Some of My Favorite Things

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe.

Mark Twain

I took the above photo yesterday morning while waiting for the bus. It was only 9:15 am, but it sure did look like very early morning or dusk.  It was so dark, but even though the sky may have looked quite ominous, not a drop of rain fell.  

I am really at a loss for words this morning.  Sometimes that happens. When I was playwriting, it was called 'writer's block'.  I guess it's the same thing with blogs. So, I hope you don't mind, but I went a wee bit camera happy. The following are a few more of my favorite things. 

The above candle holder is actually quite old.  I purchased it when we first moved the house where I had my magic garden. I guess that was about 18 years ago.  They are real dried flowers in the bowl.  They stay intact because the bowl is sealed shut. We have moved twice since I bought it.  That was my favorite place to live.  It wasn't much, but it had that garden, and I was able to work magic in it. 

Hubby purchased the jolly little salt and pepper shaker chef for me not too long ago.  He just 'knew I had to have it.'  He is often surprising me with these little special gifts.

I bought the above when we moved into our last apartment.  It didn't have a bathroom window so this little wooden window box planter provided did the trick.  While snapping this photo, I realized it is badly in need of repair.  It could do with a nice little paint job, and that glob in the middle is a piece of the ribbon that was broken off during our move. I'll be sure to show you when it is done. It's actually about 15 years old, so I guess it is time.  And finally....

The above is older than the candle holder, and I actually spent more on this little merry-go-round with its little crystal than I should have, but I had to have it.  I've always been a child at heart and this little gift to myself brought me great joy.  It doesn't play anymore, but I will never part with it.  Partly because of the childhood memories it brings, the magic of a carousel as seen from a child's eyes. 

When I was a child there was an amusement park called Bertrand's Island.  It was a once a week treat for me.  At that time, I 'even' was brave enough to ride the old rickety roller coaster, but there was nothing like riding those horses on the carousel and reaching over to collect those rings.  Carousel music is truly the happiest music in the world.

Happy is he who still loves something he loved in the nursery: He has not been broken in two by time; he is not two men, but one, and he has saved not only his soul but his life.
G.K. Chesterton

Book of the Month

The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles,
it distracts, it excites, it gives you a knowledge of the world and
experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.

Elizabeth Hardwick

As most of you know, reading is my passion, and every once in awhile I come across a book so good that I just have to share about it with others and I found 'The Flight of the Sorceress' by Barry S. Wildorf an exceptionally good historical novel.  I purchased it on my Kindle Friday evening, and by  Sunday evening had completed all 232 pages and was wishing for more.

The story takes place in the fifth century AD. during the time  when the  the Roman Empire is coming to an end and tells the story of two women--a Celtic healer and a pagan librarian-- who dared challenge the beliefs during an era when the oppression of women was believed to be ordained by God. I do have to say here that the book aroused strong feelings within me, and at one point, I became so angry with the events that unfolded, the massacre of innocents in the name of God, that I had to light a candle and take a few deep breaths to calm down.  And here we are, centuries later, and the same things is happening...all in the name of religion.

The main character pf the novel is Glenys, a young Druid healer and herbalist who is branded a sorceress and condemned to death when a young mother and her baby die while under her care.  It doesn't matter that the mother was barely 14 and too young to bare a child.  It was Glenys use of an herb which was obtained from the Jews that sealed her fate.  Glenys is forced to flee her native Britannia along with her lover, Caelleigh and her cousin, Pelagius , a monk.  The threesome set out for Rome in an attempt to persuade the pope to accept the Celtic Church...which, up to this point, is said to harbor heretical beliefs.

At the same time, we are introduced to Hypatia, the librarian of Alexandria and the last of the great Pagan teachers, a very real character in the annals of history, who is having her own struggles with the Christian fanatics. We follow her struggles  as she risks her own to save the library along with its many books of pagan and Jewish writings which are seen as a threat by the maniacal monks who threaten to destroy anything and everyone whose beliefs are different than theirs.

