My lantana plants are such a source of joy. I have three now: purple, yellow-orange and red. I just love the ways their colors spread and change as they open their series of petals. Truly a burst of sun each time I gaze on them. :)
The windows of my soul I throw
Wide open to the sun.
~John Greenleaf Whittier
I look at this petite little daisy and I see the strength of one. In a sea of people we sometimes wonder if one person can ‘make a difference’, or if we really even matter at all. But I think we do, each of us!
I’ve been thinking a lot about SL’s post , which was a riff on an earlier post of mine. I think we both struggle with wanting to know what our place is in changing this world.
For me, lately, I have come to understand that I should be simple-minded in my efforts. I may not come up with a world-wide program for combating disease. I may not be a Paul Farmer or a Dorothy Day. But I can take pictures of flowers, and grow vegetables, and give a kind word. I can aim to have a welcoming home, where all can join in the simple pleasures of a good meal. I often play piano concertos on my record player and eat fine chocolate and hold a purring kitty on my lap. It’s all good.
In speaking of the women’s suffrage movement, Alice Paul wrote:
“I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.”
My efforts are my own little stone and I like thinking that they are a part of something bigger and grander than myself. Like one blossom in a meadow-full of flowers. :)
Photo: image of a purple flower with a bee sitting in the middle of the flower
Today’s photo is of the same flower and same bee as in a photo I posted last week. Which do you like better and why?
After Sara’s post about the emotions in photos, I’ve thought a lot about why some pictures “work” and others don’t. I get a lot of my inspiration from 3191, because their photos are so simple yet incredibly inspiring (they nearly take my breath away every morning—for example, who knew that two apricots on a paper towel could be so lovely?).
Photo: closeup of purplish round spiky flower
Not sure what this flower is–I encountered it at the Huntington Library. It was just so alien-looking that I thought I’d try for a photo. Because it was bright outside it looks a bit washed out on the edges. Were I to use photoshop I’m sure I could fix that….
We are all a bit weary around here. The Farmer’s Market was hot today and we went around noon-ish. This, after CatGirl’s slumber party at a friend’s house last nite and GameBoy’s 4 hour Wii extravaganza at Bonny’s cool beachfront place (and GB will arrive home momentarily from a pool party w/his D&D friends and will undoubtedly be exhausted). Add in to the mix the fact that John and I ate at the tastiest little French bistro before strolling to the Lido for “La Vie en Rose” last nite and you can guess that we are all ready for an afternoon nap! ( I am still digesting the best-ever melt-in-your-salmon from last night’s dinner…)
A part of me can hardly relax, though, because of all the excitement in the garden. We’ll soon be harvesting our funky purple-podded beans, early this morning I planted all of the basil and tomatoes rescued from Suz’s garden (yay!), and we bought the most gorgeous hidcote lavender bush at the Farmer’s market (just what I have wanted for years!) that needs to be planted when the weather cools a bit this evening. I also need to tend to the blueberry bush and mini-orange tree from Suz–I rather hastily placed their pots in the garden and I need to fertilize them and make sure that they are placed in ‘just the right places.’ Oh, and a friend gave me a copy of Pat Welsh’s Southern California Gardening and now I have so many new ideas/projects….
photo: orange daisy-like flower with dark mosaic center.
This flower was among those that I dug out from my sister’s yard in preparation for her move. I’m just loving it and its floral companions in my garden! Such a bright spot in my day :)
Today they load the truck and she&Chris&Pete&Stinky are on their way north. We are looking forward to croquet and DDR and Riverside nachos in their new home!
| You Are A Lily |
 You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize. |
To me, looking at this plant from underneath produces an effect that’s almost like looking at twinkly stars or at fireworks.
A quotation for today:
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”
~Eleanora Duse
This sunshine-y flower greeted me this morning in the garden. Just lovely!
For the past few weeks I’ve been doing a lot of research on eating locally, supporting family farms that grow produce and raise livestock on a small scale. In the process I’ve found a few helpful websites:
—Local Harvest: You can search for Community Supported Agriculture programs for your region
–Find a Community Garden near you and grow your own organic food!
–website of the 100 mile Diet, moderated by the authors of Plenty
–Barbara Kingsolver’s new book about eating locally: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
–For those who are interested in taking on the challenge to eat locally, I highly recommend subscribing to the “Eat Local Challenge” blog.
–For you who live near me (in SoCal), here are some links for some fabulous local foods: Winchester cheese (their super-aged Gouda is to-die-for), Temecula olive oil, and South Coast Farms (which is the best local CSA source, IMO)
My biggest problem in trying to source all of our family’s food locally is wheat. I know that wheat is grown within 100 miles of our home, but I can’t find any place to purchase the wheat. Does anyone have any ideas for me on how to do this??
UPDATE: The National Center for Home Food Preservation (for canning, pickling, etc all of that locally grown good-ness)
Also, see JohnH’s writeup of our local eating adventure last Sunday.
UPDATE #2: A list of OC Certified Farmers Markets with tons of seasonal recipes(!) included
Picture: green peach hanging on a lone branch surrounded by tree leaves.
My peaches are still a few weeks from ripeness, but I can hardly wait! This year my dwarf peach tree has gone crazy–so much new growth and so many peaches. Woohoo!
It’s Monday morning of Finals Week. It will be a busy one. I can’t believe the schoolyear is nearly over!
When I was younger I always had such big plans for the summer. This summer I am looking forward to the family reunion and some time with faraway friends. Also anticipating the long summer evenings (those are the best). And, of course, time in the garden. But I don’t have any HUGE plans. What about you?
Yesterday we picked two pailfuls of blackberries from our garden. The kids report that they are the sweetest ones ever. I am going to try my hand at jam again. It’s been a few years….
