Why Celebrate Winter Solstice?
Happy Winter Solstice! (arriving at 3:35 PM Mountain Time today) For us in the northern hemisphere, winter … Read more
Living Intentionally
Untapped Power – Dorothy Needed an Instruction Manual
My grand-daughter Sonya and I went to see the Wizard of Oz in 3D last night at our Nature and Science Museum. This is the original 1939 version, remastered. I realized I had never seen this movie on a big screen, 3D or not. Not only are the twister and flying monkeys … Read more
The Smell of Rain – Small Wonders
Denver Rain – a Time for Wonder Rain is an infrequent event in Denver. So Saturday, when it began, I ran outside to breathe in that earthy fresh smell of new rain. It happens just at the beginning of a storm. There’s a name for that scent. It’s petrichor. Plants and bacteria living in the … Read more
Connection – Pumpkin Essence
I feel stretched between seasons. Just a few weeks ago I could pop raspberries and tomatoes into my mouth as I walked out the door. But today it is 25 degrees with large white flakes swirling outside my window. The garden exists mostly in my memory. Mostly. Because there are seeds and dried herbs on … Read more
Butterflies & Alignment with Beauty
Am I the only person who didn’t know that caterpillars disintegrate into a gloppy mess inside their cocoons before recreating themselves as butterflies? I found this out only recently and realized my original ideas about the change were loosely based on whimsical children’s books. What a surprise – they did not provide a lot … Read more
First Snow Energy – Respite
It’s a snow globe in Denver this morning with huge white flakes swirling and floating to the ground. I’m not happy that we have snow on October 13th, but it’s hard not to appreciate how beautiful it is. There is an energetic feel to the first snow. Beauty is an obvious part of that … Read more
Releasing – A Different View of Autumn
Leaves are changing color, nights are chilly, the sun is lower in the sky. We are one week past the autumn equinox and it feels like Fall has settled in. Autumn has historically been a time of gathering and storing for winter. Celebrations of harvest and thanksgiving were popular. And even though many … Read more
Basil, Basilisks, & Creating Meaning
The sweet fragrance of basil (Ocimum basilicum) is filling up my kitchen as I make some final batches of pesto before summer ends. (Click here for my vegan pesto recipe.) From pizza, to sauces, to pesto, most people know basil as a culinary herb. But it has been used as a medicinal herb … Read more
Zenith as Mindfulness Focus
It’s that time of year when the garden is a tad out of control. Pumpkin vines have invaded the apple tree and pumpkins are hanging among the apples. Amaranth is leaning against the fence because it can no longer support the huge plumes. Some of the sunflowers have fallen over in the wind, … Read more
Ancestors & Apple Trees
The Ancestor Connection My love of gardening comes from my parents and before that my grandparents. There is definitely an ancestor connection to caring for green things. And this year I can’t look at my tiny espaliered apple tree without thinking of my father. My dad tended apple and pear trees for as long as … Read more
