GRACE NOTES

We are each unique, just like everyone else.

The following passage was quoted by Nelson Mandala during his 1994 Inaugural speech.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson in her book 'A Return to Love'

photo: Pink Lady Slippers down by our Labyrinth

WILDFLOWER RIDE

We didn't start out on our back roads jaunt to look for wild flowers, but we found hillsides of delightful examples of native plants that were wonderful. We like to head out on the back roads and see where they take us.

If there was ever a community around this little church it is gone now. It sits at the bottom of a hill that must surely challenge the congregation during bad weather. It is steep and crooked. The scenery along the way was lovely but the real attraction was along the fence rows and in the ditch line.

Banks of Mayapples were all along the road side.

And, then there were large patches of Trillium. The plants were 20 inches tall, I didn't see any that had the flowers opened fully.

As we entered the shady wooded stretch we were also slowed to a crawl by the hairpin curves and the need to get out of the car to take pictures. Can you see the road down below. I think if you click on any picture you will see more detail.

A purple Trillium

A delicate little Trillium

This pink specimen was near the hillside of White Trillium that are pictured below.

Along the way I took pictures of flowers whose names I am not sure of so I will be checking the pictures against my field guides and do a second installment of our wildflower excursion.

The temptation to dig and carry some flowers home was really strong, but the sights we were seeing needs to be shared.

Take nothing but pictures.

Leave nothing but footprints.

Kill nothing but time.

SUNDAY STROLL (RAIN BARREL FESTIVAL)

This is one of the entrances to Dogwood Park in Cookeville, Tennessee. We have arrived to check out the Rain Barrel Festival created in part by the Storm Water Management folks who developed Rain Gardens around town to manage the rain run off and eliminate expensive storm drain systems when possible.

Here I have Flutemaker sit on one of the benches along the way. He is admiring the serene setting between the rose gardens nearer the main street and the park at the end of the walkway. There are no roses in bloom yet so I'll wait to photograph that area another day.

A close up of the tree that gives the park it's name.


The pretty sister tree, Pink Dogwood.

Entering the park proper you see some of the rain barrels that are offered to the public in a Silent Auction. You can also see some construction being done around the area of the Band Shell. Tiers of lawn are being developed where folks can set up lawn chairs or blankets to view the Pavilion where entertainment occurs. Shakespeare in the Park and Band Concerts are only two of the treats that are offered.

Here more rain barrels are set in front of the covered pavilion. There are plenty more barrels up on the band stand, sorry it is so dark. The barrels were painted by local artists, school children and a wonderful resource of Pacesetter clients (developmentally challenged folks whose art shows up at art galleries and fairs locally).

More barrels to bid on. The bidding started at $50. I saw some pretty steep bids placed on many. We did not get a painted barrel this time, but I put my name on a list for a place at the next workshop for doing your own barrel in about six weeks.

Here is the mock up of how the barrels will look at the base of an eaves trough. The downspout goes into the closed top through a screened hole. The top hose is for the overflow so the barrel doesn't burst from overfilling. The bottom tap is elevated off the ground so you can fill your water bucket. The water will be wonderful for gardens or what ever you need soft water for.

Back home I wanted to show you the scene from our front porch. The Dogwoods are understory trees and to our eyes look like snowy white clouds have settled down among the Oaks* and just float there. It is especially pretty driving along and viewing the cloudlike look in tree lots that surround meadows, pastures and cultivated fields. So pretty.
*Oaks leaf out very late, hence the barren look. My father remembered the old folks here in this part of Tennessee waiting until the Oak leaves were bigger than a squirrel's ear before planting tender crops. That would signal no more heavy frosts.

See who else recorded their stroll today at The Quiet Country House.

GRACE NOTES

Philosophy on the hurry up. Cliques and slogans can sometimes be very profound. I want to share some that at one time or another spoke to me. Humor is often a truth wrapped in a chuckle or a groan, a chance to view human folly kindly.

================================================

For peace of mind----

resign as general manager of the universe.

Larry Eisenberg

==================================

Cry a river

Build a bridge

Get over it.

Khushi

==================================

When the solution is simple,

God is answering.

Albert Einstein

==================================

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Gandhi

==================================

Do or do not,

There is no try.

Yoda

==================================

Never, never, never, never give up.

Winston Churchill

==================================

The highway of life_________

Always under construction.

Frank & Ernest (comic strip)

==================================

You miss 100 percent of all the shots you never take.

Wayne Gretzky

==================================

Those who dance,

are considered insane by

those who can't hear the music.

