Translate

May 22, 2008

Delivers itself in Slivers


Stars stud black heaven,
a milky way,

slip off shoes
sit quietly listening,
observing

Your face shines
your eyes ,
I fall in to you

Grace
Grace, a pool of grace

Imagine grace, it is what you are, what I Am.
Sit in this minute moment, again
and again as it delivers itself in slivers

and watch as each sliver, a key so small,
defies time, the cosmos opens itself
there in a pool of grace at your feetless feet.

recognize.. when you dissolve from illusion into reality.

Were you, like me,
the last to know
you'd have to be

when awakened, It's seen
there is no other.

May 21, 2008

I AM the Bougainvillea, and the Butterfly





Still shivering, the cuffs of my sweater wet from impromptu gardening in the rain this evening just before dusk.

Teeth chattering, yet almost too busy reflecting upon the sensualities of nature to pay much mind to getting warmed up. There are some things that are more appealing than climbing into a warm old robe and being comfortable.

Yesterday, too hot, today, too cold and it’s wet, I had thought I lived in Washington, but surely not..these extremes too radical.

The cold and wet leftover from my excursion in the dirt and rain, as I was armed with water hose (myself the target apparently) thrills me enough to revel in the cold just now, with dirt still under my fingernails. [I think of Alan Watts in Cloud Hidden Whereabouts Unknown saying how the hippies had dirt underneath their fingernails. The connotation of that so filling, it’s a wonder all that conjures up..]

Yes, I have dirt under my fingernails and all that is conjured up in that phrase, I AM. I Am light at heart; and playful, I am experimental, and delightful, I am the explorer, the leader, and the follower I lead, the gifted, and gift as well.

I am the entrepreneur, and I am the mystic, the creator, and the created.. I AM.

I am the bougainvillea, and the butterfly , the pink rhododendron, and pink azalea, too. I am the dirt I dig, as I dig the dirt.

The smell of earth has caught me, I remember it’s first early scent as I sat upon the grass as a little baby girl so close to earth, she was one of my best friends, and still…..is.

The grasses and colors of flowers, and smells of scents that traveled by my nose, puppy smells, and tiny palms sweaty with dirt in the creases. I had mud pies in my stars; still in my stars, mud pies in my dreams, waking and sleeping.

Old hands now as I stop to look, as the cold wears off and I forget I AM, this eternal child for a moment, and remember time has a place in my dream, and age, too, along with age spots from too much sunshine. Surely that isn’t possible; too much sunshine, or too much fog, too much play or imagination?

I Am the remember-er; and maker of stardust, the molten core of earth and the waves upon the shore. I Am the cosmos, and laughter. I Am the divine, bougainvillea, and the butterfly.

May 11, 2008

Turkey's Last week in LaConner

Just think, This might have been the National Bird.
Last time I was in LaConner they were lined up at the bakery early in the morning across from y hotel room, waiting for the bakery to open. These local yokels are famous around here.

Considering what America has become, I think the Turkey might have been a fitting National Bird. Maybe we should change birds with each Presidency, so they are at least reflect one another.

We could vote for the bird each year, after the elections, as a barometer of what the people really think of the presidency.
I nominate the turkey for this year's bird.

May 04, 2008

Long Weekend

















Workshop, and a short hike..I have photos from earlier in the week tho of tulips and rhodies to post and of my short hike this evening after the workshop...

April 27, 2008

Tulips, @ Skagit Valley






Yesterday afternoon I drove to Laconner to see tulips, go to Christianson's and have an ice cream cone, eat dinner.

After standing in line for an oce cream cone for about an hour, I thought maybe I should open an ice cram cone place..
The line was way long.
I had maple nut, my usual, it was in a fresh waffle cone and was huge.

I enjoyed it but it made me late for Christianson's Nursery. I had only about 10 minutes to gather some impatiens and a new rhodie and some euonymous. ( I bought 3 different ones, a few miniatures, and a variegated)



Also I missed most tulips fields so I will go back, maybe one morning this week early if sunny for photos.
Later I had dinner by the river, and topped it all off with photographing local turkey's, and they gobbled at me. Was Funny, all males..