Along the way we are introduced to the Jewish herbalist, Aschi, who, along with his family and friends are also living under threat of persecution simply because they are Jewish.  And, Orestes, the Pagan Prefect of Alexandria, the bloodthirsty Cyril, the Archbishop of Alexandria who led the Christian mobs against the Jews of Alexandria, the evil monk Hierax, and Ignatious, the monk who tracks Glynys across the continent. All of these people aside from Glynys and Aschi really lived. I will leave you with the book description ...

As the Roman Empire crumbles, the Catholic Church fills the power vacuum by launching attacks on classical culture. Books are burned. Women are restricted from traditional occupations. The lives of pagans and Jews are imperiled. The Dark Ages loom.

But two women, Glenys, a Celtic herbalist and healer, and Hypatia, teacher, philosopher, mathematician and the last librarian of the great library at Alexandria, resist. Though one is branded a sorceress and the other an idolater, they refuse to surrender to the state-sanctioned religious leaders. Their struggle culminates in the cataclysmic events of Lenten week in 415 A.D.

Can anything be preserved?

Monday Morning This and That

Sometimes the most

important thing in a whole
day is the rest we take
between two deep breaths,
or the turning inwards in
prayer for five
short minutes.

Etty Hillesum

This weekend was rather quiet. I chose to use it as a time for rest and turning inwards.  Saturday I ran all of my errands.  Came back from the fruit stand with a lot of loot--lemons, watercress, cucumbers, fresh California spinach, vine tomatoes, and sweet potatoes for a beef stew I plan to make.  I also picked up some grapes.  Yes, I know, I was not going to buy them until the summer fruits ran out, but these grapes are different, and I am not sure if I would be able to get them in the winter. 

Although you cannot tell from the photo, these grapes are very small.  The dark ones are called 'Black Table Grapes'.  Although they have a lower sugar content than 'wine grapes', to me they are much sweeter and tastier.  The remind me of the grapes I used to pick on grandma's vine.  The green ones are called 'Green Baby Grapes'.  They are one of the sweetest and best tasting grapes of the fall season. They are full of sugar and must be eaten quickly as they will spoil, but that's not a problem here. 

Several months ago I tried to get a picture of a rather odd  tree across the street from my house, but my old phone would not allow me to send it.  It kept saying something like it was too big.  Now, finally, with my new phone, I am able to show it to you. 

Close up, its olive green leaves look waxy, almost like they are artificial. Each leave is enclosed in edges of yellow, and some are completely yellow, giving them a floral appearance. Any ideas what it is? I'm wondering if it is from China.  I do live one block from little Chinatown. 

As I passed the flower shop Sunday after Church, I couldn't help going in.  This was a part of my loot.

This is my second acquisition.  I couldn't resist.  It looked so colorful...and strange.  It also comes in other colors as well, but this one stood out to me. The woman told me what it is called, but her accent was so thick I didn't get it.  Why is it that I always look for weird?  Anyone have any ideas what it is? 

I also purchased some candles. This store also sells the best scented incense and candles I have ever used. They are made by Yankee Candles.  Has anyone ever tried them?  These candles are not easy to find in my area, and I am lucky to have stumbled upon one that does.  I've discovered that they are usually carried in authorized floral shops. Light one in the living room and the pleasant aroma spreads through the entire house.  And the scents themselves are spectacular....

From left to right--Black coconut, Pink Dragon Fruit, Sage and Citris, True Rose, Golden Sands, another Sage and Citris, and Midsummer Night.  How I ended up with two Sage and Citris, I don't know.  I'd thought I'd picked up Ocean Breeze.  But that's okay.  They all smell fabulous.  

Well, I am off to get ready to go to the center.  

Wishing you all a great week ahead.  Be happy and smile often. 

