Friday 6:30am Soft Rain Bird calling coffee almost ready

Our heat wave broke last night. The scoring heat is now soft rain in my gardens.

Unitarian Church in Newburyport Sign in Sun

First Gladiolas of the Season

Still life of Straw Hat with PINS

MS Becky Doodle almost smiling face

Plein Air Poetry Walk and Basho's Haiku in Harvard, Massachusetts

We went on a day trip to Harvard, Mass. to visit Old Frog Pond Farm  & Studio.

This beautiful organic farm is very peaceful. On the property is a wonderfully wild pond with lilies. Near the pond is a beautiful screened in Meditation Cabin which is well used.

I loved the art work and sculptures that graced the scenery.

There was a deep stillness on these grounds. 

It was an extremely hot day. The summer sun was at high noon. 

I found and bought organic blueberries and raspberries that had been lovingly hand picked early in the day. My poet friend  had just spent 20 minutes in the meditation cabin writing a poem for the upcoming Frog Pond's upcoming event: Plein Air Poetry Walk on Sunday, September 13, 2015. He was also thrilled to find fresh kale for sale. His eyes  sparkled  for either the poetry success or the kale.  Either way,  he was very happy to spend an afternoon in this magical spot.

Pictures tell a better story than words.

                                                           Furu ike ya                Old pond!                        
  Basho's Haiku                                 kawazu tobikomu      frog jumps in                    
                                                               mizu no oto                water’s sound              

Meditation Cabin with a water view

Apples growing on the farm fence

Hints for the Rain Goddess

Art works in front of the covered berry field

Little building by the dam

Along the pond walk way  

A very still dragon fly

Meditation about exercising with an iphone....

Ok, there is nothing you could meditate about while using an iphone. I am just trying to get your attention.
Stop, lock up your iphone, walk outside, and exercise. Listen to the quiet. Take deep breaths, smell the air and relax.

If only it were that easy.

 First of all, I really don't care to hear your private conversations from my garden, or while I ride my bike next to you. Yes, I am a baby boomer, and yes, my generation is going deaf-thanks to rock & roll concerts. But, why do people yell into their cell phones. Don't they want some privacy?

I LOVE my privacy. I am a private, introverted person, and love silence. Is that too much to ask of my fellow beings on this planet. Is there any silent zones left on our planet.

It used to be  that hospitals were considered "QUIET" zones. In the last few years, I have visited too many patients in hospitals.  An ICU is the most distracting place that I have ever been in. I guess that I watched too many old hospital shows in the 70s.  Computerized health care is just plain noisy.

I have always wanted to put a quiet sign in front of our house on its country road. Is that rude? Would it be taken away like my no spray mosquito sign from the 80s?

It is  just a thought, but, next time you are walking in the country, take the time to unwind and use no devises. Just you alone in nature. Open your eyes and see the beauty around you.

July Memories

On the 4th of July,  I turned 66 years old in Sedwick, ME. We rented a cottage on a pond and relaxed, and edged another step into retirement bliss. No worries, no time, no deadlines, just relaxation.
My favorite memories of this trip is the sounds that were all around us. The constant sound of the movement of water. The songs of the birds, the wood thrush, phoebes, and the loons. Some of our MA migrating warblers, were now parents and enjoying the wilds of Maine. The rains came and out came our books and picture puzzles. We cooked almost all of our meals, and ate listening to BBC radio.

No computers, no cell phone reception and no technology.

We went to bed early and work up even earlier. We both enjoyed the oddity of sleeping in twin beds across the room.

We sat out on the deck when at long last, the sun paid us a visit. We explored small towns of Maine, island homes, craft schools, local artists homes/shops, and farmer's markets.
We laughed, played and enjoyed each others company.

I no longer think that I am a young person. Neither my thoughts, clothes, or body have any thing in common with a younger person.  I do not regret growing older.  But for years, I have been in denial of who I was becoming. Some would say as I aged, I grow more and more like a crazy old lady.
So be it. It is an occupation that suits me very well.

