Upcoming Holidays

This is front door for
my Cotati, CA home.
The vine on the left is 
Clematis ligusticifolia
(Western’s virgin’s bower).

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. On December 25 billions of people around the world observe this religiously and culturally. Celebration occurs in varied and meaningful ways depending on the country's beliefs and practices. 

While living in Northern California Dwight and I had always spent a month in the Eastern Sierras over Thanksgiving. On returning home we could stop and cut a Pinyon Pine which we then put up and decorated together. Last year I chose to ignore the holiday altogether. 

This year however I got down all the boxes stored in the garage to take out things to display. My neighbor put up lights in the bare of leaves maple tree in my front yard. I feel ever so fortunate to have such a wonderful neighbor! And when I plug in the lights and enjoy the sparkle, I am filled with gratitude for her generously giving of her time so I could have this pleasure each evening.  

The Winter Solstice occurs on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at 10:27 EST. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the first day of winter. This day has the fewest hours of sunlight of any day throughout the entire year.

Winter Solstice Blessing

May you have a warm heart,

open hands,

a creative mind.

May you experience inspiration and brilliance,

clarity and focus.

May you laugh richly and deeply.

May you circle and celebrate,

may you change and grow.

May that which is waiting to be unlocked be freed.

And may you soar with the knowing

that you are carried by a great wind 

across the sky.

I have friends who celebrate the Winter Solstice rather than Christmas. Others, who are Jewish, commemorate Hanukkah (Chanukah) which begins at nightfall on December 7 ends on the nightfall of December 15. And then I have a few friends who are very "bah humbug", like the infamous Scrooge, ignoring any December holiday observations.

Having grown up in Iowa where I cannot remember a Christmas without snow, I herald snow in December. Below are a couple of snowy pictures taken in the Bridgeport, California area.

I have to say that I do miss snow at the time of the year. Perhaps it is best to say that snow makes Christmas for me. It is one of the reasons that I enjoyed living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, durning which each Christmas we spent there was snow. Viewing the snow flakes through the lights strung around the edge of the portal was just such a lovely sight

And another picture sans snow of our Pinyon Pine being securely fastened to the roof rack for its trip to Cotati, California. Shasta is just awesome with her supervisory abilities as well as her inclination to remain with us rather than run off after critters.

And when Shasta's Aunti T visited us while we were living in Santa Fe, we took her to Chimayo (where there was no snow) primarily to visit Santuario de Chimayo.  Please enjoy the display of ristras in the pick up truck she is standing near. 

As we discovered while living in Santa Fe displaying ristras is very popular in New Mexico. Vendors popped up on many street corners to sell them during the month of December.

The Pinyon pine Christmas tree
in our Santa Fe home
when Aunti T visited us.

It is rather pleasant in my home to have some festive memorabilia out of the boxes stored in the garage. However, I chose not to have a tree since I so prefer Pinyon pines as Christmas trees. 

No matter where you are living, whether you have snow or  sunshine, or put up decorations for Christmas or not, or even celebrate this holiday, may this month yield ample opportunities to 

Season Greetings

Season Greetings to all of you wondrous BEings who view my posts. I wish the most lovely of lovely Winter Solstice celebration to each and every one of you. For those of you who celebrate Christmas may yours be special as well. 

Pinus monophylla (Pinyon pine)
Please notice the sculpture sitting in
the upper right corner:
that sculpture closes this post.  

The Pinyon pine is my most favorite tree. I have loved them since I first saw them growing in the Mono Lake Basin. Of course, none grow natively in the are where I live now. However, I wanted one to grow at PageRefuge. I found one to purchase that would fit in my budget. The tree is picture above in a clay pot sitting in the front of my house. I water it daily in the Summer and now with the rains coming the small tree is getting plenty of moisture.  

I felt so fortunate that the house we bought in Santa Fe had a full grown one just East of the driveway. Does not the Pinyon pine look gorgeous with the snow?

Since am forgoing "decorating" for the holidays, I am grateful for the mini Pinyon pine in my front yard. Remembering all the past fully decorated trees is heart warming, like the one pictured below sitting on our Santa Fe house's front portal.

Typically these posts end with

However for this one I am choosing to close with one of Dwight's spectacular sculptures he completed while we lived in Santa Fe. The figure is honoring the place from which her ancestors emerged from Mother Earth. For me she depicts such heart felt love and gratitude. 

