Herd followed the cues to follow us into the corral that is </div>
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specially arranged with a few healing tables and umbrella shades.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VNQY7fjT-vm3QKLWzsVkO7OQDVY4R3HU_7e1Jc5K0pAHNHheneeMG_PwBnw_Zs0cpJ39Cuzn-Q98Fuwx3Jb2n9Fa6pqU0E1HSBpj3pAEMP0eh35d9SGZfQN_a1U86tKOZkWSbH5E3Vw/s1600/DSC_7915Charlene+Healing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VNQY7fjT-vm3QKLWzsVkO7OQDVY4R3HU_7e1Jc5K0pAHNHheneeMG_PwBnw_Zs0cpJ39Cuzn-Q98Fuwx3Jb2n9Fa6pqU0E1HSBpj3pAEMP0eh35d9SGZfQN_a1U86tKOZkWSbH5E3Vw/s320/DSC_7915Charlene+Healing.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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They snuff and snort, nudge or stomp, lean in closer and even nibble on a willing participant.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">You know something deep is happening and you can feel the presence of horse wisdom </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">and the inter species connection.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU691i4zFS4CGTNOjZdXbM3PnlEk5WIUd3hHlJ1ZZxV6O4kXp13zJZGGm5SKprXeXE9iZvKqU81Tteiv41BOTLxunT3k2NwpsYu-qXgnMkMaRfH0k1cQ-AZzJi4JaFhQoNRHPq5F8x7g/s1600/DSC_7918Healing+with+the+Horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpU691i4zFS4CGTNOjZdXbM3PnlEk5WIUd3hHlJ1ZZxV6O4kXp13zJZGGm5SKprXeXE9iZvKqU81Tteiv41BOTLxunT3k2NwpsYu-qXgnMkMaRfH0k1cQ-AZzJi4JaFhQoNRHPq5F8x7g/s320/DSC_7918Healing+with+the+Horses.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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This pony nudged into the supportive role! So there were many giggles and smiles too!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">The horses were willing and curiously approached participants lying on the tables.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">One lady even had her hat and sock removed by one horse! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsEAV9cAZu2BjbncePLw5ELFehU9KRfe50oQS0CbVn2DQYvlpc0wWilBqbz5AhIGXUjPJvS1E7MmcF70ynJb4FWxwKyjpvKthOfc-pAZMcNldjcEAYM8OX7QUZmzHf0Usws1pUbHn0z8/s1600/DSC_7926Janis+Healing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsEAV9cAZu2BjbncePLw5ELFehU9KRfe50oQS0CbVn2DQYvlpc0wWilBqbz5AhIGXUjPJvS1E7MmcF70ynJb4FWxwKyjpvKthOfc-pAZMcNldjcEAYM8OX7QUZmzHf0Usws1pUbHn0z8/s640/DSC_7926Janis+Healing.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The person receiving the treatment senses a profound connection </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and often realizes the horse's focus reveals their personal truths and needs for healing.</span></i></b></div>
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I did not have a turn up on the table, although I did have an amazing experience</div>
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while leaning up against a fence. One horse came up behind me and leaned over the fence</div>
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to place her jaw down on my right shoulder. The weight of her head was painful for me and</div>
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she adjusted as to what I was willing to tolerate!</div>
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We stood together for up to 10 minutes, cheek to cheek in a deep meditative stance.</div>
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The warmth of this connection and listening to her breath was peaceful. I wondered</div>
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what she meant from this contact and I received a visual image of a loved one.</div>
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It brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOi111UuJxm-ohBwc8rRkXjBHtUwwNkGCcQzy9KMTyH8QVzD7bJirZ02mwMjAECZUAuNTpN_IsDp9V1W8EaUlBqlef4nYzKOdReFekBOHtjMTfS8aB62hQ2HOm3n5SVY1yfi0SL5oemuE/s1600/DSC_7963Horse+Healing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOi111UuJxm-ohBwc8rRkXjBHtUwwNkGCcQzy9KMTyH8QVzD7bJirZ02mwMjAECZUAuNTpN_IsDp9V1W8EaUlBqlef4nYzKOdReFekBOHtjMTfS8aB62hQ2HOm3n5SVY1yfi0SL5oemuE/s320/DSC_7963Horse+Healing.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Overlooking the healing corral near the end of our session and time for lunch!</i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjomen4Wf06lROj0b0yyjwGxBPvhck_zICbSEhZztAaO_Se5Ao4rwlKadAtdxs_ZnBDmKlGdV_0wTtdl6wux7cVmZNT_TLezyPzRpyrPw8m6ybbSeCfy25EJDTk9z3yXGP3PZZpi_xZVQ/s1600/DSC_7946Healing+Corral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjomen4Wf06lROj0b0yyjwGxBPvhck_zICbSEhZztAaO_Se5Ao4rwlKadAtdxs_ZnBDmKlGdV_0wTtdl6wux7cVmZNT_TLezyPzRpyrPw8m6ybbSeCfy25EJDTk9z3yXGP3PZZpi_xZVQ/s640/DSC_7946Healing+Corral.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">After lunch, Liz led us for a walk </span><span class="Apple-style-span">up to the Old Growth Forest! </span></i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"> We stopped to talk of energy vortexes, ley lines and portals of cosmic energy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmepxkhm-I5oUf2cTCXJqOwpAkG59M47E8xSiNUqdj6pNaABF3cPZRGSQ3mF8KKKxx3O-EIi3Jgj6JXe67IWtxB3bmxY6IslmpqV21gSYgxbb0nQxDB46KJzaau3GOu-rOfYTakk_wVTY/s1600/DSC_7986+Rock+Portal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmepxkhm-I5oUf2cTCXJqOwpAkG59M47E8xSiNUqdj6pNaABF3cPZRGSQ3mF8KKKxx3O-EIi3Jgj6JXe67IWtxB3bmxY6IslmpqV21gSYgxbb0nQxDB46KJzaau3GOu-rOfYTakk_wVTY/s400/DSC_7986+Rock+Portal.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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Liz shared the stories of the land and encouraged visitors</div>
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to sense and become deeply aware of the surroundings</div>
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and subtle energies to discover their awareness of living </div>
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with a higher consciousness that unites all.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>Liz smiled as she directed, “You have to enter the old growth forest through this portal.” </i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NCZHUEK9OekLzQVpbsxvrGuyxRkfem1jGYNiI61qu5zvTL53GqAIj7E8iI3_GoB6NT5TLRQxUzxbZbiz8xL0B4zA95JQoKuGkwa8J5KZ293n_KRLrikl_7447Z0MPsD8wjLXq2lO7A/s1600/DSC_8008+Forest+Portal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NCZHUEK9OekLzQVpbsxvrGuyxRkfem1jGYNiI61qu5zvTL53GqAIj7E8iI3_GoB6NT5TLRQxUzxbZbiz8xL0B4zA95JQoKuGkwa8J5KZ293n_KRLrikl_7447Z0MPsD8wjLXq2lO7A/s400/DSC_8008+Forest+Portal.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b><i>One by one we stoop down to pass under a rather large tree trunk </i></b></div>
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<b><i>to be greeted with more smiles on the other side! </i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0lg0Zq2Q-NrZImxm3RFTER364zNtm5-XoWEoq-4zGP5wYonxOm48vXkutvAEZRBjfvNSworuNYCRqBj1wpTCNEDbQs7oNKVMSc0C8_y4yE3iNmJuRAI68QzqXFoQr0vEBKnQdi5_pI/s1600/DSC_8011Forest+Portal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0lg0Zq2Q-NrZImxm3RFTER364zNtm5-XoWEoq-4zGP5wYonxOm48vXkutvAEZRBjfvNSworuNYCRqBj1wpTCNEDbQs7oNKVMSc0C8_y4yE3iNmJuRAI68QzqXFoQr0vEBKnQdi5_pI/s400/DSC_8011Forest+Portal.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></a></div>
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Onward we go, mindful to walk without chatter so that we can notice </div>
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what is calling our attention from the surrounding forest.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">We walked in the cool shadows into a thick grove of trees following along after Liz. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">The wild grasses grow tall in there, as the horses cannot enter this area. </span></div>
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Liz’s assistant passed us stems of wild garlic to taste. </div>
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We stop as Liz shared bits of knowledge about the indigenous plant life.</div>
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that have walked past this tree for so many centuries.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>We passed through a Fairy Forest where Retreat Visitors come for meditation. </b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>This is a place of peaceful sleepiness and you want to lie down!</i></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nOaiNt3VbBi4At6CcFq0eQZ4nyN9WjySTviDyN-j3p6eUJDMyBXykp6SalS9GrpIvNmp4lR4dVatZ59A40C85OPdBBlHkdjKvSD-e7bJ15Lx4pfmxgw-fUaKI-aCVO-aBeQ8tSWWu5M/s1600/DSC_8038+Fairy+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nOaiNt3VbBi4At6CcFq0eQZ4nyN9WjySTviDyN-j3p6eUJDMyBXykp6SalS9GrpIvNmp4lR4dVatZ59A40C85OPdBBlHkdjKvSD-e7bJ15Lx4pfmxgw-fUaKI-aCVO-aBeQ8tSWWu5M/s400/DSC_8038+Fairy+Forest.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="271" /></a></div>
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<i>We whisk on, quietly walking and briefly stopping to hear the stories of this ancient and sacred land.</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>There are so many ancient trees to admire </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>and so much energy to intuit or channel from the landscape </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>as it shares stories for those who choose to tune in.</b></i></span></div>
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<i><b>Near the end of a hot afternoon, we descend down a narrow path playing as we go.</b></i> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9lSFBot8JVlTm95lduQ5Ju5TQEbdjsmCL5HbihhHNPfjcuRarPSJsH88ADozdssuBTv4FNGzX79B_cy_MkN1QAkDWDrMwGp15LuG2_zrMa3iODwu3Wl8dZ4YPvZ-7PKDaZISGyII9IU/s1600/DSC_8045A+special+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9lSFBot8JVlTm95lduQ5Ju5TQEbdjsmCL5HbihhHNPfjcuRarPSJsH88ADozdssuBTv4FNGzX79B_cy_MkN1QAkDWDrMwGp15LuG2_zrMa3iODwu3Wl8dZ4YPvZ-7PKDaZISGyII9IU/s400/DSC_8045A+special+rock.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">In an ancient dry lakebed near a clearing of ponds, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Liz points out <b><i>magnetic </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>crystals </i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>in the rocks</i></b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span">encourages us t</span><span class="Apple-style-span">o tune in </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span">feel </span><span class="Apple-style-span">the vibrations with our fingers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Our visiting time winds down as we proceed to the <i><b>Spirit Lodge</b></i>, a cozy modernized earthen hut.</span></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">We took time to share our gratitude for the amazing and insightful day spent on Gateway 2 Ranch.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">There were smiles and tears of amazement. </span></i></b><b><i>For some visitors this has been a life-altering day, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>an experience reportedly shared by many other visitors from around the world.</i></b></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Amazement, smiles, sweat, gratitude and dust </span>we say goodbye</b></i></div>
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<i><b> and travel down the dirt road <span class="Apple-style-span">to the valley </span>that leads home. </b></i></div>
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<i><b>We are so happy to have visited and eager to return again!</b></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Visit Equinisity Retreats ~ for more information!</b></i></span></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.equinisity.com/index.html" target="_blank">Equinisity Retreats</a></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i>As well as.....</i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.onewiththeherd.com/" target="_blank">http://www.onewiththeherd.com</a></b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalhorsefriendship.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>http://www.naturalhorsefriendship.com</b></i></span></a></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lizmittenryan.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lizmittenryan.com/</a></span></b></i></div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-55402934618975039342012-06-06T19:33:00.002-07:002012-06-11T19:13:59.554-07:00Equinisity ~ Healing Horses and Magical Forests OLD<div>
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<i><b><a href="http://noticequietnature.blogspot.ca/2012/06/equinisity-healing-horses-and-magical.html">http://noticequietnature.blogspot.ca/2012/06/equinisity-healing-horses-and-magical.html</a></b></i></div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-87624945610615441082012-03-28T13:10:00.000-07:002012-04-03T13:23:51.645-07:00Book Review: Farming Soul ~ A tale of initiation<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span">In Patricia Damery’s book, </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Farming Soul ~ a tale of initiation</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span">, I was curious to learn about growing dreamy crops of Lavender and tending to Grapevines with </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Biodynamic</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> gardening practices, on their ranch overlooking the </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Napa</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> Valley of California.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Seems like heaven on earth to me!</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">However this story is not just about growing romantic crops full of love!</span><br />
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Patricia also weaves in her personal dilemmas and her determined yet agonizing goal to be become certified as a<i> Jungian Analyst over a span of several years</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Patricia describes in her book that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Biodynamic gardening </i></b>means to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intentionally</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intuitively connect to plants and the land</i></b>, using mindful and meditative rituals and routines, while growing and harvesting plants according to Rudolph Steiner’s methods. <o:p></o:p></div>
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During her adult journey Patricia <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deepens her awareness</i></b> of not only herself, but also of the ranchland around her. S<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he becomes aware of how everything is</i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interconnected, </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not only in her daily life and on the land, but her dream life too</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of her most meaningful experiences happen during shamanic retreats and psychic mentoring. Yet it becomes her daily life living on their ranch that gives the space and synchronicity for deepened awareness to expand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Life has dealt Patricia various key life events, spiritual awakenings and power struggles before she could actually claim her individuation as separate from the scrutiny of her analysts, spiritual mentors and others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When Patricia recognizes the energy of her own confidence, she is then able to claim her selfhood and not only does her <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intuition </i></b>strengthen, but so does her <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wisdom</i></b>. It is then that she can look back at the struggles of her <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">initiation</i></b>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><b>(See below for more information about Patricia's book and lifestyle!)</b></i></div>
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For it is the <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conflicts and struggles</i></b> that make us <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unique and resilient</i></b> even in times that we don't feel the strength. This of course all plays out in the larger aspect of <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our basic human need to belong and feel comfortable with our identity. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Teachers and Mentors</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> (supportive and challenging) are so important during our life journeys. They can help us to comprehend the complex issues and the constellations of our relationships in life, as well as help us to understand the emotional underpinnings of maturity.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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In our modern society <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we will continue to need this guidance</i></b> to understand and make sense of these experiences to help us normalize the journey through adulthood.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hopefully</i></b> stories like Patricia’s can reach out and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inspire </i></b>other people to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">honor</i></b> their own journeys and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">notice</i></b> the magic and spirituality contained within their own experiences!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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As it is more common for women to consider our own stories and lives <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as insignificant, and not worthy of celebrating or sharing! <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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As a society we could all benefit by spending more time outdoors to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reconnect to nature</i></b>, in order to ground ourselves to the deeper cosmos of existence. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpkaesfFr-tqFb0fS2JZNKiInrIMvdIngEpxMF2tBLnuIqAnjs7QXUeeDnp6lH5C_6ddwCOZBhbiRt_pSDL0IoA0dBAtdx6qid396FxEyV-bhPdnZgAJZuhz0mI9iNlp9U3D02l9hxuU/s1600/DSC_5089Farming+Soulresize+Woman+PowerWherever+you+stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpkaesfFr-tqFb0fS2JZNKiInrIMvdIngEpxMF2tBLnuIqAnjs7QXUeeDnp6lH5C_6ddwCOZBhbiRt_pSDL0IoA0dBAtdx6qid396FxEyV-bhPdnZgAJZuhz0mI9iNlp9U3D02l9hxuU/s400/DSC_5089Farming+Soulresize+Woman+PowerWherever+you+stand.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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When we can recognize that our inner and outer landscapes can be a <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">symbiotic relationship</i></b>, we can then use these as <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intentional</i> </b>or <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conscious</i> </b>reflections to guide us on a more meaningful journey of initiation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is in my learning that Carl Jung’s life work exploring the realms of psychology and spirituality of the deep unconscious provides, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wonderful enriched</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">creative ways</i></b> for us to understand the more <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">complex aspects</i></b> of human life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Reading and learning more about Jungian psychology has deepened my own creativity too! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But not everyone has the time or interest to delve into this rich body of work. </i>However it is also my experience that people do not always need to seek the intellectual or in-depth meaning of symbols or archetypes in an analytical way.</div>
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For even Patricia acknowledges her wish that, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘practitioners of psyche’</i></b> will consciously incorporate ways of knowing or spiritual practices such as<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, ‘the old ways of relating to our earth with focused awareness and consciousness.’</i> Pg 114<o:p></o:p></div>
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After reading <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Farming Soul</b>, and reflecting on Patricia’s story, I realize that her description about the process of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lavender distillation</i></b> continues to linger within my psyche too. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Patricia quotes from chemist and philosopher Primo Levi, that distillation is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a </i><br />
<i>”slow philosophic process, and silent occupation” which keeps you busy but gives you time to think of other things…“</i> page 93<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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She goes on to explain that, to extract the <i>‘essence of lavender’</i>, the liquid is condensed into drops that collect in a flask. The oil rises to the top and hydrosol to the bottom.<br />
Patricia explains,<i> </i><br />
<i><b>“The essence of lavender is a balance of opposites operating on our nervous systems as a tonic and a relaxant.</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><b>The beauty of it is that neither is forced on you. Your body decides which it needs and uses the essence accordingly.”</b></i> Pg 93-94<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I find that I too have allowed a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘distillation of the essence Patricia’s story</i> </b>as I reflected not only on my own story of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Individuation</i></b>, but also the gift of having witnessed and celebrated the journey of several other women too! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just as the essence of Lavender provides two potential healing purposes (ex. tonic or relaxant)</i>, so do all ancient cultural archetypes and symbols, as they can provide more than one purpose of insight. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our psyches will use what it needs, to guide or gift us during our human journeys. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The symbols and archetypes remain there to be understood in new or deeper ways as we reflect on them during our whole spiraling lifecycle journey.</i></b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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When conscious enlightenment happens, or intuition inspires us, we can choose to celebrate or grieve, and share these discoveries of new or deepened awareness, or keep the precious essence to ourselves!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So Patricia’s story reminds me more, that we need to increase social awareness for all people to honor and tell their own stories.</i></b> Not only of overcoming the trials of childhood, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the trials of their own personal journeys of adulthood</i></b> in our modern society. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So much societal emphasis is naturally placed upon the memories of our <i>childhoods</i> and the <i>passage into adulthood</i> that supposedly, gives us permission to do more of what we want to do.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But it can be challenging to give our adult selves permission </i></b>to explore, as well as see that it as okay to focus some attention on ourselves, or even venture in new directions despite the opinions of other people. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is also common while we progress through adulthood, that many people often have experiences where they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">silently feel as if they are alone in the world</i></b> and do not have a sense of belonging, despite being surrounded with people. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We need to remind or acknowledge to each other that we are not alone!</i></b></div>
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In essence when we all allow our souls to stir and mingle, we can all benefit and seek understanding from other peoples trials and transformations.<br />
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There are many more people <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gardening soul,</i></b> just like the way that Patricia is <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Farming Soul</i></b>. There are even several more people just seeking <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">soul-stirring experiences</i></b> out in nature. Essentially we can all benefit by simply <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seeding our souls</i></b> with <i>meaningful spiritual rituals and practices</i> as suggested by Patricia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It is healthy to be curious and seek understanding ourselves deeper and connect with the creative life force energy to give our lives meaning and fulfillment.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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For example, I am a home gardener. Rather than large crops, I only have one prolific Lavender bush in my front yard and one Grapevine mainly for shade that offers some yummy little grapes in my backyard. But I fuss and learn from them each year, by trial and error and my garden yard gives me a whole lot of creative inspiration! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Also, I proudly love my 3 compost bins. It is a place to transform my kitchen and yard waste into soil. The microorganisms are alchemy in action. As Patricia describes, <i>"C</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ompost holds the soul of the world". <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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My compost has long been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sacred place where I </i></b>offer my personal prayers and let go of that which no longer serves me<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!</i> This is also where I can express gratitude for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alchemy </i></b>that<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>happens in my life! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So when we intentionally and intuitively tend to our plants and wild nature, we deepen our awareness, we feel interconnected and support one another on our journeys through life.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Spirituality in nature helps us to understand that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> w</i>e are all bits and pieces of one another and part of a larger soul stirring cosmic alchemy.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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We are one and interconnected, despite living separately or apart. What one does, affects or inspires the other. When we are conscious of this, we are stirring souls.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So when reading Farming Soul, it could be helpful to honor our own unique journeys, magical or spiritual experiences and teachers along the way! Then create community, to acknowledge and support each other through these initiations!</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C1CDtR-RtCoUg_e0Y3C-wIZBgtWewtuNQLB7py1OnPLfEtljzUvBe82f6PJXlqHQpWv8CJZ66IqvMYxDub0NU4biqOKMmd7lvH2P5DZSGwUx5RCWxgAcVhPierMUdkpLYLXlJQX24-A/s1600/DSC_6428Farming+Soul+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C1CDtR-RtCoUg_e0Y3C-wIZBgtWewtuNQLB7py1OnPLfEtljzUvBe82f6PJXlqHQpWv8CJZ66IqvMYxDub0NU4biqOKMmd7lvH2P5DZSGwUx5RCWxgAcVhPierMUdkpLYLXlJQX24-A/s400/DSC_6428Farming+Soul+resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span">For more information visit: </span></i></b></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.patriciadamery.com/" target="_blank"><b><i>Patricia Damery Blog</i></b></a></span></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Farming-Soul-Initiation-Patricia-Damery/dp/1926715012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313611980&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">View & Order on Amazon: Farming Soul~ A tale of initiation by Patricia Damery</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://depthinsights.com/radio/PatriciaDamery-BonnieBright-DepthInsights100411.mp3"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></a><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><a href="http://depthinsights.com/radio/PatriciaDamery-BonnieBright-DepthInsights100411.mp3" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Depth Insights Radio Interview with Patricia Damery mp3</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://harmslavender.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Harms Vineyards & Lavender Fields</span></i></b></a></div>
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</script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-81311961148068731422012-01-26T18:07:00.002-08:002012-01-27T16:40:39.325-08:00Book Review: Orange Moon and the Grandmother Tree<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>How exciting, this is one of my favorite author/illustrators with an amazingly beautiful and insightful story of Orange Moon with the magic of nature at her fingertips and a heart full of wonder and joy! </i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Rich hues of orange-red with a hint of umber</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> contrast with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>brilliant
wildflowers of summer</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, to set the stage for a vibrant story that warmed my
heart and imagination!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>At bedtime</i></b> I sat down to read <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orange Moon and the Grandmother
Tree</i></b>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elloise, otherwise known as Orange Moon loves to play outside
anytime of the year, but especially summer. Reading the story aloud to myself brought to life the
healing power of love. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1QofTNOvIMtjoEOtrta812DRPQhZ44XN1PNJRDQpwCXrZkkgCm2ONd4YCYy91YEtEdtajSO1y_W-Xam0QZTHXc1x77YKpnwOBvUirrhWDnwHLgQLgtB2v9XFBibE-swyOB31__p3eYw/s1600/noname.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1QofTNOvIMtjoEOtrta812DRPQhZ44XN1PNJRDQpwCXrZkkgCm2ONd4YCYy91YEtEdtajSO1y_W-Xam0QZTHXc1x77YKpnwOBvUirrhWDnwHLgQLgtB2v9XFBibE-swyOB31__p3eYw/s320/noname.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Orange Moon (Elloise) shares her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">joy</i></b>
with a new friend. She has
experienced <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grief</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">empathizes</i></b> easily with the loss her
friend feels. So Orange Moon shares what she <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compassionately</i></b> believes
to be true and gratefully celebrates this with her Grandmother Tree and her new
friend too.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gently Orange Moon models how to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">open our hearts</i></b> warmly with
love to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">discover</i></b> more about nature, our relationships and our selves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I noticed myself pausing to gaze at the beautiful pictures. As
I reflected, they reminded me of my own childhood innocence spent in natural
spaces relaxing and playing during timeless days.<b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I realized the power of these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beautiful pictures</i></b> can
invite a young child also to pause and gaze at the nature surrounding Orange
Moon. The pictures can invite the readers to talk and warmly open our own hearts
to share just like Orange Moon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This story eloquently expresses the healing potential of seeking out
nature and noticing how infinitely connected we all are to each other and
everything on our world.</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This book is a treasure, a keeper, and one that will enrich a very
young child as a picture book and last right through the school age years! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The story can enrich our adult lives too, as Orange Moon
encourages all of us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">open our hearts</i></b>, to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">notice
the beauty</i></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">healing potential</i></b> within nature!