So when I turned 66, I was given the biggest and best birthday card of my lifetime.  It was too large to bring home. But, I am still laughing about that card and how silly a spouse of 27 years can become; when he is relaxed, unstressed and in vacation mode.

View looking out an artist's studio onto the wide open blueberry fields.

After resting on my left shoulder for 20 minutes, this dragon fly cools off on the side of our cottage.

Best cherries in the world, ok life in Main is like a bowl of cherries. There I said it.

Old fishing lodge cabin door with reflections of the the pond.

Self-Exercise Motivation With Some Help From My Friends

I have been in an self-exercise rut.

The Dark Side of Exercise

Years ago, when I first hurt my back, I ended up in bed for over seven weeks.  Then I was up on crutches, with a numb right leg. After years the numbness,  it  slowly went away. That is the short version of a very long and painful story.

The Newburyport Runner can exercise

Fast forward, about five years ago I stopped my daily exercise. I rode my bike, I did gardening, I walked, and I did yoga. Then I started to have trouble standing for any long period of time. I went to the Doctor and he told me, it was my back. I was in total denial.

My Exercise Shoes Glowing

So, I really had to get back into my routine of exercising. I would do anything except exercise at home or as I call it self-exercise.  I kept moving my yoga mat around the house. I fooled myself that I was getting enough exercise and did not need to stretch.  I could not motivate myself.

One day, I started to exercise with my friends: Sting, BBKing,and Paul Simon. These guys have helped me get my exercise/stretching grove back. I tuned into New Orleans music, Muddy Waters, and Ella & Louis.  The louder the music, the better.  I found out that loud music kept my new kitty out of the room and off of my yoga mat.  I am back doing back stretches and yoga. I am feeling each muscle as I stretch slowly.

So as I song goes, I get by with a little help from my musical super star friends. They keep me rocking and rolling.

Officially, I declare it is summer today.

I am inside on a early warm morning. Today, I start the old New England tradition of washing of the wools.  The old washing machine is on gentle cycle and my irish purple shawl & my scottish brown blanket are now being gently washed. I love wool and even though I have become allergic to it, there is nothing on a cold new england night that snugs and warms you at the same time.

Ok, everyone now knows that we had over 120 inches of snow last winter. It was awful. Too much snow to go snow shoeing in the woods. Too much snow that there was no place to put the snow.  We had a month of white and grey days and if you listened closely, you would hear the wild wolfs in the distance. Ok, so we really don't have wolfs, we have coyotes and we did not start to burn our furniture. But, it was a long winter.

So, with great cheer, I announce that we are now in summer. Time to water the gardens, put on the bug sprays, clean off the bikes, and oh yes, go to the beach. We go to the beach all winter long. It is quiet and lonely out there. But, the birds are great. The Snowy Owls return each winter.  The loons are dressed in their winter outfits and swim in large flocks  by the shore.  Fingers and toes get darn cold but, it is quiet and peaceful out there.

We are very lucky to live near a National Wildlife Preserve. No crowds in the winter, except if a rare bird is flown in during a bad storm.  Then the place goes wild with binoculars and scopes.

But when summer comes, the miles of beach are open to the smart few who get up very early in the morning, and show their beach passes before the rangers. Once the allotment of people has been reached, the refuge is closed to new comers.

The waters are icy, but, the miles and miles of beaches are not crowded. Long walks along the waters edge, picking up shells, and afternoon naps are mandatory. It is heaven on earth.

Winter on Plum Island

Frozen toes and fingers

Summer at the beach

Driftwood castles at Plum Island

A Simple Explanation of the Meaning of Life

 John Updike put it, “the mystery of being is a permanent mystery.”

Evelyn RuthTrilling Milhender, young and gorgeous.

It is my mother's anniversary of her passing. Three years since she blessed the earth with her wisdom, humor, and kindness.  

 Beautiful people come into our existence and leave our existence. Why are they here today and gone tomorrow? Why is their hatred in the universe? Why is there war? Why can we not all get along?

No simple answers. 

I feel honored to have a wonderful, loving mother. I wish I could tell her how much I miss her. Oh, for just a quick mom hug...it would be luscious.