Spring like

Clear blue sky here. It feels very Spring like rather than early January. The jade plant which is located on the west most side of the front of the house has flowers.

Jade plant
(Crassula ovata)

Even though the weather person, nor the weather app, does not predict freezing temperatures the jade plant is protected each and every night.

Salvia involucrata 
(Roseleaf sage)

Symphoricarpos albus 
(Common snowberry 
‘Tilden Park’)

The shed's roof is covered with a tarp, courtesy of a long time friend who brought the tarp. As you can see observe bricks were used to prevent the winds from removing the tarp. There have been some pretty fierce winds of late so rolls of wire were hung to prevent exposing the wooden shingles. Once Spring does actually arrive the wood shingles will be removed and replaced with shingles more the color of those on roof of the house.

Pink Pearl (Malus domestica) apple tree
purchased as bare root
from Trees of Antiquity.
   

The 'Pink Pearl' apple is a pink-fleshed apple cultivar developed in 1944 by Albert Etter, a northern California breeder. It is a seedling of 'Surprise', another pink-fleshed apple that is believed to be a descendant of Malus niedzwetskyana. 

Unfortunately, the planting instructions were not followed when the first Pink Pearl bare root was planted in September, 2021. Thus, the bare root did not root. When it was extracted from the gopher basket, nada a root in evidence. Since avoiding needing to purchase another bare root, this time the instructions were followed.

Fortunately, nearby is a huge pile of wood chips. All the empty containers in the shed were placed in the rear of the car. Being not as nibble as in younger years, care was taken to fill each and deposit in the car before filling another. The process was trouble free getting the chips to the backyard . . . wheelbarrows are such a fabulous invention!!!! 

When this post was initially started, Spring like weather was occurring. As this post is concluded, seasonal weather is present. Today it is sunny with clear blue skies but extremely windy.

So much to miss living in Northern California instead of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shasta absolutely relished her time in the park just down the street from our house playing with Hobbs.

Shasta and Hobbs 
playing in the park 

Shasta's all time very
favorite playmate: Hobbs
whose owner sent 
this recent picture 

As a garden walk about and this post are completed, perhaps we can all enjoy a deep belly

Fall, 2024

This picture was taken 
Saturday when Shasta and I took
our morning walk.

Twice a year, in March and again in September, Earth reaches a point in "her" orbit that the sun shines directly on the Equator. Thus, the Spring and Fall equinoxes occur as a "result of Earth's spinning on an axis that is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit." Day light dwindles . . . have you noticed? Since Shasta and I are early risers, we are certainly aware that day light comes later than a short month ago.

The yellow leaf Japanese maple
in the front yard.

Visitors have commented on the changing color of the leaves as they walk through the front garden. These will soon make their way to the ground where they will remain and feed what grows in the area.

This Fushsia flower gooseberry
(Ribes specious) is stunning
no matter the season.

Roger's red grape
(Vita californica)
is so beautiful as the leaves 
turn their usual bright red
at this time of the year.

Recently a ladder allowed me to remove all the clusters of grapes. Since more than two of these vines are unwanted, about this time of the year the clusters are cut and deposited into the green bin which is then emptied by the local pick up company on Mondays. As Shasta ages it is a reminder to each and every one of us that with each passing day we grow older.

As Shasta ages it is a reminder to each and every one of us that with each passing day we grow older. 

Each and every afternoon she loves to play ball . . . in the house this ball is thrown into the air and she catches it. She is NOT interested in retrieving the ball if one throws it across the room as her Auntie T has done.

Perhaps, as we grapple with our aging,  each and every day the remedy is to have a frequent 

Abundance

Mother, Father, God, Universal Power

Remind us daily of the sanctity of all life.

Touch our hearts wit the glories oneness

of all creation,

As we strive to respect all the living beings

on this plant.

Penetrate our souls with the beauty of this

earth,

As we attune ourselves to the rhythm and

flow of the seasons.

Awaken our minds with the knowledge to

achieve a world in perfect harmony

  And grant us the wisdom to realize that we

can have heaven on earth.

JO POORE

Seems that the hummingbirds are migrating as their two feeders need replenishing almost daily.  Usually these feeders are washed and new "nectar" added twice a week.

