1.25.14 Long Gone

Long Gone 

Early this morning 
the lot of us were
tangled in bed
fitted like a puzzle
dogs feet by
husband's head
cat curled under
bedspread

When suddenly there was
such a flutter
brushing
about the window
small bush outside
shaking

So, half of us woke
and got up
and went to the window
two of us leapt up
onto the windowsill
and peered out

Two remained on the
cold morning floor
Two footed and four
peeking out
curtains as cover

And there before us was a
flock of robins
happily devouring the
deep red berries
of the prickle bush
which remains all invisible
the rest of the year til

Come winter
it shines it's fruit
awake while all else
sleeps

Turning their heads they
noticed the line of us
cats dog person their disgruntlement clear as they
continued small leaps that
brought their beaks up to those
small rich berries
the flock of them filling
up

Later on
when the dogs and I
stepped outside
the bush was fair bare the
noisy flock fattened and
long gone the snow
falling once again the late
January temperature
dropping

1.7.14 Who's Been Sitting In MY Chair?

Who's been sitting in 

MY chair?

He says "Why do you keep jumping out of the car
and walking around in the frozen air,
and then come back in the car again?"
And the old one says "Oh, she always does that.
Just get used to it."

So, yeah, the constant waiting
while your person

leaps out of the car

to do something with that

little weird box

you try your best to

knock out of their hands.

Sigh. 

1.11.14 Sunset At The Oasis

Sunset at the Oasis

1.15.14 Hands Held Close Against The Night

Was racing from home, old and young dogs in tow, 

to pick up my beloved at work ,

 when out of the corner of my eye , 

the old Food Bank Farm 's vista called out. 

Thought I'd become mired in the deep mud as I swung in, 

the dogs all ' oh crap- here we go again..." 

But I just rolled down the window and captured 

the rich thick wet earth , 

the old barn standing guard in hot summer or frigid winter, 

the Maple that does grace the edge of the field, 

and then the sun setting- 

or earth turning away

( whichever floats your boat 

or eases you into deep untroubled sleep tonight)

As I finish up, to the relieved sigh of canines,
up goes the window, 

we rock the car a bit to get some mud leverage,
and then take our chance
and peel out, 

the splatter sounds of flinging earth landing along the road 

as we get back on track and

closer to beloveds and dog thunders through the woods

 and then quiet dinner 

with a sweaty well-worked- out- guy, 

and hands held close against the night.

1.18.14 The Towering Oak Births Maitake, and Now Fosters Reishi

The towering Oak births Maitake mushrooms some years, remarkable herbs. 

So this fall I brought one of two Reishi, miracle birth and all, 

from Umass to the Oak, and it has happily settled in , 

through subzero and spring weather and last night's small dusting of snow. 

See how magnificent they both are, really

- the broad Oak with its bright winter moss; 

and the royal Reishi, almost magenta, so dark. 

To prepare the Reishi in my formulas for my herb company, 

you purchase organic Reishi slices, 

cook half of them , 

then soak the other half in a crock pot of tea for three days or so , 

til the tea is reabsorbed,  then you dry the herb, grind it, 

and presto- powerful powdered gold for your health. 

Ah, royal Reishi.

1.22.14 Loving Someone Deeply

This morning, before the sun came over the range, the pink was already up and out of bed. The hint of orange on the edges, one pale cloud moving slowly overhead. 2° outside not counting the windchill. I went and stuffed the Birdfeeders and threw bird food all over the ground, Then drove Kevin to work and stopped by the river with the pup; to have a small visit with magnificence.
To me, as a New Englander, and possibly due to being a McLean McClellan , I simply lust for all of the seasons and all of the unpredictable changes. I am at home in wet cold rainy snowy days Tromping about the woods, the subtle greens and golds and browns a meal of quiet luster.

All those extremes.
It's like loving somebody deeply, and getting to know all different parts of them.

1.24.14 A Tromping We Shall Go

The winter evening approaches , the view in three directions of far off hills, towns, small cities . 
The sun begins its descent, as shades of orange and pink imbue the deep blue, lighter pale blue , and if you stand and gaze, a delicious teal rims the bright end of day.
Down in the lower field, I catch sight of the deep ravines, cutting through tall, steep hills; the view between all revealing the outwaters laid before me, where the duck and geese, fox and coyote do live.
The pup and I tromp down the steep field, pausing here to see where a mouse came above ground, with caution, to gather a few seeds for dinner, then without a step in any direction, wisely sent below ground once again .

