Halloween

Sitting on the front steps
into my house are
a pumpkin and colorful gourds
which are reminders of the season.

Halloween, shortened from All Hallows' Eve, is a cross quarter day; also know as Samhain. It falls more or less half way between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. 

            "the seed now begins its time of gestation

        the harvest is gathered, the fields lie fallow,

        and the gates of life and death are open."                   

            from Earth Prayers

        edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elinas Amidon

This cross quarter day is near the Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos which is a holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and most of Latin America. So rather than writing the usual two blog posts, I have chosen to incorporate both in this post.

This is the first Halloween and the first Day of the Dead that Dwight will not be with me to celebrate. Much to my dismay this is the beginning of celebrating holidays without Dwight. Of course, he will be front and center in my mind when I do honor these two holidays.

                                        

As we honor those ancestors that have gone before us and those loved ones who have died leaving us bereft, may we prepare our alter with food they enjoyed. The alter may also be covered with colorful leaves that are so abundant presently.

Dwight loved broccoli
so I purchased a modest amount at
this morning's Farmers Market
to enjoy eating on Halloween.

  The longer we are together

the larger death grows around

us.

How many we know now

who are dead! We, who were

young.,

now count the cost of having

been

And yet as we know the dead

we grow familiar with the 

world.

We, who were young and loved

each other

ignorantly, now come to know

each other in love, married

by what we have done, as

much

as by what we intend. Our hair

turns white with our ripening

as though to fly away in some

coming wind, bearing the seed

of what we know. It was bitter

to learn

that we come to death as we

come

to come, bitter to face

the just and solving welcome

that death prepares. But that is

bitter

only to the ignorant, who pray

it will not happen. Having come

the bitter way to better prayer 

we have 

the sweetness of ripening.

How sweet

to know you by the signs of the

world!

                              WENDELL BERRY

to usher in these holidays and open connections with your past ancestors and loved ones that are no longer with you in physical form.

Shasta Has a Cousin

Recently Shasta's Auntie T adopted a cat from the Marin Humane Society. She did not want a kitty but rather a full grown cat. Talking on the phone Tanis picked out 4 cats but when she arrived a few days later to check all 4 out there were only 3. She spoke to each one to see who was a "yes" to come live with her. The below cat chose to BE her cat so home he came in his carrier. Tanis has set up everything in her main house's bathroom.

Such an elegant looking boy!

Aren't his paw markings precious?

I love his green eyes!

Tanis had gotten him settled in the bathroom and closed the door. After she went about her late afternoon routine and felt she had adequately recovered from her "trip over the hill" to Novato, she opened the bathroom door to discover "no cat". Where was he? She enlisted a friend's stellar searching ability but she could not locate the cat either. They were both clear he had not somehow escaped to the outside of the house because he had used his litter box. Some while later Tanis discovered he had crawled up under the sink to his "very own hiddie hole". 

Shasta had yet to meet her cousin. Tanis wants to allow more time for him to feel safe and comfortable in his new home.

Tanis is "trying out" numerous names and thus far has not found the perfect name for her cat. Perhaps she will make a call to the animal communicator to inquire if the cat has a name for himself. I did that with Rose. When we all connected on the phone, she showed the animal communicator a rose flower so Sun's reincarnation became known as Rose. Sun never liked her name that I picked out for her. The Siberian Husky was Sun and our adopted black and tan hound was Star. Sun and Star seemed like good names at the time. Sometimes we humans are just plain weird to our pets.

Rose tearing into ribbon from
one of our wedding presents in 2010.

So while waiting to take Shasta to visit Tanis in Pt. Reyes Station and meet the cat I will enjoy a frequent belly

Indigenous People Day

AKA Columbus Day is on October 11. 

While living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, both Dwight and I along with Shasta attended the impressive parade on this day. We noticed the native peoples in the area had great influence on the city of Santa Fe. Santa Fe was truly a multicultural city with a long history of Hispanics, Native Americans and whites from many countries; unlike anywhere else either Dwight nor I have lived.

Dwight's female and mal pueblo heads
that sit in my herb garden
in front of the tall hedge.