There is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lifetime of wisdom</i></b> to discover within this story, to grow with
your child and within us adults too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The morning after</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> reading Orange Moon, the sunlight shone a
little brighter as it melted the snow in my backyard. The warm winds that night
had blown the coldest winter chill away.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The sunlight</i></b> barely enters my kitchen and only in the winter.
So on this warmer day, I opened the kitchen door and encouraged my cat Lila to
it lay upon a chair in the sunshine. I sat in the sunshine too and together we absorbed the
brilliant and warm solar energy for a half hour before it slipped behind a
cloud.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">During this quiet sit</i></b>, I realized that Orange Moon was with me
too at that moment. With my eyes
closed, face tilted into the sunshine, I could see the soothing colorful hues
of orange and red with a hint of umber. In this warm space, I too reflected on
the teachings of Orange Moon.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In the afternoon</i></b>, the sun returned and so I drove up to higher
hills to go for a walk, just so I could linger in the sun and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stretch the daylight a little longer</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Marghanita Hughes</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is such
a talented Storyteller, Illustrator, and Photographer! She is truly able to spark a child’s
sense of wonder or with the active child within your adult heart!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orange Moon</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is part of a
book series based upon a child’s wonder of the natural world. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So the fun will continue!</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">To purchase this Ebook or illustrations </span></b></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and view other products v</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>isit</b></i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://Orangemoontribe.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Orangemoontribe.com</span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>*</b>Choose some crafts at the end of the story to
inspire </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your play outdoors </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and notice the magic and wonder in nature!</i></span></div>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Educators, Counsellors etc. would also </b></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>appreciate this book </b></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>as an excellent therapeutic tool </b></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>for </b></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>discussion of death/dying.</b></span></i></div>
<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As well, Marghanita
Hughes is the award winning creator of, </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The
Little Humbugs”</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She is also Founder of
the non-profit organization, </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let’s Go
Outside</b> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">whose mission is; to inspire to change the way children spend their
time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Marghanita Hughes</b> states,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>“ We Are Nature - We
Are All Connected!”</b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.marghanita.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">www.marghanita.com</span></a></i></b></span></div>
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</script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-65289160042164760002011-12-09T10:20:00.000-08:002012-04-07T08:22:53.604-07:00Decorating For Christmas Naturally 2011<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Thank you for revisiting! </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">In amongst this article you will find several juxtaposed photos of most of the </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">fun decorations and gifts </span></i></b><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">that I have created over the past two years! </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">They are not for commercial sale in stores!</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I hope they inspire you too!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i><b>There is so much interest from people
around the world searching</b></i> for inspiration to creatively decorate with natural or
organic materials and objects! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;"> <b><i>Now that is the spirit of Creativity!!</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;">I know this, as I can see by all the visits on my
little Blog. I am graciously proud that this Blog has been used as reference and
inspiration! </span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-djPCOvq6w0Cw2vu0cSrMdKHDCvQaXgP1u5sZH_NfZZRFsNceZRNGTKheLPgW8s8GL1HzodyqkoBXbTECp0DAHEaUv8lTu2SRuUbIFu4lCKqUGdGRy-UOY-IE-_PqLGKfmM54r2bA62o/s1600/DSC_7628ForestChristmas+Bulbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-djPCOvq6w0Cw2vu0cSrMdKHDCvQaXgP1u5sZH_NfZZRFsNceZRNGTKheLPgW8s8GL1HzodyqkoBXbTECp0DAHEaUv8lTu2SRuUbIFu4lCKqUGdGRy-UOY-IE-_PqLGKfmM54r2bA62o/s320/DSC_7628ForestChristmas+Bulbs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried Forest Bulbs of Milkweed Fluff, Juniper, Saskatoon berries,<br />
Rosehips, Aspen cones, Sagebrush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">I think we may admit, at this time of year we do like a bit of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i style="font-size: 21px;">glitz and glamour</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> to</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i style="font-size: 21px;"><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">make holidays sparkle with magic and spirituality</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">.</span></span><br />
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</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcftzSdmVNea06EORrD1QILi9wUddKK9JUITNSeZKQMy-qtFQ6oSg_6GsMYdxrFHv30LzV0PwJFRoyVScrxEmHeyeC4mEov7ULpC_S6MhV1-jeieY1etpvxAmq38SEi-Fa2EMH6myiuo/s1600/DSC_0058Christmas+Tree+Bulbs+From+The+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcftzSdmVNea06EORrD1QILi9wUddKK9JUITNSeZKQMy-qtFQ6oSg_6GsMYdxrFHv30LzV0PwJFRoyVScrxEmHeyeC4mEov7ULpC_S6MhV1-jeieY1etpvxAmq38SEi-Fa2EMH6myiuo/s320/DSC_0058Christmas+Tree+Bulbs+From+The+Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried floral Bulbs to hang on the tree<br />
Hydrangea, Lilac, Rose,<br />
Geranium, Phlox & Tulip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zQDdZxe-JoZPXYrtCOZlFMxzP-WeQqLoIPWPl7Vdgb8dD2-mGp5ZEIRWVXCxjsn5k5h1xn_gTHm1Mzb1_L55whpK7wB_4KJs3_hWNlxtcgP6uwWF5Mai02UN7EdkPr89YeTeCBztGJA/s1600/DSC_0060Xmas+Heart+Bulbs+From+The+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zQDdZxe-JoZPXYrtCOZlFMxzP-WeQqLoIPWPl7Vdgb8dD2-mGp5ZEIRWVXCxjsn5k5h1xn_gTHm1Mzb1_L55whpK7wB_4KJs3_hWNlxtcgP6uwWF5Mai02UN7EdkPr89YeTeCBztGJA/s320/DSC_0060Xmas+Heart+Bulbs+From+The+Forest.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart Shaped Christmas Bulbs with<br />
Baby's Breath, Rosehips Wild Grass<br />
Lichen, Juniper, Milkweed Fluff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;">However many of us are beginning to question the
materials used to create beautiful decorations marketed to us in our
favorite stores.</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP63fkgYDJAiXgrdMyqxzlIqZqnmDx2Ms-svRD36zhsjEFm1bf3VoAVT_NFE6QnuIpXWXoNMNwVwO8FwqFHO81gBQmSZ3XuW0jyaVgYj2nT4utJtaIatUsbBWHskCLsXN89I0K3lno4k/s1600/DSC_7623MilkweedFull+Xmas+Bulbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP63fkgYDJAiXgrdMyqxzlIqZqnmDx2Ms-svRD36zhsjEFm1bf3VoAVT_NFE6QnuIpXWXoNMNwVwO8FwqFHO81gBQmSZ3XuW0jyaVgYj2nT4utJtaIatUsbBWHskCLsXN89I0K3lno4k/s320/DSC_7623MilkweedFull+Xmas+Bulbs.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angelic Milkweed Pod Fluff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Some of us may even question who~</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> is actually
producing these pretty ornaments in foreign countries and at what cost to the
factory workers own health and well being? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b>Is it really worth it</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> to pay
for these sometimes glitzy, toxic and future garbage producing decorative
things!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;"><b><i>S</i></b><b style="font-style: italic;">lowly more and more of us consumers are becoming aware </b>of
just what is actually happening way before decorations and toys actually fill
store shelves. </span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">We continue to justify that buying the
available decorative products is okay, because well they are already here. Sometimes
it feels easier to look the other way or just numb out and not pay attention to
the images or documentaries that can make us aware of <b><i>what is actually going on in
the factory worker lives!</i></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT6cFxs66k_ppg3_vOemJtWtXHyG3cYuYn5PPNVtU43sOjcbLx4Bel8YOkhtwybviXSLP9h8QTUA41OenwT0oGf5oCwCVmeltXSTQ1Qzw46m7ZMhXrO8cw5MfrVNUyECl8yJzn8avV2I/s1600/DSC_0065Large+Lichen+Heart+Ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT6cFxs66k_ppg3_vOemJtWtXHyG3cYuYn5PPNVtU43sOjcbLx4Bel8YOkhtwybviXSLP9h8QTUA41OenwT0oGf5oCwCVmeltXSTQ1Qzw46m7ZMhXrO8cw5MfrVNUyECl8yJzn8avV2I/s320/DSC_0065Large+Lichen+Heart+Ornaments.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart shaped Door Entrance Ornament<br />
Lichen, Fir cones, Rosehips, Oregon Grape berries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">It is just way too easy to choose these convenient
and amusing products that give us immediate or short term pleasure, only to be
thrown away in the very near future because they are cheap or break down. Heck we are busy, financially stressed and overwhelmed with life too! <b><i>But these purchases never really 'go away'!</i></b></span></div>
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</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8EI-6-B9ahwlm9zch82Nc5HKbLxF5guQtgrrMqF30LJqz8H9oHR-KVJjtayt-2w1uZrxlAUUSmqfZPfLFE4JjvRLwW07K26aYLMwhQDwCWowAywAq7Mk4Lzke1Pi0V8gL4z-Z-w5Zuw/s1600/DSC_7652Little+Forest+Lichen+Wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8EI-6-B9ahwlm9zch82Nc5HKbLxF5guQtgrrMqF30LJqz8H9oHR-KVJjtayt-2w1uZrxlAUUSmqfZPfLFE4JjvRLwW07K26aYLMwhQDwCWowAywAq7Mk4Lzke1Pi0V8gL4z-Z-w5Zuw/s320/DSC_7652Little+Forest+Lichen+Wreath.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5" Lichen Wreath with fir cones, <br />
Rosehips and Oregon Grape berries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip404xt3SpnCBCsX8OfqzMvi2a4GDLqh7VxzQs3Z2E3cSSHSnlctxyH4ICYudn9Ru6glJTL-t1B9M031n5YKEUJBxiYPXq7AG8EJjj0N173kX_8P-6gV2uWrlpc5fc_NrEV0JPI_e4xCk/s1600/DSC_7639Forest+Lichen+Xmas+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip404xt3SpnCBCsX8OfqzMvi2a4GDLqh7VxzQs3Z2E3cSSHSnlctxyH4ICYudn9Ru6glJTL-t1B9M031n5YKEUJBxiYPXq7AG8EJjj0N173kX_8P-6gV2uWrlpc5fc_NrEV0JPI_e4xCk/s320/DSC_7639Forest+Lichen+Xmas+Tree.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14" Lichen Tree with Aspen cones,<br />
Rosehips & Saskatoon Berries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What if we consumers began to think about how
these products not only impact the people of today's world, but also <i><b>indefinitely impact our future generations! </b></i> That means <b><i>people in our own
families</i></b>? It can be difficult to envision the world for our future
grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and so on. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb0Uy0s6vu_fOx_KbbqHIOkPQIccDdxVxDAHg_8gHw6OFUMQv5HhhPG-290t9fMtnv_Mrm6jQVh3HPXnjnrTp9IFiwvEG7EkBUcjJHJpYfLQlm4O92MrB8_DcHcsgZPcmRVVVNtlSLn8/s1600/DSC_0069Inspirational+Seeds+From+The+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb0Uy0s6vu_fOx_KbbqHIOkPQIccDdxVxDAHg_8gHw6OFUMQv5HhhPG-290t9fMtnv_Mrm6jQVh3HPXnjnrTp9IFiwvEG7EkBUcjJHJpYfLQlm4O92MrB8_DcHcsgZPcmRVVVNtlSLn8/s320/DSC_0069Inspirational+Seeds+From+The+Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed seeds from my garden labelled with inspiring attributes to Bloom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh-IqdKUfyfZgscTsQSkUUpKoKh2dAXvxIMQFpdgOARYs2qJAS5cAcD7eYbg3yfWHn_ssrgiXnzMqtitG0HPDowtaCII_TnGzisetFf16zhrpmPzDs2sTDKnncLIEYR_iH9hpp7ySAa0/s1600/DSC_0056Key+Chains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh-IqdKUfyfZgscTsQSkUUpKoKh2dAXvxIMQFpdgOARYs2qJAS5cAcD7eYbg3yfWHn_ssrgiXnzMqtitG0HPDowtaCII_TnGzisetFf16zhrpmPzDs2sTDKnncLIEYR_iH9hpp7ySAa0/s320/DSC_0056Key+Chains.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooden hearts stamped and then stained<br />
with natural ochre rock and linseed oil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNIQ7tn6kJMSXnEWaG5xJXQvwtRgfzkKtB3rrWAz3m6Ycloxb3TxltFJwYt_LouC17mw8-lbjeWELiWa-BOOU6cN-HwMQmVBKdJn_XRjzXOBjxCpl3GBT1t7RGYYk28hGGO_QboDSc4I/s1600/DSC_0048Merry+Mist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNIQ7tn6kJMSXnEWaG5xJXQvwtRgfzkKtB3rrWAz3m6Ycloxb3TxltFJwYt_LouC17mw8-lbjeWELiWa-BOOU6cN-HwMQmVBKdJn_XRjzXOBjxCpl3GBT1t7RGYYk28hGGO_QboDSc4I/s320/DSC_0048Merry+Mist.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose water made from roses from my garden with Witch Hazel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><i>What if</i></b> warnings were on all the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">labels of decorations, presents and all this stuff that we buy reminded us that
they could not be decomposed in a landfill or ocean? Just like with health
warnings on cigarette packages </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;">and products that list the potential long-term
effects of that product.</span><br />
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</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b>Maybe it would be helpful</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">to display TV monitors in
store isles with videos of landfills, ocean gyres full of plastic garbage,
animals trapped in man made garbage, and plastic garbage contents in the
bellies of birds.</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/D7vHrMsnRFA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzNHKVUKIDAunwjbLVG7dSZPN2yCmKeGIC4YnMTHDgwEpYqvdo49Yc1UG6XBDlfabVSIDhnn25w0y0GhO-ISU_h2YF71gzJO0GRAVD3updEx79gNrPrqc8Op8t_UvrY_j1OCdHL5MAbg/s1600/DSC_0068TakeOut+Birdfeed+Ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzNHKVUKIDAunwjbLVG7dSZPN2yCmKeGIC4YnMTHDgwEpYqvdo49Yc1UG6XBDlfabVSIDhnn25w0y0GhO-ISU_h2YF71gzJO0GRAVD3updEx79gNrPrqc8Op8t_UvrY_j1OCdHL5MAbg/s320/DSC_0068TakeOut+Birdfeed+Ornaments.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Bird Food Ornament to hang on a branch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPEli2ooDGXBwe_0ndzrhziq0ZgI5vvTkVNB7K-VwysWbFL3umHMImziDOfqu61wOEABYkbE0dfcekUGC1qFF2P-TJyEHLdT4G6LBERXPN-lPJrR2SKp6wh0KRkRv0NRKpPa6s6MgSyE/s1600/DSC_7631Take+out+Birdfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPEli2ooDGXBwe_0ndzrhziq0ZgI5vvTkVNB7K-VwysWbFL3umHMImziDOfqu61wOEABYkbE0dfcekUGC1qFF2P-TJyEHLdT4G6LBERXPN-lPJrR2SKp6wh0KRkRv0NRKpPa6s6MgSyE/s320/DSC_7631Take+out+Birdfood.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takeout Bird Food Ornaments!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><b><i> A hiccup error in HTML</i></b></span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/WutW8usfTTg?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Or what if </i>we<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>posted photos with factory workers names </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;">in the shop isles showing the harm caused to them by working long hours with toxic paints, fumes and dysfunctional machinery. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>These people are the ones to be acknowledged</b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;">, as they created all this commercial decorative and celebratory stuff that amuses us and we partly buy due to society's peer pressure!</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTUAcchmscCAPAF83zPB0EYcTR6yTp7ydKGK_D90evOA6zW7LdGWVe1vrbwpZcZ58n4JfkyIwcutQn2E5bnLO3_OxNiWjwlp2esm3DCyYeKGmvBdcliNgsRkI-gaHlegiL2kkDpstmgI/s1600/DSC_7661Bee+Mindful+Meditation+Candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTUAcchmscCAPAF83zPB0EYcTR6yTp7ydKGK_D90evOA6zW7LdGWVe1vrbwpZcZ58n4JfkyIwcutQn2E5bnLO3_OxNiWjwlp2esm3DCyYeKGmvBdcliNgsRkI-gaHlegiL2kkDpstmgI/s320/DSC_7661Bee+Mindful+Meditation+Candles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee Mindful Beeswax Candles with a stamped and painted box</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Maybe most of you visiting this </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Blog post,</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 21px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i> have not even read this far into the article.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i><b>Too wordy.... Too much detail ..... Too much time..... </b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Too overwhelming.....</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Too busy......</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b> Too boring....... and so on.</b></i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOn9q5FWEp-OAiJ58XvPTGX2Rlek2GL4nBfv3jyw1Ct05JF-m2ocwoLAy98TLc_p0qILX1Sy0-HmGgoZQQW5ioD3ElHnFvsGn8DdjBjGstGWQ_MBTVObOI_qEFWSAtuZkYwVZ7bXiZIs/s1600/DSC_7659Wasp+Nest+Paper+Trinket+Containers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOn9q5FWEp-OAiJ58XvPTGX2Rlek2GL4nBfv3jyw1Ct05JF-m2ocwoLAy98TLc_p0qILX1Sy0-HmGgoZQQW5ioD3ElHnFvsGn8DdjBjGstGWQ_MBTVObOI_qEFWSAtuZkYwVZ7bXiZIs/s320/DSC_7659Wasp+Nest+Paper+Trinket+Containers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinket containers decoupaged with Wasp Nest Paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Yeah...we like things easy, </b></i><i><b>convenient, on demand
and perfectly appealing that we can be buy as needed or obliged.</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6ZhRIid_OIanqQOaCwHueoodvZREsMKvORs75X4kjWKoBn_jG-Z8NcDfubLTRTrxDtkhsx6M0QNzx-FULgRAY7r-IdB1jiWugjPpLOq3PX08NqV9B1ySwneuSYbnNSUdK3hhLqFsT5M/s1600/DSC_7668Wasp+Nest+Mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6ZhRIid_OIanqQOaCwHueoodvZREsMKvORs75X4kjWKoBn_jG-Z8NcDfubLTRTrxDtkhsx6M0QNzx-FULgRAY7r-IdB1jiWugjPpLOq3PX08NqV9B1ySwneuSYbnNSUdK3hhLqFsT5M/s320/DSC_7668Wasp+Nest+Mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mirror decoupaged with Wasp Nest Paper and a stamped and painted box</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>I am not trying to shame and guilt us people!</b></i> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Nor I am not suggesting that we should harvest large amounts of unsustainable organic material from our natural habitats and ship it somewhere to be made into products!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 21px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">I am hopefully inspiring or provoking more of us to
see</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> the natural resources in our own backyards so to speak and harvest only
enough material to make some decomposable adorable decorations!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKRyavfoAQ2aJobb4CAfmeMdKhlh0jV5ND6T3Ul6FrNMTunSOvaMnUcyrV0jBzxjB3-rjg3Mch31FX9t2ryLQIl8cvvb9K70p19MIuWbHYnAzjUBJSLFCrjpHosyu5Hny4CeRuc6nB64/s1600/DSC_7664Birch+Bark%2526+Mica+Sand+Candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKRyavfoAQ2aJobb4CAfmeMdKhlh0jV5ND6T3Ul6FrNMTunSOvaMnUcyrV0jBzxjB3-rjg3Mch31FX9t2ryLQIl8cvvb9K70p19MIuWbHYnAzjUBJSLFCrjpHosyu5Hny4CeRuc6nB64/s320/DSC_7664Birch+Bark%2526+Mica+Sand+Candles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candles slid into empty slips of birch bark <br />
and a candle holder decoupaged with River sand with Mica</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b><i>It is up to us</i></b> </span>to introduce our children or learn ourselves and teach
others what we can pick in nature. As well, what to protect in a sustainable way. Or inspire people to re-create from our garbage! This is an opportunity to explore and learn more about our local ecosystems!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PeD3zOcvw4Z4dufpz7zclTp-QLHyUxC2t9eW2gMvf41I6VRFSS9JOuGyEuei-I3OkOSVu47G2aOygVVscsex4qk8nr-h7Jj9HV2_5D372IJzEqLWthrFZnRbn1LMUe0RAObVlX054PE/s1600/DSC_0101Ben+Owl+Pellet+Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PeD3zOcvw4Z4dufpz7zclTp-QLHyUxC2t9eW2gMvf41I6VRFSS9JOuGyEuei-I3OkOSVu47G2aOygVVscsex4qk8nr-h7Jj9HV2_5D372IJzEqLWthrFZnRbn1LMUe0RAObVlX054PE/s320/DSC_0101Ben+Owl+Pellet+Kit.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy holding an Owl Pellet Discovery Kit</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So today this is a shout out for a creative
challenge to rethink consumerism and shift us globally into a new sustainable
economy! </span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwsd9JuwNy-LlMgGFVpwFI4LXeVBYSAinvs7LBkQM7NFZcprwngRgKVyPOLtA-439Jv5hxxrouaW4BJmrd4IyVQT06tcjtwYMBSOTDhtf2MrfWV8vq00ne81N6BrkUFBtBTuT83vGxyU/s1600/DSC_7663Owl+Pellet+Dicovery+Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwsd9JuwNy-LlMgGFVpwFI4LXeVBYSAinvs7LBkQM7NFZcprwngRgKVyPOLtA-439Jv5hxxrouaW4BJmrd4IyVQT06tcjtwYMBSOTDhtf2MrfWV8vq00ne81N6BrkUFBtBTuT83vGxyU/s320/DSC_7663Owl+Pellet+Dicovery+Kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Owl Pellet Discovery Kit to dissect an Owl Pellet for bones!<br />
Just like a Scientist with dissection tools!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Help share the accountability and support needed to
reduce the harmful impacts on our very land or sea, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">for the lives of other people and our future families too!</span></div>
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">My Christmas wish is</span></i></b> to give ourselves the gift of
simplicity and encourage all generations to remember all the natural sources
and objects around them. <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">To see natural beauty and simplicity with new
eyes!</span></i></b></span></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SXNJOWKAhyphenhyphenmaCrHtDtRfqkKgzc9LmhFY-K01gCGVjJmeRHlJF-wc9etYErazCLHpVWsBHcx_puU0F6TTCYY7qr3vzQEvRbW-rJ1utFkUcB2tlIY06DAW4y9l0ERRUc9YHNKp38G_YYI/s1600/DSC_7665Make+Gratitude+Bundle+Kits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SXNJOWKAhyphenhyphenmaCrHtDtRfqkKgzc9LmhFY-K01gCGVjJmeRHlJF-wc9etYErazCLHpVWsBHcx_puU0F6TTCYY7qr3vzQEvRbW-rJ1utFkUcB2tlIY06DAW4y9l0ERRUc9YHNKp38G_YYI/s320/DSC_7665Make+Gratitude+Bundle+Kits.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Make Gratitude Bundles Kit<br />
A family/group activity/ritual to share thankfulness <br />
and grateful appreciation for each other and Nature!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">By learning to how to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">see the simple and natural
beauty that surrounds us</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">, we help each other </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">stay connected to nature</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> and learn