So it was a nice day, after all.
Today I planted some plants and made a bed almost ready for impatiens.

And I spoke with a good friend from Kentucky for hours. Yesterday too, another friend ( from VA), Kathy.

I can't tell you how much these long talks mean to me, or how much I would love to have my girlfriends nearby to camp with me or go scooting down the Oregon or WA coast, or just here for fun at my home, but we woudn't just stay here. We'd go to some amazing places.
Kathy just bought Dooleys talks,a nd is exicted about creating a new life..
We're gonna have fun!

I should remind Bebbie to get her passport. We could go to Victoria BC or Vancouver.

I think if either Kathy ot Beb came out , maybe they would be easily enticed into moving here to retire.
Surely we could then go to Italy for a trek. San Miguel De Allende for sure in Mexico.

So I'll try to post some tulips soon if the shots are ok, it was over cast by the time got to the fields.

April 14, 2008

A beautiful Life...

I'm back home now after 5 days away at the beach in Oregon (Yachats, and New Port, Florence) and later Portland
(International Hostel).

Portland Photos, hostel and near by Beth Israel..

Ellison House International Hostel in Portland, my room up top (side) left.
D/click on photos to enlarge









Beth Israel


I had a simply wonderful time, couldn't have had better company,(me)..and being adventurous, being myself, (me and adventure are synonymous).
I have loved every moment of my trip, and it just felt, so familiar, (so like myself) to do every single thing I did.

Every stop, every stay, every person I met, every place I stopped to eat, every fire I built, every walk I took, every decision I made, was made from a depth of who I am, a curiosity that I have always been, but at times lost sight of.
It was so completely being me to do this, that I feel refreshed, as if I have been away from this house I live in, for a lifetime.

When you listen to your own music, march to your own drummer, love your own self, when you just let yourself guide you, and forget what every body else thinks; wants, predicts, judges, explains, and you just be, do, what you are,, all of time is redeemed and you know you have never left yourself for a moment. Leaving is a dream. (and one you decided to indulge in, for variety).

Its all ok, life is all ok, beautiful, and glorious..

Yachats Oregon, my place by the sea..







I am my best friend. I vacated this place of everyday life, and spent time alone with mySelf. It was as if I left forever, spending time with me. Hard to explain, the beauty of enjoyment of My Self, but I wasn't alone , or lonely. I was completely filled with appreciation and love for each moment, whether mind was scurrying or at complete peace.

Mostly , I was at joyful peace, and in love with this I Am.

All my friends were there with me in my heart.
How could I be lonely?

THank you for be-ing..

recipes

My Best Pie Crust Mix
( No one can fail to make good pie crust with this recipe)

8 C flour
3 C Crisco shortening
1 T salt
Cut ingredients. together in a large bowl, then store in an airtight container in frig until ready to us.
Then:
Use 1T ice water per ½ cup of mix …or…

1 crust uses 1 & 1/2 cups mix ( plus 3 T ice water)
Mix together in a bowl until dough makes a loose ball, roll on a lightly floured board. Makes 1 9 inch pie shell.

I have a special recipe for Christmas. Something I make every Christmas eve.

 It's a cream Puff with a special filling that is so delicious you won't want to miss out on it.
 You will be a star for making these! And easy ..easy!!!!
If interested, write me:
jerez598atgmaildotcom


The world's Best Chocolate Pie

( Warning! You will never eat chocolate pie away from home again!)

1 & ½ C sugar
4 heaping T Flour
8 T cocoa ( or 2 packets of redi blend)

1 t vanilla

3 C milk
3 egg yolks
½ stick margarine ( 2oz)

Mix sugar, flour and cocoa, add milk mixed with egg yolks, cook until thick. Remove from heat, add margarine and vanilla
Pour into a baked 9 inch pie shell. Make meringue from egg whites. Bake 20 minutes at 325.



