It was a rainy dreary day and I just could not motivate myself to get into the tasks at hand.  With no real demands until dinner time, I grabbed this book from the Online Book Tours group, started a fire in the fireplace and curled up in my favorite chair.

What Should I Do With the Rest of My Life turned out to be a breath of fresh air and I read the whole book, cover to cover that very day.   Now the subtitle of the book is:  True Stories of Finding success, Passion, and New Meaning in the Second Half of Life and it fit the bill to a tee.  True Stories I enjoy very much and finding success and meaning in life, this book was a wonder full read.

The book is about 14, if you include the author 15, people who lived fairly ordinary lives and did the right thing and what was expected of them.  Then they turned 60 and along their journey they bumped into their passion and lived out their hopes and fulfilled the dream.  All of the stories are about people who are ahead of the baby boom generation and will provide inspiration for those who come along after.   I include the author because the idea for this book just bumped into him.

“…MANY SUBJECTS IN THIS BOOK WHO SUFFERED PROFOUND PAIN AND LOSS WERE WILLING AND ABLE TO REVISIT THEIR TRAUMAS…  THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES FORWARD, ACTIVELY ATTENDING TO THE PRESENT AND MOVING OPTIMISTICALLY TOWARD WHAT THEY HOPE TO CREATE.”

Here is a list of the passions discovered:  becoming a documentary film maker ( I start here because the first film she made was about Granny D who at 89 walked across the USA to highlight the need for campaign finance reform – Granny D died at age 100 March 10,2010),  became a Psychologist, adopted a New England village for her home and assisted the woman in a village in Ghana with micro loans and education, published a bestselling novel at age 94 and the sequel at age 98, started running in marathons, 86 year old park ranger-community activist, recycled furniture to those in need, became a 2nd grade teacher, developed into a renown stone carver, became an art expert/collector and started her own museum, opened a diner where people could re-connect and renew the community spirit after 9/11, and a civil servant who became a professional dancer.  Is that not an amazing list?

It started me thinking about the folks, I know like my friend Carol Ann who at 73 does triathlons and gets up every morning at 5:30am to train and keep fit.  I am going to share this book with her.

Bruce Frankel was between projects when he and a friend over coffee started focusing in on ideas of things they could write.  His friend took another direction and Frankel continued on with this book idea.

Frankel has a website if you would wish to know more, and a blog.

I was inspired by this book as I feel like I have not missed out on realizing my passion and I have been thinking about this book ever since completing it.  Where do I want to put my energies now that I am over 60 and the children are launched and my partner is busy with his passion (bike riding and drawing)  I feel excited about the possibilities.

I am going  to share the quote I found most inspiring with you and I think one will find it on each book review you read about this book.  This is what the folks have in common:

“As unique as each is, as a group the individuals in What Should I do with the rest of my Life?  Have done what the scientists tell us we should do:  they maintain healthy diets, exercise regularly, challenge themselves, fill their lives with novel experiences and varied social connections.  They, are for the most part, thin.  They like to dance and to exercise.  They tend to be more spiritual than religious.  Even those who are of a more solitary nature interact and communicate daily with extensive networks of people.  And despite occasional complaint about minor forgetfulness, they have exquisite memories.  Listening closely to their own desires, and not to prescriptions for aging well, they have followed their own curiosity on paths of learning and discovery.  And in doing so, they have fed their passions and given themselves permission to achieve success.”

Others who are reviewing this book for TLC Book Tour:
March 8: Silver and Grace
March 9: Journey and Ohh… Books!
March 11th: A Garden Carried in My Pocket
March 17th:  Truth 2 Being Fit
March 18th: Patricia’s Wisdom
March 22: Erasing the bored
March 23: Jane Be Nimble
March 24th:  Luxury Reading
March 25th: Happy Lotus

What Should I Do With the Rest of My Life is available for purchase through Amazon by clicking on the icon on this post or on the recommended reading column of Patricia’s Wisdom.

What passion do you think you will pursue in the later part of your life?

Feel free to share this review on Twitter, Facebook  or other spots by clicking on the green Share button

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Book Review: What Should I Do With the Rest of My Life ~ Bruce Frankel

Cranky Turtle

I am cranky.  I must have gotten out of bed on the wrong side.