Have a Blessed Weekend

 

I took the above photo from the bus on our way home from Atlantic City as the sun was just beginning to set. To me, it is a symbol of the awesome beauty that surrounds us, beauty that is easy to miss in our busy lives. The Universe is a place of miracles, and these miracles happen everyday if we just take the time to catch them.

As another Friday rolls around, I am continuously amazed at how much I have been missing throughout the years. Each day I meet another friend and each day I find myself enjoying life more and more. I am appreciating all the beauty that surrounds me each day that I leave the house from the smallest insect to the vastness of the sky. Life truly is a gift, and in the words of the great lady, Mother Theresa.... 

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”

I had a Fabulous Time

In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.

Gordon B. Hinckley

Yesterday was such an amazing day that I just had to share it with you. We boarded the bus about 9 am and headed out.  Having never been to a casino before, I was amazed at the size of the place and utterly lost. Those who had been there before already had a gaming card, but I didn't have one so I had to go to the service area.  By the time I found it and got my card, everyone had pretty much dispersed in their own directions.  Then, it took me awhile to learn how to play.  Fortunately, I met some very nice people who showed me how.  

For lunch, I decided to be a kid again and headed out to the boardwalk and all restraint went out the window.  I had a hot dog with everything on it and cheese fries.  Afterwards, I bought a chocolate ice cream cone from the softee place.  Oh, man, did it taste good.  Then it hit me.  I hadn't had soft ice cream in over ten years.  Prior to this I'd lived 15 years in a Hasidic neighborhood, and since they don't eat it, Mr. Softee never came around.  It was so hot that it started to melt before I even got it to my mouth and a few drops fell on my blouse.  I didn't bother me any.  For one afternoon I was a kid again.

To be honest, the sun was glaring down so brightly that I couldn't really see the pictures I was snapping.

This seagull looked so cute that I had to get a photo of him sitting atop the ATM.  

Didn't think the first picture had come out so I snapped again.  Just as I did, he took off.  I was so disappointed, bit then later when I was able to see the picture, I was amazed that I was able to catch him in flight.

I was kind of disappointed in my proximity to the ocean.  This is the closest view I got.  At Coney Island, you can get full view of Mother Ocean from the boardwalk.  Here she is quite a ways away, and I wasn't dressed for a walk on the beach.  Better luck next month when we go.

We board the bus to go back to Brooklyn about 5:30 pm.  All in all, it was a great day, and I am looking forward to next month's trip.  I lost the original $25 that was put on my card,  but about 4:30 I said the heck with it and threw another five in (I hadn't wanted to spend any cash) and kept letting it ride.  Walked out with $35 which made me a winner.

Atlantic City

"Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone."
Unknown

Well, today I am off to Atlantic City.  My goodness, it has been 50 odd years since I have been to the Jersey shore. Not since my grandparents took me. I remember the awe I felt when I was first introduced to our great Mother Ocean. I was used to diving into the lake and had  never seen anything so vast.  I loved everything about that day.  I loved sitting on the sand and feeling the warmth of the sun, the sounds of the seagulls as they hovered about above me,  the fresh smell of the salty ocean water, the feel of the waves as they enveloped me.  I truly felt her power and fell in love with her that first day.   There could never be a more wonderful place for me.

Of course, gambling and casinos were unheard of back then. This could only be found in Las Vegas, not at the beach, oh definitely not at the beach.  That was a place for pure childhood fun. The closest we came to gambling back then was playing the pinball machines on the boardwalk.  Of course, this never happened until the sun began to disappear below the horizon. And what marvelous scents there were--hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy, the smell of peanuts roasting. So much gaity.  So long ago.  But still etched deeply in my memories.  There are some things we never forget.

And with that, I will leave you with a few more of my favorite ocean quotes.

"The Sea, Once it casts its spell holds one in its net of wonder forever."
  Jacques Cousteau

The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood,
and the sound of outer ocean on a beach”
  Henry Beston

“May your joys be as deep as the ocean, your sorrows as light as its foam.”

Unknown

Dragonfly

"Time is for dragonflies and angels. The former live too little and the latter live too long."