George Carlin

===================================

Fall down seven times

Get up eight.

Buddhist quote.

===================================

Life is either a daring adventure

or it is nothing.

Helen Keller

==================================

In going through my book of quotes I seem to have gathered a great number of short pithy sayings. I left many of them on the cutting room floor when I felt I had to edit down the length of the blog. "Oh well " as one of my sons is inclined to say.

Picture: an internet pass-along.

QI GONG

"Breathing in, I calm my body and mind,

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is the only moment."

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh is a marvelous Buddhist teacher and peace advocate. One of his main teachings is mindfulness. He teaches us to relax, breath deeply and to remember to smile. Living in the present moment we have no future to fear or worry about. Living in the present moment we don't have to regret or hang on to the past to confirm who we are right now.

Right now is brand new, filled with potential. Breathing deeply and smiling reminds us to relax and enjoy ourselves. You may not want to believe it but we can always choose to see things differently. We can't change what is happening, but we have a choice as to how we are going to proceed.

Most moments are neutral. How we are reacting is what gives the moment its meaning. So especially in times of stress remembering to make a quick adjustment with a deep breath and little smile gives us some moral support and a reminder that this too shall past.

Two or three deep belly breaths in a dire situation is akin to taking a tranquillizer. Slowing the breath, deepening it with a very slow exhale are always an option, totally natural and fills your brain and body systems with your own body's prescription. Just the right amount for you.

This is an introduction to Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese healing art and exercise which centers around The Breath.

SUNDAY STROLL

I tried all week to get a clear picture of Buba Hummer, but since he arrived last Monday "He who won't hold still" has defeated my efforts for clarity. But he is one delightful bossy bird. His LadyLove arrived Friday. Their family has come home for the summer.Also arriving to add color to our bird kingdom is the lovely and charming
Scarlet Tanager. His nervousness at having the cat and me on our front porch kept him some distance away in the Dogwood in the front yard. He sang for us and showed off his black wings and tail, but never came in for his close up.
The Dogwood is in it's early stage of opening up and is still in sepia tones. The petals will finish opening up to a beautiful pure white.

Gigi joined Flutemaker and me as we roamed the woods looking for Morel mushrooms. We look every year and are disappointed every year. And, of course, no one shares their Morel hunting grounds with anyone, often not even family.

We did spot a great number of yellow violets, so sweet.

My best bet on naming this swirl of leaves was found in the Great Smokey Mountains Wildflower book. I think it is Rattlesnake Plantain, I will visit often to see if spikes of tiny orchids show up between now and July. If you know it to be something else please let me in on the name.

Returning to the house I was please to see how far along the Lily of the Valleys have come. These fragrant little flowers line one end of the garage.

Along the back of the garage beside the Hollyhocks are the curious Money plant volunteers.

These Phlox live out on the hill that is the backstop for our target practice.

Gi Gi came back into the house and proceeded to demonstrate one of her favorite activities- Cat napping.

Please join other Strollers over at The Quiet Country House.

CRAZY QUILTING

Now--- making place mats is not high on my list of accomplishments, but as a Quilt Guild class project we learned a technique for cutting six layers of fabric at the same time, moving the top two pieces to the bottom and cutting across the whole stack again and again as you restack the fabrics. Finally you sew them back together for the finished effect. I had six fabric and now have six place mats. Some of the quilters had eight layers and so have eight mats.
My PRIDE is the fact that these place mats are now a sampler of the stitches built into my Janome quilting machine. I have had the machine for several years and never created a sampler to show me the variety of stitches available to me. Now I have these useful handy references to help me decide what stitch I want to use on future projects. I feel creative, efficient and very practical. Good on me!

GRACE NOTES

Over the years I have come to appreciate other peoples ideas that have changed my way of looking at the world. I call them 'Grace Notes" because I see a spiritual context and have saved these ideas in my book of quotes, they ring true every time I read them.

************************************************************************************

Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through my conscious thought.

Anthony Robins

************************************************************************************

There are no great deeds - just small deeds done with great love.

Mother Theresa

*************************************************************************************

Dear God,

I surrender this situation to you. May it be used for your purposes. I ask only that my heart be open to give love and to receive love. May all the results unfold according to your will.

Amen.

--A Course in Miracles --

*************************************************************************************

Success

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

*************************************************************************************

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can as long as you ever can.

John Wesley

************************************************************************************

I would love to hear other peoples favorite "words to live by" and if you would like to share with me here, please do. I will use them to create a future post. We are all teachers and we are all students helping each other along the way.