Joy Filled Winter Solstice

'"Always maintain only a joyful mind.
—Lojong Slogan 21

Shasta seems to generally "maintain . . . a joyful mind."

The Winter Solstice is quickly approaching. It is also know as Yule and is the astronomical first day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Light is Returning" by Starhawk:

"The Darkest Night Approaches

Solstice, Yule: the longest night and shortest day approaches. We have entered into the darkness, but just as it grows to its greatest extent, the light is reborn. This is a time to celebrate all that warms us and gives us hope. There is much reason to hope and celebrate, as well as so many reasons to feel pain right now.

These are times of extremes, but Solstice reminds us that the greatest darkness contains the seed of light—as, on the opposite pole of the year, the triumph of light begins the descent toward the dark.

The world is dynamic, not static; the wheel is ever-turning."

It is the time of the year to naturally go inward. The Winter Solstice is also an opportunity to joyfully celebrate. 

Dwight and I joyfully decorating
the Japanese maple tree that
has shed her leaves, leaving
bare red branches which invite
holiday decorations and lights.
Leigh, who was here visiting from
Seattle, and Dwight put up
lights. Above, we are hanging
the straw ornaments I purchased 
on the San Antonio, Texas,
Riverwalk when my parents
were visiting from Iowa.

One way to begin this season is to turn one's attention to his/her body. The below practice of turning the mind toward the body by Joan Halifax is one way of doing so. 

"Turning the Mind toward the Body

Do this practice laying down, sitting on a meditation cushion or a chair.

Breathe deeply into your belly, letting your body feel open and safe.

Now bring your attention to your scalp.

As thoughts arise, just let them be.

Move your attention to your temples and forehead.

As you breathe in, let your temples and forehead feel open and soft.

Breathe into your eyes and let them soften.

As you breathe out, let go of all hardness in and around your eyes.

Bring awareness to your ears.

Breathing in fully, open your ears.

Exhaling, feel grateful for being able to listen and bear witness.

Bring your awareness to your mouth. 

On your inhalation bring a slight smile to your mouth.

On your exhalation feel yourself letting go of any tension in your face.

Gently move your awareness to your throat and neck.

Breathe into your neck and throat and breathe out gratitude.

With your awareness on your shoulders, breathe into your shoulders, letting go of any burdens you might be carrying.

Let your awareness be in your arms and hands.

There is nothing that you need to hold on to.

Shift your awareness to your spine, letting it stretch with your inbreath.

Feel the strength of your spine on your outbreath.

Bring your attention to your chest and lungs.

Breathe deeply into your lungs.

Now breathe into your heart and be aware of any tightness in and around your heart.

Feel your heart open, as it trusts your attention and your breath.

Bring your attention to your stomach, bowels, bladder, and reproductive organs.

Give your entire pelvic area a feeling of space and ease.

Be aware of your legs.

Breathe into your legs as you settle your attention into them.

Breathing out, let your legs soften.

Breathe into your feet, aware of any tension in your feet.

To complete this practice, slowly, gently, and smoothly bring your awareness from your feet to your legs; to your pelvic area; to your chest, heart, and lungs; to your spine; to your shoulders, arms, and hands; to your neck; to your face; to the top of your head.

Breathe in and out smoothly as your awareness travels up and through your body.

When you have reached the top of your head, return your awareness to your breath, then let it gently spread to your whole body.

Take a few moments to relax with an open and quiet mind."

                                                                                    Roshi Joan Halifax

In the distant past, while attending gi gong practice in San Francisco, we also engaged in this movement to shift our attention from outward directed to inward. Cathie's teachers, Charlotte and Da-Jin Sun, now reside at their Daoist hermitage located in Moscow,Idaho. We are exceptionally grateful to them for our two month long, life changing trips to China with them.

Sunrise at Bosque del Apache viewing the take off of the Sandhill Cranes
in search of food throughout the Middle Rio Grande Valley.

