Going to seed

 Happy Earth Day! May our Gaia continue to heal in order for life to continue!

This is my tomato nursery...where seeds that started sprouting in a tomato have now been planted!

A day later...

And after culling the many to assist the few...

A sister tomato is outside, also has sprouting  seeds...but I haven't cut it open...I decided to let nature take its course. These Mexico grown tomatoes are packaged in San Antonio, and say on the pack to not refrigerate them. Mmmm, I'm not sure I'll continue to purchase this kind, but they are delicious! Well, maybe I'll grow my own!

About where the stick is pointing toward the tomato is where a little shoot is pushing through the skin. I would guess the pointed highlight toward the bottom of this photo is another shoot about to burst through. Our weather has backed down a bit this week, so that should slow down these seeds.

I've added more dirt, to almost cover the tomato. Due for a couple of nights near freezing...so that means I'll probably put a sheet over the gardenia bush, or rather its remains. Something really hit it hard this winter, and half of it seems dead. Well, it was a good plant that lasted many years!

Note on Thursday...I poked some holes with a fork in the skin, thinking that might help the shoots to get through. We shall see. It was really cold this morning!

Today's quote:

The principle of cause and effect is the truth that allows us to better ourselves and the world around us.

Pink dogwood 2021

 

What with the disease that's killing the dogwoods, I was glad about half of this tree still bloomed this year....same tree that's been in the header for about a month!

Today's quote:

There is within each of us a modulation, an inner exaltation, which lifts us above the buffetings with which events assail us. Likewise, it lifts us above dependence upon the gifts of events for our joy.

ALBERT SCHWEITZER

Helping others as others help me out

The other day I offered a ride to a friend who's recently had knee surgery. It also gave me a chance to do a couple of errands of my own. Then, after she repaid me in coffee, I drove around the neighborhood a bit. I admit I should have gone right home, because when I finally did I was pretty exhausted. It takes many more days to recover from being sick for me now.

I had to pull over to see that there were actually people out on the Croquet Court playing, in nice white clothes no less, so they looked quite official!

This is the season that Lake Tomahawk has been drained. I don't know why, but it does stop it from having a season of new ducklings and goslings. I kind of liked seeing them following their parents around the lake. But I know they often were food for other critters unfortunately.

Again, the dogwoods are a bit sparse this season of high daytime temperatures.

I've been quite fortunate in having friends help me out as I recuperated from my mysterious (pneumonia or flu?) disease.

Today's quote:

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

CARL GUSTAV JUNG

A wood working craft from Japan

The amazing things we can learn about through videos...

Today I share a YouTube of Tsugite, the Japanese method of joining with wood with no adhesives or screws. I wish it wasn't in a speeded up voice and motion, but one can pause to try to figure it out. There is now a program to teach one how to build these wonderful joints.

I admit to just having appreciation of this craft, and no urge to actually build with it.

Today's quote:

We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.

JEAN HOUSTON

Being well, or just being

 

Lots of gear hanging around my poor ears! But I did go out a bit the other day! Whee!

You can see the maple to the left already has leaves and little seed pods...while the one right outside my window is slower to bloom.

These bright Kalancho flowers began to drop bits on the sill and floor, time to go outside...where the weather has been warm enough so far.

If you look closely at the center of this photo above the roof, there's a Eastern Towhee, or perhaps a Rufous Sided Towhee. I am not sure, because he doesn't show his white belly...nor does he have spots. But his rust colored breast does show.

An Eastern Towhee from the net.

Yes I'm feeling a bit better, after the long treatment for whatever illness I may have had. I'm very grateful! Yesterday was the last of the antibiotics. I actually did a load of laundry to celebrate! It's about time! But I was exhausted walking back and forth to the laundry room across the driveway 3 times. OK, time to just sit and breathe deep.

Today's quote:

Our actions shape our lives, but what we don't take action on can be just as powerful.

Shorn again, like a sheep?

 

The "Before" photo...brush and go style! I don't remember the exact date of my last cut. I know I had one in Aug. last year, and perhaps another one ...the memory escapes me. And I didn't keep it in my calendar either (I checked!)

And now "After"...with Joe having done his magic scissor work! Easy to continue a brush and go style, which these days usually means just going from one room to another. 

Today's quote;

This world with all its beauty and all its vibrancy is just so because it is not fixed, because everything is contingent.

LAMA WILLA B. MILLER

Tree colors

A sunny view of a dogwood.

A bright bunch of fluttering white flowers denotes a dogwood off in the brambles by Blue Ridge Rd.

Maples that are just starting have those reddish things first, then they show the little green pinwheel seed helicopters...then real leaves. The red things and of course the helicopters fall first! What fun to park under them!

 

Same view on a cloudy evening.

The hot days have meant dogwood blooms have been fast and fallen as leaves take over.

The pale green tree near the far building is a dogwood.

Today's quote:

Like birds flying in a "V," when we feel the presence of others moving along side of us, there is little we cannot accomplish.

Azaleas are among us

 

Looking down from my apartment windows, I see a bit of color.

These however, are Rhododendrons! Much bigger leaves! And from another year.

A past spring gave these azaleas a beauty. My bushes have been super trimmed back in the last year by our landscape crew, so I haven't enjoyed any blooms yet this year.

Though my antibiotics still are making food and drink just go right through me, this morning I had an egg sandwich with sprouts on flat bread, and it tasted so good!

The postman brought my new shoes...ordered via the net, and I like having something different to wear! Every little joy in life is such a wonder!

Today's quote:

Bedtime can be a perfect time for a nighttime ritual of sending love to the world and finding gratitude for your day.

Just saying...

Just something to wonder about.

English adjectives order:

opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose, Noun.

We all know what sounds right when giving modifiers, but this is why!

 I often find many adjectives which seem similar, and don't exactly follow these rules. For example, my minister said the other day, "We have a free independent liberal church." 

So what exact meaning category do these words come in?

Free: maybe opinion?

independent: again, perhaps opinion?

liberal: maybe purpose?

I'm so grateful that I was born and learned English as a child, hearing my family speak it. I have tried learning a couple of other languages, and English still seems the hardest grammar, and spelling!

Today's quote:

Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

MELODY BEATTIE

A finch-y good morning

Sunday, first cuppa, watching out the window to see what the world has to offer. Hear the cheep cheep cheep of a bird, and when I look that direction, I see a beautiful house finch.

He's similar to the purple finches I used to see at my feeder. And he's happy right outside my window. I just forget the coffee and let it go cold. 

Then I notice Mrs. Finch is part of his interest, and I can just see her looking at him, seeing whether he is the right fellow I'm sure.

She flies toward his branch and she must have decided yes, for they take off over my roof to who know where. (Photos thanks to internet).

I keep an eye on the several pairs of squirrels doing their dances up and down the trunks of the trees. And continue to listen to birds talking up a storm. Speaking of which, we had steady rain all day yesterday, so I'm surprised the robins aren't out harvesting worms. They will be soon I imagine.

The sun is back, and within the time all the young pods of pollen dry  out, we will have to close windows just to be able to breathe without sneezing.  Until them, cool crisp clean air is much appreciated. Sigh.
 

Today's quote:

On the next rainy day, imagine the rain washing away and cleansing your emotional body.

By Daily Om