to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">identify and remember</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"> our natural surroundings. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">This naturally leads to an understanding of Gratitude! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">Being thankful and grateful for what we do have!</span></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KHezcfRb0FnEla9guodI1zZLeU1vdWYAY4455F51xmy4wSIz4otS0WOnTpWNNRmQCug4wrhszldzR21FfludzSqtxMD_2f2OtoRdIyH1ftGghgdjG8OOnNGQKNgRDLiLpnz0qolO6ZU/s1600/DSC_0045Apron%2526Lichen+Decor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KHezcfRb0FnEla9guodI1zZLeU1vdWYAY4455F51xmy4wSIz4otS0WOnTpWNNRmQCug4wrhszldzR21FfludzSqtxMD_2f2OtoRdIyH1ftGghgdjG8OOnNGQKNgRDLiLpnz0qolO6ZU/s320/DSC_0045Apron%2526Lichen+Decor.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Apron for crafting and cooking!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now~ I am already cooking and crafting up ideas for next year!! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Creativity pot is boiling over!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Season's Greetings Everyone! </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Make Merry In All Celebrations This Season!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Photo credits for half of these photos goes to Coreena McBurnie! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Be sure to visit her Blog of Book Reviews and Creative Adventures!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://coreenamcburnie.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">http://coreenamcburnie.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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</script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-21630723134405765542011-05-24T12:41:00.005-07:002011-05-27T07:54:37.303-07:00Lemony Lilac Jelly for Fairies, Picnics and Teas<div>Long ago in childhood on warm spring days, we sat near the Lilac trees maybe for shade but also for taste testing the Lilac blossoms!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have you ever pulled off a blossom and sucked on it to taste a wee bit of sweetness? Then you can blow into them like little trumpets and pretend you are tiny Fairies!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well I still do that and I have an enormous Lilac tree in my yard. The tree is so old there is lichen growing on her limbs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This year a nasty virus seems to have awaken the Allergy trickster within me. </div><div class="MsoNormal">So what to do? You know the saying, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Right?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So I decided to make Lilac Jelly. I was not even sure such a delight existed~ But nowadays you can Google anything~ and that was just the beginning!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have you ever just sat/stood and plucked Lilac blossoms for a couple hours? It ‘s not for everyone~ I just happen to have some Hunter/Gatherer genes and skills so I quite like it! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After they were plucked and I had a whopping eight cups of Lilac Blossoms and it was time to steep them in a glass bowl with 8 cups of boiling water with a plate on top and overnight on the counter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCjsZk08UxZKDBuVYS-67YeLo2XLD4y9Ia8izWHBZeXf4Layz8cYhafexrekPpkDFzD-2-2eIbMfejl0o7j2gIBH5Fg6G_gO0j0shP-3SzKCApp8fMARQp3KRhdYxtjT2u4yDNuzk4l4/s1600/DSC_6101.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCjsZk08UxZKDBuVYS-67YeLo2XLD4y9Ia8izWHBZeXf4Layz8cYhafexrekPpkDFzD-2-2eIbMfejl0o7j2gIBH5Fg6G_gO0j0shP-3SzKCApp8fMARQp3KRhdYxtjT2u4yDNuzk4l4/s320/DSC_6101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6p7B3Nns-QxozjoH7oUsU1jZuocuiP_-UPjI4MHTr2PkjcQwfbAyA4BTmz6sjVYaUhPwYrM5mFg8pWYyQ7iOKE99qsJu4GKJ7ShVhbWhCnI_AvsVHcUQIpLt3RbT6bCo8dKr_Evi9a0/s1600/DSC_6104.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6p7B3Nns-QxozjoH7oUsU1jZuocuiP_-UPjI4MHTr2PkjcQwfbAyA4BTmz6sjVYaUhPwYrM5mFg8pWYyQ7iOKE99qsJu4GKJ7ShVhbWhCnI_AvsVHcUQIpLt3RbT6bCo8dKr_Evi9a0/s320/DSC_6104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Lilac infusion was brown and cloudy. I remembered seeing that I could filter the infusion with coffee filters. This was interesting as it removed all the yellow and cloudy pollen. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(But maybe pollen is not such a bad thing, as I see Bee Pollen for sale at the Farmers Market)</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I ended up with 7 cups of Lilac liquid/infusion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRvDg2EA1iPIs3hzR-Dsq3wzgOCoMGMShCNrCHkGjuHyKnx-qNgIcg1I3o5qm3BVNuaJCgAQNyVYylIzBgtYh9vPFlWn2Lqm6xNVzmD62Gcexch-dl8nR2JSkQgmLh_oATiaiNoUkSbI/s1600/DSC_6108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRvDg2EA1iPIs3hzR-Dsq3wzgOCoMGMShCNrCHkGjuHyKnx-qNgIcg1I3o5qm3BVNuaJCgAQNyVYylIzBgtYh9vPFlWn2Lqm6xNVzmD62Gcexch-dl8nR2JSkQgmLh_oATiaiNoUkSbI/s320/DSC_6108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now came the messy and rather challenging art of making jelly, sterilizing jars and filling and canning. I was out of practice. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My cat Lila came into the kitchen to look at me with the, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘What the hell are you doing in here?’</i> look. Maybe it was because I was licking hot burning jelly off my fingers and maybe my screams sounded like a catfight! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocjBzmdBCXB5UXDNLnbu93k_maTNfeCwzO7pAZKXb9RL3K-r9GLMqBOhArcWz-yHHgmlAJwiNou8qUVbG2ZgaSFkXNqdjI9mmZI-3JCCGeCThWDio8sizxiFwEPIi6GPbqRbd-v_utRw/s1600/DSC_6151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocjBzmdBCXB5UXDNLnbu93k_maTNfeCwzO7pAZKXb9RL3K-r9GLMqBOhArcWz-yHHgmlAJwiNou8qUVbG2ZgaSFkXNqdjI9mmZI-3JCCGeCThWDio8sizxiFwEPIi6GPbqRbd-v_utRw/s320/DSC_6151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Okay so she felt ignored and it was her suppertime. She does not do drama. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;">My brown infusion lightened in color when boiled. After all the fiddly work of jarring and canning, my lovely jelly is a beautiful golden yellow color! <b><i>Sunshine for my toast!</i></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsStP70ftMsQJgWGdLcQtH5DpcvRZx-G73AoxQfsym-ZUKg_Y1vzjk-3qTmpxsdXEgaNiemTyP_5bcGZD-CH3D6WcwYdq9tKSorpi94I71U5Pb9jNQLSV5S00og7uZ23AibA5blAmJCk/s1600/DSC_6118.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsStP70ftMsQJgWGdLcQtH5DpcvRZx-G73AoxQfsym-ZUKg_Y1vzjk-3qTmpxsdXEgaNiemTyP_5bcGZD-CH3D6WcwYdq9tKSorpi94I71U5Pb9jNQLSV5S00og7uZ23AibA5blAmJCk/s320/DSC_6118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i> I imagine this would be very good with some Camembert soft cheese and some unsalted crackers or tiny toasts!! Maybe some Champagne and Orange Juice or a hot cup of tea! Perhaps best served on a spring picnic amongst Flowers and Field Fairies.</i></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><br />
</i></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well now I am so proud of my Lemony Lilac Jelly and it tastes a bit tart like Marmalade, but it is sweet and good. I did have crackers and jelly for supper as I worked. </i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When I tasted it later in the evening on a piece of toast, it had a rather floral impact! Maybe you think Garlic breath bothers you try going to bed with Lilac breath!!</i></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you don't like it, I am sure it will make a lovely chemical free room deodorizer!</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lilac Jelly Recipe </i></b><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"> makes 8- 4 oz jars</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><i><b>*I only used this recipe and others as a guideline..because I am a rebel cook!</b></i></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><i></i><b><i><br />
</i></b>2 c. packed lilac flowers<br />
2 1/2 c. boiling water<br />
<br />
1. Pour the boiling water over the lilac flowers, cover and allow to cool. Allow the infusion to sit 8 hours, or overnight.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i></i></b><br />
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<b><i><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">2. Strain the flowers from the liquid using a coffee filter, you should have about 2 1/4 c. liquid.</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">2 c. lilac infusion</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">4 T lemon juice</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">1 box Sure-Jell powdered pectin</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">4 c. sugar</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">3. Place the lilac infusion, lemon juice and pectin in a large pot. Stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a rolling boil.</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">4. Add all of the sugar at once, and stir to dissolve. Bring the jelly back up to a rolling boil for 1 minute.</div>5. Remove the jelly from the heat, skim the foam from the top (I got a lot of foam from this recipe) and ladle into hot, sterilized jars. Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.</i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">From the Blog at </span></i></b><a href="http://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2011/05/lilac-recipe-lilac-jelly.html">http://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2011/05/lilac-recipe-lilac-jelly.html</a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*I fiddled with the Lilac Jelly recipe proportions. I read on the blog that it was too sweet and then I noticed it called for a lot of pectin and a lot of lemon juice<i>. Oh whatever, I was working with a triple recipe!<o:p></o:p></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*I also reduced the amount of sugar. I used my one package of pectin. I researched that I could use apple peelings to create pectin for thickening. So I added the large peelings of two Granny Smith apples. I also reduced the amount of Lemon Juice. My jelly may be more condensed and aromatic, as I boiled it longer than 1 minute.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Perhaps you can dream of where you would like to have a spring picnic~ </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK9615PmA_LvgKflMAgHkNHshbn11NxJQQFFgLobet3GlCOZyrmR88IM04x5XIxoSDB_dnp41PdLyWaZQHoNTuQG0Zl3zoC2YNaa3_Wyn7xeY-KQTEohS1nm4-J4z3B-XdySr6jdQxkU/s1600/DSC_6016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK9615PmA_LvgKflMAgHkNHshbn11NxJQQFFgLobet3GlCOZyrmR88IM04x5XIxoSDB_dnp41PdLyWaZQHoNTuQG0Zl3zoC2YNaa3_Wyn7xeY-KQTEohS1nm4-J4z3B-XdySr6jdQxkU/s320/DSC_6016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: right 432.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Close your eyes and listen to </i><i><b>The Scone Fairies</b></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> maybe the music will guide you too!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q3vH01YIrAE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3vH01YIrAE&feature=player_embedded">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3vH01YIrAE&feature=player_embedded</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3vH01YIrAE&feature=player_embedded"></a>Have you ever heard of Kitchen Fairies? They often go to clean up or help out in a friend or relatives kitchen when help is needed. It seems the only helpful Fairies I had this day were lazy ones on standby. Oh well….</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlOy1EDcEJnuFG4ab8WBllXQakNuuPLCyAE0JM6D4eZcZem0bk3GBL_PaUpF0CnQVZ1Ttd5B_JlWhv3OT9U4tZncNL2632_9HErN6Mr673vCUSMW4UL13RyTmAC1_Fj6_ewxWzZhY9hg/s1600/DSC_6139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlOy1EDcEJnuFG4ab8WBllXQakNuuPLCyAE0JM6D4eZcZem0bk3GBL_PaUpF0CnQVZ1Ttd5B_JlWhv3OT9U4tZncNL2632_9HErN6Mr673vCUSMW4UL13RyTmAC1_Fj6_ewxWzZhY9hg/s320/DSC_6139.JPG" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lila in the Lilac Tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I have garden fairies under the lilac tree. So maybe they would like to have a Fairy Picnic and taste my yummy jelly. Maybe I will make toast fingers just like my Grandma would make for me. Then leave them out under the tree as an offering to the Garden Fairies!</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDjtRfAzr7BVdPHXZ4lV5aqf0ekh75mbXL93M-tUa0S6ox-IRaGE3MkBwSuLqmm0b_IZ-59EaShuinirN68xzW8lWSFG7dmEuKyY3-nNM7HRFvgz352sfdk_hpjjQyIKaS1HfAWViXMs/s1600/DSC_6142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDjtRfAzr7BVdPHXZ4lV5aqf0ekh75mbXL93M-tUa0S6ox-IRaGE3MkBwSuLqmm0b_IZ-59EaShuinirN68xzW8lWSFG7dmEuKyY3-nNM7HRFvgz352sfdk_hpjjQyIKaS1HfAWViXMs/s320/DSC_6142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">© Sherry Robinson, Notice Quiet Nature 2011</div><br />
<a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6539722989805186261" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="125" /></a></div><div><a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6539722989805186261" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-bookmark-en.gif" style="border: 0;" width="125" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-6313232448868593242011-03-23T00:45:00.007-07:002011-03-28T12:55:47.689-07:00Freeing The Body ~ Freeing The MindI laid for hours sleeping, dozing, and not feeling well. It pushed the barriers of my reality into claustrophobic boredom and I ended up craving some outdoor nature. <br />
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So I bundled up and went for a car ride into one of my favourite rural areas that are so close to town. It ended up that I drove even further than expected as I felt excited and urged on by the sightings of Hawk and Eagles hunting, feeding, and preening. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0cm;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgMgmAIMSrd09doRSqnw0XBw-HzqXOttwGKxmVSBrWX94mIcDTua2YxkZ9TSKKKRGk929O8I9eh99f7VUCLoT075kKCRljZ-zevg0XRyjH-62Ur4ny2jJhrwTnTdHi-1hV5-H-BjMems/s400/DSC_5712.JPG" width="285" /></div><br />
You see, for me there are wonderful times when driving in my car feeling comforted in my seat, in silence or with music and I feel freed of some of the chronic pain that can affect my day. <br />
<div><br />
This past winter I have being reading from the book, <em><strong>Freeing The Body, Freeing The Mind ~ Writings on the connection between Yoga and Buddhism</strong> by Michael Stone 2010 published by Shambhala Publications.</em><br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="107" data-width="71" height="107" id="rg_hi" sb_id="ms__id2326" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXqUbM7Voxl90mz_v3S9pEQuyXhgCM2iLuzVbO6f9KKidckJta" style="height: 107px; width: 71px;" width="71" /><br />
Michael Stone brings together several essays by intriguing Buddhist writers intersecting Yoga and Buddhism to offer <em><strong>timeless guidance</strong></em> and <em><strong>inspiration from ancient wisdom</strong></em> that can inspire us today to come alive on the path of awakening at this time in our western culture.<br />
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</div><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzLuMVArAxE_5SjgwCHuyxMQurmjGmSwBcNK3yJEUYgYQtIXWj8mQ7S_JCyflw6mxWLpMXIlw31lplQptm4_u0qURMyIws5LZZ9QNY-MufTG_2e10zmSYqJkCkH6Q3X6poplXL4-BNOM/s400/DSC_5726.JPG" width="400" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The following quote in the introduction attracted my attention.<br />
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<em>"There is a fundamental affinity between mind practices and body practices because they are both simply curves in a grand concentric circle that continually spirals in, on, and through itself with no beginning or end. Work deeply with the mind and you give attention to body processes from breathing to listening or seeing. Likewise, when you study the intricate holding patterns in the web of the body (called kosas in Sanskrit), you end up seeing where the mind sticks, where it can’t focus, where it gets caught in refrains of old tape loops. What you thought was “body” is mostly mental, not “the body in the body” that the Buddha says to direct mindfulness toward. When the Buddha teaches mindfulness practices, he begins with the body.”</em> Intro pg. xvii<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeJmRbEpX7OcqbzjJXTHxyW7OqcYk1ekFImF7l-Yvm1GPdKZNPTPnN3N-uI3HnSYsoL5ziOcQnZPKFs587YicWByGoOZ3hC1k5K-s-q0IqSfSFhOfjAYRhIBXaH-NGIARLZP1krxFuX8/s1600/DSC_5741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeJmRbEpX7OcqbzjJXTHxyW7OqcYk1ekFImF7l-Yvm1GPdKZNPTPnN3N-uI3HnSYsoL5ziOcQnZPKFs587YicWByGoOZ3hC1k5K-s-q0IqSfSFhOfjAYRhIBXaH-NGIARLZP1krxFuX8/s400/DSC_5741.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<em>The electric charge for me was the metaphorical reference to the <strong>‘curves of concentric circles that continually spiral’</strong>.</em><br />
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You see, last fall I had the pleasure to walk an ancient path into a pristine valley. My psychic senses were on fire as I walked past historical areas sacred to ancient First Nation people. Everything has a presence, a story, and a knowing. I feel the pull and pay deep attention to what I see and what shifts and attracts my attention further.<br />
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One of the last places to pull me was a faded pathway that led up to a visioning lookout used by ancient youth. Silently I understood why as I gazed at a rainbow further down a turn in the valley. <br />
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<img border="0" height="267" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI8GHvHkbQnbD0H8oRV3wzIADBndWzuykya9LibBm03cng7R60Y0PSTY6nscYOjBgZ4gm27oXfTyNwmG7j6QCU6lCIF7g9pTD85fPZFdzwYx4z3OEFR1c5qS6gJiijvfxHpKHYyRrwBw/s400/DSC_5504.JPG" width="400" /><br />
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I chose to follow the path onward down the other side of the lookout. The next pull came from what at first I thought was a circle of stones. However upon gazing for a longer time, I realised it was a <em>spiral</em> shape outlined by rocks. Therefore, I chose a rock and slowly walked the <em>spiral </em>inward until I arrived at the centre feeling the gravitational pull that tested my balance. After a quiet time I retraced my steps out of the <em>spiral </em>and laid the stone down at the end of the<em> spiral</em>. <br />
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<em><strong>The spiral symbol is a comforting metaphor that has provided guidance several times in my life and it helps me to rebalance.</strong></em><br />
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I finished the book, <em><strong>Freeing the Body~ Freeing the Mind</strong> <strong>by Michael Stone</strong></em> at the very end of winter when the ice is still on the lakes. During my drive that day, I witnessed the immature eagles feeding on a carcass. It reminded me how the dead bodies of Buddhist monks in Tibet are set on top of a mountain top in what is called a sky burial to naturally decompose and the raptors can feed upon those bodies. So, the following quote in Michael's book spiralled in my thoughts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUISe37kySi7_lMF857f4iKOAYMHcTO0nplo85UrAoQalILKqaxVqQojDqdRzOjZ_mY7YRxzThT9fZ4Esp4Oe6AlIIjeb0zZ-NIcS6asaCxKzW4erZ_SaqY9YVlBhqpX5IsT1CT0ipBs/s1600/DSC_5754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUISe37kySi7_lMF857f4iKOAYMHcTO0nplo85UrAoQalILKqaxVqQojDqdRzOjZ_mY7YRxzThT9fZ4Esp4Oe6AlIIjeb0zZ-NIcS6asaCxKzW4erZ_SaqY9YVlBhqpX5IsT1CT0ipBs/s400/DSC_5754.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Where does the mind end and the body begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where does the body end and the world begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as the naturalist moves through the forest with its vast array of trees and animal life, Yoga practices teach us to move deeply into the subtle mind states and energies that make up what we call “the Body”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With such an attitude mind and body practices become one.</span></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pg 226</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael Stone will be presenting a retreat workshop at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, BC in July 2011.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information visit:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.hollyhock.ca/cms/index.cfm?Group_ID=4671"><strong>http://www.hollyhock.ca/cms/index.cfm?Group_ID=4671</strong></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For information about Michael Stone and his other books visit:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.centreofgravity.org/book.htm"><strong>http://www.centreofgravity.org/book.htm</strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more books published by Shambhala:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.shambhala.com/"><strong>http://www.shambhala.com/</strong></a></span><br />
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</script> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzLuMVArAxE_5SjgwCHuyxMQurmjGmSwBcNK3yJEUYgYQtIXWj8mQ7S_JCyflw6mxWLpMXIlw31lplQptm4_u0qURMyIws5LZZ9QNY-MufTG_2e10zmSYqJkCkH6Q3X6poplXL4-BNOM/s1600/DSC_5726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-23274788473008347812010-09-21T10:05:00.007-07:002011-04-07T20:18:13.581-07:00Yoga For A World Out Of Balance <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu57YyITnOMAhuiUosL2O8CzX9yC87yx51pc8XaEbUEi5thlKOQU6Lt38F7Y7E5BSb_ploqhCEE8yPYr9WoICh6G_eCMVIw6GgMZYZ69_A6sFJueUru1OCWhw2pi9zFPf5AsJjMcMqOso/s1600/DSC_2180+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu57YyITnOMAhuiUosL2O8CzX9yC87yx51pc8XaEbUEi5thlKOQU6Lt38F7Y7E5BSb_ploqhCEE8yPYr9WoICh6G_eCMVIw6GgMZYZ69_A6sFJueUru1OCWhw2pi9zFPf5AsJjMcMqOso/s400/DSC_2180+2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Sherry Robinson - Notice Quiet Nature Photography 2010<br />
Vidette Gold Mine-Resort, Deadman Valley, Savona, BC</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<i><b>Sporadic yellow leaves dangle on the trees as if painted mysteriously</b></i>, hinting that inevitable change is coming. As the sweet aroma of ripening fruit waifs in the air, birds collectively call out to gather and forage in the neighbourhood. I have to keep an eye out for all these visitors not only to keep them away from the fruit, but soon it will be time to hang up the bird feeder under the maple tree.<br />
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Over eight years, I have watched the young Maple tree spread her limbs higher and canopy over the yard outside my studio window. She too hints that autumn is here. I can see one red leaf on the flaming Maple tree hinting that soon, she too will be ablaze of brilliant color and reflecting her light inside my studio.<br />
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We mainly focus on the leaves of trees to notice the passage of seasons, although trees are also a symbol of balance. Trees remain balanced because of its roots hidden beneath the ground. Despite continual changes or life threatening events, the roots hold and draw nutrients from the earth. Beneath the trees lie layers of geological history in the earth like stacked pages part of a larger story.<br />