I do not wish to be around me and on top of that, I do not wish to cook, or clean or be responsible for anything today.  I have no idea what I WANT to do.

I forgot to give my partner a message about the lawnmower and now the shop is closed.  This changes his expectations and plans for a non rainy day.  I feel sad that he feels inflexible in his routine and he does not want to do his own cooking now.  He did make his own cookies for lunches last week – isn’t that enough?  Actually, he says nothing because avoiding conflict of any kind is his forte.

He will disappear soon, to some place I am not because he is holding on to not making any changes right now and he does not want to understand my need to make changes right now.

It seems I must fit into everyone else’s plans, if I want to get anything accomplished.   I am a mean machine of tense movement, responding with terse remarks.  I need some IT help, but my Sunday’s are already too full, but it is the only time I can connect with my IT person and fit into her schedule.
I have made an elaborate list on a big sheet of paper because I could not find it last week while I was on the phone.  This made me angry at myself for not being able to do it myself and I did my back up wrong and had to ask for more help.

I do not want to learn something new on the computer; I want IT to do it for me.

I always do the big cooking for the week and save us money by knowing what is in the freezer and rotating the diet and reading all the labels to keep folks gluten free.  The thought of standing and working in the kitchen on my swollen knees and feet is overwhelming and I am sick and tired of being sick and tired – I have been at this healing process for years now.  Why does everything hurt?

Three times this week, I have been highlighted as the non-working spouse.  All that means is I do not bring in a paycheck and benefits that would help the budget.   Well it is true, I sold vitamins and safe cleaning products to bring in money so that I could stay home with our youngest child and for several years attended high school with her to keep her going to class.  I kept us healthy and paid for our health insurance through that process.  Two of my children wanted to go to Europe and travel – I cleaned houses and office buildings with them to help pay their way.

How quickly they forget about all my years of working and finding funds for camp, tennis, soccer and shoes. All the hours of cooking to create health and growth – tracking down foods that restore the self and the earth.   Why are all the years of volunteering discounted?  I used to boil the sheets to tackle the dust mite allergies and vacuum everyday so that they could have pets.  Wasn’t I silly? Foolish?

I do not go over all these perceived injustices all the time, they just pop up when I get up on the wrong side of the bed.   They are part of being cranky and being sick and tired of being sick and tired.  It is part of letting go of what is festering inside. Washing the spirit clean and recycling and releasing the toxins.

My partner has always admired that when I get angry, I am and I express it and then move forward. This is a learned skill and it takes practice.   I am self taught.

But this is not angry – this is cranky.  I am not down to the core of the issue and I am casting about in my feelings to locate the blockage.  I am using these cranky feelings to access the main emotional need that is not being cared for and nourished.  I am peeling back layers and layers and it works better if I can say it out loud and hear what I am saying.

I am at the door, at the threshold of a change and I have not lifted the latch and pushed on through. This is big and I know what is on the other side – I can see it in my mind’s eye and I am testing and dusting off the residue and asking myself if I want this change?

I am defending myself from the slings and arrows of change.  I am sensitive to the resistance movement.

I am cranky because I am being responsible to them and not me.

Change is like winter to spring. Change is not linear and it is not for sissies. I model change for others to witness. Change is my art form.

You ever get out of bed on the wrong side?  Do you ever just go with the feelings and not do the list?

How do you use your cranky feelings?

Related readings:
I Needs
How We Make Decisions and Changes
Increase Your Emotional IQ
The Magic Want

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

A Regular Crank Case

Sweet-Pea

I do not believe I have a favorite season of the year. Sometimes it takes a concerted effort but I attempt to enjoy all that they have to offer on any given day.

After the warmest winter on record in my area of the country, we are now returned to winter’s blustery winds and two brief deposits of snow. As I write, the sky is clear clean and blue; over the water, I can witness the dark, fierce clouds bringing more downpours.

The morning walk was dry; I was bundled against the wind in my wool hat, cold weather jacket and sunglasses.

