Spring

Dwight's most recent creation at Baca Street Pottery.
Now that we are "sheltering in place" (as all
New Mexicans are) we took some time a few
mornings ago to install this clay piece
among the Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa)
in the front yard.

Spring is the time of renewal. The changing of seasons were not so noticeable in West Sonoma County, California, but here in Santa Fe, NM, we definitely experiencing four distinct seasons. And Spring is happening, well, on most days Spring is happening. I am reminded by people walking by that snow may still fall even into early May. This occurrence often interferes with an abundance of apricots and peaches ripening on the trees. I am so anticipating apricots and peaches from our trees that are growing steadily in our backyard orchard.

Right now I am harvesting arugula from the smallest hoop house. Delish! And Dwight is moving along with another hoop house over one of our long raised beds into which I will plant the peas, seeds from last years' peas, planted in two Todd planters that are sprouting in the minigreen house. 

Successful seed planting in the minigreen house has not gone smoothly. The heat mattress did keep the temperature at 80 degrees. First the thermostat was replaced since it came from MuRefuge where it was used for 25 years. The replacement thermostat was no more effective. A replacement heat mattress just arrived as I publish this post. Peas do not need as warm a soil to sprout so the Todd planters with the sprouting peas remain in the mingreenhouse. All of the other seeds that have been planted in pots that are sitting in the house. Once the heat mattress has been replaced and proper functioning is evident everything can be moved into the minigreen house. 

Gardening in New Mexico is not for the faint of heart. Most of the farmers who grow produce to be sold at the Santa Fe Farmers Market are women. I so admire them with their creativity in growing food year round here in the high desert. I am ever so grateful the Farmers Market is open on Saturday mornings. We stock up on all the fresh veggies we eat during a week between these markets.

I dearly miss buying nutrient dense food from Singing Frogs Farm. In that vein
I am trying to figure out how to grow our own nutrient dense food here in our backyard. 

Harogem Apricot planted in the Spring, 2018, in glorious flower.
Purchased from Tooley's Trees as a 2 year old.
The double black wrought iron gate
in the background is where Shasta
can connect with each ad every passerby.

The apricot trees, it seems everyone has at least one apricot tree in their yards, are now in full flower and absolutely gorgeous.  

Clover came to Santa Fe, NM, in one of the
large clay pots transporting St. John's Wort,
Tansy, Comfrey from MuRefuge.
Shasta loves laying on the every year enlarging area.

The perennial herbs are "popping" (as Shasta's Auntie T describes) showing green. I do love Spring and all her green. We now have abundant fresh chives since I have planted them around all the fruit trees as well as in our herb garden just outside our kitchen. Culinary chive as well as garlic chive seeds have been sown for more plantings in the orchard.

Yes! Spring is here and gardening has recommenced! While I hear a number of people asking "what to do now that I am stuck at home?", my days are as busy as ever. I watch our neighbors who are working at home (with a baby only months old and a soon to be two year old) balance work and childcare. Oh my gosh, I admire both the mother and father!

Tarragon from which I have already made
baked Tarragon Yogurt Chicken.
m-m-m-m-m-m delish lunch!

Lovage grows into almost a bush by mid Summer
covered with heart stopping flowers.

And what a wonderful treat while sitting and eating breakfast: a rather large flocks of migrating robins drinking from our bird baths. No pictures were taken as we were way too enthralled with observing this Spring event.

As Spring renewal and greening delights us, may we each rejoice and 

Comfort

The following post was written by one of our fellow Daoist Wanderers in China, not recently but a number of years past. Enjoy! 

In a pandemic, self-isolation is called Quarantine. In Buddhism, it is called a Retreat. 

From the cave of our home, like the meditators of ancient times, we can consciously kindle the lamp of compassion and connection.  - Lama Willa B. Miller|

Bringing Comfort to Covid-19

Sheltering in Place

Granted… Humans are Social Creatures and Sheltering In Place can be quite challenging for most of us.  So I’m sharing 3 Links to Qi Gong Videos, that may Calm the Restlessness and most importantly, manage unnecessary Stress, which compromises the Immune System!  

Even though these videos were addressing HepC, they will be just as effective for the whole family in managing the Restlessness of Cabin Fever… let alone, they’re good for the Immune System.

If you’re new to Qi Gong… take it easy with these exercises and don’t feel obligated to continue when you get Tired or just don’t care for the exercise.

Whichever exercise you choose, it really helps when you consider… it’s not just for the Body, but the Mind as well!  I’ve found that when I pay attention to how the exercise Feels, it can either Excite the Mind or Calm it Down.  Yep… you have a Choice!  

With Cabin Fever, it’s recommended to Calm Down… don’t you think?  

Now whether we Know We Have the Virus or Not… act as if you do, which is where Social Distancing has been suggested.  However, consider the Wind Factor when walking the dog or exercising outdoors… especially for You Joggers!  Six Feet ain’t enough, when a breeze extends the contamination zone.  