Best Cream Pie Filling

¾ C sugar
½ C cornstarch or ½ C flour
dash salt

blend until smooth

Add gradually, 2 C scalded milk.
Cook in double boiler till thick

Add a small amount of mix to 3 slightly beaten egg yolks, then stir this into mixture. ( keeps eggs from curdling)
Cook 2 minutes and add 3 T margarine. Cool to lukewarm before pouring into shells.

Banana…slice bananas into bottom of shell, add filling, add bananas to top, then add meringue and bake till lightly brown.

Pineapple…omit ½ C milk in filling, before adding eggs, add ½ crushed pineapple with juice..top with meringue bake

Coconut….Stir ½ C shredded coconut into filling. Add meringue, and sprinkle top of meringue with some coconut, Bake till lightly brown. 325 for maybe 15 minutes.


Lemon Meringue Pie

5 T cornstarch
1 and 1/2 C sugar
3 C hot milk
5 T lemon juice
Grated peel of 1 lemon

1 - 9” pie shell

Meringue

Mix cornstarch and sugar in double boiler with hot milk and cook until thick and smoothe.

Cook covered 15 min. pour small amount of mixture in with 3 beaten egg yolks, then add at to the mixture ( to keep from curdling)

Add lemon Juice and peel. Mix well.
Pour into shell, top with meringue bake until lightly brown. ( 350 for 20 minutes)



Mom’s Pumpkin Cake

2 C flour
2 C sugar
3 t cinnamon
½ t salt
3 t soda

mix and add 1 small can pumpkin and 1&1/2 crisco oil ( I use 1 cup, works fine)

Bake 1 hour at 300 in a bundt pan.

Frosting
6 oz cream cheese
½ stick margarine
8 oz powdered sugar
½ t vanilla

Mix, and frost,
Or just sprinkle cake with powdered sugar

These cake recipes were my Mom’s. She has been gone a long long time, since I was 23. Never forgotten, miss her so much. Hope you enjoy her recipes for cake.


Mom’s fruit Cocktail cake

2 C fruit cocktail
2 C flour
1 and ½ C sugar
2 t soda
2 large eggs
beat well

Bake in a greased, floured rectangular pan 1 hour @300.

Filling/topping

½ C or 1 stick margarine
1 C sugar
6 or 7 oz can milk…Boil for 2 minutes, and pour over hot cake directly from oven.

April 12, 2008

I really shoudn't tell about the Sylvia, I hate giving these 'secret' hideaways away


Thing called life, by pondering pool

I relate to this!! Take a look...

Am I Truly non judgmental...or?


Security Blanket


I found this line of cards at The Sylvia Hotel in Newport. ..And a few other decent lines as well.



Sylvia hotel in Newport OR

intro...This is truly a hotel for book lovers. There are no t.v.'s, no radios, no phones (although 2 public phones are available.) It is a quiet place on most days. Except for the glorious storms. Then the wind howls, the building shakes, and the rain pounds down. Some days it's warm and sunny and the sky is bright blue. Some days there's morning fog. Some days the wind makes you stay inside and read! Some days are rainbow days, the weather just can't decide. The ocean is always present. (The hotel is on a 45 foot bluff right above the surf.) You move into the rhythm of the sea. Perhaps that's why time seems to slow way down, almost to a standstill.

So Sunday night, I may just stay in the Melville room....it has a king size bed.. I can toss and turn as if I were on the Pequoid..


Nye Beach, Newport OR

Sam Irvin promoted Nye Beach as a destination resort area in the 1880's. By the early 1900's, L.C. Smith, a realtor, promoted the area as "The Promised Land." Smith was responsible for many of the wooden boardwalks which linked the Nye Beach oceanfront neighborhood to the bayfront area.

Yachats OR


pronounced YAH-hots, is derived from the Chinook Indian word, Yahuts, meaning dark water at the foot of the mountain. Nestled between the lush forested mountains of the Coast Range and the lapping waves of the Pacific surf, the charming little village of Yachats opens a window to the environment. It is the ideal place for rest, relaxation and renewal, discovery and romance.

( well, I think it is safe to say I will be leaving out the last part..I don't even remember what that words means, anyone???
Unless miracles still happen!!

