Busy, busy, busy, busy hands.....making pesto, pickles, zucchini breads for the freezer, cooking for friends and family, hanging sheets on the line. Solitary work only occupies my body. It allows my mind to float free. If I am calm and happy, I am in the astral world, a state of simplicity, harmony, order and serenity. When my mind resides in the astral world, I become a different kind of human being.It has taken me the better part of the two years since retirement to reconnect with my home, my garden and with nature, relaxing into the silence and enveloping calm of my farm, my daily habits and chores.
An easy recipe for happiness:
- Be grateful.
- Be optimistic.
- Count your blessings.
- Use Your strengths.
- Commit acts of kindness.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life." (Melodie Beattie)
"Knowledge comes, wisdom lingers." (Daisy Hickman)
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (Marcel Proust)
The spectacular view of the garden through my kitchen window;
I am grateful and blessed to have such beauty and abundance surround me.
The garden begins to deliver its organic bounty. We are grateful to receive it into our bodies, for nothing tastes as good as organic, home-grown veggies! We are optimistic that we will have a healthy tomato harvest, after the disaster of late blight in 2009.
Scott, Art and Harry are exercising their Second Amendment rights on the 4th of July. We all celebrate and count our blessings!
The Second Amendment guarantees us the right to own and bear arms. This right has recently been closely studied by our US Supreme Court. The Court has ruled by a majority that each citizen may own firearms (within certain State restrictions; only mentally stable adults, not having been convicted of a serious crime). Under the Constitution we have the right to protect our families, homes and property. History has shown that we are a nation prepared to defend global freedom. We owe the deepest debt of gratitude to all those who have defended us and freedom worldwide, and who have paid the ultimate price for our Constitutional rights.
God Bless America! God bless us all on Earth!
Jon and Peggie, as they prepare to move to a new home and practice opportunity. They are using their strengths in new ways and we wish them happiness!
Pure Prairie League in concert in our little town
Somerset PA, Saturday night, July 10, 2010.
I think that acts of kindness work in many ways; not just when we bestow kindness on others, but also when we receive kindness, which, like love, can flow in ALL directions.
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (Marcel Proust)
The spectacular view of the garden through my kitchen window;I am grateful and blessed to have such beauty and abundance surround me.
The garden begins to deliver its organic bounty. We are grateful to receive it into our bodies, for nothing tastes as good as organic, home-grown veggies! We are optimistic that we will have a healthy tomato harvest, after the disaster of late blight in 2009.
Scott, Art and Harry are exercising their Second Amendment rights on the 4th of July. We all celebrate and count our blessings!The Second Amendment guarantees us the right to own and bear arms. This right has recently been closely studied by our US Supreme Court. The Court has ruled by a majority that each citizen may own firearms (within certain State restrictions; only mentally stable adults, not having been convicted of a serious crime). Under the Constitution we have the right to protect our families, homes and property. History has shown that we are a nation prepared to defend global freedom. We owe the deepest debt of gratitude to all those who have defended us and freedom worldwide, and who have paid the ultimate price for our Constitutional rights.
God Bless America! God bless us all on Earth!
Jon and Peggie, as they prepare to move to a new home and practice opportunity. They are using their strengths in new ways and we wish them happiness!
Pure Prairie League in concert in our little townSomerset PA, Saturday night, July 10, 2010.
I think that acts of kindness work in many ways; not just when we bestow kindness on others, but also when we receive kindness, which, like love, can flow in ALL directions.
I have been happier - consistently happier than I've ever been in my entire life.
My beloved spouse, (...of 41 years!...alias "Mister Wonderful", alias "Mister All-Or-Nothing-At-All", alias "Slim Cookie", alias "Judge Slim Lebowitz"), has even commented on it! He is my 'Mirror of Truth', my 'Best Friend of the Heart', my 'Other Half', my 'Soulmate', my "Everything".... so it has to be be the truth.
I am grateful for so many things....all of them "biggies" in my mind. Some wouldn't think they are worth mentioning, but they are THE most important things to me, and more highly prized than jewels; my family and my friends (especially those who remembered and celebrated me on my birthday:)). I am so grateful for the rain and the sun;
grateful for my amazing friend (canine) Moses who is my constant companion; grateful for my strength of body, always so willing to take the abuse my WILL heaps upon it; SO grateful for my eyesight, my excellent mind; my heart that bursts and overflows with love; my senses (of compassion, altruism, fairness, of loyalty, of direction, of hearing, of balance, taste, intuition, time....and even my hot flashes).
I hope I have not sounded self-important or vain, as I am not any of those; especially in these times of suffering for so many, of economic stress, of terrorism, of discontent, of anger, of violence, of Earth Changes. This is NOT the time for 'self'.
I am simply filled with gratitude to God and filled with love......and I just wanted you ALL to know how very much I love you.........Max
My beloved spouse, (...of 41 years!...alias "Mister Wonderful", alias "Mister All-Or-Nothing-At-All", alias "Slim Cookie", alias "Judge Slim Lebowitz"), has even commented on it! He is my 'Mirror of Truth', my 'Best Friend of the Heart', my 'Other Half', my 'Soulmate', my "Everything".... so it has to be be the truth.I am grateful for so many things....all of them "biggies" in my mind. Some wouldn't think they are worth mentioning, but they are THE most important things to me, and more highly prized than jewels; my family and my friends (especially those who remembered and celebrated me on my birthday:)). I am so grateful for the rain and the sun;
grateful for my amazing friend (canine) Moses who is my constant companion; grateful for my strength of body, always so willing to take the abuse my WILL heaps upon it; SO grateful for my eyesight, my excellent mind; my heart that bursts and overflows with love; my senses (of compassion, altruism, fairness, of loyalty, of direction, of hearing, of balance, taste, intuition, time....and even my hot flashes).I hope I have not sounded self-important or vain, as I am not any of those; especially in these times of suffering for so many, of economic stress, of terrorism, of discontent, of anger, of violence, of Earth Changes. This is NOT the time for 'self'.
I am simply filled with gratitude to God and filled with love......and I just wanted you ALL to know how very much I love you.........Max
What a lovely and inspiring post, Maxine! And Moses ... I have wanted a white GS for so long. How did you find him? We have a schnauzer named Noah, but he needs a companion. My sister in Memphis has always had shepherd's ... loves them! Beautiful photos and kind kind thanks for the daisy hickman quote! I am deeply honored. I share your thinking in so many ways. Do you read Ekchart Tolle? He's my spiritual guru at the moment or shall I say, in the now?! There's so much to be grateful for in life -- you have brought it all to life here in a glorious way! My best to you, your family, and Moses, of course. --Daisy @ work in Sunny Room Studio :)
ReplyDeleteThought I'd jump back, share a couple of Eckhart Tolle quotes. "Even within the seemingly most unacceptable and painful situation is concealed a deeper good, and within every disaster is contained the seed of grace." Plus, "Whenever you deeply accept this moment as it is -- no matter what form it takes -- you are still, you are at peace." From his book: Stillness Speaks Have a wonderful week.
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