Quiet Time Interrupted

It has been six days since I last wrote.  Unbelievably busy time in my life.  The major reason I have been writing posts for the blog less often is I have a delightful pen pal I am communicating with daily and much of my writing has been going into that process.  It is not truly satisfying the yearning I have to write these posts, so I am back at it this morning.  One of the most emotionally disturbing things that has been going on is barking dogs at the neighbors.  So annoying I have asked them to move and so eventually, hopefully by the end of this month, that annoyance will disappear.  It has really tested my patience particularly early in the mornings when I do my meditation on the deck.  They start the moment I leave my cottage and are still at it this morning now an hour later while I sit on my back porch.  The quiet here is its most precious quality and I will protect it.  For several years now I have known that to find Me, to find my real Self, I must find quiet.  Not only me, but those who come here for release…..Sara (a Pod Sister) and I had a delightful two days together.  Yesterday we had lunch at Fusion and a Happy Feet foot massage afterwards.  What a delightful excursion!  Mostly, though, we have shared our lives since our last visit.  What a joy to have a friend with whom all can be shared!  She is waking now and will be leaving within the hour, so I'll end for this morning.

Doing Unrequired Things

Birds are really busy singing this morning.  Many different voices, few of which I recognize - but did hear the owl.  Always a nice voice to hear.  Yesterday was a lovely one - so much so I feel energized this morning and yet totally relaxed and eager to continue this feeling of "I'm OK" just as I am.  So often I'm DOING something to accomplish something - today I'll do some more of just being.  And do the little unrequired things - like repotting the lovely fern Pam gave me which has overgrown its surroundings.  Like pulling a few weeds.  Perhaps studying a bit more of "Infinite Self" which Frank recommended to me and kept me absorbed all day long yesterday.  This morning I did a recommended practice of moving rocks from one place to another and then moving them back!!!!  Ask and I'll tell you what that is designed to do for me….Right now I'm enjoying the beauty of the stillness of he Pond, the sound of birds chirping, a turtle jumping into the Pond with a big plopping sound, a fish jumping on the other side, the sun rising, almost over the trees, but not yet.  My tea.  The joy of knowing I am not required to do or be until 2:00 pm when a man comes to look at the dam leak - almost six hours of freedom.  How blessed I am!

Being with What is

Living with what is occurs when there is no comparison.  To live with what is, is to be peaceful.  Why is it I find myself comparing so often?  If I can recognize when I'm comparing and end it, peace will come is the promise of Krishnamurti in Freedom From the Known.  What is for me this morning is a freedom to be and do whatever. There are no scheduled activities.  How I relish such times.    Today I shall attempt to recognize when I'm comparing  and stop.  I shall be with what is.

Paradise

What a beautiful morning!  for the first time in a long while, I'm on the screened porch watching the world warm up.  There is a tiny bit of movement on the surface of the Pond but mostly, everything is still.  An airplane is way off in the distance - I can just barely hear it's soft roar.  No deer are out yet at the labyrinth but yesterday during yoga class two were there.  All of us enjoyed watching them….The dog next door is still barking, but now that I know she will be leaving soon, it doesn't bother me quite so much.  It has been a mighty tough trial for me to attempt to ignore it - without much success, I must say. ... Two birds are conversing - one to my left and the other way over to the right.  No frogs talking.  The photo shows a dragonfly on my foot while I was sunbathing beside the Pond yesterday.  Ah, how fortunate I am to be living in this paradise!

Give up, and you will succeed

Here's my message for this morning - from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching

Give up, and you will succeed.
Bow, and you will stand tall.
Be empty, and you will be filled.
Let go of the old, and let in the new.
Have little, and there is room to receive more.

quoted in "Chakras and Their Archetypes" by Ambika Wauters, a wonderful book recommended by friend, Suzy.

Bee Balm Bush

Well, I have now made a move that was very difficult for me - given notice of termination of the rental lease for the people in the double-wide next to me.  It was a difficult decision but I'm very glad it's done.  The excessive noise from barking dogs and diesel trucks finally settled it…..Blossoms are showing up on two recently planted bee balm shrubs.  Saw a hummingbird feeding on this one yesterday…..Friend Philip brought tobacco leaves yesterday for use in our fire ceremonies - June 15 is the next one - come bring your drum or a bucket and wooden spoon or stick of some kind.  We'll begin at 7:30.  Everyone is welcome - plenty of room around the fire pit. Have a happy Monday!

Grandchildren

Finally got photos into computer.  Here is my favorite of grandchildren and me at Sydney's high school graduation.  She's on the left.  Others are Jack, Me, Kelsey, Sam (in my arms) and Walker. What a fun time to be able to celebrate such events with the entire family together - including all the grandchildren, parents, and Wendy's parents and brother.  A delightful outing.  We ended the evening with ice cream at Bruster's.  When I get right down to it, family and friends are what really matter in this world.