EASTER SUNDAY STROLL

KiKi
Trillum

Trailing Arbutus

Hosta and Pinks coming on as Daffidills wane.

pure of heart

Welcome home.

"Whatsoever things are true,
W;hatsoever things are honest,
Whatsoever things are just,
Whatsoever things are pure,
Whatsoever things are lovely,
Whatsoever things are of good report,
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things."

Phillippians 4:8

HAPPY EASTER

May you always know God's Grace in your life.

Visit other strollers at The Quiet Country House

GRACE NOTES

I am a collector of other peoples ideas. I write them down in a book . I am not alone, many people who have this compulsion do a double take when reading something that strikes a responsive chord. The next thing the person realizes, they have copied the words down on the flyleaf of the book, a slip of paper or the edge of the newspaper. We who are collectors have notes that flutter out of books, purses, billfolds, we find odd papers stuck in between recipe cards and telephone numbers. The book in which I record my quotes, poems and pithy retorts is stuffed with words yet to be enter on the blank pages.

I suspect someone reading through my book would be reading my soul and know me better than just reading my blog or talking to me. Thus, I think I will begin to use the middle of the week to share these items I have come to call 'Grace Notes' . Wednesday will be the day to copy out these favorite little thoughts and record them here in my journal.

With a nod to all who write down their thought I will start with the theme of writers

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Every writer should engrave on his/her wrist "There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." Somerset Maugham

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Writers Prayer--- I am one

Let me become many

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I have six honest serving men (they taught me all I know)

Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.

The Serving Men Kipling

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

"Begin at the beginning, the king said gravely, and go till you come to the end, then stop"

Lewis Carroll writing in Alice's Adventure in Wonderland

Until next time.

DOGWOOD WINTER

They call this Dogwood Winter because the Dogwoods have begun to bloom. We have two days of 30' or less with freeze warnings tonight and Tuesday night. I know plastic is not the proper cover for plants, fabric is preferred. But, we were in a hurry.

This is my tender beautiful Bleeding Hearts. It's snowing. I can only hope this will be some protection for them. But, if they die back it won't be the first time. They will have to survive Blackberry winter when it comes along as well. May 10 is usually the last date for hard frosts.
Spring generally doesn't spring forth in all it's glory, but comes teasing and enticing us out to play only to give us the cold shoulder a few times just to keep us on our toes.
This will be hard on all the pretty flowers and fruit trees that have bloomed. Being nipped in the bud is hurtful, but thankfully usually not fatal.

SUNDAY STROLL - REDBUDS

April is the month of The Highlands Redbud Celebration. The area just down off the mountain is called the highlands and the misnamed Redbud trees abound. The color is more like the color of Pepto Bismol. Events are scheduled all month in the name of the tree and fun is had by all. Yesterday there was music performed by the TTU Tuba Ensemble at the Cookeville Depot. (TTU is the Tennessee Technical University) There will be wildflower hikes at all the local state parks. A listing of the events can be found at http://www.redbuds.org/ There will be a Rain Barrel Festival and even something called Dragon Days. I'm sure you'll want to hop in your favorite mode of transportation and head on down to join in on all the fun.

Country roads and super highways are lined with the Redbuds.

It is breath taking to ride down the mountain and be surrounded by this delectable color.

The view any day is wonderful, at least to me. I never tire of the scenery as we go to town on any day. It is never the same. It is always a delight.

Can you dig it.
The Redbuds are the highlight now, but in a few days the Dogwoods will be in all their glory and the oohs and aahs will have to be shared.

To visit other strollers please visit The Quiet Country House

SPRING INTO THE GARDEN

We finally took our first trip of the year to the nursery and brought home three blueberry plants. Flutemaker tilled our garden and I did the planting, used a little home grown compost and toted the water. What a team. We'll put more in the garden as weather permits.


Here Flutemaker leaves the Hollyhocks against the garage wall. They have been there for several years and what was once a many colored display of flowers has settled on just a bright red. I should add new plants with more colors but I have really become very fond of this crew.


I also bought my annual herbs and onion sets. They will go in front of and beside this little plot of garlic. I want to till up the earth here and that will have to wait until another day. First I want to take up the lilies, bee balm and the wild geraniums. The English thyme can stay in the ground. Till or no till thyme is here to stay.
I want to resettle the perennials to the end of the bed or maybe somewhere else.
We aren't past our last hard frost date here but who can wait to garden until then. We'll just do what will work as we go along