Plum-Blossom

The return of the freezing temperatures has cast the crocus to the ground, bent the bleeding hearts down, and left thousands of plum and forsythia blossoms on the pavement. The Governor and her advisers are talking about drought conditions this summer, and maybe this is just Nature’s way to keep fruit from setting in massive numbers with not enough water for success.

The dam is open at the inlet end and the powers that be are letting the tides cure the snail infestation in the lake. Mud flats or high tide of salt water washes in and out during the day. I do not like the smell of the mud flats at low tide, but can celebrate that so much litter and garbage has been cleaned off the bottom, even big logs that made it over the falls and I believe maybe there were the remains of one dead cow.

I will grow accustomed to the smell and am glad that powerful chemicals are not being used to eradicate the pesky invasive species. I wonder if even one person has stopped using bleach or harsh detergents in their laundry – has maybe at least one made a change? I fervently hope so.

Flowers-Branch

A developer’s lobby has just gotten the environmental regulations relaxed on many of the State’s construction projects. According to my understanding, our Legislative body just pleased a few developers and put our State at least 4 years and more like 6 years behind on the economic recovery. I am feeling as though my voice is too weak – I need a clanging gong.

As the wind pushes the splatters against the pane, I add a sweater and button up. By leaving the computer, I am able to wander the house and warm my feet with movement. Over the Lake, hundreds of seagulls play on the up and down drafts. It is a game and this is their bliss. I raise my arms and glide, imagining the feeling and am carried away.

If I resist and complain, what have I lost and what have I gained? Yes, the blossoms defeated made me sad and I wish they were going to be there to delight my senses another day, and maybe it is the right thing in the long run. If I curse the weather for my discomfort I will just be a noise with no relief.

Flowers

It is the edge of spring and it is full of winter reminders. Just as each season does not arrive with a line drawn in the sand, it is more of a tease, I need to ebb and flow my expectations and wardrobe. Today I need to raise my arms play and glide upon the wind – it might just be the right thing to do.

How do you feel about the changing seasons? Do you resist or glide? How do you feel when someone spends so much money to get what they want and not consider all the possibilities and outcomes? Do you ever wonder if you have assisted in making a change happen?

The beautiful spring photographs on this post are from Geek Girl’s lovely recent adventure and I am so appreciative that she shared them with me, so I can enjoy each blossom with repeated pleasure.

Flowers-Blossom

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Embracing This Change

Today promises a +60’F reward of sunshine, and since that is to be followed by 10 days of rain and 45’F I believe just about everyone has departed inside to soak up what is going on outside.  I have seen kayaks on top of cars pass by and bikers, runners and walkers out doing their thing.   The citizens on the west side of the mountains know how to celebrate a beautiful day.   I think it offers mildew relief to our joints also!

In 1975, at the end of my first day on my first professional job, I went directly to the bookstore and purchased Ecotopia. It was required reading on this particular college campus.   This futuristic novel was exciting the very souls of the faculty and students on campus.  I wanted in on the action.

Ecotopia (Wikipedia article) is the story of a top journalist from New York being allowed to visit the country of Ecotopia -  20 years after this new country has seceded from the United States.  Ecotopia encompasses Northern California, Oregon, and Washington to the Canadian Border; bounded on the east by the Rocky Mountains.  The reporter is given 6 weeks to explore the country and send weekly reports back to his paper and  dispatches to the current President of the good ol’ USA.

Callenbach uses the reporter’s questions and observations to journey us through a very progressive society, based on excellent communication models and technology, which respects the human spirit and reflects the environment and the awareness of  connections.  We would use the term Sustainability today to describe this connection.

Callenbach upped the awareness of the environment and promoted a society which was trust worthy.

Although he was the editor working in the publishing sector of University of California at Berkeley, Callenbach did public appearances on the mixing of environmental issues and technology.  His degrees are in communication.

1981 Ecotopia Emerging  was published and it explained how the new country came to secede.

2008 Ecotopia was republished to a new audience; it is available on KINDLE.   It is 181 pages paperback and getting rave reviews the second time around.

My personal opinion is that Portland, Oregon has made the most strides in achieving a sustainable environment and taking Callenbach’s work to heart; such as evidenced by their commitment to light rail.