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Therefore, like a tree, we too can remain rooted by deepening our awareness of ancient wisdom, the interdependence of human and nonhuman life and the new shoots of modern psychology. We too can send out roots and shoots to strengthen our relationships and experience balance not only in our daily lives, yet for the world as well.<br />
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With the end of the summer season, I also came to the end of a great book. Its pages are curled; there are insights scribbled throughout and sticky notes popping out for future reflection. I close and rub its bright yellow cover that reminds me of an autumn leaf and with a sigh noting how I love contemplative books. This excellent book is, <b><i>Yoga For A World Out Of Balance-Teachings on Ethics and Social Action</i></b> by Michael Stone 2009 Shambhala Publications Inc.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzo4nlbKWgMKZasOWCNT83uo6IhmUtE3zKDkE1DVzt-WbWI0kc99uV_lVWk4yxj-Yui96mJM6wVxpkixCxDTrN3VuO4TFCUlOpRhEO0CbYvJDMARFM_m8MyaWFO5njZIwzlEeqScRL4s/s1600/DSC_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzo4nlbKWgMKZasOWCNT83uo6IhmUtE3zKDkE1DVzt-WbWI0kc99uV_lVWk4yxj-Yui96mJM6wVxpkixCxDTrN3VuO4TFCUlOpRhEO0CbYvJDMARFM_m8MyaWFO5njZIwzlEeqScRL4s/s400/DSC_2175.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Sherry Robinson- Notice Quiet Nature Photography 2010<br />
This is an excellent book for Book Clubs or small groups</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Michael Stone’s book, he introduces the ancient teachings taught in the ancient <b><i>Yoga Sutra by Patanjali </i></b>and considered by Patanjali as universal ethical disciplines. Michael applies them with modern psychology and ecology to our everyday lives. These five principles or yamas are ethical suggestions that can increase awareness of the relationship between our actions and effects to help us respond and root us with clarity to live in a sustainable and respectful way in our current world out of balance. As Yoga is a system of education more than a religion. <i>This </i></span><i>is an excellent book for book clubs and small discussion groups.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Yoga can be more than just an hour on the mat a couple times a week.</b></i><b> </b><i><b>An exploration of Yoga can take us deeper and show us the interconnectedness of all life, which includes the elements, the breath, the body, and the mind. To balance our own lives, is to balance the world.</b></i></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnajF6jLLJkf-C4zV7jNOxGMU-JBXV0hDj5TFF5jdPjs6U19lAu1n8AcwDYDU_vYjcNsptN4C2oDvwDoXxz2tZe9Qa7x6uohEU0ytEbvzZ_WE6Vx4065cQ2Uj4I8wa51QPj9BxM2gNJEM/s1600/DSC_2051.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnajF6jLLJkf-C4zV7jNOxGMU-JBXV0hDj5TFF5jdPjs6U19lAu1n8AcwDYDU_vYjcNsptN4C2oDvwDoXxz2tZe9Qa7x6uohEU0ytEbvzZ_WE6Vx4065cQ2Uj4I8wa51QPj9BxM2gNJEM/s400/DSC_2051.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Schiedam Flats near Kamloops, BC ~ Photo by Audrey Meuse 2010<br />
It really does not matter that you can hold the poses perfectly. Breathe and hold the pose even for a couple of seconds. Feel the focused balance. Feel the momentary stillness and clarity. </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><strong><em>“Look into the nature of any one thing and you begin to see where it stretches out, </em></strong></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><strong><em>what sustains it, and how it interacts with other things. There is no separation.”</em></strong></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em> </em></strong>~<strong>Yoga For a World Out Of Balance</strong> pg 158 by Michael Stone 2009</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="224" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18931117?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=00aaa6" width="398"></iframe></div><br />
Michael Stone will lead a retreat workshop, <strong><em>Yoga For A World Out Of Balance</em></strong> at <strong><em>Hollyhock</em></strong> on <em><strong>Cortes Island, BC</strong></em> in July 20-24 2011. I highly recommend this retreat destination.<br />
For more information visit: <strong><em><a href="http://www.hollyhock.ca/">http://www.hollyhock.ca/</a></em></strong><br />
<br />
For more information on <strong>Michael Stone,</strong> his books and his teaching schedule<br />
visit: <a href="http://www.centreofgravity.org/"><em><strong>www.centreofgravity.org</strong></em></a><br />
<br />
For more information about <strong>Shambhala Publications</strong>:<br />
<a href="http://www.shambhala.com/"><b><i>http://www.shambhala.com</i></b></a> <br />
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</script> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-38596994114985739232010-04-22T00:40:00.006-07:002010-04-22T01:02:44.763-07:00Sustainability<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU8D_XDZ26AQmKowZaEJTOEuyt53OHH0bgMvsgouaUi7HZXsoHC6q4koo0NdfzeCphLfwLc0bhHRsmJMeOIuQL0p8eiDwcoNmRM97D-I2T9jJrTCLwSslwjhwBFqDVBvnumDYEOc2M1o/s1600/DSC_6385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU8D_XDZ26AQmKowZaEJTOEuyt53OHH0bgMvsgouaUi7HZXsoHC6q4koo0NdfzeCphLfwLc0bhHRsmJMeOIuQL0p8eiDwcoNmRM97D-I2T9jJrTCLwSslwjhwBFqDVBvnumDYEOc2M1o/s400/DSC_6385.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"Sustainability means living in a way</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">that allows</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">future generations to prosper.</span></i></b>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">~ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Raffi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cavoukian</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, famous </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Childrens</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Performer and World Leader for Child Honouring and Sustainability</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b>I invite you to take time to do two things today, no maybe three!</b></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> Listen to </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Raffi's</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> wonderful song:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.raffinews.com/download/audio/sustainability.mp3"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">SustainABILITY</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Click on this)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Visit his website to learn more about his committed work for the global </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Child Honouring movement!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.raffinews.com/sustainability/child-honouring">http://www.</a><a href="http://www.raffinews.com/sustainability/child-honouring">raffinews</a><a href="http://www.raffinews.com/sustainability/child-honouring">.com/sustainability/child-honouring</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Click on this)</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>3. Share these resources with your friends, family and community!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6zPHHdAs-qe-8m2nweBWl5IBmzZagPdj-f-1mvJLgKyoM366jT5jCLhniDlP1uFMQ7c9B-u746wktn7BRhP4hEQlYeW_PMN7VHOV0c6hemeTg4R8-w4XEJBBKhiWUheoh9jt6NwnXrY/s1600/DSC_9903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6zPHHdAs-qe-8m2nweBWl5IBmzZagPdj-f-1mvJLgKyoM366jT5jCLhniDlP1uFMQ7c9B-u746wktn7BRhP4hEQlYeW_PMN7VHOV0c6hemeTg4R8-w4XEJBBKhiWUheoh9jt6NwnXrY/s320/DSC_9903.JPG" width="299" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">Happy Earth Day Everybody!</span></b></div><b><br />
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<div><b><a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6539722989805186261&postID=3859699411498573923" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" style="border: 0;" width="125" /></a></b></div><div><b><a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6539722989805186261&postID=3859699411498573923" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-bookmark-en.gif" style="border: 0;" width="125" /></a></b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-38361161791691695012010-03-21T12:13:00.008-07:002010-03-21T13:37:56.543-07:00Seeing With New Eyes ~ Insights from a Deeper Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Travelling a familiar road along the Thompson River last year I noticed <i><b>a white line in the eroding benchland</b></i>. Long ago the road was cut into this benchland and exposed some geographical layers. These are some of the earliest chapters that carved out the history of this Thompson River valley in British Columbia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftJmnNRfv4CYb3M2Z4Eu9nm3rwLEjw7g3wHKHCSV19TtCeYN_ILE6Jju8Dp_epVu6Zt3-NJbOTnlMNRw2YEQ3ZGFOaR8WHlmjDhiaElkJ1AXBTXwq5SAd0whftTvsRdoEqo5TBnzj21c/s1600-h/DSC_7552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftJmnNRfv4CYb3M2Z4Eu9nm3rwLEjw7g3wHKHCSV19TtCeYN_ILE6Jju8Dp_epVu6Zt3-NJbOTnlMNRw2YEQ3ZGFOaR8WHlmjDhiaElkJ1AXBTXwq5SAd0whftTvsRdoEqo5TBnzj21c/s320/DSC_7552.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> I assumed that the white line was the Volcanic Ash layer from the ancient Mount Mazama in Oregon some 6700 years ago. I like to look at layers of dirt deposits as it is like pages in a storybook. I pay attention to stuff like this because my Father introduced me to Geology as a child. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid8PyE_n4x2Ff-e_5Wt4PIaF0gXJBvD6dDF5xsExzcnv5mfW4EtCoGDLAe9nHka4R8KW4TyMhKhOt5kchtXLNAEDnMIjCDDbWvb9H9whTtBlwVhW9Z-kopNLplq9HWF6bIQbZHyMYSgg/s1600-h/DSC_7499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid8PyE_n4x2Ff-e_5Wt4PIaF0gXJBvD6dDF5xsExzcnv5mfW4EtCoGDLAe9nHka4R8KW4TyMhKhOt5kchtXLNAEDnMIjCDDbWvb9H9whTtBlwVhW9Z-kopNLplq9HWF6bIQbZHyMYSgg/s320/DSC_7499.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">So this spring I stopped to look at that white layer. <i><b>But this was not ash because</b></i><i><b> ash does not sparkle in the sunlight!</b></i> What I discovered was a layer of ancient mussel shells embedded between the clay silt dirt and smoothly rolled bedrock. These shells were preserved in the layers of mud and silt that built up due to recurrent flooding and receding waters of glacial lakes to form the Thompson River benchlands.</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Now it does seem absurd to see</i></b> <i><b>mussel shells in a semi arid desert terrain</b></i>. I admired my un-fossilized discovery as I gazed far away at the Volcanic cliffs to the north where a famous fossil bed contains layers and layers of leaf, bug and fish fossils. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBI0ToUKgL8tgRYcEJ68zIqceJZeh2bWQdykPBG6MdHqRF0TFOkS-mfWfLi4jcYqKpmeOeYbg3YgGjVHptuk8_Lsa0C4-Ka_AWT-yxkRrVNfyxPBkOe7_cmHKB9T77K6TDYoC41JC1vA/s1600-h/DSC_7533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBI0ToUKgL8tgRYcEJ68zIqceJZeh2bWQdykPBG6MdHqRF0TFOkS-mfWfLi4jcYqKpmeOeYbg3YgGjVHptuk8_Lsa0C4-Ka_AWT-yxkRrVNfyxPBkOe7_cmHKB9T77K6TDYoC41JC1vA/s320/DSC_7533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>People had obviously picked away at this fragile layer as I noticed sparkles glimmering in the dirt, which in fact were strewn shards from the <i><b>ancient iridescent fresh water mussel shells</b></i>. They shimmered and I picked them up to inspect closer and noticed they were fragile and quickly flaked like glimmering fish scales in my hand. I collected some of the loose shells bound to be pulverized by being exposed to the elements.<br />
<br />
<b>Researching</b> on the Internet I was able to read a SFU Masters Thesis by Shauna Huculak January 2004 and another SFU Masters Thesis by Corene T. Lindsay December 2003. Both made references to <i><b>Freshwater Mollusks on the Interior Plateau of British Columbia around 4200 to 5700 years ago</b></i> during what is referred to as the Early Nesikep or Lehman Phase. These Mollusks or Mussels were a last resort food source for natives who primarily depended on Salmon, Elk and Deer. It is also noted Natives at this time were migrant and preceded life in Pit houses until much later in history. Cool hey!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b>The purpose of my writing and photography is to notice and pay attention in nature and allow these experiences to inspire and stretch my creativity. For when we experience a deeper connection to something in the natural world, it strengthens our attachment to the interdependent web of life. It is from these moments that we can be inspired by past and future generations and other life forms. This enables us to to respond to the present condition of our world and meet the challenges to create sustainable societies.</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeUq18LbE371hSp-ouIsXfDVq0uK7DM781VYTb9LbVzhNryKeazCcfJO5lcGCIDSq0420Zdirzyes8gGjVDgIhUmO1N-lhgcXfhPpFTFxsTfZ0m5hzi2XSDQ_fT072UaG7x72CuRvAyI/s1600-h/DSC_7890_2signed%20Vladimirandresized%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeUq18LbE371hSp-ouIsXfDVq0uK7DM781VYTb9LbVzhNryKeazCcfJO5lcGCIDSq0420Zdirzyes8gGjVDgIhUmO1N-lhgcXfhPpFTFxsTfZ0m5hzi2XSDQ_fT072UaG7x72CuRvAyI/s320/DSC_7890_2signed%20Vladimirandresized%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmWL_fFhVtNPkH9nzrswoZn4iYyYXPF2zpEjvj2Vwo7tej2piRJNDDjBYJqbg0iCB4MIraUKlULhjQ4sJPT18ICGZguVkDYEnc0GhXXmovbalYQQ0zomiqDeYkGK1j1HYIpk7guK_KPM/s1600-h/DSC_7964%20signed%20and%20sized%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmWL_fFhVtNPkH9nzrswoZn4iYyYXPF2zpEjvj2Vwo7tej2piRJNDDjBYJqbg0iCB4MIraUKlULhjQ4sJPT18ICGZguVkDYEnc0GhXXmovbalYQQ0zomiqDeYkGK1j1HYIpk7guK_KPM/s320/DSC_7964%20signed%20and%20sized%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA6kmyi22dIJAFzu3rRRpKgl_aOQ32D9VGp8FiOh5mepM9iknIAeUsd3J94j51c9gX_vuuViGwM_5fUjVdXN6qa8KRg4ksAEQ0rjrmPmiE3aGSzDJ8sp0a1MbECW7S_kz4NdeqTaPSAE/s1600-h/DSC_7972_2%20copysignedandresized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA6kmyi22dIJAFzu3rRRpKgl_aOQ32D9VGp8FiOh5mepM9iknIAeUsd3J94j51c9gX_vuuViGwM_5fUjVdXN6qa8KRg4ksAEQ0rjrmPmiE3aGSzDJ8sp0a1MbECW7S_kz4NdeqTaPSAE/s320/DSC_7972_2%20copysignedandresized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> ~</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b>“</b><b><i>INSIGHTS INTO THE BASIC MIRACLE OF OUR EXISTENCE </i></b>- be they from generational living systems theory, Buddhist teachings, or other ancient voices- have broken upon us in the very century that has brought us to the brink of destroying our planet as a home for conscious life. They are fundamental and far-reaching enough to help us liberate a Life-sustaining Society. If we can let these insights shape our own life purposes, they can enable the Great Turning.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">”</span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">From Pg 57, <b>Chapter 4 THE WORK THAT RECONNECTS</b> In the book, <b>COMING BACK TO LIFE- Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, our World</b> by Joanna Macy & Molly Young Brown 1998.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For more information about <b>Joanna Macy</b> or <b><i>The Great Turning</i></b> please visit Joanna Macy’s website which has abundant and inspiring information.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.joannamacy.net/">www.joannamacy.net</a></span></b></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-68423509881456113942010-01-30T21:23:00.011-08:002010-03-19T12:46:32.785-07:00Kamloops, BC Opposes A Gasification/Incinerator Plants Plan To Burn Creosote Treated Railway Ties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>Update on March 19, 2010</b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>A plan to process waste railway ties in Kamloops </b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>at the Aborigional Cogeneration plant is dead. </b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>Way to go Kamloopsians!! </b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>Keepin' it Clean</b></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span">SOMETIMES IT IS MY NATURE TO NOT BE QUIET!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf4ty8yPfw02KL0_3Sqepejw4s6HDfOkiz_nUzS3nINnxYYvGYbjzsmxiNsjSSMsLUlhGNwA3ANePzCjdv2thNH8lVdTayvCQrDvxssDxE2ENXuyXpdAbWhb7H5hw2Q_TJLlZ93vUbjE/s1600-h/P1070668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf4ty8yPfw02KL0_3Sqepejw4s6HDfOkiz_nUzS3nINnxYYvGYbjzsmxiNsjSSMsLUlhGNwA3ANePzCjdv2thNH8lVdTayvCQrDvxssDxE2ENXuyXpdAbWhb7H5hw2Q_TJLlZ93vUbjE/s400/P1070668.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSo3Q7CmpW_pTTs7jJpYhDGLxlLFk_mMzUGbb_SiVPx_FjCmi78Ram9Ha3vdLqFBbCqHJTrMLZ1QJpKy5QSMQG_dvccLiXj-x_Nim-ueE6b-TD94H__yAlRebQGke9ZdwEoaZv2vV2kQ/s1600-h/P1070670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSo3Q7CmpW_pTTs7jJpYhDGLxlLFk_mMzUGbb_SiVPx_FjCmi78Ram9Ha3vdLqFBbCqHJTrMLZ1QJpKy5QSMQG_dvccLiXj-x_Nim-ueE6b-TD94H__yAlRebQGke9ZdwEoaZv2vV2kQ/s400/P1070670.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUsUML7QMd1JxKyoEkdLb2TdXEEe1vmQ2sUlqkBM2O46vHfq9lDsBnQFA6RlUviEh1IcCVwrVMJT9euyiwWXKbgqFe92PcxjhBWg4PPYcdjpiMMwXdVhSRWrRfgbvIQUOdBd1yUZG-bk/s1600-h/P1070642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUsUML7QMd1JxKyoEkdLb2TdXEEe1vmQ2sUlqkBM2O46vHfq9lDsBnQFA6RlUviEh1IcCVwrVMJT9euyiwWXKbgqFe92PcxjhBWg4PPYcdjpiMMwXdVhSRWrRfgbvIQUOdBd1yUZG-bk/s400/P1070642.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxVVCoSiHTIqcWDsb6a0NC5iyOpJgdc4W1Aq9o3_ipAmcTbmDY-6TMgSQOwQIFh0WE4X5uplnAt_wxAqUjm7A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Video~</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Dodo bird metaphor</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Today I participated in an important Rally opposed to the new business </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Aboriginal Cogeneration Corporation</span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">operating a </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Creosote Gasification Plant burning Railway Ties</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> here in </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kamloops, BC, Canada.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Somehow </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">British Columbia's Ministry of the Environment</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> approved a permit application for this business to gasify railway ties. The plant is intended to create a synthetic gas which can then be put through two small engines to create electricity.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Kamloops is a city of 85,000 people situated beside an </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span">important salmon river</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, the Thompson River that flows into Kamloops Lake. Kamloopsians are </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">opposed</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> to this company with no track record pilot-testing a toxic waste burning facility in our community!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The body responsible for funding this gasification project is called the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sustainable Development Technology Canada </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">which is a Not For Profit agency reporting to the </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Minister of Natural Resources of Canada</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. Protesting Kamloopsians believe funding should not have been approved for this initiative that does not have local government and civilian support.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Can you imagine burning decades of old creosote soaked railway ties from all over Canada here in Kamloops? This decision affects not only Kamloops BC, but all of Canada!!!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Please visit the following link for more information:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://savekamloops.ca/">http://savekamloops.ca/</a></span></b></div><br />
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</script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1Thompson-Nicola Regional District, British Columbia, Canada50.666872321810686 -120.3002929687549.796425321810688 -122.16796896875 51.537319321810685 -118.43261696875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-90329982051288318402009-12-22T23:48:00.005-08:002012-02-01T10:22:42.784-08:00Decorating for Christmas Naturally (2009)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">December 9th, 2011</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since 2009, I have created more new natural decorating ideas and gifts that I posted in a new & current article! Just click on the link below!</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://noticequietnature.blogspot.com/2011/12/decorating-for-christmas-naturally-2011.html" target="_blank"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">http://noticequietnature.blogspot.com/2011/12/decorating-for-christmas-naturally-2011.html</span></i></b></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you to everyone around the world who has come to visit this article. I do hope that it inspires you to create and enjoy the nature that surrounds you! </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Sherry</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I admit it!</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have had an artificial Christmas tree since finding out many years ago that my youngest son was allergic to trees and mould. For most of my adult life, decorating the tree was more about my need to artfully decorate the tree according to the popular trends in magazines. Although I have gone through several themes and complementary colors, there has always been a cherished collection of ornaments that decorate our tree every year.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With high expectations</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and a full time work schedule, it typically took about 3 days to get that tree up with branches poised and with the lights balanced. (I used to have a thing about the lights being properly positioned on the tree). Then on another day I’d decorate with the main theme. Only then could I enjoy watching the boys decorate and finish the tree with our special ornaments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A couple years back I got tired of struggling with that whole procedure of setting up this massive artificial tree in a small living room. Teenagers are not much help either! Therefore we graduated to a much smaller tree. You know, small enough to sit on a table. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I donated that huge tree to our neighborhood school where hopefully it could be decorated to the satisfaction of young children.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C346EIL7BhltbUolsKuIGKikW220hg1Z3MDnrndC_NdB1G79lFaVytL5YdNxQ2sT0YWJb9EWXx-lAQq7SlYRhXbQb0UaSn4KrsSIei60swxdOgEHt8MRAv6FBgmcUwvS9P7eHnJd2dM/s1600-h/christmas%20tree%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C346EIL7BhltbUolsKuIGKikW220hg1Z3MDnrndC_NdB1G79lFaVytL5YdNxQ2sT0YWJb9EWXx-lAQq7SlYRhXbQb0UaSn4KrsSIei60swxdOgEHt8MRAv6FBgmcUwvS9P7eHnJd2dM/s400/christmas%20tree%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After last Christmas in 2008, I challenged myself for the New Year to create some interesting Christmas decorations inspired by Nature and without duplicating the more familiar Old Fashioned or common 1970’s homemade craft ornaments. Nowadays I suppose we can call it, </span><b><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An Organically Decorated Christmas Tree Theme</span></span></span></i></b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My most relaxing creative time has always appeared between Boxing Day and New Years Eve. I work rather slowly so this goal may keep me going for a couple years too. I’d like to share these ideas, although I readily admit the sources of my materials are not really </span><i><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sustainably</span></span></span></b></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> practical.