Oh Another great Secret place of mine is exposed in Sunset Magazine, whoever wrote it, needs a tour guide...with experience..
He/She thinks you sprain your ankles walking the streets Of San Miguel de Allende. well well, not so, Wear your tennis and you get a nice foot massage..Even sandals, I have been all over San Miguel many times on foot, and never stumbled, guess you need to know how to walk.

San Miguel De Allende..it was ruined years ago, but you can still go , and see what is left of an art colony once entrepreneurs get ahold of it..
"In the 1950s, San Miguel de Allende became a destination known for its beautiful colonial architecture and its thermal springs. After World War II San Miguel began to revive as a tourist attraction as many demobilized United States GIs discovered that their education grants stretched further in Mexico at the U.S.-accredited art schools, the privately-owned Instituto Allende, founded in 1950, and the Bellas Artes, a nationally chartered school.


American ex-servicemen first arrived in 1946 to study at the art school. By the end of 1947, Life magazine assigned a reporter and photographer to do an article on this post-war phenomenon. A three-page spread appeared in the January 5, 1948, edition under the headline “GI Paradise: Veterans go to Mexico to study art, live cheaply and have a good time.” This was possible when apartments rented for US$10 a month, servants cost US$8 a month, rum was 65 cents a quart and cigarettes cost 10 cents a pack.
As a result of the publicity, more than 6,000 American veterans immediately applied to study at the school. Stirling Dickinson thought that San Miguel, which then had a population of fewer than 10,000, could only handle another 100 veterans, bringing the student body to around 140."
wikipedia

April 11, 2008

Ora gone a gen...adventureneering

‘I celebrate and sing myself’.
(Thanks Walt)

There is no other whose companionship, I more enjoy.
There is no one more fun to be with than when I am with myself. No one funner, funnier, more provocative, more interesting, more beautiful, than I am when I am with myself.
No one more inspiring, more adventurous, more delightful, or delighted. No one whose passion is greater.
No one more endearing, spectacular, or clever. No one more relevant, no one more exciting: creative, responsive, objective..

I love it, Damn, I love it..!!!

Oragonion

I drove, “down around Eugene “ yesterday after leaving home around 5 pm, and making only 2 quick stops.

What I love most about Oregon, is this:
The speed limit signs are designed to be seen. They don’t want you to get a ticket here, It is obvious. The numbers are HUGE. Thanks Oregonians, I always appreciate that about you..

And, I had forgotten, but in Oregon, you can’t pump your own gas..It’s illegal, They have employees that do that.
Ladeda, I love it, Damn I love it!
By 1:30 Am I was in Florence and was greeted by flashing lights.
(and no I wasn’t speeding)…I thought it was quite the response I deserved, since I am my own celebrity.

When I turned from Springfield onto the highway to Florence, I noticed the crescent moon designed to catch the rain . of course, it was a clear night. The closer I got to the beach, the brighter, and oranger the moon shown, and it tipped slightly to let the fog crawl slowly out.

In curves and valleys 800 feet above sea level, the fog hung thick, and I opened my moon-roof to let the it in to touch me.
I held my hand to the moist air, and then touched my face with my cool hands, to feel the night air as I drove.
The stars sparkled in the dark sky.
I listened to Mike Dooley (TUT.com) talk about, What you think about, you Create. And Joel Olsteen say the same thing in another way.

I listened to my favorite music and sang like I was a superstar. I was in charge, I love to be in charge of me…Don’t you love it?

Florence , was a new place for me, and I couldn’t find the beach, so I drove into Yachats, pronounced yahaughts. Yachats was closed up, so I went to the beach, walked around in the pitch black watching the white foam roll in. It was high tide. Then I slept in my car for 2.5 hours.

At 5:30 Am I drove around to see if anyone was open for coffee, or breakfast, or a bathroom.
No luck.
So I drove up the coast one town at a time until it turned daylight. The tide was turning low, the sky, blue, and water bluer, waves lazily rolled in, and fragmented salt worn trees stuck out along the beach. The sun was shining, and I was tired, but elated that I was in this beautiful place, with my favorite person alive. ME!