I have found Ecotopia referred on at least 5 architectural blogs that I read and  on more green blogs . I chose this book for my book group this month.   Although a number of members cannot attend, everyone is enjoying the book.

This book was written when electric typewriters were the big thing!   No computers!

Germany and the UK are way ahead of the USA on Net- Zero Housing and Denmark does co-housing and study groups with a flourish.

Callenbach’s predictions of how  citizens cannot sustain health nor can the USA sustain its practice of industrial designer foods  is truly evident when reading this book 30 years later.

The citizens had to truly believe in what they were attempting, because it changed how schools functioned, salaries and incomes changed and how much health improved.

We can also be proud that a significant number of people around the world have kept the passion for sustainable, healthy, happy communities alive and have worked to promote the outcomes which will achieve those goals.

I am reminded that Korten in his book Agenda for a New Economy describes how such economically healthy communities could emerge from our current financial crisis.

Hope I have inspired you to take a look and discover this amazing gem of a story.  It truly gets the creative juices flowing.

Do you like to read science fiction? Or futuristic novels?  Have you ever been inspired to go back and read something again?   How do you envision an Ecotopian society?  Do you see any of these ideas emerging?

Happy Reading

Some Related reading you might enjoy:
Keep the Ideas Coming
Agenda for a New Economy
Dear Michael Pollan

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Ecotopia ~ Ernest Callenbach, A Relook at an Inspiring Book

bird nest

I can see a small compact bird’s nest in the tree just beyond my window, because the leaves have not yet returned for another year.   This nest has withstood a windy winter and its construction has remained unscathed for the weathering. I am not expert enough to know what kind of bird built so well, but think I could Google search for birds about the size of a robin and investigate who might just call this home.  It is revealed and it has captured my attention.

I feel very much about this ebook as I do about the sturdy nest.   The authors have revealed to me a human behavior which is not healthy and which can truly diminish the lives of others.  It is a sturdy, compact and well built introduction.  It creates awareness and hopefully the drive to investigate further if one believes one is coping with a narcissist in one’s own life.

The authors Lori Hoeck of Think Like a Black Belt and Betsy Wuebker  of Passing Thru have discovered that they both had to remove themselves from being in the hold of a Narcissist.  It is from this common thread they shared their stories and their knowledge of how to handle the situations and regain a strong sense of their own worth and self.  They have collected stories from others and climbed the tree to take some good measurements of the nest which remains.

The format of the book was very easy to read and moved one through the phases of definition and discovery into story, research and identifiers.  I especially liked the small quotes/vignettes down the sidebar.   The cover and the art throughout enhanced the reading experience and in no way hindered the flow of information sharing.   The writing was clean and straightforward.

As the authors pointed out we all have narcissistic tendencies which are defensive postures when we are young – they protect us and actually help us to move forward in our social/psychological development as individuals.   Methamphetamine addicts also display a narcissistic behavior pattern when put on the defensive.   Many people retreat into these defensive postures when under stress.

The Narcissist  has developed a “false”  sense of self and been arrested in their development usually because of a traumatic experience in the individuation process.  Children may also be modeling behavior that they have been exposed to and feel comfortable with; unable to move forward.

The Narcissist reveals our own weaknesses and vulnerabilities and thus usually makes us feel distressed, judged and uncomfortable.  Lots of blaming energy.

I particularly liked the questions posed to test, at a quiet moment , if one might be dealing with Narcissist:

Q: Where do you expect to be in 5 years?
Q: Biggest or toughest challenge in your life right now?
Q: Funniest story about you or others from your past?
Q: What is your favorite joke?
Q: Whom do you trust the most and why?
Q: What were the last two gifts you gave someone else?

This simple group of questions is followed by how a person might answer and how a narcissist would focus the answers.  It would be hoped that the analysis of these answers would be cause for further investigation and follow through.

“This book increases the awareness of narcissism and in my opinion that is the first step in dealing with it.”   Davina’s words about this book on her review at Shades of Crimson.

Whenever people do not develop a strong self of self and individuation based on values, strengths and recognizing weaknesses I believe there is bound to be trouble.   Betsy and Lori have included information about how to recognize the enabling factors and how “neediness” can contribute to the psychosis progression.