This is the feeder hanging
from the kitchen window
where the hummingbirds
are visible from the kitchen table.

And this feeder hangs
in the backyard.

The hummingbirds were flying about waiting for the refill of their nectar as I went to hang both of these. I believe that the hummingbirds are migrating so they "tank up" so to speak where they can. I also observe some hummers visiting the tubular flowers of the three Penstemon eatonii that are planted in the front yard.

Penstemon eatonii
('Firecracker' beardtongue)

Another magnet for flying insects, in this case bees, are the two garlic chives plants also in the front yard. Occasionally hummers have been seen on these flowers as well.

Allium tuberosum

(Garlic chives or Chinese chives)

If one searches the bees are visible. These particular chives are grown for their stronger garlicky flavor tasting rather like a super spicy garlic. 

The weather here in the mornings is definitely not to my liking. I am reminded of the reason Santa Fe, New Mexico, was. There, where the elevation is higher, I recall fog was a rare occasion. 

Below you can observe Shasta enjoying the sunshine. As I note her proclivity for sleeping more thought-out the day, the realization that she is considered an elderly dog occurs to me. Her records show she was born on February 25, 2012. I do so treasure each day with her. AND she is just so ready for our morning walk ... trotting along at a quick pace which in no way matches our pace of a few years ago. Growing old is not for the faint of heart a very wise person once said.

If you look closely at the grape vines (Vita californica [Roger's red grape]) on either side of her, you can see the ripe grapes. 

For reasons I thought were my inadequacy I was unable to write this post. However, speaking with a computer savvy person told me it was that the iMac was not operating as it should. I just quit blogger.com. Yeah, today the posting was easy peasy as the saying goes. And I had a good

Waiting

I am waiting the arrival of a truckload of wood chips. The entire yard will then be "refreshed" as the owner of the company that prunes the tall hedge along my East fence in the back said when he was here.

My friend Pete loaned me a very large tarp that I spread out in the area where I wish the company to empty a truckload of chips. I can hardly wait, waiting is not my strong suit, to begin loading the chips into my wheelbarrow to spread over the entire yard.

I thought this Roger Red grape leaf stunningly beautiful. The Fall color is primarily the reason I planted two of these plants on either side of the trellis that Dwight built specifically for these two grape plants. 

The actual grapes are quite small and not really to my taste. However the birds certainly do enjoy eating them.

On this gorgeous Fall day, now that the thick fog has burned off, the clothes are drying on the clothesline. And my feeling is that all is "right with the world" so I have a

Snow

"In the city, we see millions of lives represented 

in the windows, doors, and many floors of each building.

We see excitement and the glories of civilization.

But no matter how much those who follow Tao may enjoy the city,

they understand the need for retreat into nature.

In the countryside, they find the nurturing quality of freedom.

They can see new possibilities 

and can wander without societal impositions.

In the past, pioneers saw the open prairies

and were filled with dreams of dominating nature

with the glories of man.

Now we know different:

We must preserve the wilds for our own survival.

We need time to lie fallow.

If you cannot leave the city,

just find a little quiet time each day 

to withdraw into yourself.

If you are able to walk in fields or in the hills,

so much the better."

365 Tao: Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao

Into the "the countryside" we wandered to enjoy the first real snowfall of the season here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Of course, those of you who follow this blog knows this countryside is actually a 130 acre dog park. It is a place that allows humans to BE with nature and experience "new possibilities," thus BEingness and rejuvenation happens.

Walking down the arroyo in the quiet, such quiet provided by this snowfall overnight, one cannot help but feel the connection with Tao. We were not the first out into the arroyo but even the footprints left in the snow did not blunt the ever presence of Tao.

A treat for the eager dog!

And a playmate appears ready to romp with Shasta.

"Infinite Spirit, when I pray each day

for shelter for the homeless,

let me not ignore the pet without a home;

As I ask protection for those in areas

of turmoil and unrest,

let me not forget endangered species of life;

When I pray that the hungry be fed,

let me be mindful

that all[sentient BEings]have need of sustenance;

As I ask Divine assistance for those afflicted

by fire, flood, earthquake, storm or drought,

let me remember that this includes every living thing;

In seeking miracle cures for human disease,

may I also speak for the well-being of the planet [her]self.