I understand why I’ve broken so many hearts now, I mean, where would ”I “be without me? bored silly…
And quite often when I do my self denial thing, that is exactly how I feel. Al I need to pep me up is a trip alone with my beloved. Umm, how sweet it is..

I found a breakfast place after exploring Nye Beach, and The Sylvia Beach Hotel. I had more fun there in their bathroom than I had the whole time I was married. (roll eyes… lol)

I guess you had to be there. It must be the most famous Tropic of Cancer bathroom in the whole world. They had quotes by my favorite author, Melville, and much more, even a book to sign!
I am in love with The Sylvia Beach Hotel. I’ll stay there Sunday and maybe Monday nights. Breakfast was bumpy, two men ran the place, I think they need a woman there real bad.

I visited with a woman who owned a place in the beach, but the price was way high for me..So I called Yachats, and my favorite cottage there and was offered a great deal I couldn’t refuse. I have an A frame with a great view by the beach for 80.00 a night. I had wanted to stay at The Sylvia but the writers conference had it all reserved.
So, here I am with my own wood burning stove, and 4 ravens out side mating , and fighting, and generally entertaining me.

The tide is high again, or coming back in, I think, it looks full, so at the next low tide, I have to go collect agates.

The air is brisk, the sun is warm, and I am on a porch swing inside, and a shame at that, because it is a perfect perfect day. I shopped and got some eggs, bacon, yogurt, muscato, bread, coffee, tea, and I still have me… I am my sunshine…
I am wrapping up and going out on the porch for fresh air and sunshine. It is just 1:22 pm It has been a long beautiful two days. My last nap has worn off and it’s cat nap time again.


oh and I saw An Elk last night as big as a Moose..at the Elk crossing, of course.
Over and out all…
Photos will be aded later..

April 07, 2008

The Power Of Now, Be Here Now , Tolle, Oprah, you gotta have heart,,,





I've gotten behind a bit on A New Earth, have some catching ip to do, and I hope I can catch Elizabeth Lessor, too.

I've had cd's by her in the past, can't recall what now, but stories about her past and her experiences, I spoke with her once, she was delightful. Her voice is very calming, I listened to her once on a drive X country alone.
I wouldn't mind meeting Elizabeth, or Tolle.
Oprah, well, she is really all about drama. ( But Oprah’s great, a fun person I think.
‘Oprah’ is about Oprah, She takes the world along on her ride whatever it is at the time. It's interesting.
Right now Oprah is exploring awareness, so everyone else is exploring awareness. It's kind of humorous. (if you think about it)
While she is exploring awareness and observation, her reality show is exploring drama.. (well I don’t watch Oprah, so I can’t say what she is exploring now)

A bundle of contradictions?

Oprah's life is not dedicated to consciousness, it is dedicated to Oprah. If Oprah is on a diet, we're all on diets, if Oprah's doing charity, we're all doing charity, if Oprah is interested in poop, (lol) we're all interested in poop. Very dynamic woman, Oprah.
If she is looking at consciousness, we're all looking at consciousness. Weird...The woman opens her mouth and makes a fortune. I should be so lucky, I could also amass a fortune with my chitter chatte!

It could be confusing to people, her ‘show’ verses her production of Tolle and A New Earth, but who knows, maybe this will shift her life from drama to peace and awareness we al seek?
I can't wait to see. I find it all very provocative.

I am reminded of when I had Avasa here from Wales and Shakti from Italy. A woman joined the group from Austin, she was the Oprah of Satsang that few weeks, dominating the Satsang, and rephrasing all that Avasa was saying ( rather than just asking him to rephrase it). She had sat with Gangaji, and was sure she was ready to be a teacher.
We're all teacher's, however, we just don't necessarily decide how we'll teach or what people will learn. Most of us are unconscious, wanting to be conscious teachers. It’s funny.