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy9XfXWpXVbSbCVj0YKzAzkH58kuxSyQik8Xa_S9aF0W-lDQ7H0WLwOkTrWrZYgLwfWc5F7UNvHJb-vbWCoYorfgJLl4hyyT47hEXREMU2zPxub4-O6OJ1G5JBl3gduOIiRB7dpcr3y8/s1600-h/poppyseed%20ornaments%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguy9XfXWpXVbSbCVj0YKzAzkH58kuxSyQik8Xa_S9aF0W-lDQ7H0WLwOkTrWrZYgLwfWc5F7UNvHJb-vbWCoYorfgJLl4hyyT47hEXREMU2zPxub4-O6OJ1G5JBl3gduOIiRB7dpcr3y8/s400/poppyseed%20ornaments%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are some samples of decorations that I created this past spring!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I created various styles using Poppy seedpod lids! The smaller one on the right was decoupaged with Hydrangea flowerets. The bulb on the right is decoupaged Wasp nest paper!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below is a container that I decoupaged using Wasp Nest paper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, that's right.. Wasp Nest paper!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGIXztk7Fq8SfodVDfDNgf8DUKDkEE-ATepz9zCw3dayAHPETOK-N2w13cgq6d4TXqynx-2Bx9yAZsZc3Sv3IncMtRW2gBuK81yFJcrupUoQqYMiELxrZjTzDbMabtuy9myEIjj6t75U/s1600-h/wasp%20nest%20paper%20decopage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGIXztk7Fq8SfodVDfDNgf8DUKDkEE-ATepz9zCw3dayAHPETOK-N2w13cgq6d4TXqynx-2Bx9yAZsZc3Sv3IncMtRW2gBuK81yFJcrupUoQqYMiELxrZjTzDbMabtuy9myEIjj6t75U/s400/wasp%20nest%20paper%20decopage.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How do Wasps do that you ask? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Social Wasps use wood pulp etc. to construct their nests. They collect wood fiber or particles with their mandibles by scraping it from worn fences or buildings or even cardboard boxes. They chew this wood and mix it with saliva and after a period of time they add the paste to the nest structure and spread it out. When it is dry, it is a tough durable paper!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was so pleased with the results that I used a little wasp nest to decoupage this bulb ornament! Take a good look and you will see a blue line and some yellow lines! I find this fascinating because the blue comes from the old blue paint on my window frames! Yes! It's true! The yellow comes from the old yellow paint on my neighbours house siding! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5joUXoV0jOmV5bvLK2C69MBlx4vqM6VlGku9vW6uUhzFOylEkuOVyyTYCWnnyI_V75ZvwPmUqMcypxV62U2eYEpFTXAi6J76NCoHaWrNBKtcqDC7PTEJpnDnoL7WDCZwsxiF0JeDgHU/s1600-h/wasp%20paper%20ornament%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5joUXoV0jOmV5bvLK2C69MBlx4vqM6VlGku9vW6uUhzFOylEkuOVyyTYCWnnyI_V75ZvwPmUqMcypxV62U2eYEpFTXAi6J76NCoHaWrNBKtcqDC7PTEJpnDnoL7WDCZwsxiF0JeDgHU/s400/wasp%20paper%20ornament%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love the subtle beauty of the tops of miniature </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Poppy seeds that remind me of French Parasols!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGIXztk7Fq8SfodVDfDNgf8DUKDkEE-ATepz9zCw3dayAHPETOK-N2w13cgq6d4TXqynx-2Bx9yAZsZc3Sv3IncMtRW2gBuK81yFJcrupUoQqYMiELxrZjTzDbMabtuy9myEIjj6t75U/s1600-h/wasp%20nest%20paper%20decopage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqIjTFxAIUAid6PxDVovsQolFzGHXt7XI7FcU7cUMu6fqGsfNoBLroA5polRmTWXyiOBqqbKDr9T6BSRNAYFSHNaUg5mOnQbheNURmCMGqwbiCr3iRxrBuz7G20X6Xd_6cxYEUJEqY4/s1600-h/poppy%20pod%20hats%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqIjTFxAIUAid6PxDVovsQolFzGHXt7XI7FcU7cUMu6fqGsfNoBLroA5polRmTWXyiOBqqbKDr9T6BSRNAYFSHNaUg5mOnQbheNURmCMGqwbiCr3iRxrBuz7G20X6Xd_6cxYEUJEqY4/s400/poppy%20pod%20hats%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These larger Poppy seed Parasols have a subtle contrast with green and beautiful designs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGIXztk7Fq8SfodVDfDNgf8DUKDkEE-ATepz9zCw3dayAHPETOK-N2w13cgq6d4TXqynx-2Bx9yAZsZc3Sv3IncMtRW2gBuK81yFJcrupUoQqYMiELxrZjTzDbMabtuy9myEIjj6t75U/s1600-h/wasp%20nest%20paper%20decopage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-ClKjFUg63ba5M4B9UwYKjAHJNrKaonXhiUdm5XCznljmVWGqDRVLsHkI4pCHsPM8JspygHMFiskVU_w8RrPTUKubFHaRHjgCHA_jaK4VucglpbaYl4PzxEHLvKhuaZhciecI6uXcPs/s1600-h/bowl%20of%20poppy%20hats%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-ClKjFUg63ba5M4B9UwYKjAHJNrKaonXhiUdm5XCznljmVWGqDRVLsHkI4pCHsPM8JspygHMFiskVU_w8RrPTUKubFHaRHjgCHA_jaK4VucglpbaYl4PzxEHLvKhuaZhciecI6uXcPs/s400/bowl%20of%20poppy%20hats%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below I decorated some bulbs with dried wild Lupines that I bought in an antique glass canning jar at a farm yard sale! The periwinkle blue colored flowers easily separated into three parts which I sorted and decoupaged into three complementary ornaments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Surrounding the ornaments is a garland of dried Rosehip berries strung on some fine wire that adds a natural punch of contrasting color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beneath the ornament work you may be able to see my tabletop design that is a clear epoxy encasing objects from the forest floor such as leaves, peeled bark and feathers etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hanging outside are larger globe ornaments decorated with moss, feathers, poppy pods, bark curls etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Below are some wild Rosehips after the frost.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBS-1kGmfvQKyMTuFqucwIpPQ-zuy3XurUC2_MbIvIh020u3zwTThbBsNJH_4wXGo-zu0qQki75Nqz2CcLCA49vu_SP3U_GTG7RfRnHxpcfk2m73lvv9xAMFI8vVEVOGsYzH8UuRaCaM/s1600-h/wild%20rosehips%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBS-1kGmfvQKyMTuFqucwIpPQ-zuy3XurUC2_MbIvIh020u3zwTThbBsNJH_4wXGo-zu0qQki75Nqz2CcLCA49vu_SP3U_GTG7RfRnHxpcfk2m73lvv9xAMFI8vVEVOGsYzH8UuRaCaM/s400/wild%20rosehips%20resized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Happy Solstice</span></span></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>~</i></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Merry Christmas</span></span></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> Have a <span style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">S</span></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">afe and Happy New Year!!!</span></span></i></span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">May you wander outdoors and take time to discover </span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">natural treasures to admire or spark your imagination!</span></span></i></b></div>
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<a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-bookmark-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a></div>
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<a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-37845884427662414682009-11-09T12:36:00.017-08:002011-07-15T22:32:26.653-07:00Land of the Singing Clams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am re posting this Blog article because right now, I wish I was on a holiday at the ocean!!</div>
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(This article was first posted in November 2009)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyHq2rMwIRuczwtTaHajdYWoBvvwNx7tSMvkzSAbfxgM0vykAV8Bxht_5ECinVbstlVrteLru4YcDkibBkyDYR7S1irrlwdOnUYxJpP7tWn6VcI_pHWh5gSov5FNdj1vLXuW226tlv_s/s1600-h/DSC_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyHq2rMwIRuczwtTaHajdYWoBvvwNx7tSMvkzSAbfxgM0vykAV8Bxht_5ECinVbstlVrteLru4YcDkibBkyDYR7S1irrlwdOnUYxJpP7tWn6VcI_pHWh5gSov5FNdj1vLXuW226tlv_s/s400/DSC_5749.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently I travelled to <span style="color: #274e13;">Cortes Island</span> which is located in the<span style="color: blue;"> Strait of Georgia</span> across from <span style="color: #274e13;">Campbell River</span>, <span style="color: #274e13;">Vancouver Island</span> and <span style="color: #274e13;">Quadra Island</span>, <span style="color: #274e13;">BC</span>. When I got off the ferry I had some extra time before checking into my retreat, so I chose to go explore <span style="color: #274e13;">Manson’s Landing</span>.</div>
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I noticed a young woman wandering around an almost empty cove perhaps picking up Oysters and placing them in her bucket. This reassured me that I too could go out there with my camera and find some treasures of my own! So I wandered out onto the wet sand tiptoeing around and over various shells and jellyfish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF-KjjaxwzrPdfkHa9KQ4ewN-VAp5EZeHlELNNABsMOkZRO8cLqllIKGMiqKQWtQaqzzRp5DVhWq0wIpFZMpsWdue_SAYdXtIzEdtr4TJFS4pWrk-HZmyTHFWFqE9EXLUN4Re7owlIf8/s1600-h/DSC_5731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF-KjjaxwzrPdfkHa9KQ4ewN-VAp5EZeHlELNNABsMOkZRO8cLqllIKGMiqKQWtQaqzzRp5DVhWq0wIpFZMpsWdue_SAYdXtIzEdtr4TJFS4pWrk-HZmyTHFWFqE9EXLUN4Re7owlIf8/s400/DSC_5731.jpg" /></a></div>
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The sunlight made the water and dry sand sparkle. <b><i>The air and ocean was still and quiet </i></b><b><i>except the only sound I could hear was tiny high pitch squeals</i></b><b><i> that seem to surround me.</i></b> This was new to my ears.<br />
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Whether I wandered into the clear water or on the wet sand and squatted to curiously peer at things, this squeaky chorus remained the same.<br />
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There was an abundance of empty clam shells, which were contrasted by live Oysters. I wondered if the sound came from the million tiny holes in the wet sands.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBD_LtQA1xIboDx_UpRg2OfRhakRJA7QiFF81eR3y0EpC7n5ZaP9Obuw2RhZiqS3lSepAXenRrSEv0Wfq2vFq9Eq_52v-LDKLbEIG4TnM1bwsNHW_zdA-MkCTEl8Yd7f2Sy4jttj6Nzc/s1600-h/DSC_5745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBD_LtQA1xIboDx_UpRg2OfRhakRJA7QiFF81eR3y0EpC7n5ZaP9Obuw2RhZiqS3lSepAXenRrSEv0Wfq2vFq9Eq_52v-LDKLbEIG4TnM1bwsNHW_zdA-MkCTEl8Yd7f2Sy4jttj6Nzc/s400/DSC_5745.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yY5XEW3LYZAk9IdW9diCq7RzgMaqipqq6x7MeyZjOWFbeMzawRLDYpozz_JEufRh9cz7VlRtA-cRfunBc-ZGIa9AcoCjGbChHILb6HZwtOzmTMMbnh120PIwH3wyON1L2VUyrdCn9oc/s1600-h/DSC_5752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yY5XEW3LYZAk9IdW9diCq7RzgMaqipqq6x7MeyZjOWFbeMzawRLDYpozz_JEufRh9cz7VlRtA-cRfunBc-ZGIa9AcoCjGbChHILb6HZwtOzmTMMbnh120PIwH3wyON1L2VUyrdCn9oc/s400/DSC_5752.jpg" /></a></div>
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At times I had to step cautiously to avoid the glimmering rubbery jellyfish patiently waiting for the waters to return. I wished to walk out to a small rocky island that was surrounded by a channel of water.<br />
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However, I looked back to dry shore and sensed the tide was coming back in and that I needed to retreat or I’d be wading in waters creeping up to my knees or thighs.<br />
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It was not the best time to get stranded with the camera. I have little experience with the timing of tides. I noticed the water current creep up and it floated empty clam shell boats, air bubbles and curled pieces of bark etc. All the tiny discoveries were exciting photograph.<br />
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I wondered if this could be called, <i><b>the</b></i> <b><i>land of the singing clams</i></b>?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZt3i8iv7wv_ii6Ou_DAqdTDwoaomOxYCh4J8G8ah5beVE7Aa_LM4WqGxhgV9QnXGZLa85srelgjc7q9LU6A8VNAgaAGrRP2YE-IsmOuC4fGI3172drSSY0LbtFtz2cY3J27HuBMCPcc/s1600-h/DSC_5761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZt3i8iv7wv_ii6Ou_DAqdTDwoaomOxYCh4J8G8ah5beVE7Aa_LM4WqGxhgV9QnXGZLa85srelgjc7q9LU6A8VNAgaAGrRP2YE-IsmOuC4fGI3172drSSY0LbtFtz2cY3J27HuBMCPcc/s400/DSC_5761.jpg" /></a></div>
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Beside myself, there was one young family relaxing on the beach. It struck me that the children did not appear bored as they sat together in the sandy grass. This was such a tranquil and clean island beach. It was serenity! </div>
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It made me wish that <i><b>all children of the world</b></i> could experience moments such as this out in nature. Especially for children that face <em><strong>economic and urban barriers</strong></em> to playing in<b> <i><span style="color: #274e13;">nature based unstructured natural environment</span>s</i></b> free from the electronic stimulation that tends to be the norm these days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpeqM2Pc32NCpde9cQjg1zSC0_RdibLGiqznfHIaXG42Hae1TaLaLde5P-H5D-8c2YwX99cqTLP3_9v-C_6I_0H-K7aV0E6qxxG4_cuZwMxQuQCJgwa6Ks8P4TlB1POlB8SwTN1Fz680/s1600-h/DSC_5757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpeqM2Pc32NCpde9cQjg1zSC0_RdibLGiqznfHIaXG42Hae1TaLaLde5P-H5D-8c2YwX99cqTLP3_9v-C_6I_0H-K7aV0E6qxxG4_cuZwMxQuQCJgwa6Ks8P4TlB1POlB8SwTN1Fz680/s400/DSC_5757.JPG" /></a></div>
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During my brief time on <span style="color: #274e13;">Cortes Island,</span> I did learn more about some of the interesting community projects and lifestyle choices. Someone mentioned knowing a 3 year old who knows over 25 plants and their important medicinal uses. I thought this was interesting as many preschoolers that I have known over the past had memorized the names of Dinosaurs! <br />
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As well, someone mentioned that children from the inner city of Seattle come to camp on the island and have been led barefoot on a walk through the forest up to <span style="color: #274e13;">Easter Bluff lookout</span>. Wow! What a great experience that would be to walk on forest moss and rocky steps in bare feet! <br />
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There is even a small independent parent participating school located on the <span style="color: #274e13;">Linnaea Farm Land Trust</span>. One of its primary goals is to create appreciation, respect and responsibility for the natural world. One of their assets is a ‘Farm Life’ class as the school is located on a <span style="color: #274e13;">working organic farm</span>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBkOX6s-IT9JcGoBJeIUjsjMZz0it9jbGoxhtl_NrN1CgofORX99DxAPHnQR5YC0QZAqiQgay016N7J_jvs4zTg3xaltjt7m6crDBFl5RsQpZhtG0TqL2QcyH0_yUnyQetIL4xGk8xLM/s1600-h/DSC_5755_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBkOX6s-IT9JcGoBJeIUjsjMZz0it9jbGoxhtl_NrN1CgofORX99DxAPHnQR5YC0QZAqiQgay016N7J_jvs4zTg3xaltjt7m6crDBFl5RsQpZhtG0TqL2QcyH0_yUnyQetIL4xGk8xLM/s400/DSC_5755_2.jpg" /></a> </div>
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I witnessed that young children can sit in one spot entertaining themselves for an extended period of time while the adults relax in solitude comfortably right beside them. </div>
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<em><strong>Perhaps if we could choose to turn off our cell phones and IPods more often, we even might hear more natural and magical sounds like</strong> <b><span style="color: #274e13;">Singing Clams</span></b>!</em></div>
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<em><strong>How might childhood be different</strong> </em>if young children were influenced to attach and identify themselves with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>natural elements</strong></i> from earth, air, water and fire and learn how to create and combine them in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>innovative ways</strong></i> that enhanced their pretend play?</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How might childhood be different</i></b> for young children if they were not influenced to attach and identify themselves with commercials, products and brands?<br />
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Instead, perhaps they could learn that happiness does not primarily come from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>purchases</strong> </i>that promise to entertain them or make them cool or attractive.<br />
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Perhaps we could also teach them not to believe that they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> these items just because media tries to <strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">persuade</i> </strong>them with these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>consumer beliefs</strong></i>.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What might be different</i></b> is their <strong>connection </strong>to nature. Young children may suffer less from over-stimulation, anxiety, and boredom.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.linnaeafarm.org/">http://www.linnaeafarm.org/</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.evergreen.ca/en/">http://www.evergreen.ca/en/</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.childnature.ca/">http://www.childnature.ca/</a></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.commercialexploitation.org/events/consumingkids.html"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.commercialexploitation.org/events/consumingkids.html</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(documentaryon commercial exploitation of children)</span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.raffinews.com/download/audio/sustainability.mp3"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.raffinews.com/download/audio/sustainability.mp3</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(music)</span></b></div>
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<a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6539722989805186261&postID=3784588442766241468" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><br />
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<a expr:id="data:post.url" expr:name="data:post.title" href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6539722989805186261&postID=3784588442766241468" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, "", this.id, this.name);"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-bookmark-en.gif" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" width="125" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-48406043912475750892009-10-19T19:42:00.024-07:002010-05-12T10:21:53.813-07:00Over The Moon With Gratitude and Composting my Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6OyRvu-nBR2tZUxbl2TPFgJdcfDpLeHmTuP05dUDnbQfsD0ohyphenhyphenMO5D_UC5MTbzFHiNgr8xtIEuoD7glzxG6gH2Qe9im-QmuSoMh9wWC5FPg_F0HW06swGwdj1o8pHohR_ITxPVYpHAs/s1600-h/DSC_5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6OyRvu-nBR2tZUxbl2TPFgJdcfDpLeHmTuP05dUDnbQfsD0ohyphenhyphenMO5D_UC5MTbzFHiNgr8xtIEuoD7glzxG6gH2Qe9im-QmuSoMh9wWC5FPg_F0HW06swGwdj1o8pHohR_ITxPVYpHAs/s400/DSC_5685.JPG" /></a></div><ul><li><b>What would it be like if you chose to live your life as you may have <span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">dreamed </span>about for several years?</b></li>
<li><b>What <span style="color: #660000;">stops</span> you right now from living that way? </b></li>
<li><b>If you could let go of something that no longer serves you, would that be <i>easy</i> or <i>difficult</i>? </b></li>
<li><b>If it is not realistic to actually be fully within your <span style="color: blue;">dreams</span> and you had to break it down into small pieces, what would be the <i>first</i> step? </b></li>
<li><b>And the<i> second</i> step?</b></li>
</ul><i><b>Writing</b></i> down all the things you have <span style="color: blue;"><i>dreamed</i></span> about is a great way to start noticing what excites your creativity. Perhaps your ideas just do not seem practical, or professional, or they are so far out people would think you are from another planet!<br />
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<i><b>Writing</b></i> them down or drawing them out is a good way to get the creative juices flowing. <span style="color: blue;"><i>Listen</i></span> to the silliness, the seriousness and feel for when they seem to come from a deep place within your chest. The ideas from your head must be anchored with the weight of your heart. You'll feel it when you put it down on paper this way. <br />
<br />
I recently took a few steps to towards something I wish I had more energy, time and money for. What I discovered were <i><b>opportunities</b></i> and<b> </b><i><b>possibilities</b></i>. Now I still have some serious parts of my life that do not allow me to just follow my<i> </i><span style="color: blue;"><i>bliss</i></span>. However, these small steps I experienced renewed my hope and creativity to create some more smaller steps that I can follow towards the bigger <span style="color: blue;"><i>dream</i></span> of what I<i> </i><span style="color: blue;"><i>wish</i></span> I could do.<br />
<br />
I have actively entered my <span style="color: blue;">dream</span> as if I am on a journey. I'll have to lean on my <i><b>creativity</b></i> and honour my insatiable <i><b>curiosity</b></i>. I know well enough to keep my eyes open and be on the lookout for signs confirming that I am going in the right directions. As well, I forever will be grateful for the teachers, friends and allies whose paths have crossed mine.<br />
<br />
So I encourage you to <span style="color: blue;">dream</span> big and let the ideas flow. Sometimes it is appropriate to share your <span style="color: blue;">dreams</span> with other people too. Or sometimes it is best to keep them in a special container within your heart. You will know when is the best time to share, as your confidence will allow you to do so.<br />
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<i><b>Recently</b></i> I spent some time with a wonderful group of people all gathered together to share in the wisdom and leadership of a global woman known as<b> Starhawk</b>. We shared our <span style="color: blue;"><b><i>visions</i></b></span> and built our confidence to take meaningful <b><i><span style="color: blue;">action</span></i></b> in our lives and all for the wellbeing of the <span style="color: #274e13;">planet</span>.<br />
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As well, I bought a book by Starhawk and the first thing I read was a Compost Blessing. <i>(So here was another sign for me, that I am not from another planet.)</i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>COMPOST BLESSIN</i><i>G:</i></span></span></b><br />
<b>"</b>We offer gratitude to the great cycles of birth, growth, death, decay and regeneration. We are grateful to all the beings who have made the great transformation, leaving the remains of their bodies here. We are grateful to all the hungry mouths that consume the dead. Blessings on the termite, the beetle, the ant, the spider, the worm. Blessings on the fungi and the bacteria, those that need the air and those that avoid it. Blessings on all the life in this pile that will transform decay to fertility, death to life. May I always remember that the cycle of life is a miracle. May I continue to feel a sense of wonder and joy in the presence of death and life. May I remember that waste is food, and may my eyes be open to opportunities to close the circle and create abundance and life.<b>"</b><br />
<br />
