Balance

Balance
Higher State Enneagram stone
for Type 4

Or equanimity, the preferential word my friend Courtney uses for this higher state we here at MuRefuge are in tune with since Rose's joining the Eternal Tao.  

I am realizing my depth of commitment to Rose’s process the longer she is absent from our lives here at MuRefuge.  Seeing the world, or wearing the lens through which she viewed the world, from Rose’s perspective provided me with an unique opportunity to experience the wild.  Those that inhabit the wilderness seem to have a very different order which is rarely muddied with emotional baggage.  The pack’s well being is valued.  Death is accepted. Rose’s Work was to merge these traits with living in a world where humans are “top dog”.  Rose died with her Work complete and rightfully pleased with her hard work.  And I am in the midst of the dynamic process, balance aka equanimity.

Now we have a dog, well puppy really, that clearly understands and accepts that humans are in control.  She is sweet so I call her “Sugar Plum” (Dwight calls her "Twinkle Toes" since is prances when when she takes walks with us) and she seems to naturally assume equanimity puncuated with bouts of rowdyness.  

When she is clear what we want from her, she gives it to us readily.  Easy is this Shasta.

BEing with Rose’s process intensely the last six months of her life left much undone or uncompleted.  Blog entries have been scarce at best.  So as we here at MuRefuge become more balanced, I would like to share some other events we have experienced.

I have never seen any offspring from the pair of foxes I have seen gamboling in the field to our South.

The resident pair of foxes

One morning, while I was sitting, this past Spring I saw something, well a few somethings, jumping in the tall grass.  Binoculars revealed offspring for this year, not one or two but five.

Mom with her youngsters

We were fortunate to watch them grow up, exchanging stories of amazement with our neighbors Pete and Dana who viewed the same kits in another nearby field.

Also, in the Spring we added to our small egg producing, snail and slug eating duck flock.  Last year two chocolate female Indian Runners were added with one of those no longer at MuRefuge.  This year two blue ones came from Metzer Hatchery.  

Our merged flock of all female Indian Runners

And now we have a resident cat, Jack, who has his very own house to protect his food bowl from the coming rains, hopefully.  

Jack's house with feeding bowl in evidence

The beautiful pottery food bowl was made by none other than Dwight.  Jack came uninvited to MuRefuge, and the ducks were stirred up upon his arrival since he liked to hang out in their duck house, but now interspecies harmony prevails with both Jack and ducks coming together at the water bowls when we fill them with fresh water. 

This year has been one filled with clearing, mostly clearing out vegetation including trees.  Those in the know cautioned on over planting trees, shrubs and other plants.  I thought I had judiciously followed their insightfulness but alas more trees and shrubs, especially, were planted.  So two rounds of clearing, first cutting down the plethora of oak trees the blue jays had planted, and second, removing the remaining Italian Stone Pine and carefully thinning of the native Coastal Oaks to allow for air circulation.  I was so focused on negating the fierce wind I ignored the health of these trees which became easy prey for predatory microbes.  

In addition to the massive clearing done this past Spring I have been focused on removing more nonnatives which has opened small patches to be replanted.  My focus has moved from individual plants and their preferred habitat to plant communities.  In that vein I have planted one area with Coyote Mint and Cobweb Thistle, another with Beach Asters and Coast Buckwheat.  I noticed while ambling with my friend Anne on the Olympic Peninsula  that beneath the Ocean Spray grows Salal and the Pearly Everlasting so I experimenting with that combination.  Traditionally rain falls in the Northwest so perhaps such a plant community may not thrive here.

Since the nonnative Curly Willow blew over in a storm now almost two years ago, many of shade loving plants planted to enjoy the protection from the midday sun beneath the willow’s boughs have struggled.  Most are being moved to more appropriate homes.

In spite of the less than normal rainfall this past rainy season, most of the natives seem to be only dormant waiting for the rains to arrive.  The state of each plant will not be know until rains arrive, cold temperatures pass, and the warmth of Spring comes again.

Abundance of delicious, ripe grapes has been a novelty this Fall.  

Each year fruit trees, berry bushes and other plants provide differently.  This particular season we have many apples: Pink Pearl, Yellow Pippin which is George Washington's favorite apple and Spitzenberg. 

Ripe Heirloom Spitzenberg apples, Thomas
Jefferson's favorite apple

The varying abundant production reminds all of us here at MuRefuge that balance is NOT static but rather a dynamic process of which Courtney was aware and suggested this higher state design for equanimity. To her this design more accurately described the ever tilting side to side as she was negotiating every day life then with conscious awareness choosing to rest in Center.  Ah-h-h-h the Higher State within; always present, available at any moment.

Equanimity
Higher State Enneagram stone
forType 4

Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell, the creator of MUTTS, have joined to produce a wonderful book:  GUARDIANS of BEING.  This book "celebrates and reminds us of not only the oneness of all life but also the wonder and joy to be found in the present moment, amid the beauty we sometimes forget to notice all around us."  

As each of us continue to live and celebrate each day to its fullest, may we

P.S.  Comments are welcome!  Please feel free to share your individual experience(s) of balance.

Arrival of Spring with the Recent Cross Quarter Day

With the arrival of Spring on February 1, the first cross quarter day, Imbolc, of the Celtic year, we here at MuRefuge have noticed much wildlife (foxes, raccoons, possums, deer, birds and butterflies) activity.  Dwight celebrated the arrival of Spring taking the pictures below, except the one of the California Pipevine and of course Laugh.

The pair of resident foxes in the open space South of MuRefuge

Last week we had a record breaking warm day.  With the greenhouse door shut as it is this time of the year, the inside is very toasty.  When I opened up the door to check on all the seedlings need for a drink, this recently emerged butterfly provided an awesome aaaahh.

Pipevine Swallowtail 

Emptied chrysalis beneath the greenhouse vent

Usually when the Pipevine Swallowtails emerge there are lush, succulent new leaves on which to lay eggs where when hatched the caterpillars have abundant food plant to munch upon.  Alas, with our freezing nights most of December and January, even now in February, the Pipevine remains a tangle of vines without leaves.

March, 2007, blooming California Pipevine (Aristolochia californica)

I have seen the Pipevine Swallowtail flitting about in search of nectar and a mate.  The former is available here at MuRefuge, alas not so the latter.  


While the below flowering shrubs are not nectar for the Pipevine Swallowtail, the resident Anna's Hummingbirds can be seen drinking their fill from these two flowers.

Fushsia flowering Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum)

Blooming ‘Lutsko’s Pink’ (Arctostaphylos. densiflora X

 Coast Silktassel 'Evie' (Garrya elliptica) 

This gorgeous Silktassel picture was taken before the recent wimpy rains occurred.  There was just enough rain and wind to tarnish the vibrancy of the blooms.

To limit the snails and slugs in the backyard, aka Rose's running space, while Rose is napping in the afternoons, the ducks have free range of the area.  They seem to love to rest beneath the swing.  The tangles behind the swing have now been drastically pruned back.  The Twinberry, Red twig Dogwood and Spice Bush hedgerow has been slowly creeping Northward since the initial planting in the mid90's.  This is the first time such drastic pruning has taken place which opens up ground space. Seeds from Red Fescue (Festuca rubra) this Summer will be gathered and started in Todd planters then planted out next Fall. Perhaps a couple of Wood Roses will be added too.  For enjoyment later this Spring native annuals already sprouting in Todd planters will reside in the space.

MuRefuge's resident female Indian Runners
the youngest Chocolate duck in now giving us 1 egg a day

Please share your Spring experiences while you