We come to an old trail that connects with the marina some ways through the woods, and passes by enormous bridge ends somehow built with such large stone it is difficult for me to imagine how: silly me in this day and age, all knowledge of such things fled.
Here are the tracks of one large coyote and one tiny, so I imagine whoever took their semi-automatic to wildlife at midnight some weeks ago did not at least get the father and babe.
Though they should take care, as daytime hunting of coyote with semi-automatics IS legal by day, til March. 

Where a small quiet mouse emerged for a few moments, 

to gather some seeds, then wisely ran back beneath the earth

Not enough deer, so kill the coyote. Too many deer, so hunt the deer. Like a story to turn any which way one wishes.
As the pup races and leaps happily across the field, lapping and kicking up snow, I point out the coyote tracks so he shall know his neighbors . He comes over obediently to sniff and observe what I speak to him of.
I show him the back trail they use , and he sniffs, learning.
We reel round the lowest juncture of the aged field, once winter home to native peoples, and head back up the other side, the tops of each rise elegant in the fading light.
We pass by another traditional wildlife path that often is dominated, not legally due to conservation land, by young ones of my own species, in four-wheelers come summer, snow mobiles in winter.
But the raucous nightly activity has been strangely absent since the rat a tat tat that night weeks ago. 

The land left to its own devices, the coyotes bringing their kill to the trail's head . 

Down toward the stream and ravine stretch the tiny young cub' sprints, alongside the large ones of the father , and my pup, approaching 70 pounds now at 10 months, stops to smell and consider and learn of what occurred here.
As we head back up the hill , all the Witch Hazel winter blossoms and seeds have stood as meals for the birds, the remnants , of them taking their fill on these frozen days , scattered across the snow.
As we approach the house, my young one raises his head, takes a final series of leaps, and begins racing round and round the herb garden- thundering up to me as he considers a four- pawed leap onto me- but I pull him to- take him to task with a hidden smile , and he passes elegantly by, pulling round til I have the back door open. 

On cue, I stand considerately by, and let him thunder his delighted self back on home.

                          

1.22.14 Feed Your Birds

Feed  your birds lots of extra food so they make it throug the night.

NO BREAD. It fills them up and 

then they freeze.

This is the wonderful Kestrel Trust

http://www.kestreltrust.org/

1.22.14 Early to Bed

Early to bed

with good quality sleep

makes a person happy

and healthy

and nice to be with

1.23.14 Early Morning, Cooooollldddd!

Early morn, cooooolllldddd!

Somehow, a Phoebe is calling from the forest...could it really be?

Sun is thinking about climbing up the range; spilling over onto the conservation fields- then lighting up the outwaters of the Connecticut.

Crows are sifting through the compost , a young group of hungry early risers, as the pup refines a DEEP dug hole in the hard frozen earth, announcing his territory to the remnant coyote scent from last night.

The rabbit living in a burrow beneath the fallen limb of the Willow has visited the compost between coyote-go-to-bed time and crows-come-calling, their tracks a story of their own early morn.

The pup, 10 months now, sits along the back of the sofa,  once back inside from his adventures, curled behind my beloved, watching carefully as the birds swoop in and feed on the feeders of nuts and seeds and berries.

And all along the ground, a few skirmishes...cow birds, 11 Jaws arriving with great fanfare, as  a quiet Carolina Wren enjoys  the new peanut butter/lard suet. And the Downy Woodpecker family comes and goes with their offspring squabbling over that new exciting suet.

Dante lies on the sofa back, nestled to his person, his eyes wide, with young Shepherd mind contemplative.

And all of us here? And you? 

We all get to have another day.

Hope you relish yours. 

1.23.14 Shiva Louisa Got Acupressure Today...

Shiva Louisa, 16, got acupressure today, a little overdue (grimace).

Some terribly out vertebrae, two terrible disc displacements, sciatica, disc in neck.

But we did okay.

Then I pumped my too expensive organic Gwen's Magic OIl all down her spine for the 

inflammation and pain.

Dante graciously offered to lick up the extra organic oil,

and Shiva for once enjoyed something with him.