 James Thurber

The other day as I was walking to the store, a dragonfly came out of nowhere and hovered in front me.  It seemingly came out of nowhere and stopped right in front of me. It actually appeared to be looking right at me before it flew away.  Now, I am aware that dragon flies begin their lives in water and then moves into the air, but don't they tend to live near the water as well?  I have no ponds, lakes, nor rivers near me.  Granted, I live near the ocean, but for a little guy like that that is quite a distance away. I shrugged it off and continued on my way, and perhaps it all would have been forgotten if...

...on  the very next day I was reading a friend's blog, and discovered that Ellis  had posted a picture of a dragonfly. Then, a only a few hours later, I come across a post at Plumrose Lane 'D is for Dragonflies'. There are many adorable pieces available at Etsy.  Oh, if only I wasn't on a limited budget now.  (Sigh) Now, as a firm believer that nature is always finding ways to speak to us, I find that dragonfly's repeat appearances is all too coincidental in my book. There had to be some reason, so I began doing some research. 

In most cultures the dragonfly has been an object of superstition and everyone has their lore.  The Japanese held it in such esteem that it has become the country's national emblem.  In fact, in ancient Japanese myth, Japan was known as ‘land of the dragonflies’. Rice farmeers believed that Dragonfly was  the rice plant's spirit. In China, it is revered and respected as a good luck charm. The Chinese associate Dragonfly with prosperity and harmony. Some  Native Americans also held dragonfly in high regard and some tribes believed it was the souls of their dead; others held the belief that dragonfly was once a real dragon who was tricked into shape-shifting into its current form.

But not all looked favorably on dragonfly. On the contrary, many European countries viewed them as sinister insects that were sent by Satan and linked them with injury or evil.  In some places, the people believed that the dragonfly could sew one's mouth or eyes shut while they were sleeping.  Others held that it puncture your eardrum if they got into your ears. As a child, I was so afraid of them. That long stinger always frightened me, and I remember running away from them even more than I ran from bees. When they were flying about, trips to the lake became unbearable. Talk about screams. Everyone would come running. Perhaps my fear irrational of dragonflies stemmed some past life superstition. 

Whoever thinks of dragonfly as a totem?  Not I so I decided to delve into this deeper. During my research, I discovered that dragonfly represents the deeper meaning of life and symbolizes free spirit, illusion, swiftness, change, renewal, and transformation.    When dragonfly crosses your path, it is time to look at the changes needed in your life--how you view things, how you carry yourself, your spirituality, etc.  Some say it a sign of an arrival or receiving good news of some kind. I am sure am hoping to get good news when I call on Thursday.

Dragonfly is also a creature of the water....the dreaming mind, thoughts, the subconscious; hence, they are a reminder that we need to pay attention to our dreams. I've been having some pretty powerful dreams of late, several that I didn't need to write down to remember. I know these dreams have some kind of meaning, but what I don't know and haven't really taken time to delve into them. Dragonfly is telling me that I should ignore them, that they are trying to tell me something.

Dragonfly has a short lifespan and lives it life to the fullest in the short time it is allotted. Once it is able to fly, it never stops. In this sense, dragonfly inspires each of us to make use of every moment we have on this earth, to live our lives to the fullest and not to waste even one moment of it. Life is so much more fulfilling if we just take the time to enjoy the smallest things--the beauty of a rose, a sunset or sunrise, the feeling of the rain, a breeze brushing across your face. Life is made to be lived. Dragonfly reminds us of that.

On that note, tonight is the Blue Moon. If you can, try to get out and enjoy her. Celebrate her. Eat some blueberries or some 'blue cheese', listen to the 'Blues' or if that is not your style, how about some 'Bluegrass'? Slip into something blue and light a blue candle. Above all, don't allow yourself to feel blue. Have a great day. 

Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.
You must travel it by yourself.
It is not far. It is within reach.
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.
Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.” 

― Walt Whitman