page 168, <b>THE EARTH PATH - Grounding your spirit in the rhythms of nature </b><br />
by Starhawk, 2004.<br />
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For many years now I have had a strong spiritual experience when I go to empty my household <span style="color: #274e13;">compost</span> into the outdoor <span style="color: #274e13;">compost</span> bin when it is dark outside. It began to happen one summer as the full moon lit up my <span style="color: #274e13;">backyard</span> and I could see all my <span style="color: #274e13;">pumpkins</span> and their <span style="color: #274e13;">vines</span> and <span style="color: #274e13;">leaves</span> in the dark. Perhaps I was sensing plants growing to the pull of the moons <span style="color: blue;">magnetic force</span>. Perhaps it was the subtle heat I felt coming from the <span style="color: #274e13;">compost</span>. Somehow it all felt <b><i>connected</i></b> under that moon as I stood there. I could walk back into my home with a sense of peace feeling more <i><b>connected</b></i> to something larger than just what was going on in the smallness of my house.<br />
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If you are interested, <b>Starhawk</b> even has a few ideas for compost rituals in her book mentioned above! Or visit her website for more information and training opportunities at <b>www.starhawk.org</b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Or feel free to try or adapt my compost ritual</span> :</b><br />
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This past year I learned of a Peruvian ritual to express or celebrate Gratitude. In fact little kits are sold at markets or stores to prepare these <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Gratitude Bundles</span></i></span></b>. Apparently they burn these bundles or bury them in the earth while saying prayers to Pachamama. <br />
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My concern was for the possible toxic substances burned or buried as the objects used have moved away from the old organic to more modern processed foods or industry produced products. Therefore I adapted the ritual in my own way to use a coffee filter or Rhubarb leaf as the wrapping for the contents inside the bundle. For inside the bundle I prefer to use offerings such as; flower seeds, seed pods, leaves, shells, pebbles, hair etc. Anything that can naturally break down and decompose.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The activity of filling the Gratitude bundle is one of mindfullness, as each offering represents something or the events, or people that you are grateful for.</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>* Leave enough room so that you can fold over the edges of your filter paper or leaf to hold the contents snug inside. Tie the Gratitude bundle up with some twine.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><i><b>* Then say a prayer or a few words and place your gratitude bundle in a hole in your compost bin. Perhaps you will even try this during a full moon too!</b></i></span></div><br />
Well..having written this..I see it is time to celebrate some <span style="color: blue;">Gratitude</span> for all that I have recently experienced and all the new friends and allies that I have met. The moon is already into its new cycle, a time to <span style="color: blue;">visualize</span> my goals and take new <span style="color: blue;">action</span> for the cycle ahead!<br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtrgImQG_tfDfMTnFTEHGIyigLJtRX8y2s4hqm_WNqRhmXp8LicWirPSjm76UzzBkA-7q-twSjxQF_-09NqlQ-qJgKom9bur0FFxdHux61Azuxe8Y0BEmljXECqMWjI7CL3Ho_Jxq40g/s1600-h/DSC_5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Full Moon October 3rd, 2009. Photo taken over the ocean at Campbell River, BC, Vancouver Island, Canada.</span></b></span></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Posted by Bill to Quiet Nature at September 28, 2009 1:48 PM</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My response to Bill's comment on the Post, "A Journey Through Presence"from Feb 2009<span id="goog_1254253383753"></span><span id="goog_1254253383754"></span></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">:</span></span><br />
Thanks Bill for your thoughtful comments and questions. I agree in that, connecting with<span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">nature</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span>deepens when we are engaging more than one sensory function. Such as smell, vision, hearing, touching on and on.When I am<span style="color: lime;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">outdoors</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span>engaged in my Photography, it is very much like foraging, gathering, and hunting for me. The experience of<span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">time</span> is altered as I am fully engaged in what I am noticing or focusing on. It may be my footsteps delicately avoiding a <span style="color: #38761d;">wild flower</span>, <span style="color: black;">mindful breathing</span> to steady the camera, smelling the <span style="color: #38761d;">Sage</span> as the <span style="color: blue;">wind</span> blows, and peripheral vision noticing an approaching <span style="color: #38761d;">Eagle</span>, the changing hues of colors as the<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">sun</span> moves.<br />
There are many people disconnected from <span style="color: #38761d;">nature</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span>in society, whether that is emotionally, unconsciously, ethically, or even just playfully. As <span style="color: #990000;">environmental degradation</span><span style="color: #990000;"> </span>continues, it could be important to encourage people to pause, observe, and notice what they sense within the <span style="color: #38761d;">natural world</span>. Even if that is <span style="color: blue;">water</span> at the <span style="color: #38761d;">beach</span>, a<span style="color: lime;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">plant</span> in a hospital room, or a <span style="color: #38761d;">Bee</span> on a <span style="color: #38761d;">plant</span>. <br />
By consciously becoming aware, experiencing the brief stillness, and experiencing sensory input, we tend to choose or seek out more in the <span style="color: #38761d;">natural world</span>. Rather than caught in focusing on our worries, our technology etc., we may move beyond staring out a window, to stepping outside for <span style="color: blue;">air</span>, or sitting on the <span style="color: #38761d;">grass</span> to stare up into a <span style="color: #38761d;">tree</span>.<br />
If people are so fortunate, they may cross paths with someone like you. <em><strong>Someone who can mentor, teach, and share an experience of further depth to connect within <span style="color: #38761d;">nature</span>!</strong></em> Thanks again for your important comment and questions! <br />
<em><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted by Sherry to Quiet Nature at September 28, 2009 8:41 PM</span></strong></em><br />
<br />
Following is a quote from <strong>Thomas Berry</strong>, one of the leading environmental thinkers in North America.<br />
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<blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"The <strong>ecological age</strong> fosters the <span style="color: #38761d;">deep awareness</span> of the <span style="color: blue;">sacred presence</span> within each reality of the <span style="color: blue;">universe</span>. There is an awe and reverence due to the <span style="color: blue;">stars</span> in the <span style="color: blue;">heavens</span>, the <span style="color: #f1c232;">sun</span>, and all <span style="color: #38761d;">heavenly bodies</span>; to the<span style="color: blue;"> seas</span> and the <span style="color: #38761d;">continents</span>; to all living forms of <span style="color: #38761d;">trees</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span>and<span style="color: #38761d;"> flowers</span>; to the myriad expressions of life in the <span style="color: blue;">sea</span>; to the <span style="color: #38761d;">animals</span> of the <span style="color: #38761d;">forests</span> and the <span style="color: #38761d;">birds</span> of the <span style="color: blue;">air</span>. To wantonly destroy a <span style="color: #38761d;">living species</span> is to silence forever a <span style="color: blue;">divine voice</span>. Our primary need for the various <span style="color: #38761d;">life forms</span> of the <span style="color: #38761d;">planet</span> is a <span style="color: blue;">psychic</span>, rather than a physical, need. The <strong>ecological age</strong> seeks to establish and maintain this subjective identity, this authenticity at the heart of every being. If this is so of the <span style="color: #38761d;">prehuman</span> phase of life, it is surely true of the <span style="color: #38761d;">human</span> also."</i></div></blockquote> Pg 46 ~ ‘<strong><i>The Dream of the Earth</i></strong>’, by Thomas Berry 1988<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PznptWaxfKPlREDM4smmYsW-ujhDwjsr4e7d3Y56m85S-JS_boiLcj7711rSPF2OpmhHKrJSOQyEfPEC8011Jol6Uzwf9Xg4KIfkqiCxurmK2vh-3Ehf1IiozdHi7PHAlYM92DC6kOo/s1600-h/DSC_5337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PznptWaxfKPlREDM4smmYsW-ujhDwjsr4e7d3Y56m85S-JS_boiLcj7711rSPF2OpmhHKrJSOQyEfPEC8011Jol6Uzwf9Xg4KIfkqiCxurmK2vh-3Ehf1IiozdHi7PHAlYM92DC6kOo/s320/DSC_5337.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">During a Shamanism workshop this past winter, we had a meditative mask making session. While the mask was created on my face and it hardened, I focused on the encasement and the sound of the <span style="color: blue;">rain</span> dripping in a nature sound recording. I became a <span style="color: #274e13;">tree</span> in a wet dark <span style="color: #274e13;">forest</span>. I continued to merge with this <span style="color: blue;">consciousness</span> the next morning. I <span style="color: blue;">intuitively</span> knew I was to cover the plaster mask with the <span style="color: #274e13;">peeled bark</span> I discovered on the <span style="color: #274e13;">forest floor</span>. I had accepted this gift of <span style="color: #274e13;">bark</span> and left an offering last Fall. This September, I returned to this place in the <span style="color: #274e13;">forest</span> and blessed the mask, <span style="color: #274e13;">tree</span> and <span style="color: #274e13;">forest</span>. I brought the mask home with me as the plaster base is not <span style="color: #274e13;">organic</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">One of Joanna Macy's Theoretical Foundations in <b>'The Work That Reconnects'</b> is:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b> "2.Our true nature is far more ancient and encompassing than the separate self defined by habit and society</b>.We are as intrinsic to our living world as the <span style="color: blue;">rivers</span> and <span style="color: #274e13;">trees</span>, woven of the same intricate flows of <span style="color: blue;">matter/energy</span> and <span style="color: blue;">mind</span>. Having evolved us into self-reflexive <span style="color: blue;">consciousness</span>, the <span style="color: #274e13;">world</span> can now know itself through us, behold its own majesty, tell its own stories- and also respond to its own <span style="color: #990000;">suffering</span>. "</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">pg 59 '<b>Coming Back to Life</b> ~ <b>Practices to Reconnect our Lives, Our World</b> by Joanna Macy-Molly Young Brown 1998</span><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-63301195590850305092009-07-20T13:00:00.012-07:002009-07-22T18:30:37.631-07:00Scott Kelby's 2nd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk ~ Kamloops, BCBlog Header ~ Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos - Kamloops, BC 2009<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/walelas_ca/3739124099/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3739124099_1a524d5834_m.jpg" style="border-bottom: #000000 2px solid; border-left: #000000 2px solid; border-right: #000000 2px solid; border-top: #000000 2px solid;" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/walelas_ca/3739124099/">DSC_4776</a> <br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/walelas_ca/">Notice Quiet Nature</a> ( Flickr on Yahoo) </span><br />
You can view the photos 2 ways. <br />
Click on the link above or~ click on the Slideshow on the sidebar to the right.<br />
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These are some photos from the <strong><em>Scott Kelby's '2nd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk'</em></strong> this past Saturday. Apparently there were over 900 groups around the world snapping photos on this day! <br />
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For more information on this Photo Walk click on the following link,<br />
<a href="http://worldwidephotowalk.com/">http://worldwidephotowalk.com/</a><br />
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I really enjoyed the meandering walk downtown and bumping into friends that I have not seen in awhile. As well, meeting so many friendly people! I am proud to live in such a family friendly and fun filled community!<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-50011758072231419812009-07-06T19:31:00.009-07:002009-07-10T09:52:20.121-07:00Death of a Storyteller<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Blog Header ~ Cinnamon Ridge Hoodoos - Kamloops, BC</strong></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>2009</strong></span></em></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Michael Jackson was a modern day Storyteller. When he performed, he had that magnetic attraction that draws people’s attention. Like many great artists, he had talent, studied famous dancers, and entertainers and perfected this creative energy in his modern performances. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, he also experienced enough pain emotionally and physically that exposed his vulnerabilities. As a result, his sensitivities were so deep he could no longer tolerate day-to-day reality. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alright..alright.. perhaps you have had enough of MJ! </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am not about to negate any of his Sins. I am merely focusing on some of his human attributes! </span></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">He was still human with Autoimmune disease and chronic pain and likely predisposed to manic depression, anxiety and so on that led to drug abuse. No wonder he was unable to contain the energy of modern day stardom, scrutiny, and expectation. </div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I learned of a man named Antonio Lopez, a self-proclaimed Mediacologist. In his Blog, he bridges media literacy with ecoliteracy, and encourages us to think differently. As well, this is where I found the link to Michael Jackson’s video, ‘Earth Song’ on You Tube. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mediacology.com/"><strong>http://mediacology.com/</strong></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The concept of Mediacology really intrigues my curiosity, as this is precisely what is needed to hold the tension of our rapidly changing world. It takes the values of Ecopsychology and Deep Ecology to ‘a whole ‘nuther level’!! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I definitely will be ordering his book!<br />
<strong>'Mediacology- A Multicultural Approach to Media Literacy in the Twenty First Century' 2008</strong><br />
<strong>By Antonio Lopez</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">If you seriously want to read more about Eco-Anxiety and some therapeutic tools, </div><div style="text-align: center;">then I recommend visiting the following Blog by <strong>Sarah Anne Edwards, PhD, LCSW</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"> an ecopsychologist and author of the recently released book,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>'Middle-Class Lifeboat, Careers, and Life Choices for Navigating a Changing Economy'</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eco-anxiety.blogspot.com/"><strong>http://eco-anxiety.blogspot.com/</strong></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-16700784952792948352009-06-24T15:59:00.004-07:002010-05-06T21:08:18.690-07:00The Transforming Energy of Deadman Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvLAZFcI3gnGZplxXlFt_KNxaQgs6KLtzPilOATqZOXpPzevjtvNHftMkMxghUSr_4m8TqNp7p-9vkeIUhv7MJI0C2C2tIxBHV-YDIgz0ApuST5cpWcIXYoYOv6aH5P6tEdIywjIwPPI/s1600-h/004+Deadman+Falls-single4115-+from+the+viewing+area+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvLAZFcI3gnGZplxXlFt_KNxaQgs6KLtzPilOATqZOXpPzevjtvNHftMkMxghUSr_4m8TqNp7p-9vkeIUhv7MJI0C2C2tIxBHV-YDIgz0ApuST5cpWcIXYoYOv6aH5P6tEdIywjIwPPI/s400/004+Deadman+Falls-single4115-+from+the+viewing+area+-+Copy.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">For years, I have wanted to return and visit <span style="color: #20124d;">Deadman Falls</span>. Finally, a Location Scouting assignment had me venture back up the beautiful <span style="color: #274e13;">Deadman Valley,</span> past wondrous<span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Hoodoos</span></span> within a colourful <span style="color: #274e13;">landscape</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Listening to the constant noise of <span style="color: #20124d;">water </span>pouring over the<span style="color: #274e13;"> cliff</span> while sitting grounded on a <span style="color: #274e13;">rock</span>, I could sense something<span style="color: #20124d;"> energizing</span>. I could sense the <span style="color: #20124d;">electricity</span> in the <span style="color: #20124d;">air</span> from the <span style="color: #20124d;">hydro energy</span> of suspended <span style="color: #20124d;">water particles</span> descending rapidly into the <span style="color: #274e13;">chasm</span>. I had this same <span style="color: #20124d;">sensation</span> a few times before when under or very near <span style="color: #20124d;">waterfalls</span>. It is very <span style="color: #20124d;">energizing</span>! Therefore, I decided to rename<span style="color: #20124d;"> Deadman Falls</span> to <span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>Women Alive Falls</strong></span>!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KYVYpDZQ44tLS3fM5zb6FstXYXytktssySWDBbsDfJPAY06Ri7_oYCvKL7KAG9nqBuqXixf-JxCNr2QnDKJQergIoqC_S3ZIIYNljHvy289igyAESgQtfxzmqtfe_XYenymHYsej8lU/s1600-h/013+Deadman+Falls+-single+4146-+looking+east+up+the+creek+from+side+of+falls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KYVYpDZQ44tLS3fM5zb6FstXYXytktssySWDBbsDfJPAY06Ri7_oYCvKL7KAG9nqBuqXixf-JxCNr2QnDKJQergIoqC_S3ZIIYNljHvy289igyAESgQtfxzmqtfe_XYenymHYsej8lU/s400/013+Deadman+Falls+-single+4146-+looking+east+up+the+creek+from+side+of+falls.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A friend and I enjoyed the <span style="color: #20124d;">magic </span>and <span style="color: #20124d;">energy</span> of the <span style="color: #20124d;">Waterfall</span>. We found we could easily walk out in low <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> to sit on a large <span style="color: #274e13;">rock </span>directly above the 200 ft drop of <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span>. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3cbkBTHNIQ9DohAMvYSe6dpcXIdI64S_a-39Cx7s-yN16a_tsScfMxoaV8BjfrRJ1ofX1qPBPevIc95HXhjhjyk5y6vZ5kvPXqHkpz_lz8HN2UVYXHDa9PrEqlD9A626WHHcj4mA3o4/s1600-h/011+Deadman+Falls+-+single+4147-+sitting+on+rock+in+middle+of+creek+%27on%27+the+falls+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3cbkBTHNIQ9DohAMvYSe6dpcXIdI64S_a-39Cx7s-yN16a_tsScfMxoaV8BjfrRJ1ofX1qPBPevIc95HXhjhjyk5y6vZ5kvPXqHkpz_lz8HN2UVYXHDa9PrEqlD9A626WHHcj4mA3o4/s400/011+Deadman+Falls+-+single+4147-+sitting+on+rock+in+middle+of+creek+%27on%27+the+falls+-+Copy.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We discussed the shifting of perceptions: such as the<strong> duality</strong> of <strong><em>danger~anxiety</em></strong> to <strong><em>beauty~peace</em></strong> and the <strong><em>connectedness~separateness</em></strong> (from nature) as we sat on our daring perch. The lessons from observing <strong>Dualities teach us and reveal conflicts and struggles within.</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">Synchronising</span></strong> ourselves within the <span style="color: #20124d;"><strong><em>present moment</em></strong></span> of any <span style="color: #274e13;">environment</span> can reveal personal myths and allow us to tap into the <span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>Power of the Universe</strong></span>! All we need to do is be centred and feel the <span style="color: #20124d;">energy</span>!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50rMsPwzY17qSn7TiAeoWcEYZmTwV1uPfaHuOHqy0P_EOxoH5-lcnt4Bawk5cpuQzYxBboocKYtmeqwIwp4zmY-QXbRheGqK64cIqs923vfwLaTZldyvpoCegToUT1UOl_SFelow7uUA/s1600-h/001+Deadman+Falls+-single+3887-++WARNING+SIGN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50rMsPwzY17qSn7TiAeoWcEYZmTwV1uPfaHuOHqy0P_EOxoH5-lcnt4Bawk5cpuQzYxBboocKYtmeqwIwp4zmY-QXbRheGqK64cIqs923vfwLaTZldyvpoCegToUT1UOl_SFelow7uUA/s400/001+Deadman+Falls+-single+3887-++WARNING+SIGN.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>No exaggeration~ the</strong> <strong><span style="color: #20124d;">Deadman Falls</span> viewing area is rustic and dangerous.</strong> The parking areas have tire grooves from 4x4 vehicles. Therefore, I can just imagine the huge mucky mud puddle during wet seasons! Presently the surrounding <span style="color: #274e13;">forest</span> is tinder dry and there are lots of dead wind fallen <span style="color: #274e13;">trees</span>. It is a hazardous time for <span style="color: #660000;">forest fires</span>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">When we are able to<strong><span style="color: #20124d;"> Trust</span></strong>, we can tap into our <span style="color: #20124d;">intuition</span> and experience <span style="color: #20124d;">intimacy</span> with <span style="color: #274e13;">nature</span>. These experiences enhance our <strong><em>Depth Perception</em></strong> by consciously choosing to be '<em><strong>in the moment’</strong></em>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <em><strong>Shapes shift, our perceptions are enhanced, and we notice our senses are acutely aware of </strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>colors, sounds, temperature, smells, and other small nuances. </strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Do you focus or react? </strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Can you feel the physiological reactions within your own body?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong>This<strong> <em><span style="color: #20124d;">Wisdom</span> of<span style="color: #274e13;"> Nature</span></em></strong> in the external<span style="color: #274e13;"> landscape</span> can have a healing or harmful impact on our inner <span style="color: #274e13;">landscape</span> depending on how we <em><strong>choose</strong></em> to <em><strong>perceive</strong></em>. In many situations in life, we can become <em><strong>conscious</strong> </em>of the multiple dimensions or choices of how we react to the situations or experiences that we are facing.<br />