Let the words of my mouth,

the meditation of my heart 

and the actions of my life be as one,

that I may live each day in harmony

with Mother Earth . . . .

Jennie Frost Butler

And as we live each day in harmony may we also 

Pinon-Juniper Forest and Thanksgiving

Image  "The Pinon Pine Tree"
2016 ©, Santa Fe, NM, C. Sullivan
"New Mexico's State Tree is the handsome Pinon Pine
which grows widely in the Southwest's mountain foothills."

For many years, beginning with my very first trip to the Eastern Sierras, I have been enamored with the Pinon Pine tree. During our many trips in November we would pay $5 to cut a Pinon in the Toiyabe National Forest for our Yule Tree. The fragrance is wonderfully earthy and long lasting.

Now that we have relocated and are putting down roots in the high desert, I have purchased a live, locally grown Pinon Pine (Pinus edulis) for this year's Yule Tree from Payne's Nursery just a few short blocks from where we are temporarily staying in Santa Fe. The young tree is a mere 4' tall but beautifully shaped. It will remain in the ground until early December then be lifted, root ball and all, up from the soil and placed in a large tree pot. Rather than covering the root ball with "potting soil," earthworm castings and mushroom compost will be mixed to cover the roots. Both of these "amendments" will support the tree's immune system thus providing for a long life. "The Pinon can live to 500 years and its dry-environment survival kit includes 20 foot long taproots." This year's Yule Tree will remain outdoors so as to not unnecessarily tax its well BEing. The plan is to plant it in the ground this Winter season barring frozen soil. This native tree will eventually be surrounded, for a long life, with a community of native Juniper (hopefully One-seed), native grasses and native flowers.

These pictures were taken at the "dog park" in November, 2017. It is not Wintery yet, no freezing nighttime temperatures and unseasonably warm in the daytime and dry. 

Only one light skiff of snow on the mountain tops
since we arrived the day before Halloween.

However, the plants are aware that this is the dry cycle and are entering their dormancy.

Shasta running towards her new found friend, Lilly, a Portuguese Waterdog.
The Pinon Pine and One-seed or Singleseed Juniper (Junipers monosperma)
abound on either side of the path.

Shasta off to investigate smells amidst the Pinon - Juniper desert forest.

Most of our out of doors time presently is spent each morning in the Frank Ortiz Dog Park. Shasta continues her energetic and exuberant exploration of humans, dogs and the terrain always finding a familiar dog friend . . . or a new fast dog friend.

Thanksgiving is a momentous day for us, especially in 2017, since we met at a friends gathering in Santa Rosa, California. I had recently moved to Santa Rosa and was a long time friend of the hostess; Dwight, exiting a 25 year marriage, was a friend and business associate of another in attendance. Each invited one of us because we would each otherwise be spending the holiday alone. So 30 years later we both are blessed with one another's love and companionship, and have much to be grateful for as we embark on the next chapter of our lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Creator, open our hearts

to peace and healing between all people.

Creator, open our hearts

to provide and protect all children

of the earth.

Creator, open our hearts

to respect for the earth, and all the

gifts of the earth.

Creator, open our hearts

to end exclusion, violence

and fear among all.

Thank-you for the gifts

of this day and every day.

Mi'Kmaq prayer

As we each express our gratitude, may we also

Summer Solstice

 Native Clematis (Clematis lasianatha) in full bloom.

"The Summer Solstice is the time of greatest light. It is a day of enormous power. The whole planet is turned fully to the brilliance of the sun.

The great culmination is not static or permanent. Indeed, Solstice as a time of culmination is only a barely perceptible point. The sun appears to stand still. Its diurnal motion seems to nearly cease. Yesterday, it was still reaching this point, tomorrow, it will begin a new phase of its cycle . . . . All of life is cycles. All of life is balance." 365 Tao: Daily Meditations (1992), Deng Ming-Dao.

Shasta BEing with the zenith of Summer.
Photograph by the young man who assists in the care of MuRefuge, June, 2017.