The brain, I want to discuss the brain again, and mental illness, etc.
I am certain that manipulating, and rationalizing, causes the brain to make new circuits and pathways that disturb the perfect brain we begin with. ( Just as making creating circuits can heal a disturbed brain). Of course, some of this happens because we are children who are not living in a healthy home and needs aren't met, or we experience some trauma that causes cognitive dissonance. (This can be a crazy spouse, who is very convincing.) I had one!

In religion, Christianity, for instance, there is a warning about manipulating and rationalizing, and so forth.
Christ spent considerable time (as spoken of in the Bible , ) talking about hypocrites. I think hypocrisy is caused by manipulating and lying to yourself and to others. Personality disorders etc. all stem from these practices.

When we have clarity about what we've done, it is called grace, because it enables us to straighten out our thinking, and operate from a clear, clean place of being, a more sensory right brain experience that is also involved with intuition, and some left brain activity.

Taking on 'beliefs' when one has this type of right brain experience re-involves the left-brain domination and from these beliefs we create there, we get the fundamentalists radicals; hypocrites, religious people who talk religion, and prayer, and who create havoc in peoples lives and never makes amends. These are out of control, but believable people,( because most of us want to believe people are what they say they are), but don't look at what people say, look at what they do.

Some people work hard to gain the cooperation of those who might help convince themselves they are self righteous people.
These people aren't to be confused with people who are 'confused' by manipulative people and who are trying to understand what the heck is going on by talking to other people in perhaps a very confused manner. (because being with manipulative people is very confusing).

The best thing you can do when you notice you are becoming confused around a person, who sends mixed messages, is get away from them. Run; don't walk to he nearest exit. And don’t go back.

The best thing you can do if you know someone who is being manipulated and confused by someone or a few people, is to confirm to them that they are being taken advantage of ( ask questions) and help them find a way to get out, at least temporarily so they can see the difference between sanity and insanity.

People, who are cynical most of the time, are dangerous people, self absorbed and usually intelligent enough to mislead others. People who claim to be something but who go against what they say they are, or believe in, are to be avoided at all cost.



People whose hearts aren't open, (right brain is heart, and works with inspiration (you can usually trust an artist), but left brain dominate people have closed narrow minds, because the heart is closed, thinking is then very limited, not broad and they are shallow or they talk a lot on code to confuse you. They have no compassion, but judge you instead or advise you, rather than listen to you and hear what you need to say.

Awareness, consciousness is expansive, people who have expansive minds, are usually balanced, but if they are hooked on being full time teachers, I would take a closer look. Can a person be quiet, and alone and not teaching and be happy? If so, they are probably safe.

People who are searching are admirable people, people who seem to know it all, (act over confident, or can't make sense, or are cynical) well, might be problematic.

And people who aren't good for their word, and don't carry through, aren't to be trusted and don't deserve your time.

People who don't support you when you ask for support, but who are arrogant instead, and who can't take a stand for right and wrong, aren't friends or family, have closed hearts and limited minds.. Please...make new friends. You don't need these people. They are usually lacking in integrity.

If you want to be a balanced person, you have to understand mumbo jumbo isn't helpful. If it doesn't seem to make sense, maybe it doesn't, But on the other hand maybe you have a closed heart and closed mind and can't understand because you are too limited, (dysfunctional).

I don't think of functional people as someone who goes to work everyday and gets a weekly paycheck, many alcoholics-and drug addicts do that, doesn't mean they are functional people. Function refers, to me, to how well the mind works, and is balanced with heart (compassion, listening, interested in learning, growth, change)
Right and wrong are always good indicators.

Look for good character, avoid bad character.


Creative endeavors are helpful for all people to balance the brain. Tasks like mold making is creative, but also requires thinking, it is very stimulating problem solving, and positive. 3 dimensional work helps the brain to balance, And of course, this is not done in our schools. Don't we want balanced children?


What we are, isn’t feeling or thought, what we are is something that uses feeling and thought in a balanced way.

We are good, we are good!

But if we aren't behaving like the good people we are there is an imbalance, a misunderstanding about what we are. If we don't recognize it and admit it, we are a danger to ourselves and to others. We aren't genuine, honest and balanced, and we can't know the goodness we are.