Then, she could come in the car without crying (!)

and have a little bounce to her sweet old step.

After all the hard, somewhat painful compressing

 of nerves and moving of vertebrae and discs back into place, 

she got to have the pup shut out 

while she chose from three fancy dog treats. 

See the smile?

1.24.14 Oh That Delicious Half-Moon

Oh, that delicious half- moon 
so close ; so bright 
filled the forest and the yard
in the deep of last night 
with brazen moonshadow
It's brilliant spilled light

Woke us all at six
through winter's thick darkness
streaming in the window
through the pale faded curtains
past thin glass panes
our wakened selves

Our eyes open
lying warm and stilled
bathed in
its sight

1.22.14 Small Hint of Half-Moon Whispering By A Cloud

How are you today? 

Here? -7 degrees with the windchill. 

Glorious. 

We managed the wild winter winds for a bit, down by the river,

the pup and I watching enormous ice floes

 edging their selves round the turns of the Connecticut

with much cracking and crashing,

as the bluest sky shone above,

small hint of half-moon whispering by a cloud.

1.21.14 Off In The Back Fields We Go

Off in the back fields we go, 

quiet end of day, 

letting the sweet old dog 

wander where she may

Then the young one gets to 

thunder about the conservation field

and then back inside, for the night. 

1.20.14 Grace Can Always Be Found

Grace can always be found in the forest;

as can the present moment.

The air filled with the pungent scent of Fir and Pine; 

all muffled silence, save the rippling stream.

1.20.14 Elena and I Went Walking

Elena and I went for a beautiful walk at Amethyst Brook, 

while the pup thundered happily through the woods. 

She took some photos and I showed her cool stuff about composition and editing. 

The brook's waters a shining ochre in the filtered sunlight. 

The sound of the waters audible throughout the woods. 

The wind gusts, and a shower of snow shimmers down through branches and light 

to the brown cushioned pine needle forest floor. 

The bridges over streams and tributaries so much fun; 

the air cold and crisp and full of life.

1.19.14 No

The winter that

moves my 

heart and 

mind and 

genes and

delight and

itchiness and

outdoorness and

never ever

ever ever

tires me

no

1.19.14 On A Day Like This

On a day like this

anything is possible

1.18.14 January Thaw

Something about
the quiet forest neighborhood this morning -the slow lazy 

Saturday waking
the clarity of the path necessary foreword
the sleeping in next door with kids elsewhere

One wondrous man
his coffee in hand
leaning in to my urging
to buy that plane ticket
and put off the roof;
the unfinished bathroom

...a riot of avians at the feeders before me
the enormous pup lying across the back of the sofa, watching

As we drift with certainty
from January thaw
to getting down to the seriousness
of New England winter

As quiet true realizations arrive
bidden or not
on a dark winter morn
that take root
in your rich life's soil
and if you do the work
shall grow

1.16.14 Our Sated Way Back Home

Outside , the cloud cover, weighted, presses upon darkening woods, as the pup and I climb out of the car, send my husband off to work out, and begin our tromp up the steep forest path, far enough up that I then pull him to me, and unclasp him from the leash- then watch as his growing Shepherd self bounds through thick woods, all the while keeping a careful eye upon me.

Along winter-fragrant path, scent of softened, color drained leaves released beneath foot and paw, the cushion of golden pine needle here; rich green moss there; the stream still singing as the waters race past us, down the mountain's ravine.

We leap across the waters, then the pup stalls at a particularly pungent spot, though not dead, as there is no ardent sniffing- then vigorous rubbing of shoulder upon the

I do sigh, frustrated, as I stretch my legs and climb up the steep rise, anticipating nippy-bored-later-in-evening-dog-

Whilst the rain slowly transforms to the smallest January snow - the air warm, so some transient cold cloud must be rangling by, far overhead , up past the waving treetops ,

As he and I both gaze up into the near darkness above us at thousands of small flakes making their way through bough and branch, down slowly in the night breeze, to us, only to diss spear upon the soft forest floor.

Growing drenched now, filled the both of us, with forest and pine microbes , small snow and wet leaves, we leave the stream behind as we manage up the hill , to turn toward the path that brings us up short with the road.

Leash back on, his long fur woods-wetted, I gather his growing enormity in my arms, tight, my face in his ruff- his smile as he laps and nips, then quick cross the black night road we go , between errant passing cars , unseen,

as we lumber our sated way back home.

