Sunday, March 31, 2013

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge...



Hristos voskrese   ( Macedonian )

Xristos voskres (Russian ) 
Buona Pasqua ( Italian) 

fukkatsu-sai omedetō gozaimasu  ( Japanese)

Feliices Pascuas!  ( Spanish)


 

                                                      

Of course these are the English equivalents...not using the beautiful scripts of these languages...and there are so many other languages in which these joyous proclamations are being made.     Happy  Easter!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring on the California Coast 2013



Flowers are blooming and the otters are having pups.


 The calendar says that it is spring,  but I hear from many people that their  landscape isn't quite  singing that song  yet...


     Here on the the coast it is getting quite springy, so
               I've  shared a little of it with you.
                                                 
                                                                          ~~~~~

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Winter Storms and Springtime Beckons


The mustard is blooming in California's fields...





Long ago in my previous post on the last day of 2012,  I shared bay leaves as a symbol of  consistency, rosemary for remembrance and thyme associated with activity, thriftiness and energy, and since then all manner of work demands and other calls of duty have kept me busy. 

The phrase that it is "more blessed to give than to receive" comes to  mind, for although I gave those herbs to others with those hopes for them, I'm grateful to peek back at the last  two months and see that I am myself remembering to pursue activities with renewed intention, remembering my first love, and reining in some of the seemingly insignificant and yet wasteful ways in which I wander.  

Helping a senior member of the family downsize has helped my husband and me to be more energized about cleaning up our own paper trails and examining shelves and drawers for objects that we can toss, give away or sell now, at our seeming leisure. 

Challenges faced by loved ones reminds us how important investing in one's health is...and if others face rehabilitation after injury, illness or surgeries, what can the same application of effort do to a basically healthy body that does not often enough fight against the forces of inertia?





This week we planted five trees up north at the house where we raised our family. Huge neighboring trees had smashed through the back garden and taken out most of the mature fruit trees. There are tenants in the house and it is a long drive for us get there, but we were able to mobilize, get trees, get ourselves there and dig those holes and situate new trees just in time for the rain to water them. It is already rewarding, whether or not we ever eat of the fruit is not really the question.


  

I am grateful for the reminders I have received to be consistent, to remember those who have gone before us and to remember those who will come after us.  I am glad to be reminded to be active and to apply my energy in purposeful thrift with hope.

The storms of winter are not yet over, but it isn't too early to get ready for springtime, is it?

Jeannette