I give hearty thumbs up to two great writers for introducing us to this behavior and sharing their own personal stories.  I hope this assists others in gaining insight and allows release from tough and degrading situations; I challenge the reader to learn more.

Whenever someone shares important life lessons with us they are giving us insight and hope; hope that others may learn the lessons and be spared the hurt and harm.  It is a brave and loving gift.

This is a sturdy nest from which one can spread their wings and take flight, if you are indeed the right fit.

Have you experienced a Narcissist?   How do you identify problems and what intrigues you to further study?  Do you have some tried and true “red flags” that work for you?

Other Related Reading you might enjoy:
Female Brain Gone Insane
I Needs
Increase Your Emotional IQ

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

E-Book Review: Narcissist: A User’s Guide

Cupcake

To celebrate my 300th post on Patricia’s Wisdom (www.patrciaswisdom.com) I am giving away this delightful lifestyle cook book by celebrity Alicia Silverstone.

I think this book will have great success because:
-    The author is a celebrity, young, and knows how to be in the public eye
-    The book is beautiful to look at and behold
-    The writing inside is perky and casual fun
-    Silverstone makes these lifestyle changes just seem like the next best thing to do
-    The blog that is part of the book’s process is well done and updated with style and content.

www.thekindlife.com

“This Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet,” is just that all wrapped up in a stunning package and with a high energy author who walks her talk and knows her “stuff”.

Silverstone likes desserts and supporting the local farmer’s market, restaurants, and animal shelters. She likes feeling great, looking good and researching these lifestyle issues which will assist people in being healthier and the planet healthier.
The Recipes are good and tasty.
Her vegan chocolate cupcakes look light and yummy, and her pizza could bring on drooling!
She does not advocate going cold turkey into this healthy lifestyle she explains how to FLIRT, How to VEGAN, and how to be a SUPERHERO.

The Kind Diet has done much of the research for the reader and the heavy weights are referenced such as Dr. Joel Furhman, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Michael Pollan’s work on Food, Inc.

Not to name drop, but there are lots of celebrity life stylers mentioned in this book too and what they have discovered from making these changes in their lives.

I do have a couple of problems with this book:
-    I believe throwing out one’s microwave oven is not such a good thing, because her research is old news and even as a tool for just reheating the MW cuts energy usage considerably.
-    Although Silverstone’s expenses for food decreased significantly with this regime, she does not follow even more cost cutting savings methods of food preservation techniques for those of us who have long non- gardening seasons.
-    The pictures of her kitchen indicate that she has not added use of electricity, water and natural gas into her earth friendly equations – and one might assume they have not really entered her mind.   And in most households I know the leftovers do not go to the dogs!

The really great news about this book is that I think it will not only be a NEW YORK TIMES best seller, but I think the message will reach the 20, 30 and 40 year olds and a number of them will get involved in a bigger effort than even before.  Getting the word out & about and getting folks to make these changes is really what is at stake and I think this beautiful entry will have great success.

I almost did not write this book review because Alicia Silverstone and Michael Pollan were on Oprah right before the Olympics; then changed my mind.

Other Posts you might enjoy reading:
Casy Dogs Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce
Animal Vegetable Miracle
Agenda for a New Economy
Cleaning Up My Act
Flow for Love of Water (no reading here: you can watch this documentary for free)

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Book Review and Cookbook Giveaway: The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

ear

I consider myself an artist in the actions of change.  I find it easy to change my mind or act because I have practiced my skills and acknowledged my values and emotions in each situation with finesse.  I have created several charts which outline the basic steps of decision making and change. Some steps I can glide through and other times I need to stop and take stock – reconnoiter the situation and not just dive blindly.

Sometimes I just need to start over and try something new – refresh my style.

One of the primary components of making change is talking with other people.  There are the familiar folks that you always talk over issues with, but I am talking about new voices.  Some people are experts in their field and one needs to know their expertise so the conversation or interview can be part of your research towards making the right choice or decision.

I encourage all high school age and college bound folks to go and visit the career planning advisers, they have a wealth of ways to assist in making choices and discovering new paths.  Some like to talk in their familiar ruts and some like to make the conversation an adventure.  What is your style?

