So Little Time...

Since I began blogging, I find that I spend more time on the computer. That's ok, except one thing leads to another and soon I've spent several hours and have little or less to show for it. But there is always some enticing thing to read, to look at, to study. Who knew that I had an aptitude for surfing the net?

So, I need more time to spend on my blogging pursuits.

I also need more time to study the Reiki initiation that I got while surfing the internet. I want to learn this, as I've wanted to "have" Reiki for many years. Now that I have it, I want to get really familiar with it.

Next, I need more time to read a series of books I discovered (yep, on the Internet) about Merlin, the wizard, as a boy. I love to read, but reading takes time, and I'm finding I already didn't have enough.

Now that Spring has taken up residence, I'm going to need time to devote to my garden. I really enjoy spending time doing gardening chores: weeding, pruning, puttering, dawdling, smelling the flowers.

It seems that so far I've stolen the time I'm wanting from my time spent shopping, cooking, cleaning, and grooming. Yes, the house is a bit of a mess, the fridge is empty and I hope to get the laundry done before I run out of clothes.

But I'm having so much fun with these new technological toys, that it's difficult to employ even the smallest degree of discipline. I've spent YEARS shopping, cooking, cleaning, and grooming....and they all just need to be done again and again. So, I figure I'll give them AND me a few moments, (days? weeks?) off. I'm taking a well earned holiday from domestic responsibility.

Surf's Up!

Green, Part 2

Last night, as the sun was going down, we looked out and saw deer walking along the grassy area near the trees. Two yearlings were strolling along, without a care in the world. They were so lovely, peaceful, graceful.

We enjoyed them until they were out of sight.

Then I thought of the grass. The Chemically treated grass that they had been walking on. I began to worry about them eating any of it, or having a small cut on their feet that allowed the chemicals into their body. Just as I began to obsess, I let it go. The grass isn't going to kill them.

What's going to kill them is that we're in the middle of a populated area here. There is a freeway less than a mile away, and a major street just a few blocks away. They could stay in our little wooded area, but it's less than an acre in size.

I hope that they are on their way to somewhere better and that they have a safe journey.

It's not their fault that we've taken over most of their natural habitat.

I feel another rant coming on. Someone stop me.....

It's not easy being Green

Yesterday the ChemLawn guy was at our apartment complex spraying the grass. I was working in the Community Garden area, preparing my little patch for the upcoming tilling. I wanted to leave the area, because I'm sure that breathing those chemicals (that's the Chem part of ChemLawn) cannot be good for anyone. But, I only had a small window of opportunity to work in the garden, so I stayed. Bad choice.

The rest of the day I had a headache. Not the kind I normally have. This one wouldn't be cured by aspirin or alleve, or even sudafed. When I went outside later in the day, I noticed that he had posted little "Danger, stay off the grass" signs all over.

Now, I realize that something is needed to keep the lawn under control (as a nation, we're obsessed with controlling the grass). I appreciate that the bug population is minimized, and that the dandy lions aren't allowed to flourish (although I always enjoy a few!) and that we have a nice, green color to the lawn.

But Danger signs? Come on! And we are only one little complex in one small little town, in a medium size state, in a pretty large country. If we're doing this, I'm pretty sure that others (most others) are doing it as well.

One of the many gardening catalogs that I received this year was one that was promoting healthy grass techniques. They said that many schools and hospitals are tired of the "Danger" signs that come with Chemical Lawn control. I thought about it for awhile, and considered starting a small business that cares for lawns in a natural, normal way....but like most ideas, it came and went without me doing anything about it.

Now I'm not so sure. I'm going to look into this as something that might actually be a good idea!

And it's not just the lawns. While going through the various nursery's looking for plants, I smell the Chemical section and avoid it with a vengeance. I always get a headache if I walk down that aisle, or even near it. What alarms me is that these chemicals are available to the general public. And they use them! Driving around last week I saw numerous people out with sprayers and small machines spreading this stuff on their yards.

Am I right to be worried?

For years, I've maintained that most people with allergies are NOT allergic to grass, hay, flowers etc. They are allergic to the chemicals that are used in the growth and maintenance of these things.

Ok, it's time to stop. Otherwise I'll begin to rant, and that will give me another type of headache.

Please tell me I'm not alone. That someone out there is concerned as well. Someone? Anyone?

I've done it again

Yesterday I stopped in at my favorite plant store. I've been avoiding this, because after being flower deprived for so long, I tend to go crazy and buy too much.

So, I decide I'm going to just look and enjoy the plants. I left my purse in the car so that it would be more troublesome to purchase anything. I looked, I enjoyed, I began to visualize arrangements and groupings in my garden. I started collecting, and next thing you know, I'm running back to the car for my purse. $50 later, I'm on my way home wondering what in the **** I was thinking.

It's too early to plant anything. These plantlings are very small. I SWORE I was not going to have trays of seedlings moving around our apartment this year. I was going to plant mature specimens.

This morning I went into the storage locker to find the trays to put my little plants in. I know from experience that half of them will die. But I can't help myself. I guess I'm a plant junkie and needed a long awaited fix.

Now, I can't wait to visit my next favorite nursery, and the next and the next.....

Loreena McKennitt was Marvelous!

Have you ever been to a concert that wasn't quite....there? The music didn't sound as good as it does on the CD? It was too loud, or too disjointed, or even too contrived?

That was not the concert we attended Wednesday. We all had high expectations and none of us was disappointed. In fact, I think it was better than expected or even hoped.

The music was paced just a little bit faster than the recordings, so the energy was lively. The audience was present and enthusiastic, but no one shouted out something that no one wants to hear shouted out ("Loreena, we loooovvveeeee you!). She received several standing ovations and listening to the people leaving the theatre, a good time was had by all.

The binoculars worked well. We had good seats, and were able to watch Loreena's expressive face as she sang. We watched the various instruments being played by superlative musicians. It was magical.

We agreed that we all wanted to do it again tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that....

Excitement!!

Today we are going to Madison to see Loreena McKennitt perform! We are all excited, as she does not tour often, and we've never been able to see her live. Both of the girls are coming with us. The plan is to get dressed up, have dinner and walk around State Street for awhile before the concert. The Overture Hall is right on State Street, and looks to be a small, intimate venue. We have good seats and will bring binoculars. We watched a snip of this concert (see the link on my YouTube links) and were amazed at the number and variety of instruments that accompany Ms. McKennitt. Some of them have to be seen to be believed. The weather is going to be lovely and I'm REALLY looking forward to this day off.

I think it's FINALLY Spring!

May 1 and I'm noticing that many trees are in leaf. It's been a long, slow process this year, but I think we can count on its continuation. I'm so happy to see leaves. That lovely, new green is such a great color. I'm even willing to endure the pollen, as it means that Spring is finally here. I'm noticing that tulips have appeared. My own garden is full of daffodils and hyacinth that I planted a couple of years agol (I just LOVE bulbs!)

We've had quite a bit of rain. The creek out the back and down the incline sounds more like a river. It has overflowed its banks and takes up the entire valley. I noticed the farm fields have a lot of standing water in them. Hopefully it will just cause things to grow like crazy. It's suppossed to start heating up. I'm ready for a little higher temperature. Yes, I actually said that! We'll see how long before I begin to complain about the heat.

I think I'll go do my little "Welcome Spring" dance now. It's the only way I can think to get this smile off my face!