Year 2 – Day 136 – 05-24-13

Friday: San Felasco Hammock

What a week! Two weeks left before Summer Break begins and both weeks are 4 days. (sigh)… I am ready for some much-needed down time. Three day weekend ahead and I am looking forward to taking some pictures, water walking at the fitness center, watching the bird webcams and simply relaxing.

Over the weekend I have so many things marked that I would like to watch and read on the internet. The Red Tail Hawks are growing so big and the Great Blue Herons are hatching. Big time “birding” in my life now. (grin) Life is good!

To My Grandchildren: Hey Kiddo’s! I went to San Felasco this afternoon to decompress from school and thought about all of you and wished we could all visit the park together. It was quiet today, no kids or other people. When I go to the park after school I and no one is there I often love it because I am going there to be quiet, spend time doing some meditation and just being part of nature. There are other times I love going because there are kids and family’s having picnics and playing on the play ground. It is a wonderful little park.

Quote: “Condemning others as bad or sinful is a way to feel righteous. Such a feeling is a powerful mood alteration and can become highly addictive.” ― John Bradshaw, Healing the Shame that Binds You

Year 2 – Day 136 – 05-23-13

Fountain at UCG

I work at the United Church of Gainesville in 1998-1999 (I think). One of the things I enjoyed was having this fountain outside of the office. Since I worked directly across from it I had the pleasure of hearing the water along with a fountain inside the office. It was so soothing. I had to stop in the office this afternoon for something in regards to the church and I have decided I need to add a fountain to my classroom! Any one have a much smaller fountain for inside they would donate to my classroom? (grin)

Today, I looked around my classroom and thought about this past year. One thing that was hard for me was to spend half the day in another teachers classroom. She was not open to my methods or abilities, but everyday I spent the last of the day in my classroom with students who appreciate my style. Hopefully, next year I will not have to travel to another classroom.

My seniors are finished in my class and they all did a wonderful job and they are so ready to get out into the world. They will be with me one more day and their free education will end. Some students will begin working full-time jobs, some will go to college or learn a trade and the sad part there will be some who will have a lot of difficulty doing either. One thing I hope they take away from my class is the idea of finding peace in their lives. I asked them to tell me two things: something positive from their senior year and something positive from being in my classroom. Several of them told me it was peaceful in my classroom and they liked being able to express themselves. I have to say I liked hearing the good things. One student told me the positive was the music, even though he did not like it at all in the beginning (grin).

To My Grandchildren: Hi Kiddo’s! I am going to let you know ahead of time, I will be asking you about the positive experiences you have at school.

Quote: “Peace begins with a smile..” ― Mother Teresa

Year 2 – Day 135 – 05-22-13

End of the Day…

I had a very busy day! It was a good day and my eyes are fading fast here…

To My Grandchildren: I really wanted to tell each of you “Hello!” I am thinking about you and I love you pieces. It is the end of the school year and I have ten days until Summer Break begins. So, I am tired and going to keep things short.

Quote:  ”Mindfulness meditation doesn’t change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart’s capacity to accept life as it is. It teaches the heart to be more accommodating, not by beating it into submission, but by making it clear that accommodation is a gratifying choice.” ― Sylvia Boorstein

Year 2 – Day 134 – 05-21-13

Storm Moving In…

I think I really got lucky with my picture today! Right before I took this picture I had run into Mother Earth and ordered my veggie juice, hoping to get in and out before the storm. As I was driving home (veggie juice in hand), I looked up and thought WOW, the sky is beautiful. So I grabbed my trusty point and shoot out of my backpack, rolled down the windows and opened the sunroof and had fun with the sky. (At the stop lights of course, well for the most part.) I loved how the two sky’s came together with the beautiful blue in the middle.

Earlier I had the opportunity to take some pictures of the Osprey on the ball field at work, but my point and shoot isn’t powerful enough to get a good picture. I miss seeing the birds everyday, so I need to make a point of bringing my good camera to school because they are so beautiful. I am very involved in watching all the webcams from Cornell Labs.