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We can become aware of our <em><strong>patterns of interaction</strong></em> depending on whether we <em><strong>feel</strong> </em>connected or separate from the natural <span style="color: #274e13;">environment</span> that we find ourselves within. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(This could even be just a patch of<span style="color: #274e13;"> grass</span> or a <span style="color: #274e13;">plant</span> in the room). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCqt-bN4yL_MSm_ivYfaFudYoU0jxzrXNaQZOM1gy06hayGWmWGQOGWIUW9dQ7o-60Dkw8JuRMqtVarV5NQJ8pUg4ExnY0CiBlIe_LbtABWD9fLSsghDr9itD_OWcKHs8WPznCz8NmGg/s1600-h/008+Deadman+Falls+-+single+4119+-an+offering+the+Gorge+spirits+!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCqt-bN4yL_MSm_ivYfaFudYoU0jxzrXNaQZOM1gy06hayGWmWGQOGWIUW9dQ7o-60Dkw8JuRMqtVarV5NQJ8pUg4ExnY0CiBlIe_LbtABWD9fLSsghDr9itD_OWcKHs8WPznCz8NmGg/s400/008+Deadman+Falls+-+single+4119+-an+offering+the+Gorge+spirits+!.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My friend Janet Whitehead and I made an <strong>Offering of</strong> <strong>Gratitude to the Nature Spirits of the Chasm</strong>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Janet is a certified <strong>Life and Business Coach</strong> Extraordinaire. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Her Coaching is available by phone, Skype or in person. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition, she is a <strong>Creative Muse Group Facilitator</strong>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She has recently published, "<strong>The Demise of Noshud Hafta</strong>" <span style="font-size: x-small;">2009</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> - an empowering storybook illustrated in clay. </div><div style="text-align: center;">As well, her excellent Work (Play) books are for sale and much more!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Janet L. Whitehead <a href="http://www.musingsandmud.com/"><strong>http://www.musingsandmud.com/</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Janets Blog:<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.musingalong.wordpress.com/"><strong>http://www.musingalong.wordpress.com/</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></strong></div><blockquote><em>“When we look at <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> in <span style="color: #274e13;">nature</span> it is certainly an element that integrates a lot of things. It is artist, it is <span style="color: #274e13;">landscape</span> architect, it is also in a certain way, engineer. Always <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> has enough space and time in <span style="color: #274e13;">nature</span>. No matter where we look, our <span style="color: #274e13;">landscapes</span>_ the shapes and forms – are very much influenced by <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span>. <span style="color: #20124d;">Water </span>is the ultimate <span style="color: #274e13;">landscape </span>architect. We always see the borderlands between <span style="color: #20124d;">air </span>and <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> and the shapes that the <span style="color: #20124d;">water </span>leaves behind such as the <span style="color: #274e13;">wave patterns</span> in <span style="color: #274e13;">sand</span> after the <span style="color: #20124d;">tides</span> have gone out. There is potential <strong>creativity</strong> in this <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span>. No one <span style="color: #20124d;">snowflake</span> is equal to another. Varied and dynamic, <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> is always changing. It lives in the beauty and artistry of little details such as a falling<span style="color: #20124d;"> raindrop</span>. And when we look at close-ups of <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span>, we see that it is so <strong><span style="color: #20124d;">magic</span></strong> and full of surprises. The magnified structure of <span style="color: #20124d;">water</span> even resembles the early forms of life itself.</em></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-Herbert Dreiseitl Pg xxi, <em>‘Waterworks’ a Foreword</em> in the book,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">‘<strong>Deep Immersion</strong>~ <strong>The Experience of Water</strong>’ by Robert Lawrence France PhD 2003.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently, people hike up<span style="color: #20124d;"> Deadman’s Creek</span> down from the <span style="color: #274e13;">Valley</span> road. I was told you have to scramble over boulders and watch for falling objects too. However, there are Pictographs at the base of <span style="color: #20124d;">Deadman Falls</span> and other discoveries too! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdcMCAZhwYBuAFrpjreFzciA2Gd67t1u8DVWv7h3KpieBM_ldOhSJShyphenhyphenFUaYzU5oUOTqWPyh62_hbz35hjDmG1Cw2JrdxjJU4jTXp1IoabciryYWNCmBIKUdQZzPSxxMoeTuf09qDaKU/s1600-h/DSC_3683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdcMCAZhwYBuAFrpjreFzciA2Gd67t1u8DVWv7h3KpieBM_ldOhSJShyphenhyphenFUaYzU5oUOTqWPyh62_hbz35hjDmG1Cw2JrdxjJU4jTXp1IoabciryYWNCmBIKUdQZzPSxxMoeTuf09qDaKU/s400/DSC_3683.JPG" tj="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This photo looks back at the main viewing ledge. The<span style="color: #274e13;"> cliff</span> edge is eroding and there is evidence some<span style="color: #274e13;"> trees</span> have been removed. <em>(This must have been a rather precarious feat!)</em> The<span style="color: #274e13;"> ledge</span> slopes towards the edge, which could trigger Vertigo for some people.It is magnificent to view the<span style="color: #20124d;"> Falls</span> despite the limited view without crouching down or clinging to a <span style="color: #274e13;">tree</span> to peer further over the edge. However, this is what keeps<strong><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #274e13;">British Columbia wild</span></span></strong>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><strong>Directions: </strong>From <strong>Kamloops, BC</strong> take Hwy 1 west. Just past Savona and up the hill is the turnoff to the right onto Deadman Valley Road. It is mainly well maintained unpaved graded road. The <span style="color: #20124d;">waterfalls</span> are 59.2 kms from the highway. The <span style="color: #351c75;">Deadman Waterfalls</span> are up and beyond the turn off sign to the <strong>Vidette Lake Resort</strong> and about<strong> 5 km</strong> and a wee bit. Look for the <span style="color: orange;">Orange Pylons</span> on the right hand side of the road.<br />
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If you are interested in exploring this beautiful area, follow the link to the <strong>Vidette Lake Resort</strong>. I have stayed here in the past and certainly enjoyed the quietude and the discovery of the <strong>‘Centre of the Universe’</strong>. <a href="http://www.videttelake.com/"><strong>http://www.videttelake.com</strong></a>. A great fishing resort, for families or individuals looking for <span style="color: #274e13;">nature</span> adventures!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Most of all respect the<span style="color: black;"> people</span> and fragile <span style="color: #274e13;">nature</span> of the landscape in the area. </em></strong></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com10Thompson-Nicola J, BC, Canada51.166643026336523 -120.8913230895996151.153188026336522 -120.92050558959961 51.180098026336523 -120.8621405895996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-63444827633745568212009-04-30T14:39:00.000-07:002009-06-11T09:03:45.312-07:00SLOW DOWN ~ We Are Moving Too Fast<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eCfQ4W5ibIMUF7rmxLOyfqO-DAazGHUdzAyiQEREft2CB0SI2X5lm0hM5zDJO1N17H0ssxDKw3tj2H-BpTNNETrAJOQHdHP2FTYJPfy5tn1YWMGpifSqrl8bNzI5_hVO46koQ4ZzIVA/s1600-h/Signed+-+Blog.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346099918466234930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eCfQ4W5ibIMUF7rmxLOyfqO-DAazGHUdzAyiQEREft2CB0SI2X5lm0hM5zDJO1N17H0ssxDKw3tj2H-BpTNNETrAJOQHdHP2FTYJPfy5tn1YWMGpifSqrl8bNzI5_hVO46koQ4ZzIVA/s400/Signed+-+Blog.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;"> (HWY 5A Nicola Valley to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kamloops</span></span>, BC Sept 2008)<br /></span><em>~ I'm back!! I needed to take time to take care of little things in my life~</em><br /><br />Recently Chief Shane <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gottfriedson</span></span> stated,<br /><blockquote><p align="left"><em><strong>"What’s happening is our <span style="color:#000099;">ancestors</span> are telling us something”, he said. “By them revealing themselves, they‘re telling us that we have to <span style="color:#990000;">slow down</span>.".. It’s a fast <span style="color:#009900;">world</span> we live in and we have to be respectful of things that are happening all around us. “With how fast the <span style="color:#006600;">world</span> is developing, it’s time that we <span style="color:#990000;">slow things down</span> and we take care of all the little things in our lives.”</strong></em><span style="font-size:78%;"> (As reported in the <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kamloops</span></span> This Week</strong> newspaper in April 2009) </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><p align="left"><br /></span><em>Presently</em> in my <span style="color:#006600;">region</span>, an expansion of the Trans Canada Highway has come to a standstill. The particular section in question is near <span style="color:#000099;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shuswap</span></span> Lake</span> and locally known as a <span style="color:#990000;">killer</span> highway. As required, the provincial government must do an archaeological assessment on the<span style="color:#006600;"> land</span>. As a result, remains were discovered of a first nation’s <span style="color:#000099;">ancestor </span>along with her tools from an estimated 2500 years ago. After First Nation communities discussed the circumstances, it was decided that her <span style="color:#006600;">remains</span> would be <span style="color:#000099;">ceremoniously</span> <span style="color:#006600;">reburied</span> to be left undisturbed. </p><p align="left">The<span style="color:#660000;"> ignoring</span> of <span style="color:#006600;">territorial boundaries</span>, <span style="color:#660000;">degradation</span> of <span style="color:#000099;">culture</span>, <span style="color:#660000;">insults</span> as well as the <span style="color:#660000;">damage</span> done to First Nation <span style="color:#000099;">families</span>’ way of <span style="color:#000099;">life </span>has been <span style="color:#660000;">deplorable</span>. Sadly, such acts of dominance will possibly continue to play out throughout our <span style="color:#006600;">Global Community</span>. It may well increase as we live in a rapidly changing <span style="color:#006600;">world</span> where <strong><em>change</em></strong> and <em><strong>convenience </strong></em>tend to be experienced as a <em>given right</em>, in the name of progress now that we are bumping into each other. Redefining our <span style="color:#006600;">boundaries</span> will be ongoing and <span style="color:#660000;">conflict</span> is inevitable since many dominant stories happen to co-exist in various cultures and societies on this <span style="color:#006600;">planet</span>. <span style="color:#660000;">Pathetically</span> our <em>lack of understanding</em>, gives way to <span style="color:#660000;">disrespect</span>. As a <span style="color:#006600;">Global community</span>, we need to cultivate <strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Tolerance</span></em></strong> and <strong><em>Curiosity</em></strong> to help us to <span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>observe</em></strong></span> differences <span style="color:#000099;">respectfully</span>. </p><p align="left">I hold deep <em><strong><span style="color:#000099;">compassion</span></strong></em> for the impact past and present societies have <span style="color:#660000;">imposed</span> on First Nations people and as well as other minorities. So In <em><strong>respect</strong></em> of the <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>wisdom </strong></span>from local native elders, they say, <em><strong>‘it is time to <span style="color:#660000;">slow down</span>, be <span style="color:#000099;">respectful </span>of the things happening around us and take care of the little things in our lives.’</strong></em> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hhhmm</span></span>.. maybe this could be a helpful reminder to all drivers on the road. </p><p align="left"><em>Therefore</em>, wherever your personal road leads you today, perhaps you will notice times when you are quick to react or judge. </p><p align="left">Or <em>perhaps</em> you will slow down with a refreshed sense of <span style="color:#000099;">curiosity </span>and <span style="color:#000099;">see </span>things in a new way. </p><p align="left"><em>Perhaps</em> just like the <span style="color:#000099;">river</span> in our <span style="color:#006600;">valley</span> that has etched out a path of least resistance over thousands of years, maybe we too can find our way in the ever changing <span style="color:#006600;">landscape</span> as <span style="color:#006600;">erosion</span> and <span style="color:#000099;">discovery</span> continues to reveal connections to the past. </p><p align="left"><em>Perhaps</em> we may rediscover how to <span style="color:#000099;">reflect</span> with a sense of <span style="color:#000099;">curiosity </span>and become <span style="color:#000099;">inspired</span> by the little things in life as to how to live <span style="color:#006600;">sustainably</span> with mutual<span style="color:#000099;"> respect</span> for the <span style="color:#006600;">planet</span> and all our <span style="color:#006600;">people</span>. </p><p align="left"><em>Perhaps</em> you may put yourself in another other person’s shoes or err... moccasins and walk a mile (Km) or two. </p><p align="left"><em>This updated music video celebrates life with a sense of ‘funny’ </em><em>and lightens </em><em>my day </em><em>even more. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. </em><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GPNybw-1kc0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GPNybw-1kc0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><br /><p align="left"><em><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Feelin</span>' Groovy~</strong></em> <strong><span style="color:#006600;">HAPPY SPRING PEOPLE!</span></strong> </p></blockquote></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-23675324086695668792009-03-25T10:14:00.001-07:002009-03-26T16:47:55.289-07:00Where’s The Beef?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-eoUEJ6oNbt7ss7dimB8j-ofNvOl3lOkNjz5ODzxUiyvCvTPDYW59AuoH3T824E48Cxq_oS0cR93ajBE2JAJZJH0tnkfmCkVAFS_jJlObgqdeRdgEaHh04IL4Vl6qAHe3Wl4avtmYec/s1600-h/P1040392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317175148466196402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 477px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 335px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-eoUEJ6oNbt7ss7dimB8j-ofNvOl3lOkNjz5ODzxUiyvCvTPDYW59AuoH3T824E48Cxq_oS0cR93ajBE2JAJZJH0tnkfmCkVAFS_jJlObgqdeRdgEaHh04IL4Vl6qAHe3Wl4avtmYec/s400/P1040392.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong> If you are able, look into the dark eyes of this Cow.</strong><br />Can you <span style="color:#000099;">imagine</span> how it would <em>feel </em>to gently touch and pet this <span style="color:#006600;">cow</span> on the bridge of her nose? Can you sense the softness of her hair? Click on the photo for a closer look. She was just as curious about me, as I was about her. Many of her kind are destined to be herded into feedlots and meet a stressful death for our ultimate consumption. What struck me the day I met her, was how<span style="color:#000099;"> peaceful</span> all the cows were.<br /><br />Consumption of ‘<em><span style="color:#006600;">meat </span>products’</em> removes us from the source of supply. Consider if you will, how many cultures <em><span style="color:#000099;">sacredly</span></em> respect all <span style="color:#006600;">living beings</span>. Consider the spiritual practices that <em><span style="color:#000099;">bless</span></em> the animal and <em><span style="color:#000099;">thank</span></em> the<span style="color:#000099;"> creator</span> before killing the <span style="color:#006600;">animal</span>. As well, consider how <em><span style="color:#660000;">detached</span></em> some <span style="color:#006600;">humans</span> become from <span style="color:#660000;">killing</span> <span style="color:#006600;">animals</span> for consumption or <span style="color:#660000;">trophy</span>.<br /><br />There is discussion about the impact on our <span style="color:#006600;">bodies</span> from eating the <span style="color:#006600;">meat</span> of stressed <span style="color:#006600;">animals</span>. Such as the amount of hormones etc that circulate through the muscle tissue we call <span style="color:#006600;">meat</span>. Eating <span style="color:#006600;">meat</span> is <em>not</em> unnatural.. <span style="color:#660000;">Mass slaughter</span> is. <em><span style="color:#000099;">Spiritually</span></em>, it is considered <span style="color:#660000;">negative</span> to take <em>more</em> than you can consume or give away.<br /><br />Since I met this <span style="color:#006600;">cow</span> in the above photo a year ago, I do find I have more <span style="color:#000099;"><em>compassion</em></span> for my sources of <span style="color:#006600;">meat </span>and try to choose wisely. I am challenged by the high costs for <span style="color:#006600;">organic meat</span>. Consuming less really means more to me and really, the output cost is a good investment in the local economy. A few great regional <span style="color:#006600;">ranches</span> advertise <em>‘healthy practices’</em>. However, there are also some regional political rules that <em>hinder </em>small operations from processing their own<span style="color:#006600;"> meat</span> products etc. .<br /><br /><em><strong>Back to connecting with animals</strong></em> ~<br /><br />I have another video from <strong>Liz Mitten Ryan</strong> and her <span style="color:#000099;">relationship</span> to her newest friend on her <span style="color:#006600;">ranch</span>. I loved watching her <span style="color:#006600;">Bull </span>run playfully around her and soak up the <span style="color:#000099;">loving attention</span> of a good brushing!<br /><object height="267" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1839838&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><br /><br /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1839838&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="267"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/1839838"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wooly Bully</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> from </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/lizmittenryan"><span style="font-size:85%;">Liz Mitten Ryan</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> on </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Vimeo</span></a><br /><br />“ We as<span style="color:#006600;"> humans</span> <span style="color:#660000;">suffer</span> from an insidious malaise that is growing like a <span style="color:#660000;">cancer</span> throughout our <span style="color:#006600;">species</span> and our <span style="color:#006600;">world</span>. <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Natural System Dysfunction (NSD)</strong></span> is a direct result of our <span style="color:#660000;">alienation</span> from our natural, life-giving <span style="color:#006600;"><span style="color:#000099;">relationship</span> </span>to our<span style="color:#000099;"> source</span>—the <span style="color:#000099;">source of all creation</span> and the <span style="color:#000099;">sustenance</span> that <em>feeds</em> all <span style="color:#006600;">life</span>. The more we <span style="color:#660000;">distance</span> <span style="color:#006600;">ourselves</span> from our natural state, the more <span style="color:#660000;">dangerous</span> and fragile our tenuous hold on <span style="color:#006600;">life </span>becomes. To avoid sounding as unintelligent as the average <span style="color:#006600;">human being</span> who says “Speak louder, I don’t understand your language,” the <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>solution</strong></span> to <span style="color:#660000;">NSD</span> lies in our ability to <strong><span style="color:#000099;">listen</span> to the language of <span style="color:#006600;">nature</span></strong>—<span style="color:#000000;">a language beyond words</span>. It speaks softly, but with <span style="color:#000099;">wisdom</span>, instantly remembered as absolute <span style="color:#000099;">trut</span><span style="color:#000099;">h</span>, both for the <span style="color:#006600;">individual</span> and for the whole as <span style="color:#000099;">one united symbiotic system</span> and greater being. This is what the<span style="color:#006600;"> animals</span> call the<span style="color:#000099;"> ALL (God)<span style="color:#000000;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Pg 23 from <strong>Sabbatical. . . resting in the power of “isness -Liz Mitten Ryan 2008</strong></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(A sabbatical is usually defined as a break or a rest from work.)</span><br /><br /></em><strong>I continue to eat meat and this is not a platform to reform meat eaters. </strong><strong>I am choosing to include a link to a graphic video that may be offensive to some members of your family</strong>. <strong>Viewer discretion is advised.</strong><br /><br /><em><strong>Before you choose to watch this video or any similar videos</strong></em>, I encourage you to consider a <span style="color:#000099;"><em><strong>mindfulness activity</strong></em></span> in your choice of <span style="color:#000099;">spiritual</span> <span style="color:#000099;">practise</span> or <span style="color:#000099;">worship</span>. If nothing else, one idea can be to <em><strong>preplan a soothing activity</strong></em> that blesses the animals, their <span style="color:#000099;">spirits </span>and <span style="color:#006600;">yourself</span>. As well, possibly express forgiveness for the<span style="color:#006600;"> people</span> who carry out these <span style="color:#660000;">practises</span> without <strong><span style="color:#000099;">compassion</span></strong>.<br /><br />Maybe you will choose to light a candle and say a few words to simply <em><strong>release</strong></em> the disturbing images from your mind. Or, open the door and/or turn on the ceiling fan and let the wind in to clear the <span style="color:#660000;">negative energy</span>.