I had the opportunity to interact with the local "indigenous peoples" many of whom lived in one of the Pueblos in the area. Today there are 19 pueblos in New Mexico presently with each having its own government yet sharing a common prehistory of emerging from beneath the earth, and culture. 

Roxanne Swentzell's
sculpture depicting
the ancestral peoples arrival.

This is Dwight's depiction of
"mother" bringing her first peoples 
into the earthly realm.

I was born part of this earth.

My Grandmother Earth.

I was born part of this earth

My Mother, all living beings.

My Grandfather, the sky.

I was born part of this earth.

My Father, all creatures of the air.

I was born part of this earth.

The eight Grandfathers.

I was born part of this earth.

The four corners of the earth.

I was born part of this earth.

The great wind giant of the North.

I was born part of this earth.

The red road of the dead.

I was born part of this earth.

The blue and black road of destruction.

I was born part of this earth.

The old ones say

the old way’ gone,

the old ones say.

Still,

I was born part of this earth.

                               DANIEL WESTERN

Contemporary Pueblo people are descendants of Ancestral Puebloans who lived in the area where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all meet at one point. The single point in the United Sates only occurs here and is referred to as the Four Corners region of the Southwest. 

Dwight and I had our first Christmas celebration in New Mexico at the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Dwight had purchased for me greenish colored turquoise earrings and necklace. Erlina Coriz, the creator of them, invited us to spend the holiday with her, her daughter and her granddaughter. First we attended the celebration which involved ceremonial dancing. The dancers practice all day for days to prepare. All in locals in attendance bring chairs and blankets because after all this is December and it is chilly. Then we returned to Erlina's home for a delicious indigenous meal. The granddaughter at the time attended the Santa Fe Indian School which was established in 1890 by the federal government to assimilate the "native child". The Dali Lama use to frequent the school and attendees were invited to visit him in India which Erlina's granddaughter did. We had a lovely Christmas like no other before nor since. 

                               Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community 

                                  designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO 

                                             and a National Historic Landmark. 

                                  The guide who gave the tour was exceptional.

The second November we lived in Santa Fe we went to Taos, New Mexico, to celebrate our anniversary.  We rented a place for several weeks exploring the area including the Taos Pueblo. We drove one route going and another along the Rio Grande River returning to maximize our acquaintance with the area. A word of caution to anyone who is considering a visit to this pueblo. It is not open all of the time . . . remember people live here; it is their home they generously share at only certain times. I mention this because I heard an irate white woman complaining she could not visit on her trip to Taos. Now I reside in Cotati, California, far, far, far away from our Stamm home on San Felipe Circle in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I loved our house depicted above. Now it seems to me that living in Santa Fe was a magical place to live. The new owners are enjoying making this their forever retirement home.  I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads this blog. I love writing new entries for BE-ing Rooted: a Practice in Essential Living. To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, "Change is the only constant in life". As I continue adjusting to huge change in my life brought about by Dwight's death in July, I frequently

The second November we lived in Santa Fe we went to Taos, New Mexico, to celebrate our anniversary.  We rented a place for several weeks exploring the area including the Taos Pueblo. We drove one route going and another along the Rio Grande River returning to maximize our acquaintance with the area. A word of caution to anyone who is considering a visit to this pueblo. It is not open all of the time . . . remember people live here; it is their home they generously share at only certain times. I mention this because I heard an irate white woman complaining she could not visit on her trip to Taos.

Now I reside in Cotati, California, far, far, far away from our Stamm home on San Felipe Circle in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I loved our house depicted above. Now it seems to me that living in Santa Fe was a magical place to live. The new owners are enjoying making this their forever retirement home. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads this blog. I love writing new entries for BE-ing Rooted: a Practice in Essential Living.

To paraphrase the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, "Change is the only constant in life". As I continue adjusting to huge change in my life brought about by Dwight's death in July, I frequently

Last

This is the last of Dwight's clay creations: a Green Man. His original idea was to "perfect it", fire it then hang it somewhere on the wooden fences surrounding the property. He did not get to complete it to his liking. Chris fired it as it was. When she returned it to me, the left side of the Green Man's face was in pieces. I glued them back on the best I could. He now sits just a bit South of the California Pipevine leaning against the wooden fence along the West side of my property. To my ascetics he seems to fit ever so nicely. I frequent that path along the West side of the house often when picking ripe strawberries as well as when I do some hand watering.