My interest in the birds really magnified itself last spring when I found the webcam for the Great Blue Heron’s nest in New York, they were so majestic and the little ones looked like dinosaurs. Then I found the Red Tail Hawks and from the hawks I found the Osprey. The birds have been a gift. When I see something dart across the sky I try really hard to see it, because I really want to see a Red Tail Hawk soaring. Sometimes I think I see one, because the sun is shining just so on the tail and I want to believe the tail is red.

The Hawk in medicine cards is interesting as it talks about the “Hawk” being a messenger. Flying over your life, circling it to examine from a higher perspective. Going to re-read later and really look at what the Hawk message is all about.

To My Grandchildren: I would love to experience the birds around the ocean with each of you. From my youth I remember the pelicans and the seagulls, they were everywhere on the beach. The seagulls made so much noise, if you sit quietly you can hear the song they are singing together. The biggest treat in the world is sitting at the beach in the early morning, as the sun is rising and watching the birds begin their day. Beautiful…

Quote:  ” He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” - St. Francis of Assisi

Year 2 – Day 133 – 05-20-13

Storm Moving In…

Thought I would try to get my picture posted before the storm. Miss Bella is in her Thunder-shirt, have the candles ready and iPad is loaded with energy. (grin) I think the sky is always pretty before a storm. When I finish with my picture and blog I am ready to sit back, relax, hold Bella and enjoy the energy surrounding us.

To My Grandchildren: Hey Kiddo’s! I have to say I did not care for storms growing up, but have come to appreciate their strength and energy as I have aged. Some of that has to do with hurricanes and my fascination with the hurricane. In the era of the internet that fascination has grown because I can track them and watch them on the internet. I think about growing up and my mother always trying to make the hurricane out to be fine and I could tell she was terrified. I know now it is because she worked an aftermath of a hurricane in South Florida after she finished college. Interesting what you think of when you are older.

Quote: “Every step we make has the power to heal and transform.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Year 2 – Day 132 – 05-19-13

Bird Watching Day (grin)

Throughout the day I spent time with the Red Tail Hawks, Great Blue Herons and Osprey’s, through the Cornell Lab’s webcams. I really love this insight into the world of birding. The picture above was taken with my iPad (grin).

The little ones are Red Tail Hawks and they are growing so quickly. The fun part of this nest are the Starlings, as they come and go through the black pipe to the left of the picture. Serious birders are not happy with the Starlings, but I find them to be comic relief! It is fun to watch the chicks watch the Starlings. It is also fun to watch Big Red (mom) and Ezra (dad) stand in front of the pipe. The little ones follow the Starlings around. There is a nest in the pipe, apparently the Red Tails keep a close eye on them, but leave them alone.

The other thing I have done all day long is watch “OWN” and way too much Oprah! In between the birds and laundry, I have been watching Oprah’s life classes. I think when I finish here I am turning everything off and reading! I will admit I have enjoy the various interviews.

To My Grandchildren: I hope you all grab a little interest in the birds around you. If you stop and simply listen they offer some wonderful music!

Quote:  ”How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards.” – Spanish Proverb

Year 2 – Day 131 – 05-18-13

Bella Day!

Today, Bella and I spent time at two of her favorite stores, picking up food and doggie bags. She loved everyone she saw because they all had to pet and love on her. She even made friends with a beautiful Pitbull named Buddha. I took a pictures along the way as we made our way through town. But, it was the Magnolia Blossoms calling me again today. The blossoms on the tree outside my apartment do not last long because the extreme heat and sun burn them up pretty quickly.

It is not as easy for me to take Miss Bella out on her social visits as it use to be, I have to control her and use my cane at the same time, it is a challenge. We did pretty well along the way (grin). My backpack is an important part of my accessories these days. The OT who I see every other week for cane training has really helped me figure out how to be a little more independent. This is a big deal for me.