1.10.14 The Old Ways - Restoration for All

Last night, we were on the quiet dark Shiva Louisa old dog pleasure meander, on the almost melted snowblowed paths . I follow, as she makes her way to smell the scent of the possum at the compost , the youngster and teen coyote tracks in the field 

( where are the parents, I wonder; always together always before) .
She snuffles the moss, ever alive alive beneath the snow , and delights in following the scent if the revealed mouse tunnels snaking here and there.

So many creatures torpid or hibernating. All my toad friends and their new crop of toadlets. The neighborhood snakes fast asleep. The chipmunks.
The bears, hibernating, pregnant , in the woods. At sometime giving birth, asleep , the brand new cubs nursing and snuggling and playing, til one day, their warm furred source of food opens their eyes and sees them and gets UP!!
Trees resting, all of nature in some way conserving, recharging their reserves in this cold dark time of rest and rejuvenation.

And so here we humans are. Despite the tantalizing and engaging presence of electric lights and television and computer and social media so accessible in our lives.

Trying to remember the wisdom of our ancestors. The old ways. Restoration.

That kept them stronger and wiser and more stable and happy. Warm foods. Warm feet. Good water. Lights out at 10 or 11. Slower life in cold dark winter; faster life in light hot summer.
Give yourself the good care you need. Let yourself recharge this winter..and bloom and prosper , come spring.

1.5.14 Big Sky Moment

Honest. I just went by one of our local dairy farms. 

Got out of the car, and there it was. One of those Sky moments. 

I ran out back, jumped up on a rock, 

gazing as the wind blew 

and the cloud formation kept shifting and shifting.

Took a few photos , 

and then went shrimping through the snow 

to say hi to a very affectionate Jersey, 

and a huge, young, first-time pregnant cow, 

who tossed my hand aside, Thankyou very much!

As the beautiful passel 

of black and white Bantams 

searched the hay pike for seeds,

and the magical sky disappeared without a trace.

12.14.13 Consider Learning About Aging - So You Relish Today, and Manage Well Tomorrow

There are many things worthy of a little of our attention. Aging is one of them. Because if we avoid it fear it, flee from it, try to avoid it, it comes back to bite us. Hard. Because, it IS. 

Why not take a deep breath, and peruse. Consider. How can I experience this day and the days I have to come, however many there may be for me, with ease and comfort? How can I relish what I am able to do right now, within the gratitude and delight of now, and acknowledging that some day, if I am here long enough , I will be unable to do these things. Just is.

I figure you DON"T want to find yourself 78or 85 or 93, and in shock and all up into it about leaving your home or being in a facility or being unable to drive or walk. These things are INEVITABLE if you are lucky enough to live long enough.

So yeah, in my practice, I see so many 60 , 70, 80, 90 year olds. Sheer ignorance keeps people repeating the ill-informed mantra of "Oh , I don't want to hang around til I'm 90". Fiddlesticks. The 94 and 95 year olds I know are happy to be here. One has a walker. ONe lives with their kid, and treadmills for 20 minutes a day. Both take supplements.

OF the younger older people, many have come into settle down their COPD (nicely, I may add, to the shock of their doctors (WHAT have you been doing? The doctor asks, comparing this Xray with last year's.) They come in to improve their hearing, their sight, their mobility, their cardiovascular function.

As a Health Educator, I describe supplements and do bodywork that helps assess organ and system function. I suggest supplement to look into. I write texts with products and ingredients to share with their doctor, who either needs to be willing to look up these things and cross reference with meds, or be already informed. Dr. Brummer is a local Integrative MD who is very willing to examine a possible supplement protocol and cross reference it with medications for older people I see, to ensure safety and judiciousness.

The things that begin to happen as we age are not OLD AGE THINGS. Listen to me. They ARE the consequence of repetition, of how long that knee has been around, yeah. But so many of these issues are addressable. And if you address them before you need meds, it's far simpler,faster, safer, and more effective. Cross referencing with additional blood tests to confirm the effectiveness of supplements ensures safety.

So, look at learning about your self- Physically, Emotionally, Mentally, Spiritually, as a whole new area of interest- self interest. Self investment. In feeling good and functioning well, and optimizing your options. Really. So very very much is very very possible.