Many people write in a journal to have conversations with themselves, they even go back and color code certain words to assist in getting a clarity and perspective.  They notice the repetitively used emotions and word descriptions; analyzing their value or hindrance.

If you want to get at the root cause of a problem that is constricting the change, one might hire a counselor to help dig out the road blocks, yield and stop signs being encountered.

Sometime one just needs to say the words right out loud and hear them – process the words through their auditory systems of analysis.

I recently was gifted with three sessions of a life coaching system practiced  by Davina of Shades of Crimson. Davina uses active listening and one’s own words to move the thinking and expressing in new directions.

She calls it a Symbolic Modeling and in her own words:

During a Symbolic Modeling session I will repeat your words back to you in the exact manner you speak them, followed by a question. Repeating your words back to you lets you know you’ve been heard. As you hear the words reflected back to you, the knob turns. You begin to adjust your channel.

I found it to be playful, fun and a mind giggling experience.  I have filled up a small spiral notebook with all the new images and words that come out of the session.

I have changed my mind.

I have a very clear image of what I will look like when I define myself as healthy now.  I can feel the being stung by a bee or the chugging of the steam engine up the mountainous track that made my words anchors against the tide and flow.

It’s all in the chemistry of the synapses and when one can turn the knob or dial back the volume, what fun is that?

Davina is offering this exercise in listening up for the first 10 folks who will pay for the phone call.  She has a bigger description and details on her site.

I would just like to say a Gigantic Thank you for the experience.  It changed me.   I came away from each phone call pleasantly surprised and more importantly SATISFIED – better than chocolate or a hot bath, and almost in the same league as a 90 minute massage.

It is a great process for rediscovery and truly hearing oneself think.   I recommend it highly.

Has someone listening to you made a change for you?  Do you think talking is a necessary step in the process of change?   Have you felt satisfied after being heard?  Do you think you might give this a try?

Please share your thoughts , I look forward to you comments

Related posts:
How We Make Decisions and Changes
Lessons
Question Career Planning Classes
90 Seconds of Anger 90 Seconds of Happiness

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

A Divine Listener

Old Telephone

Almost every February in the Pacific Northwest we have a glorious week of crystal clear skies and sunshine.   5 days ago that week began. It has been stunningly beautiful, a bit warmer than normal and an inspiring reprieve from the rain and grey.

I have been doing a great deal of sleeping this winter.  My body is asking for this tool of healing and I am not resisting its call.

Because of the pain in my side, a return engagement from last year, and the strange behavior of my knee since November, I have been getting up in the mornings very gently and carefully and slowly going for an abbreviated walk.

5 days ago I awoke clear headed and ready to don the attire and head out for a mile or two.  I thought it was the call to arise with the bedroom full of bright sunshine and energy and that was enlivening my spirits and motivating.

This morning I awoke with the same enthusiasm for the sunshine, but I did not move from my spot for a full 90 minutes because I was aware that I was absolutely pain free.

Enough Vitamin D?

I am not so sure that these moments were just because of the sunshine?  I have also figured out a way to pay off a pesky, worrisome bill and I had a lovely out of house experience this week celebrating my daughter’s graduation and assisting her in picking out an interview suit.  Also on my list, having three great conversations where I got to talk about myself and do some visioning work.

All these are great and positive moments, but are not the point or direction of my writing – I wish to return to the waking refreshed and ready to go…because this is part of something more curious.

After taking my walk, I have returned home to write about my walking meditation in my personal journal.  Each morning after the walk, I have fallen asleep only to be awakened by the clear impression that our home phone is ringing – I move to get up and realize it was just a dream.

Who do you think is calling me?  What do they want to say?

Here is what my DREAMS, More than 400 Symbols Explained book says:
Telephone = making contact, connections or missed connections.  Contact with the unconscious. Ignoring the call of your unconscious.  It all depends on what happens with the phone.

One needs to answer the phone in order to figure it out.

My ringing phone just serves to Wake me up and get me out of the chair.

My first thought was what my Mother used to say to me, “Times a wasting and you need to get your lazy bones on with your day.”