I have come to love “Sharpies” and I mark up everything I can, with dates and information. First thing I do when I bring in groceries is mark the expiration date on most things. This has become important to my health (grin)!

To My Grandchildren: Hi Kiddo’s! It is really hot here today, up in the 90′s! We had a very strange winter and spring. It was either really hot or really cold. I hope you all are playing outside and enjoying the sunshine.

Quote:  ”Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Year 2 – Day 130 – 05-17-13

Weekend Ahead!

It is Friday afternoon and I am thrilled! I have had a long week, but a good week… Now I am ready for the weekend! Three weeks of school left and then summer vacation.

The weekend ahead is looking relaxing and soothing. I am keeping my comings and goings to the minimum and going to enjoy some much-needed healing and down time.

I have begun the quest for a new place to live, less expensive and I hope closer to nature.

To My Grandchildren: Hey Kiddo’s! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead of you. When I think of weekends I had as a child the one thing I remember was taking off on my bicycle and riding all over West Palm Beach. I do think it is sad kids cannot do that today for many reasons. My bike was simply wonderful and took me to the tennis courts and to the beach. There is a bicycle trail in Palm Beach that is beautiful. I am not sure if it is still open, but you would get on it at the third bridge and ride it down the inter-coastal waterway until you reached the Palm Beach Inlet. I loved riding up and down this trail, with all the beautiful mansions.

Quote:  ”Tennis is mostly mental. Of course, you must have a lot of physical skill, but you can’t play tennis well and not be a good thinker. You win or lose the match before you even go out there.” - Venus Williams

Year 2 – Day 129 – 05-16-13

A Peaceful Day

Those three words say it all, today was a “peaceful” day and I am thankful. I think it has been awhile since I could say I had a peaceful day, especially at work. So, I really want to pay attention to the gift today has been.

I have been making some decisions and life seems to be less cumbersome. Not sure what all of this will mean, but I do know I really need to listen to myself when I hit a wall. All of my adult life I have worked hard and often worked several jobs. The hard part has been accepting my life has changed. I have been trying to do too many things all at once, multi-tasking is less and less available to me these days. I had this sense I needed to fix things and do it now. (grin) If I fixed it now all would be good.

Breathing is easier! Even yesterday during the eye-shot (yuck) I was able to concentrate on my breath and stay calmer. Made for an easier night last night and an easier day today. I need more of these!

To My Grandchildren: Peaceful… today I had time to sit and look at all the pictures on my phone! I love having that ability… I put my phone under my CCTV at school and I could really see each of you. I think I am going to have to put pictures of you on my iPad. The pictures and videos make me smile.

Quote:  ”Our most important task is to transform our consciousness so that violence is no longer an option for us in our personal lives, that understanding that a world of peace is possible only if we relate to each other as peaceful beings, one individual at a time.” - Deepak Chopra

Year 2 – Day 128 – 05-15-13

Beauty before Eye Shot…

The afternoon brought about another visit to the retina specialist and I ended up with another shot for Macular Degeneration. It is always difficult for me to sit through the procedure. I took the picture of the Magnolia Blossom after school and before the shot.  I kept the look of the blossom in my mind and used it for a focal point during the procedure. I think over the weekend I am going to look at all the pictures I took this afternoon and find one that I will take with me to the doctor’s office next time.

The doctor already gets a kick out of me bringing my music. He now checks to make sure I have it playing on my phone. He waits for me to take my deep breaths before he begins the procedure. I think I have him trained! After a year he seems to completely understand I have panic attacks and this makes his job so much easier! They also know I have to sit there for a little while after the shot before I try to leave. Deep breaths…

To My Grandchildren: One of the biggest reasons I am continuing to have these shots is because I want to keep the sight I have so I can see you and watch you grow into adults. I treasure each visit and every time we FaceTime on the iPad. I love you to PIECES!

Quote:  ”If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.” ― Masaru Emoto