Strawberries planted along the West wooden fence: 

     Albion

         Chandler

         Seascape

Sequoia

It is very sad, sad, sad to me that this is the very last clay piece ever to be created by my husband of some 35 years. AND he was always so excited to bring home a new sculpture he had created to share with me. Finding just the right placement for each piece was always a joint venture. I am so fortunate to have so many of his creations about the outside of my property and in my house as well: lucky, lucky, lucky me! 

Grandfather,

Look at our brokenness,

We know that in all creation

Only the human family

Has strayed from the Sacred Way.

We know that we are the ones

Who are divided

And we are the ones

Who must come back together

To walk in the Sacred Way.

Grandfather,

Sacred One,

Teach us love, compassion, and honor

That we may heal the earth

And heal each other.        

OJIBWAY PRAYER

My house AND my life feel so very empty without Dwight sharing both with me. Yet I am ever so grateful that he is no longer struggling to breathe! We did have a very full life together. We also allowed each other to have our independence to pursue our own interests and individual patterns of BEing in the world. His love of beauty was contagious as well as reflected in his clay work.

The appreciation of life does not required wealth or plenty, It required only gratitude for the beauty of the world. 

DENG MING-DAO

As I continue with my grieving process missing Dwight's physical BEing in my life, I have a frequent good belly 

Fall in 2022

Autumn is coming. The air becomes fresh and crisp.

The fruits of summer are being harvested; the heart of 

labor is beginning to cool. There is a more relaxed feeling

in the air: The fiery activity of summer is replaced by the 

celebrations of autumn.

In spring, we all had to struggle to make the ascendancy of

the year. In summer, we reveled in the glory of fire and

vigor. Now, we can begin to let things relax. Just as the

pumpkins are beginning to fill out, the squash is hanging

heavy and golden on the vines, and the leaves are starting

to hint of warm colors, so too can we look forward to

mellowness and quietness.

This is the time for harvest. But every planting and growing

season also leaves behind excess and inevitable waste. The

dust of summer still lingers. The stubble in the fields will 

have to be burned. We must harvest fully and then clean up

fully. Harvest is also the time for cleansing and taking stock.

DENG MING-DAO

On Thursday, September 22 the Fall Equinox arrives here in the Northern Hemisphere. Wether we call it the Autumnal Equinox or September Equinox or Fall Equinox matter none. It seems to me the question is whether we are aware of the turning of seasons, the changes all about us in the vegetation and feel in the air; not to mention our BEing in tune with nature.

Mother, Father, God, Universal Power

Remind us daily of the sanctity of life.

Touch our hearts with the glorious oneness

of all creation,

As we strive to respect all the living beings

on this planet.

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 

Here in Cotati we have already received some 1000% of our "normal" rainfall for this month of September. All the plants in my garden are shouting out "hurrah, keep the raindrops falling!"

Due to the very hot, hot, hot
spell 10 days or so ago,
the leaves on the Japanese maple tree
are just turning brown instead
of the vibrant orange/yellow of last year.

As we all honor Fall and all her glory may we have a hearty, fully joyful as well as emotionally releasing belly

The Japanese maple tree's leaves
were not very colorful this year.
The Fall color of the leaves
are not as spectacular as last.

 

Scorching

Viewing a spectacular early morning from 
the dining room double doors.

                                           I do so love what I call "popcorn" clouds.

This week here in Northern California the temperatures outside have been scorching hot . . . literally. My outside thermometer has read as high as 118 degrees in the mid afternoon . . . yikes!  It has been too hot to be outside caring for the garden. I do water either right after breakfast or in the late evening. Last evening as I tended the garden in the rear of the house I discovered all of the Scarlett Runner beans leaves essentially fried. I cut them to the ground and transported them to my compost pile.