<br /><br />The healing intention of<strong> Ecopsychology</strong> is to consider spending time <strong><em>focused</em></strong> on something in <strong><span style="color:#006600;">nature</span></strong>. Such as a <span style="color:#006600;">plant</span>, a <span style="color:#006600;">tree</span>, your <span style="color:#006600;">pet</span>, a <span style="color:#ffcc00;">sunset</span>, step outside and listen to the <span style="color:#000099;">wind</span>, <span style="color:#000099;">rain</span>, and <strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">Breathe</span></em></strong>. The point is to <strong><em>notice</em></strong> what happens for you as you do this. It may be <em>subtle</em> or quite <em>profound</em>. <strong>Notice... feel... sense</strong><br /><br />~ After that moment or experience of <em><strong>focusing</strong></em> on something that <span style="color:#000099;">attracts</span> your attention from <span style="color:#006600;">nature</span>, <em><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>notice </strong></span></em>the difference in your<span style="color:#006600;"> surroundings</span>, or the <span style="color:#000099;">feel</span> within your <span style="color:#006600;">body</span> and what is happening in your conscious brain. Perhaps you can describe it simply. However, the point is <em>not</em> to intellectualize the experience.<br /><br /><strong>Warning:</strong> <strong>The following video may be offensive to some members of your family. Viewer discretion is advised.</strong> The <strong>PETA </strong>website is a great <strong>animal advocate website. The videos contain graphic images of the treatment of animals.</strong><br /><br />Follow the link to the <strong>Peta</strong> website and look for the <strong>‘Meet your Meat‘ </strong>video at the bottom of the webpage. <a href="http://www.petatv.com/"><strong>http://www.petatv.com/</strong></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Disturbing energy</span></strong> needs to be <em><strong>released</strong></em> in a healing way. <span style="color:#660000;">Indifference</span> leads to <span style="color:#660000;">apathy</span> and is <span style="color:#660000;">destructive</span>. Listen to your <span style="color:#000099;">intuition</span> and channel the <span style="color:#000000;"><strong>energy</strong></span> into some <strong><em>action</em></strong> or <em><strong>ritual</strong></em> that brings <strong><span style="color:#000099;">healing</span></strong> and spreads<em><strong><span style="color:#000099;"> compassion</span></strong></em>.<br /><br /><em>Having said all that, if you are not the least bit attracted to view the video..just follow what you are naturally attracted to follow!! ;0)</em><br /><em><br /></em>Feel free to leave your comments about your experiences or reactions.<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-16548167096032736602009-03-21T11:12:00.000-07:002009-03-22T08:34:43.236-07:00Seeing Our Reflection In Nature<span style="color:#000000;"></span><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw3q16ZOR55erY7MEzHLIFMmQqVO_ZQ0zKcRS6VIMDadwy7pSb7bSZVbIK19159_VdR01VY_Iny5ncs2AYeiY8W3jYe1cwRUnXwFqQQ8gHkBBGe6pGEJOT0IpZMqcbZq2YREMKtSKfFs/s1600-h/A+Reflective+Flicker+The+Best.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315706419120349058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 378px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw3q16ZOR55erY7MEzHLIFMmQqVO_ZQ0zKcRS6VIMDadwy7pSb7bSZVbIK19159_VdR01VY_Iny5ncs2AYeiY8W3jYe1cwRUnXwFqQQ8gHkBBGe6pGEJOT0IpZMqcbZq2YREMKtSKfFs/s400/A+Reflective+Flicker+The+Best.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last year I had the opportunity to watch the same <span style="color:#006600;">Flicker Woodpecker</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">(I believe)</span> repeatedly perch on the school windowsill and <span style="color:#000099;">peer</span> at the <span style="color:#006600;">tree</span> as seen in the <strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">reflection</span></em></strong> of the tinted window.<span style="font-size:85%;"> (Is the grass greener on the other side?) </span>The <span style="color:#006600;">Flickers</span> compete with the <span style="color:#006600;">Starlings </span>for <span style="color:#006600;">nesting</span> space in the <span style="color:#006600;">trees</span> along the school. By October, I really <span style="color:#000099;">wondered</span> if he had figured it out?<br /><br />The population of <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Flickers</strong></span> has increased in my <span style="color:#006600;">neighbourhood</span> as the <span style="color:#006600;">Pine fo</span><span style="color:#006600;">rests </span>surrounding my area of town have been <span style="color:#660000;">removed</span> or no longer contain <span style="color:#006600;">food</span>. The<span style="color:#006600;"> forests</span> in the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Interior of</span> <span style="color:#006600;">British Columbia</span></strong> have changed <em>dramatically</em> due to <span style="color:#006600;">Pine Beetle</span><span style="color:#660000;"> killing</span> off the grand <span style="color:#006600;">Pine Trees</span>. Apparently,<span style="color:#006600;">Pine Trees</span> can live to be up to 700 years old. The older trees are more <em>resilient</em>. It is the <span style="color:#006600;">trees</span> under 100 years old that are most <em>vulnerable</em>. The trees affected by Pine Beetles rot quickly at the base and become a <em>hazard</em> and snap off quickly. This year the <span style="color:#006600;">Spruce Bud Worm</span> is a threat <em>attacking</em> the <span style="color:#006600;">Spruce Trees.</span> As well our <span style="color:#006600;">forests</span> are tinder dry and this increases the <span style="color:#660000;">risk</span> for <span style="color:#660000;">wild fires</span>.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>Perhaps you have heard the <span style="color:#006600;">Flicker</span> Wake Up call on top of your home</strong></em><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K8-9ERbbonM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K8-9ERbbonM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><div align="center">Below<strong> David Attenborough</strong> presents the amazing <span style="color:#006600;">Lyre bird</span>, which mimics the calls of other <span style="color:#006600;">birds</span> - and <span style="color:#660000;">chainsaws</span> and camera shutters -in this video clip from <span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong>The Life of Birds</strong></em> from </span><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">BBC</span> </strong><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4uFUlmg_0E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v4uFUlmg_0E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />~~~~~~~~</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Some words to</strong> <strong>reflect upon</strong></span></em><strong>~</strong></div><strong></strong><br /><blockquote><blockquote><p>"When the <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>perception</strong> </span>of time is <strong><em>altered</em></strong> using the <span style="color:#006600;">body's</span> own processes, there is nearly always an<strong><em> increase</em></strong> in <span style="color:#006600;">environmental </span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>awareness</strong></span>. We <strong>slow</strong> down enough to<span style="color:#000099;"> <strong>notice</strong></span> the <span style="color:#000099;">space</span> between <span style="color:#006600;">leaves</span>, to become poetic, lyrical, and multidimensional in our <strong><em>comprehension</em></strong> of the <span style="color:#006600;">world</span> around us. If we <strong>limit</strong> the availability of this <strong><em>quality time</em></strong> we engender a speediness of<span style="color:#000099;"> mind</span> that can turn against and <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>destroy</strong></span> its own <span style="color:#006600;">world</span>."</p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">pg 67 </span><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Navigating The Tides Of Change ~ Stories From </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Science, The Sacred, and a Wise Planet, 2001 by David LaChapelle</span></strong></p></blockquote><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>How would you invite periods of <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000099;"><em>timelessness</em></span> </span>into daily life?</strong></span></p></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-74413785503924529392009-03-16T10:42:00.000-07:002009-03-17T14:39:40.055-07:00The Intrinsic Value of All Species and Nature<span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo_Y-PHLVhcQHPnGLVKwaP9tiPKpm1o2Ocb7bhBrvl7Eaq749TnyWZhgE75zfJvFEzo6xJsvbspJEKiGFI69iOKH0f8PVo_NLRxHsqW4SgQVMcIkDAVarYwhD7n7EUaG6ksvmkZQwO_k/s1600-h/DSC_1014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313844068421788722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo_Y-PHLVhcQHPnGLVKwaP9tiPKpm1o2Ocb7bhBrvl7Eaq749TnyWZhgE75zfJvFEzo6xJsvbspJEKiGFI69iOKH0f8PVo_NLRxHsqW4SgQVMcIkDAVarYwhD7n7EUaG6ksvmkZQwO_k/s400/DSC_1014.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> (Overlooking Kamloops to the left, which continues to decend into the valley)</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br />A few years ago, I met a <span style="color:#006600;">horse</span> that intrigued me and I never forgot the experience. I<span style="color:#000099;"> sensed</span> this <span style="color:#006600;">horse</span> spent quality time with <span style="color:#006600;">people</span> and was very healthy. But it was more than that. I just <span style="color:#000099;">sensed</span> a <strong><em>deeper connection</em></strong> with this<span style="color:#006600;"> horse</span>. The<span style="color:#006600;"> horse</span> was interested in me, but not looking for handouts. At that point, I started talking to the<span style="color:#006600;"> horse</span>, or more questioning what she trying to communicate silently to me. You probably know the <span style="color:#000099;">sense</span>, when eye contact is comfortable, gazes are suspended, and words are not needed. The experience is something that words cannot describe adequately.<br /><br />Fast forward a few years to when I was out Christmas shopping in a country living store that sold everything from salt licks to expensive art. I was there to see Robert Bateman and his nature artwork. However, a video and the artist promoting her new book about her horses magnetically drew me. It was lovely to meet her and realise she lived in the<span style="color:#006600;"> Nicola Valley</span> close to Kamloops. In fact, the <span style="color:#006600;">horse</span> I met a few summers ago was probably one of hers! Therefore, I bought two books, one for a friend, and one for myself.<br /><br /><strong>Liz Mitten Ryan</strong> is an artist and caretaker for a herd of <span style="color:#006600;">horses</span> based on a relationship of<em> <strong>trust</strong></em> and <strong><em>respect</em></strong>. Therefore, with great pleasure I encourage you to view her video and visit her website for a gentle message celebrating the <span style="color:#000099;">intrinsic value</span> of all living <span style="color:#006600;">creatures</span>.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oS1LAuQA6Rw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oS1LAuQA6Rw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.lizmittenryan.com/"><strong>www.lizmittenryan.com</strong></a> </div><div align="center">for more information, videos and workshops being held this summer.</div><div align="center"></div><blockquote><p align="left">“I think the strongest <span style="color:#000099;">bond</span> we share is the total absence of fear. We <span style="color:#000099;">love</span> and<span style="color:#000099;"> accept</span> each other, and there is a solid <span style="color:#000099;">trust</span> in that relationship. There are many exciting things to explore, but I think that the <strong><em>anchor</em></strong> of the relationship is that we are learning together. I know that there is a need to guide and to educate a young <span style="color:#006600;">horse</span>, but I like to regard that need as flexible, and mutually rewarding. After all, we are <strong><em>journeying</em></strong> together as one in the <span style="color:#006600;">family</span> of<span style="color:#000099;"> spirit</span>."</p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pg 43</span>- <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Liz Mitten Ryan, One With The Herd</strong> <strong>~ A Spiritual Journey 2007</strong></span> </p></blockquote><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2gZ6FRhc3w&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R2gZ6FRhc3w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Satish Kumar on Deep Ecology -The Intrinsic Value...<br /><br />"We have come a long way my friend, through uncertainty, confusion, misinterpretation; carried by the wings of <span style="color:#000099;">love</span> to a far greater understanding than we could ever have believed. <em><span style="color:#000099;">Imagine</span></em> a world where all minds are joined in the quest for greater understanding. You and I can change the world, one mind at a time. <span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>Imagine</em></strong></span>!"<br />- <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Prima (Premiere Edition) Speaking for the herd</span></strong> pg <span style="font-size:85%;">205 </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Perhaps you have felt a deep connection to an animal or bird, pet or the land. </span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">How would you describe that feeling?</span></strong> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Are there special ways that you express gratitude for these deepened relationships?</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539722989805186261.post-41232264240672946882009-03-13T13:41:00.000-07:002009-03-17T14:39:13.773-07:00Sustainable Communities For All<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc1YSo-c9awNBIUCct7j96KaZWmiiF-QgQwEAsyhnro8rc7-fMuWQ0VNbIeQ_NIok5ElgZ_-AIgzsjTM3w45uFf8fvIDYHEC-AK0AStC3yK4DlxlLzokV2MVDUy-DEFAtpfvqfQAyTFY/s1600-h/DSC_2602_4126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312778045587810386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc1YSo-c9awNBIUCct7j96KaZWmiiF-QgQwEAsyhnro8rc7-fMuWQ0VNbIeQ_NIok5ElgZ_-AIgzsjTM3w45uFf8fvIDYHEC-AK0AStC3yK4DlxlLzokV2MVDUy-DEFAtpfvqfQAyTFY/s400/DSC_2602_4126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I went for a drive one morning as the <span style="color:#000099;">fog</span> burned off, searching for signs of <span style="color:#006600;">Spring</span>. I drove along the <span style="color:#000066;">South Thompson River </span>near Kamloops. The<span style="color:#000066;"> snow</span> is melting faster along the <span style="color:#006600;">valley </span>bottom where the southern <span style="color:#ffcc00;">Sun </span>touches down. I saw several <span style="color:#006600;">Ravens, Eagles, Crows, and Swans. </span>The <span style="color:#006600;">Cows</span> were <span style="color:#006600;">calving </span>and the <span style="color:#006600;">Mountain Sheep</span> were <span style="color:#ffcc00;">sunning</span> on the <span style="color:#006600;">cliffs</span> of the <span style="color:#006600;">Benchlands</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Thomas Berry</strong> in his book <strong>‘The <span style="color:#000099;">Dream</span> of the <span style="color:#006600;">Earth</span>’</strong> from 1988 discusses:<br />“The most difficult transition to make is from an <strong>anthropocentric </strong>(<em>human chauvinism</em>) to a <strong>biocentric</strong> norm of <strong>progress</strong>. If there is to be any true progress, then the entire life <strong>community</strong> must progress. Any progress of the <span style="color:#006600;">human </span>at the expense of the larger life <strong>community</strong> must ultimately lead to a diminishment of <span style="color:#006600;">human</span> life itself. A <strong>degraded</strong> <span style="color:#006600;">habitat </span>will produce <strong>degraded</strong><span style="color:#006600;"> humans</span>. An <strong>enhanced <span style="color:#006600;">habitat</span> </strong><em>supports</em> an elevated mode of the <span style="color:#006600;">human</span>. This is evident not only in the <strong>economic</strong> <strong>order</strong>, but also throughout the entire range of <strong><span style="color:#006600;">human</span></strong> <strong>affairs</strong>. The splendor of the <span style="color:#006600;">earth</span> is in the variety of its<span style="color:#006600;"> land</span> and its <span style="color:#000099;">seas</span>, its life forms and its <span style="color:#000099;">atmospheric</span> phenomena; these constitute in color and sound and movement that great symphonic context which has inspired our<strong> sense of the divine</strong>, given us our <strong>emotional and imaginative powers</strong>, and evoked from us those <strong>entrancing insights</strong> that have governed our more sublime moments.” <span style="font-size:85%;">Pg 165</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRK3_D0LMQRqSDSsImaYK3DeWbVqOSvm6iaLlTaR7W9TWoQj9L1QjZse0PsejFtjzqskcVeSf-fHONoUnJ2Q9XQzZ_K2nlEAP4b-K_G-F0VB3YP__P7foy4powobMNPFf3rCaLQvD3h8Y/s1600-h/DSC_2610_4134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312777183626371698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRK3_D0LMQRqSDSsImaYK3DeWbVqOSvm6iaLlTaR7W9TWoQj9L1QjZse0PsejFtjzqskcVeSf-fHONoUnJ2Q9XQzZ_K2nlEAP4b-K_G-F0VB3YP__P7foy4powobMNPFf3rCaLQvD3h8Y/s400/DSC_2610_4134.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>"The<strong> <em>solution</em></strong> is simply for us as <span style="color:#006600;">humans</span> to join the <span style="color:#006600;">earth community</span> as participating <span style="color:#006600;">members</span> to foster the progress and prosperity of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">bioregional communities</span> </strong>to which we belong. A <span style="color:#006600;">bioregion </span>is an identifiable<span style="color:#006600;"> geographical area</span> of <span style="color:#006600;">interacting life systems</span> that is relatively self- sustaining in the ever-renewing processes of <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>nature</strong></span>. The full diversity of<span style="color:#006600;"> life</span> functions is carried out, <em><strong>not</strong></em> as <span style="color:#006600;">individuals</span> or as <span style="color:#006600;">species</span>, or even as <span style="color:#006600;">organic</span> beings, but as a <strong><em>community</em></strong> that includes the <span style="color:#006600;">physical</span> as well as the <span style="color:#006600;">organic</span> components of the<span style="color:#006600;"> region</span>. Such a <span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>bioregion</em> </strong></span>is a self-propagating, self-nurturing, self-educating, self-governing, self-healing, and self-fulfilling <span style="color:#006600;">community</span>. Each of the component <span style="color:#006600;">life systems</span> must integrate its own functioning within this <span style="color:#006600;">community</span> to survive in any effective manner." <span style="font-size:85%;">pg 166</span></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrbPSyKDrAUIt3dFbPLvkYzE5QPM_lC0XEm939BOtmS3ExWPaCEoXD8nj4H3_Ez6QWWMMJf8cv0JyS77mN4DhG8z-ee69bCpwXRDBMZDYta1BiMaoivMlJNbwaMpzGGMMvV1RZr-gcNw/s1600-h/DSC_2575_4099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312776936197443970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrbPSyKDrAUIt3dFbPLvkYzE5QPM_lC0XEm939BOtmS3ExWPaCEoXD8nj4H3_Ez6QWWMMJf8cv0JyS77mN4DhG8z-ee69bCpwXRDBMZDYta1BiMaoivMlJNbwaMpzGGMMvV1RZr-gcNw/s400/DSC_2575_4099.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Can you see the<span style="color:#006600;"> herd </span>of <span style="color:#006600;">Sheep</span> above on the<span style="color:#006600;"> hillside <span style="color:#000000;">and </span>Cows </span><span style="color:#000000;">below</span>?</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Thomas Berry</strong> states,</div><div>“Of <strong>primary importance</strong> in <span style="color:#006600;">North America</span> is<em> </em><strong><em>identifying</em> </strong>the various <span style="color:#006600;">bioregions</span>. To do that requires <span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>sensitivity</em></strong></span> akin to that of the shamanic personality of <span style="color:#006600;">tribal peoples</span>. While <span style="color:#006600;">bioregions </span>have certain geographic boundaries, they also have certain <span style="color:#000099;">mythic</span> and historical modes of self-identification. This <strong>identification</strong> depends on <span style="color:#006600;">ourselves</span> as we participate in this process, which only <strong><em>now</em></strong> we begin to understand and appreciate.”<span style="font-size:85%;"> pg 170</span></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JYZ7h_QrM1VU8sfkr_drVvYcQjsAonHhzb_lN0Z2kQvkxBkvMy2bGPHg9SttPQNVAmNxfFbq3iNGtwadnxvIY9iGuRyly5tT4OIQX7eVfJ8igu9IwRX5eUeTrEZeGWaoEU407lT_Gho/s1600-h/DSC_2564_4088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312776608601922546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 370px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JYZ7h_QrM1VU8sfkr_drVvYcQjsAonHhzb_lN0Z2kQvkxBkvMy2bGPHg9SttPQNVAmNxfFbq3iNGtwadnxvIY9iGuRyly5tT4OIQX7eVfJ8igu9IwRX5eUeTrEZeGWaoEU407lT_Gho/s400/DSC_2564_4088.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The local<span style="color:#006600;"> Bighorn Sheep</span> come from <span style="color:#006600;">herds</span> reintroduced from California. They cross the road to get down to the <span style="color:#000099;">river</span>. As well, their old <span style="color:#006600;">calving</span> <span style="color:#006600;">ravines</span> along the <span style="color:#006600;">hillside </span>are now groomed into a Golf Course and Lifestyle Resort.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Global</span> <span style="color:#006600;">human</span> chauvinism</strong> continues to be <strong>politically overlooked</strong> </div><div align="center">at this crucial time as our <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>economy</strong></span> is in <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>crisis.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#660000;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>What more can we do to <em><span style="font-size:130%;">not</span></em> allow this to </strong><strong>perpetuate </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for the sake of the current economy?</strong> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div></div><div align="center">If we can raise the <strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">social consciousness</span></em></strong> towards <strong>equality</strong> of gender or race of <span style="color:#006600;">human beings</span> such as in the past 50 years, how can we raise the <strong><span style="color:#000099;">social consciousness</span></strong> for<span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>equality<em> all</em> </strong></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">species</span> and <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#006600;">bioregions</span> </span></strong>as we struggle to overcome <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>economic instability</strong></span>? </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><strong>Can we <span style="color:#660000;">afford</span> not to?</strong></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.noticequietnature.blogspot.com</div>Sherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605018369417882624noreply@blogger.com1