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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What We Can Learn about Ourselves from Observing Our Transplants

Having lived in many different places without BE-ing rooted I have come to realize that incessant moving about prevents BE-ing rooted and requires a rather unconscious state of mind. I remember when I was an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona's College of Nursing teaching about Selye's model of stress and the consequences of major life changes on one's health, I was very cavalier about my good health not being affected by my many moves and unfortunate work experiences. I rather saw myself in a constant state like these vibrant and healthy starts in my greenhouse in spite of my workaholic nature. I was a vegetarian, ran 40 miles a week, swam a couple of times a week, hiked in nature to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the desert and mountains. Sasha and Tatiana (Siberian Huskies) were my wonderful companions in many of these activities.

More transplanting of myself ensued to locations less and less hospitable. With each move I found myself dipping into the well of pioneer woman to continue working. Finally I arrived in Sonoma County with the well close to dry and me wilted just like these transplants in my greenhouse. A change, big change, was in order. Maybe making choices more consciously? Considering the consequences of my choices?

Finding a home, like these seedling trays that essentially eliminate transplant shock, where I could be comfortable seemed like an appropriate place to start. Done. And both Sasha and Tatiana seemed really happy living in the country, with a morning run on country roads and an occasional chasing of skunks or a feral cat. The expansive views seemed to feed me.


Then my long dead grandmother visited saying, "Do the hard work while you can or you'll have to do it on your death bed." Well, that was a wake up call!

How to be conscious? Becoming aware of habits learned seemed like the next step. An introduction to the Enneagram (a map for the emotional, psychological, spiritual AND for how to tell the difference between unconscious/learned habits and conscious BE-ing) was a blessing. I discovered my point of view and perception of the world as well as others' points of view and ways of perceiving. Ah ha, "everyone doesn't think like I do," so maybe, just maybe I can be more open.

This process of being more open, opens doors heretofore closed. For me this "allowing" brings to me consciousness, seeing what previously was hidden. One of these wonderful gifts came in the form of a nearby organization, the Flower Essence Society located in Nevada City, CA.



Their Five-Flower Formula, aka Bach Flower Remedy Rescue, is a combination flower essence from five flowers: Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem. This wonderful elixir provides the opportunity for "calmness and stability in any emergency or time of high stress" for any sentient BE-ing.

To mitigate transplant shock, I find this remedy works well diluted 4 drops/1 ounce of spring water, shaking then add 8 drops of brandy, again shaking, Using this preparation in a spray bottle is a lovely way to support these tiny starts adjusting to their new home, the seedling trays.

So I have learned that transplantation, whether of ourselves or plants, produces evidence of shock IF we observe. BE-ing conscious in the uprooting and rerooting, we each can minimize the degree of the shock and the consequential reverberations. My plants provide me wisdom. I only have to observe and BE conscious.

Please share your experiences in the comment section.



































































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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Baseball: my other life

My baseball buddy & I have an opportuntiy to enjoy a season ticket holder party at the Oakland Coliseum. For the afternoon, midweek games we have season tickets, loving to have a day at the ballpart. We think it would be fun to meet the players. If it is not a terrible inconvenience for those of you who have already signed up for the Sunday, September 12 talk/tour here at MuRefuge, I'd like to change the date to the following Sunday, September 19.



The socks featured are from the Sock Lady

Monday, August 9, 2010

Peaches & new babies

Yesterday I was standing at the kitchen sink peeling Frost peaches to can. Rose began to make her hysterical noises so I looked up, out onto the field to the South of us. There was Mom Deer with a wee one. Mom came down right in Rose's face with only the wire fence between. She'd stomp her foot, Rose would back up speedily. This repeated until we brought Rose in. Mom crossed the field to the eucalyptus trees with baby bouncing after.

This morning during my early morning sitting practice, Rose began the hysterical barking again. Just Mom this time. But towards the end of my qi gong practice, Mom traversed the field with not one baby but TWO.

We have seen mom & babies in the Spring. Rose & Mom:





In addition to canning yesterday, I made Dwight a Peach Upsidedown Cake. Here's the recipe which I have modified from the 1974 Roberts Cookbook:
UPSIDEDOWN
3 medium fresh organic peaches
1/8 C. organic butter or ghee
6 T. organic maple sugar
1 T. fresh organic lemon juice
Pare & slice the peaches then pour the lemon juice over the peaches.
Melt butter or ghee in a 9x9x2 inch glass baking pan set into 350 degree oven. Once the butter is melted remove pan from oven and mix in sugar & salt, spreading evenly in pan. Place peach slices with lemon juice on top, set aside.

CAKE aka Cottage Pudding
1/4 C. organic butter or ghee
3/4 C. organic maple sugar
1 duck egg
1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. organic sprouted spelt flour
2 1/2 tsp. nonaluminum baking powder
1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt
2/3 C. Nancy's low fat, organic kefir milk
Cream butter/ghee well then gradually add sugar beating until fluffy. Add egg beating well then vanilla beating well. Alternatively add dry ingredients
which have been well mix in another bowl with kefir milk beating well and
scraping the sides between each addition.

For fresh organic duck eggs
And for more information about Essential Eating & sprouted flour