Use whatever exercise strikes your fancy and then perform them responsibly.  It doesn’t do any good to harm ourselves in the process.  In order to Calm our Agitated Mind & Spirit Down, we’ve got to Mentally, as well as Physically, Slow Down a bit… and Simplify Life, until this Pandemic Passes.

The Addiction to our Busy Behavior will definitely become apparent under these circumstances.  So, don’t let it get the best of you or your family.  Granted… Slowing Down and Simplifying will seem unfamiliar and may even be uncomfortable.  But you may already be uncomfortable… so what do you have to lose but Your Discomfort… Psychologically, as well as Physically.

May the sharing of these videos help you gracefully and mindfully make it through this Major Transition.  Peace, Joy, Happiness and Tranquility already exist within us.  The Trick is… How to Recall It!  It’s in the Body Memory.  But if these wonderful states of being are unfamiliar, they may need a nudge or an introduction… and these exercises just may trigger them for you and your family.

Peace and Good Health… Namaste,

Larry

PS: Keep in mind that the recording of this video was improvised and totally unrehearsed and for many of the students, it was their First Time!  

Links to Videos:

Lesson One:        http://vimeo.com/19310331

Lesson Two:       http://vimeo.com/19310522

Lesson Three:    http://vimeo.com/19310765

Opportunity

When the temperature warms in the Spring
here in Santa Fe, NM, these insects "hatch" from eggs laid
in the cement crack of our back portal.

This annual event, depicted in the picture above, is happening even in this time of global "uncharted territory". Here's a link sent to me by my East Coast "baseball buddy" to cheer all of us up with simple actions we may all employ during this pandemic.

https://www.facebook.com/alice.brignani/videos/10158213836884873/UzpfSTEwNjEzMDMwOTk6MTAyMjAzNjc4NDkxMjA2MDE/

Mike Piazza, a baseball catcher who played his last MLB year for the Oakland A's, now in the Hall of Fame and living in Italy, shares what happened in Italy when schools were closed country wide. The Italians, as they often do, gathered in the town's piazza. This country is experiencing the "fall out" of this heretofore common behavior. He admonishes, "Stay home."

Well, of course . . . I remember in grade school when I had the measles, my sister scarlet fever and  my brother the chicken pox and my youngest brother was less than a week old. The latter was taken to my Grandma's, me in one room, my sister in another room of our house with my brother in another. We were lucky to live in a large farm house with many bedrooms! My mother, an R.N., was very busy taking care of all of our needs and protecting us all. I cannot remember who stayed with us when she went to her mother's to take care of my newborn brother. Those few weeks were not easy for my mother. Her simple "isolation" practices to contain the viruses were effective as we all "got well" without contacting each other's virus. And our mother brought my youngest brother home to the delight of all of us.

My youngest brother on the right
and his daughter on the left
on May 21, 2016 in Kansas City
where they each live.

So while the global community is dealing with this pandemic COCID-19 virus, whether it is a weaponized coronavirus as Francis Boyle suggests, or transmitted to humans from bats or snakes as others have written, it would behoove each and every one of us to institute "good hygiene practices". During the latest Democratic debate both candidates detailed what they have personally instituted for themselves. And, of course, they avoided close contact with each other and no one else was visible in the CNN Studio except the three moderators.

As our Presidential has dramatically bumbled the national preparedness for this pandemic, many of the individual state governors have stepped up. We are blessed to have an awesome governor here in New Mexico. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a miniature (in physical statue) powerhouse, was proactive early on in mobilizing the state resources to minimize the impact of this virus. It seems daily she is updating her guidelines for each and every New Mexican. Postponements and cancellations as well as closures, as in all public schools beginning on March 16, are rapidly occurring. The message is clear: each and every citizen should practice social distancing which seems to be the politically correct term just now. 

The prudent message is STAY HOME if it is possible for you to do so. I wrote in the last post how difficult, if not impossible for some, it is to change. When individuals are uncomfortable, change is more likely to occur. So "the silver lining" of actually grappling with (not denying) this pandemic, to me, is the possibility for collective and individual change. 

Katie Stoyka's captured rainbow in Santa Fe, NM
July 27, 2019 

May we BE in the moment without fear and may we each BE fluid with joy  

Butterfly Beach, Santa Barbara, California
May 20, 2014.

so we are able to strengthen our immune system, strengthen our social network both near and far, and strengthen our ability to open our hearts.

Pandemic

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath—

the most sacred of times?

Cease from travel.

Cease from buying and selling.

Give up, just for now, 

on trying to make the world

different than it is. 

Sing. Pray. Touch only those

to whom you commit your life.

Center down.

And when your body has become still,

reach out with your heart.

Know that we are connected

in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.

(You could hardly deny it now.)

Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.

(Surely, that has come clear.)

Do not reach out your hands.

Reach out your heart.

Reach out your words.

Reach out all the tendrils

of compassion that move, invisibly,

where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love--

for better or for worse,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we all shall live.

  By Unitarian minister, Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

Perhaps the "silver lining" includes for all of us a deepening connection filled with love for all BEings, as the above poem speaks?

In these challenging, unsettling times, let us all continue to 

Change