The Stupice tomato plant in the
East most raised bed.
The tomatoes do not
seem to be affected.
The leaves on the other hand
are another story.

The single rhubarb plant,
a cultivated plant of the dock family,
that grows beneath the plum tree.
As you can see the leaves
have indeed been fried by 
the hot temperatures
now stretching almost into a week.

The recently planted lemon tree in the front yard is looking very droopy inspite of regular morning watering. I do hope it not only survives but flourishes since its name is "Dwight"! Tanis decided we should call this lemon tree she brought me Dwight since he is the person who really wanted a Meyers Lemon Tree growing in our garden.

Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry honeysuckle)
planted last Fall against the West
outside wall of the garage.
The most recent leaves have
been seared by the hot,
hot, hot sun.

Luckily the temperatures are to be returning to "normal" (mid '80's) for this time of the year by early next week. I have noticed that each day the temperatures are a bit lower than the previous day. For those who believe "climate change" is a hoax, they are now experiencing often drastic changes in their previously usual everyday weather.

On this note of accepting our changing climate AND doing something about it . . . those who live in Sonoma County (and I am sure elsewhere in Northern California) are early adopters. When we sought a replacement for our Subaru whose engine needed replacing, I had my heart set on Prius, a used one of course. We did find one and purchased it on the spot. Shasta was none to sure since she could not tell when the engine was on then turned off. She asked Sandy, "how am I suppose to protect the car?" 

At that time Prius was the chosen car people to reduce fuel consumption thus affecting the production of greenhouse gases. Presently, as I am about the county, I find the chosen car is Tesla. I see them plugged in at the local charging station as well as in people's driveways. I am sure those of you who live elsewhere are finding similarities.

                                    Monardella villosa (Coyote mint ‘Russian River’),
                                        Epolibium canum  (California fuschsia ‘Calistoga’,
                                                          & bird bath Dwight created.

                                  These plants seem unaffected by the hot temperatures.

With this incredible heat I am so fortunate that we decided to install air conditioning when we had our ducts and furnace replaced. The house remains fairly cool. When I get up in the very early morning, I shut all the windows and pull the window coverings down. Still my "crazy" dog Shasta likes to have an outside regular midday "baking" in the sun. When she's in the house she finds the coolest spot . . . "go figure" my long time friend Lynette would say.

As I walk about the garden and survey how the literally baking hot temperatures are affecting the  garden, to blunt the sadness, I have a frequent

                                           

More Than I Can Possibly Eat Fresh

Begonia hybrid 'Summerwings
Dark Elegance'
purchased at Emerisa Gardens 

Please note that the
beautiful red blooms
match the red in my gardening
Birkenstocks.

Even though a number of the tomato plants have been pulled out and have found their way to the compost pile, there is way more ripe tomatoes on the remaining plants than I can possible eat. So yesterday all the ripe tomatoes were picked, cleaned and cut in half.

1/2 cup of organic olive oil
is poured over the halved tomatoes 
then chunky sea salt is sprinkled over
the top before sliding them into the oven.

Once the oven temperature reaches 275 degrees. The prepared tomatoes are slowly roasted for two hours. When all three of the Corningware cookware filled with halved tomatoes completed roasting, they are removed and cut with two very sharp knives. Quart jars are then filled with the "tomato sauce" that will come in handy during the Winter months. 

The yellow tomatoes are Blue Gold Tomatoes
The red tomatoes are a combination of
Chadwick's Cherry Tomatoes,
Stupice Tomatoes and 
Silvery Fir Tree Tomatoes.

When fresh tomatoes are unavailable I use a quart for soup. A defrosted quart jar of roasted tomatoes are whirled it into a relatively smooth consistency. This makes for a wonderful evening meal. I also use a quart for pasta sauce which once heated is ladled over Bionaturae 100% organic gluten free rice and lentil spaghetti. Grated Asiago cheese is sprinkled over the top. Delicious! And brings memories of the abundance of fresh tomatoes in August and September.

Through the entire day of picking, cutting tomatoes in half then roasting and jarring up the roasted tomatoes, I had an often and frequent belly