Another way to celebrate with joy is to venture out into the wilds. Here we can often experience the joy of other living BEings. Above is a picture we took when doing so while living in New Mexico. At Bosque del Apache, a National Wildlife Refuge near San Antonio, New Mexico, one can feast one's eyes on upon thousands of Sandhill Cranes who spend their nights in the water to protect themselves from predators. Before our extended (almost 4 years) "vacation" in Santa Fe, we had gone to the Central Valley in California to view the Sandhill Cranes. While seeing the cranes was exciting, the setting was not nearly as spectacular as that near San Antonio. I feel immense joy just remembering the outing with my husband and I and Shasta, who of course had to stay in the car so not to scare the resting birds.

This year, as had been our tradition before living in Santa Fe, we went into  the National Forest North of Bridgeport, California on our return home trip, to cut our Yule tree and a small one for Auntie T as well. The picture above shows Dwight securing the trees on the roof rack as Shasta enjoys the smells of the high Sierra Mountains desert.

Our small by previous standards but gorgeous Pinyon Pine is decorated as you can see in the night time picture below. The tree's luscious smell wafts through our home . . . delicious for many senses!

And may we all find time to rest for deep rejuvenation for each and everyone of us. Shasta is such a good model of resting as the picture of her below in her doorless crate demonstrates:

As we all frequently get caught up in the dither of the holiday season, may we take time for a cleansing of our emotions with a 

2020 Winter Solstice

"This is a time to celebrate all that warms us and gives us hope," Starhawk

The longest night of the year occurs on the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2020, in the Northern hemisphere. It marks the end of Fall and the official start of Winter. The Winter Solstice is an ancient pagan holiday with traditions celebrating nature and setting one's intentions for the coming season. These customs and practices resemble those of celebrating the Christian holiday, Christmas, which is annually on December 25.

Being the shortest day of the year means a shortened time of daylight. This being said, candlelight is one of the original traditions of celebrating the Winter Solstice both for the needed light and to celebrate in the coming months the return of the sun.

As another tradition for celebrating the pagan Yule holiday (rather than Christmas the Christian holiday) you might put up a Yule tree. My preference in my adult life has been the Pinon Pine with a distinct fragrance that fills any space in which it is placed. When living in California we cut a fresh tree in the National Forest, with a permit of course, on our return to MuRefuge from the Mono Lake area. Now living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we obtain a permit and also go into the local National Forest for just the right Pinon Pine to cut and transport to our 1955 Stamm home.

Gift exchanging is also part of celebrating, perhaps focusing on "earth based" gifts like seeds for the local birds. Feathered Friends of Santa Fe has mixture of seeds for different locales. We use the mixture called Canyon Road blend since it brings such a diversity of birds to our feeders in the Winter. 

Other gift ideas are small hand made wreaths decorated with objects gleaned while out hiking in nature or beautiful crystals. Here in Santa Fe we have an awesome shop, Ark Books, that has a fine array of crystals for purchase.

Burning the Yule log is also very popular for those who have fireplaces in which to do so. Pinon Pine logs release that luscious iconic smell into the room to the delight of all who are fond of a lighted fire in the fireplace.

And honoring Mother Earth by enjoying a hike out in nature is another popular way of celebrating Winter Solstice. The area surrounding Santa Fe, NM, has numerous trails. There are almost too many enticing ones to make a decision about which one to take at any given time. My fantasy is to drive to Chaco Canyon which would make for a very long day driving to and from. If you do decide to take a hike on the Yule holiday, breath in the fresh air and allow the gentle breeze to wash away your worries..

And perhaps the very best activity, or actually non activity, is luxuriating in resting, as Booch and Billie are below. These kitties are new household members in Seattle with their Mom and Dad, aka Leigh and Steven.

Or even napping as are Chloe and Pearl, above, napping nose to nose. These kitties live in San Francisco with their Mom and Dad, aka Katie and Michael.

Whichever holiday we choose to celebrate this month in what ever way we choose, may we all thoroughly enjoy a 

Wildness this Winter Solstice

May each of us at this darkest time of year,

Winter Solstice, 

go within and revel in our wild nature.

For some belief systems Winter Solstice

is the New Year, an excellent time for new beginnings: 

experience wildness.

Last year at this time Dwight, Shasta and I were on our epic roadtrip with Stella safely carrying us through the natives' land in the Southwest. This wildness experience opened our hearts and minds to another realm. Recently we watched a PBS Special: River of No Return where a couple shared their almost a year in wildness. 

When we saw Ron Mattson's stunning condor picture taken at Horseshoe Bend just outside Page, Arizona (we were there just a few months later) in Birdwatching, we knew we wanted 
to share not only the picture but the message.

