Cox’s Orange Pippin
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Calylophus drum mondianus (Sundrops) |
Fendler’s Sundrops (Calylophus hartwegii fendleri) |
and she would NOT go forward until her friend arrived who had stop to get the sand off her feet so she could put her shoes back on. |
Sharing the process of BEing Rooted initially at Refuge; transplanting to Santa Fe, NM and reRooting, then back to California and reRooting in Cotati.
Cox’s Orange Pippin
|
Calylophus drum mondianus (Sundrops) |
Fendler’s Sundrops (Calylophus hartwegii fendleri) |
and she would NOT go forward until her friend arrived who had stop to get the sand off her feet so she could put her shoes back on. |
We may KNOW What’s Right for Us. But is What’s Right for Us, appropriate for everyone else? This is why there are many versions of a subject… such as Tai Chi and Qigong. Common Styles of Tai Chi are Chen, Yang, Wu and Sun Style.
Being Knowledgable is one thing. Using that Knowledge Wisely, is another!
The theme of this Tai Chi Workshop is about the basic Fundamentals and the dynamics of How a Style of Tai Chi can be expressed in a way that suits your Personality and Physical Circumstance.
The reason why we Like or are Attracted to something, is related to How that something makes us FEEL! When something makes us Feel Good, it’s currently Neurologically complementing our Personal Energetics… both Biochemically and Physically, such as Massaging or Stretching. Anything involving our 5 Senses, can neurologically trigger Hormones that provides a Pleasant or Unpleasant sensation.
This Sensation, is Nature’s Way of communicating to us What Works for Us and What Doesn’t! How we Flavor our Food or Beverage to our personal taste, is one example. How we like the Temperature of our Shower, Movies, Music, Exercise, Work, Play, the Kind of People we’re comfortable with… are all personal.
The same goes for how we practice our Tai Chi and Qigong. How we express the medium, each moment of each day, should be considered. For our energetic state fluctuates by the moment… and we want to be Skillful enough to complement our current energetic circumstance, rather than blindly performing what we’re practicing the same way all the time! The Weather and Mood are common considerations to adjust the Style of our practice.
It’s in our favor to be Aware and Sensitive enough to Complement our current condition, under the present energetic circumstances. Would you go out in the Rain wearing your Summer Clothes or wear your Winter Clothes in the scorching Heat of the Summer?
We want to be Flexible with our Choices in How to express or perform what we’re practicing… and not disregard our Internal, as well as External Circumstances.
The results will encourage more Harmony, rather than us having to endure Discomfort and Disharmony. Many people don’t even have the Option to Choose between Comfort or Discomfort.
Now that you’ve been introduced to this concept, YOU… are in the position of Choice. Keep in mind, there’s No Wrong Decision. Again… YOU ARE IN CONTROL of your Life and Reality!"
And while we mull over "you are in control of your life and reality" may we
Not long ago I was asked about preventing birds colliding into windows. The question was prompted by why I had strings hanging in the windows that look out onto the back patio. So I explained that the strings break up the reflections in the windows thus birds do not fly into what they see as vegetation.
So I was appalled when I found this dead bird laying atop one of the raised beds in to back yard.
I could not figure out the demise of this beautiful bird which the identification mystifies me. Perhaps this bird is a recent nestling so all the pictures I viewed were of older birds. Frustration is the primary feeling when identification alludes me.
So what to do?
Recently I received the latest catalog Wild Garden Seed: organic seed from Shoulder to Shoulder Farm 2024. As the owner of Plants of the Southwest did with her catalog one of the owners, Frank Morton, of this source of seeds wrote an article he labeled "Age".
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The neighbors crabapple tree in full bloom. Its canopy pretty extends over the shed on my property.
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Companion planting has, in my adult life, been a focus when establishing a vibrant, healthy environment for fruit trees and berry bushes. Recently I planted three bareroot raspberry bushes from Grow Organic along the west side of my house. Then the herbs purchased from The Growers Exchange in 4" pots were planted on the optimal day for them to thrive.
Tansy in the foreground and Comfrey nearest to the fence. |
Borage Lemon balm Tansy (nearest corner of the house) |
Cercis occidentalis (Western redbud) with flowers opening and the contrast with the white wall of the house is stunning. |
And changing the focus from plants to birds, I have noticed at the bird feeders what probably are fledging birds. Obviously one parent or another has brought them to the feeders in my backyard. To me they are just so cute. They do not seem as skittish as their adult parents since they remain still as I approach.
As I get organized, plant, and write this post, I enjoy a belly
This picture was sent to me by
my dear, dear, dear friend, Rosa,
who resides in the mountains
East of Santa Fe.
March 17, 2023
After enduring huge amount of snow in the Winter growing up in Iowa, Spring is my favorite time of the year. It is in the Spring when everything begins "popping", as Shasta's Auntie T says. In Iowa it was Memorial Day before flowers appeared. And the first were the lilacs. The plants here are certainly "popping" with many of the bushes and plants are in full bloom. Celebrate Spring by taking great pleasure in the wide array of the flower pictures below.
Ribes var. glutinosum sanguineum (“Heart’s Delight”) |
Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Bleeding heart) |
Ribes speciosum (Fushsia flower gooseberry |
May the sun be shining where you are. Shasta is fully enjoying the sun as she enjoys a "sun bath" then moves to the shade to cool off; once again returning to the sunshine. |
Earlier this month on the optimal planting day for "fruit" I planted three Heritage "everbearing" red raspberry bareroots from Grow Organic. The North American Maria Thun Biodynamic Almanac 2024 is the guide I use for all my planting, transplanting, pruning, etc. here at PageRefuge.
After about a week after planting the bareroots, green leaves are now evident.
Along the adobe wall the raspberries were planted behind Dwight and the covered raised bed at which he is pointing. |
These plants in 4" pots came from the Growers Exchange: 2 'Common' Comfrey 1 Lemon Balm 1 Borage Blue 2 Tansy |
A volunteer in the bed just to the East of the patio. The seed packet for Borage so more can be started . . . soon. |