As we enjoy the zenith of Summer like Shasta, may we

Wisdom

"I want to to tell you a story about Yellowstone National Park in United States to show just how vital undisturbed forests and woodlands are to the future of our planet and how our appreciation for trees affects the way we interact with the world around us.

It all starts with the wolves. Wolves disappeared from Yellowstone, the world's first national park, in the 1920s. When they left, the entire ecosystem changed. Elk herds in the park increased their numbers and began to make quite a meal of the aspens, willows, and cottonwoods that line the streams. Vegetation declined and animals that depended on the trees left. The wolves were absent for seventy years. When they returned, the elks' languorous browsing days were over. As the wolf packs kept the herds on the move, browsing diminished, and the trees sprang back. The roots of the cottonwoods and willow once again stabilized stream banks and slowed the flow of water. This, in turn, created space for animals such as beavers to return. These industrious builders could now find the materials they needed to construct their lodges and raise their families. The animals that depended on the riparian meadows came back, as well. The wolves turned out to be better stewards of the land than people, creating conditions that allowed the trees to grow and exert their influence on the landscape."

This quote is contained in the "Introduction to the English Edition" of The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate; Discoveries from a Secret World (2016) by Peter Wohlleben, a German forest manager in the Eiffel mountains. His story brings to the fore, for me, the wisdom of the natural world and all of her inhabitants who each have an integral role in the ecosystem in which they reside.

White flowering variety of Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregano)
which is joined by the Pink flowering variety as well.
In California's towering Redwood communities these plants
thrive as do Huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum).
 These plants thrive together in their limited community diversity here at MuRefuge.

I know, Lynette, this photo would have been one
of beauty if taken beneath a white umbrella.
I haven't found one yet to purchase.

My very first sighting of an owl was potentiated by Shasta, MuRefuge's Guardian of the subtle energy web. Her early morning notification that a BEing not usually present was visiting was loud and attention getting as usual. The sun had not yet risen so it was pretty dark as we stepped out of the sliding glass door to the cement patio. Shasta looked up into the two oak trees and gave her usual loud, deep bark that an intruder was present. The Great Horned Owl spoke in its identifiable hoot. We walked around the West side of the house to the front and I could hear the quiet flutter of the Owl's wings. I flashed a beam of light from the flashlight I was carrying up to the utility poll. There atop the Owl perched. The sense of gratitude flooded my BEing for the presence of this majestic creature that is often heard in our area but has remained unseen. 

  "Owl is a messenger, a holder of secret knowledge, and welcomes its shadow self. Seeing through deception, Owl perceives what others miss. Owl leads us into the dark unknown, reminding us to open our eyes and attune our senses, teaching us to receive inner wisdom and follow its guidance....

Listen! Watch! Be patient! Discern! Owl teaches us to find and follow our inner council. By piercing illusions, Owl extracts secrets, nudging us to see behind the scenes, under the surface, in the dark, in the depths of our being. Owl offers accurate vision and clear navigation through dreams, fears, and repressed emotion. Owl teaches us to pay attention to our perceptions-this is how we gain wisdom."

This quote is from Dawn Brunke's Animal Teachings: Enhancing Our Lives Through the Wisdom of Animals (2012). And her writing about what the animals from the natural world have shared with her is a reminder to connect with my inner wisdom. At this time in my life, with chaotic energy both here at MuRefuge and about the planet, the Owl's presence one morning past reminds me to BE with my inner knowing, aka wisdom, and the path through the chaos will be less treacherous.

And the female Indian Runner ducklings are also offering a similar message about honoring inner wisdom. I am with them during their afternoon foray into the vegetable garden. Even in their three week old development they know and trust their instincts, aka wisdom. 

They forage, gathering ants from the soil and seeds from the European annual grass, and they munch on the tender new leaves of the clover. They trust me to carry them safely into the garden for their daily dose of warmth and sunshine. They run about freely and explore unhindered by fear of the unknown, demonstrating a natural curiosity. 

They stretch their miniature long necks that are the Indian Runner trait when a crow flies over as though knowing that particular bird would not swoop down and have one or both for a tasty snack. They teach me to trust my untainted natural instincts, aka wisdom, and "go with the flow" of the natural world rather than down the path created for and by humans.


As we each access our inner wisdom and become conscious of our human foibles, may we