We use this California Condor picture
with the permission of the photographer,
Ron Mattson, winner of "online photo of the
week contest" for Birdwatching magazine.
He took the picture midOctober, 2014,
at Horseshoe Bend, Arizona, where
we visited in December, 2014.
One of the reasons his picture was chosen"
"the individual is an unbanded juvenile.
This is significant. It indicates a chick that
was hatched and fledged successfully
in the wild - a critical step in the recovery
of this critically endangered species."

as you create in your own backyard a bit of wildness.

A Winter Solstice 2013 Greeting

"Help us to be the always hopeful

Gardeners of the Spirit

Who know that without darkness

Nothing comes to birth

As without light

Nothing flowers." 

May Sarton, The Invocation to Kali

Golden Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia ‘Davis Gold’)

The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of a new cycle which is filled with the promise of new growth, new beginnings, both in gestation during this dark time of the cycle. May we each be flexible with the consequences of humans living on Planet Earth and awake to the opportunities not heretofore known to us human inhabitants.  Climate change . . . well, climate change seems to shifting, altering all we have experienced or known, often with a loud and certain unexpected force. While letting go of our remembered past and embracing what each day presents, may each of us celebrate with gratitude the preciousness of living at this time and in this space, while we, also, joyously honor our interdependence with all who call this planet "home."

"To care for the living earth

is to care for ourselves."

Anonymous

During this Winter Solstice and throughout this coming year/cycle as we cultivate a healing interspecies community, may we all

Happy New Year

Blooming 'White Christmas' Schlumbergera
with Tanis' Winter Solstice Haiku

For some (I BE-ing one, another Sandy Lagno Rose's 
interspecies communicator  http://sandylagno.com
as well as Tanis my baseball buddy aka Rose's Auntie T) 
the Winter Solstice is the beginning of the new year. 
This shortest day and longest night was celebrated this 
year by an event not happening since 1554.  Did our 
cloudiness allow you to see the lunar eclipse?  We here 
at MuRefuge were fortunate to catch periodic glimpses 
all of which was absolutely awesome thus beginning our 
new year with a silent celebratory bang, a bang not 
jarring for our Rose who does not like fireworks or any 
loud bangs whose source is not known to her. 

November, 2010 Full Moon as view looking East from our Bridgeport "home"

Following in Dewitt Jones' tradition of CELEBRATE WHAT'S RIGHT 
WITH THE WORLD! http://www.dewittjones.com/celebrate.htm 
I'd like to celebrate some of this year's meaningful events for 
me and the lovely BE-ings in my life.  The most monumental event 
was Dwight and my 23 year celebration BE-ing together, aka 
wedding in Bridgeport this past November.  The pictured above 
Full Moon provided light for my girlfriend driving from the Reno 
airport South on Hwy. 395 throught the treacherous Carson Valley 
and windy Walker River Canyon.  More about those fabulous two+ 
weeks in the Eastern Sierras in this blog's next post.

Just this past Friday MLB network announced their Greatness 
in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) Awards. Most Dependable? Ichiro, 
of course, said co-host Harold Reynolds.  Ichiro is my very 
favorite baseball player ever and was the only position player 
in Most Dependable Player category. Then there was the heart 
tugging Dallas Braden's embrace with his grandmother on 
Mother's Day after pitching a perfect game chosen as the 
Moment of the Year.  Josh Hamilton, the Texas Ranger's 
outfielder, was chosen the Player of the Year with his shortstop 
teammate, Elvis Andrus, honored as the Defensive Player of 
the Year.  Of course, the Giants walked away with a whopping 
five GIBBYs: Lincecum - Postseason Most Valuable Player, 
Wilson - Closer of the Year, Posey - Rookie of the Year, 
Bochy - Manager of the Year and Sabean (the longest-tenured 
general manager in the Major Leagues) - Executive of the Year.  
I rooted for the Rangers during the World Series BE-ing a fan of 
Ron Washington and Josh Hamilton fan, preferring American 
League Baseball.  All said however, I can and do appreciate 
well played baseball.  And I cheer when players with integrity 
and BE-ing character honored . . . no matter their affiliation.