I think I am missing the connection with someone or idea.  What do you think?

Who is calling?  What is it they wish to tell me? Who would be on your awakening, ringing phone?  What do they wish to tell you?

Hello?   Hello?  Hello?

Other related posts you might also enjoy:
Begin It Now
Inspiration from Walt Whitman
Your Money Or Your Life
Dear World, You Still Need Us. Love Your Librarians

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Hello? Hello? Hello?

row of apple maggot traps

Tanglefoot will be applied to each ball and then they will be hung in the apple trees to trap the pesky Apple Maggot before she lays her eggs and ruins the fruit.  I wonder if this trap also works for coddling moth?

It was a good meditation practice for such a beautiful day.   I hummed a tune or two and thought of how many times, how many years I have enjoyed this practice.   Earlier this year than most, I paint; it is cold today but the sun is shining through and allowing the crocus recovery from the rain.

We have hard pruned the trees ourselves.  Hundred year old tree is our study to see if we can figure out a start from the roots.   We are not going to have the trees certified organic, nor have the geranium oil sprayed on by the professionals.  We did not drive the cylinders down into the ground to fertilize. We will do the minimum as our neighbors do nothing and playing defensive positions is not an affordable option.   We will take what comes.

On such a high holy day, as decreed by old men, this practice did not seem enough. This day is ASH Wednesday.  I want to do a 40 day practice of something that simplifies my life and enhances me.  I have not figured out what my practice will be; after a moments panic I believe it will come to me what to do.

For right now I will make bread – my bread, not the Gluten Free bread I make weekly for my family -  Whole wheat and full of seeds and honey.

flax seed whole wheat bread

There is still a great deal of moisture in the air so instead of oven spring I got a dip in the middle – about 2 tablespoons too much water.

It felt good to get my hands kneading and the flow of the mix and rise moving towards the smell of the baking.  This was a good meditation for today, but I am not going to make bread for 40 days as a practice.  What to do?

I said this little prayer:
Be gentle when you touch bread.
Let it not lie, uncared for,
Unwanted.
So often bread is taken for granted.
There is such beauty in bread –
Beauty of surf and soil,
Beauty of patient toil.
Wind and rain have caressed it,
Christ often blessed it.
Be gentle when you touch bread.
Celtic Prayer

Should I eat bread for 40 days?  Or fast? Or cook? Or Clean?
I am doing my meditations 2 times a day and eating healing foods.  I write in my journal and read.
Maybe I should just be happy?   Content?   Do nothing?

The moon sliver is rising through the still bare tree limbs – I think smile

Time to go and eat bread and applesauce with my soupy warm supper.

Any suggestions about spiritual practice and hearing the divine?

Some other readings you might enjoy:
6 Apples in Heaven
Food as a Spiritual Practice
How Do You Practice

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Questions of Practice

library shelves

From these shelves 192 books have been taken away.    So I put my CD’s and holders on one shelf.

192 books went to a local churches used book sale to help them cover the costs of assisting 3 homeless families live in housing they provide; help them get back to work and more stability in their living.

I had something to give to help others and to be of use.  That felt good.

The books on these shelves are not lonely!   No Way!   I have 6 more bookshelves and my photograph leaves out the 2 more levels of shelves behind my reading chairs!

And least I forget, oldest child has a set of bookshelves fairly full in her room.  Middle child has an over full bookshelf in her room and 17 boxes of books in storage in our attic (Librarian girl).   Youngest child has a small shelf of books, and several shelves of tennis trophies.     3 of us own KINDLEs  and love them.

I must say too, that I am an avid reader at the Library too.

I always feel great when I have something to give away and it is useful.

I am not just decluttering.  I am letting go – I am releasing all of me that was invested in those books.

I still have a nearly complete set of YES! Magazines to give away; they need to be shared and to have more readers.

I like the open spaces on the shelves and in my life.  I am still open to new ideas and things to read.

These books and the collection of them is no longer a part of my definition.  Once I started it was easy to let go, place them in the boxes and take them to the sale.   It was surprisingly freeing.

Is there something that is defining you that you need to let go of?  What makes it hard?  Do you find it freeing?

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Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

192 Books