Stunningly

Stunningly beautiful flowers have appeared on two of the three apple trees. The Spitzenberg tree has way more leaves which are bigger than on the other two trees. It also has fewer blossoms. 

Cox’s Orange Pippin

Pink Pearl

Spitzenberg (Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple)

Now I am wondering if it would be best for the development of the tree to pick off all the apples that appear this season. Last season I did so but perhaps leaving a few to ripen would not hinder the trees development?

Calylophus drum mondianus (Sundrops)

And while these are not as spectacular as the Sundrops I planted at SantaFeRefuge they are a welcome brightness to the landscape of my front yard. As I look at the two pictures of Sundrops it is difficult for me to see a lot of difference. However, the green leaves are not the same shade nor is the flower. Of course, each of you can discern for your self.

Fendler’s Sundrops

(Calylophus hartwegii fendleri)

My dear, dear, dear friend arrived from the Santa Fe, New Mexico area Friday

for a short visit. She had never taken a vacation, never been in an airplane, never seen the ocean. Shasta and I took her to Bodega Bay. We walked along the sand for a good distance.

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.

Shasta got eat before we had our lunch. My friend had fresh oysters which she had never before eaten.  Monday we took her back to the airport. She is now on her way back to New Mexico. Oh dear, how sad! Our house now feels SO VERY EMPTY without her.

To dispel some of the sadness she is no longer her I have had a good 

Sharing

Eschscholzia californica var. californica 

(Coastal poppy)

On the west side of my driveway these poppies reseed every year. One cannot predict exactly where they will pop up but there is quite a lovely stand of them this year. I think of them as a cheerful note for all who walk past.

The below was written by a friend with whom Dwight and I traveled to China, twice. Charlotte and Da Jin Sun annually sojourned to China. They 

generously provided access to a China rarely seen by Americans.

I thought this particular writing is apropos for each and every one of us living in such trying times. It seems that it is not just  our own country that is in disarray but in many countries on our planet Earth.

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

Prevention

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?