And then there's all the wondrous BE-ings who supported 
my first year of talks/tours here at MuRefuge.  First and 
foremost is Jenny Blaker of the Cotati Creek Critters 
http://www.cotaticreekcritters.info/ who is so supportive 
of the process here at MuRefuge.  


Then there is Vickie Rodriguez, my very own, very best 
cheerleader who attended every one of the talk/tours 
as well as assisted me in ready for each one with her 
delightful, incredible enjoyment of weeding.  Overflowing 
gratitude to you Vickie!  


And Rosolio Nava, who mows and weed whacks always 
attentive to my choice of what is in need of trimming, is truly 
a find.  Thank you cannot begin to express my feelings.  
He is also the muscle behind the almost completed rebuilding 
all of our vegetable beds. 

AND to each of you who attended the talk/tours  
inspite of unseasonable weather for several I want to express my 
deepest thanks!  Of course, I cannot leave this arena without 
expressing my heartfelt appreciation for all of Dwight's support 
as well as the photos he has taken, organized and assisted my 
learning of his digital camera and iPhoto.  How would we BE 
without each other in our lives?


My 96 year old mother departed her physical form in October.  
She has been ill for some years.  Her spirit has now joined 
my stepfather's and my brother's.  I miss them all. The gift of 
their passing is remembering impermance is the cycle of 
physical form.


There are friends and acquaintances who are doing "good work".  
You can visit their web sites:
Harmony creates the most beautiful organic fabric and has an 
equally beautiful blog. Please check out http://www.harmonyart.com/index.html

At http://www.mostlynatives.com/ you not only can access what 
plants they have for sale but helpful lists for transforming one's 
garden into a whole ecolgy.  The energy of their place is healing, 
the staff incredibly helpful in answering diverse questions about 
gardening and their plants


From http://www.larnerseeds.com/ I order seeds for native plants.  
The web site is filled with lovely pictures and useful information 
about getting started with natives.  The owner, Judith Larner Lowry, 
has written several riveting books as well a blog.


And then we have a proactive development in Rohnert Park . . . 
who would have thought! http://www.sonomamountainvillage.com/.  
Sonoma Mountain Village (SOMO) is the first community in North 
America endorsed by the prestigious international One Planet 
Communities Program.


Last but not least, for those of you who are pre-, peri-, post- 
menophausal a fellow RN and Certified Enneagram Teacher 
has a well written, informative blog with her own absolutely 
stunning photographs.    I encourage you to check out 
Lynette Sheppard's site http://www.menopausegoddessblog.com/2010.


For our Winter Solstice New Year celebratory lunch Dwight 
and I made a tasty dessert. 


Oranges with Pomegranate Seeds:

• 6 organic navel oranges (purchased from one of my favorite vendors Twin Peaks)
• 1 organic lemon (I prefer Meyer's also purchased from Twin Peaks)
• 1 large pomagranate (pick out the one that feels the heavest, of course, organic preferred)

• 3 organic peppermint tea bags

• 1/3 C. organic maple syrup (1/2 C. if the oranges aren't very sweet)
• 1  2 inch organic cinnamon stick
• a dozen organic whole cloves
• 8 to 12 whole organic cardamon seeds

Score the whole pomagrante in quarters then tear open under water in a very large bowl filled with cold water.

Pomagranate juice STAINS!  Gently tease the seeds out of the rind.  Throw away the rind and the seeds will

sink to the bottom.

Place half the seeds in a serving bowl, the other half squeeze the seeds with your fist or wooden spoon you don't

mind getting stained.

Peel one of the navel oranges and a Meyer's lemon with a potato peeler.  Chop, I use our handy Chinese cleaver,

into desired bits, I like mine smaller and the author of the original recipe (located in Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone) likes hers quite large.  Punge for 10 seconds into boiling water then strain.  Also, peel the remaining oranges then slice and quarter, adding them to the pretty serving bowl with the pomagranate seeds.

In a small saucepan add 1 C. water,  maple syrup, spices and citrus peel from above then bring to a boil, remove from heat and add the tea bags, cover for 15 minutes.  Pour this over the sliced oranges and pomagrante seeds in the pretty serving bowl.  Add the pomagranate juice.  Let set at room temperature for several hours to allow the flavors to merge.

I am looking forward to your comments of gratitude, thankfulness at this time of rejoicing in the Winter Solstice New Year.

keep laughing

even when it's not funny