Showers
May 2008
April showers bring May
flowers? It seems to be true! There are so many
beautiful blooms now. The Dogwood is one of my
favorites. I hope everyone has a chance to be outside
more and enjoy all the blessings that nature has to
offer.
Being in nature is a good antidote to stress. I know the economy and rising gas and food prices are hitting people hard. And we all need reasonably priced food! But spring is always a good time for change. Now could be a good time to focus on what money cannot buy and to draw your family closer. Striving to live more simply can take some pressure off pocketbooks while benefitting your soul...and the planet. Most of us already have more than we need. We moved into our new home recently and have been pairing things down quite a bit, more out of lack of space than noble cause though. But it feels so good to just have what you need and like and enjoy.
Wishing everyone happiness and a full stomach and a full tank of gas!
Victoria
Being in nature is a good antidote to stress. I know the economy and rising gas and food prices are hitting people hard. And we all need reasonably priced food! But spring is always a good time for change. Now could be a good time to focus on what money cannot buy and to draw your family closer. Striving to live more simply can take some pressure off pocketbooks while benefitting your soul...and the planet. Most of us already have more than we need. We moved into our new home recently and have been pairing things down quite a bit, more out of lack of space than noble cause though. But it feels so good to just have what you need and like and enjoy.
Wishing everyone happiness and a full stomach and a full tank of gas!
Victoria
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Blooming
April 2008
It is so glorious to see
flowers starting to bloom again. From daffodils and
hyacinth to cherry blossoms and tulips! I've missed the
color that nature provides us. Oregon isn't very
colorful in the dead of winter, except for the
evergreens. Of course, compared to other parts of the
country it is stil quite colorful, even in December.
But we are spoiled here. The bounty that is waiting
within a tree or under the ground is such a blessing to
our eyes, and noses as the groung becomes sweet
smelling again. And let us not forget the birds! They
are abundant and happily singing in the trees. I hope
everyone can take time and sit and listen, see and
smell all that is around you! All the potential that
the earth and nature holds, we have within ourselves.
Now is the time to tap into that.
Spring
March 2008
Later this month we can
officially say good bye to winter and HELLO SPRING! The
milder temperatures and sunshine have been so lovely
but knowing that there is much more of it to come is
great! My neighbors' daffodils are blooming! The birds
are starting to come out and sing! I love this time of
year...
Last month began the Chinese New Year. We are now officially in the Year of the Rat. It is suppose to be a good year and is the first sign in the 12 year cycle. "In the "Year of the Rat", we can expect 12 months of plentiful opportunities and prospects not to mention being relatively free of turbulence... It's also a rather fine time to socialise and grab a sumptuous meal or two with friends and family!" -website source I hope this bodes well for our country this year.
"Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last- far off- at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring." Tennyson
Love to All,
Victoria
Last month began the Chinese New Year. We are now officially in the Year of the Rat. It is suppose to be a good year and is the first sign in the 12 year cycle. "In the "Year of the Rat", we can expect 12 months of plentiful opportunities and prospects not to mention being relatively free of turbulence... It's also a rather fine time to socialise and grab a sumptuous meal or two with friends and family!" -website source I hope this bodes well for our country this year.
"Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last- far off- at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring." Tennyson
Love to All,
Victoria
Sunshine
February 2008
We have certainly had out
share of grey wet days. The sun has appeared a few
times lately and that feels so good. I start imagining
spring and how good that feels after our winters. But
that is still a little ways off. I am content now to
enjoy the days when the sun does pop out and warm us
all a little.
Warming my heart is the thought of love and Valentine's day and my husband! Although Valentine's day is a manufactured holiday it's always good to take time to remind those you love how much they mean to you. Anytime of the year. I feel so blessed by the love in my life!
Wishing you all love and good health!
Victoria
Warming my heart is the thought of love and Valentine's day and my husband! Although Valentine's day is a manufactured holiday it's always good to take time to remind those you love how much they mean to you. Anytime of the year. I feel so blessed by the love in my life!
Wishing you all love and good health!
Victoria
Happy New Year!
January 2008
Hello 2008! It's exciting
to have a fresh start at a whole new year. A chance to
do some things maybe a little diffrently or keep doing
the good things you've been doing. If you are one for
making resolutions, I wish you success. I recently read
that a good predictor of success with resolutions is if
you envision yourself completing it. Imagine yourself
getting to the top of that mountain or finally fitting
into those jeans. And if you get side tracked from your
goals, start fresh again the next day. Backslides are
part of the process and getting through them make
achieving the goal that much more rewarding.
Also, Winter is certainly upon us. Many of you are having trouble with your energy level. That is a natural part of winter; in Chinese Medicine winter is Yin in nature- it is cold, damp and inactive. Having a desire to sleep more and conserve your energy is a good instinct, that's what you should be doing. If you are more inactive and sleeping more try to eat less to prevent weight gain (post holidays this advice may be a little late.) Conserving your energy now can help it go towards preventing illness, combating stress, healing or maybe reducing grey hairs when the time comes.
It is also a good time of year to eat warming foods like garlic and ginger, root vegetables, soups and stews and beans. Try to avoid raw foods as they will cool you down and require a lot of energy to process this time of year. (According to Chinese Medicine large amounts of raw foods are never good as they cool stomach fire needed for healthy digestion.)
"The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and be witness to a long life."
Huangdi Neijing Suwen
Also, Winter is certainly upon us. Many of you are having trouble with your energy level. That is a natural part of winter; in Chinese Medicine winter is Yin in nature- it is cold, damp and inactive. Having a desire to sleep more and conserve your energy is a good instinct, that's what you should be doing. If you are more inactive and sleeping more try to eat less to prevent weight gain (post holidays this advice may be a little late.) Conserving your energy now can help it go towards preventing illness, combating stress, healing or maybe reducing grey hairs when the time comes.
It is also a good time of year to eat warming foods like garlic and ginger, root vegetables, soups and stews and beans. Try to avoid raw foods as they will cool you down and require a lot of energy to process this time of year. (According to Chinese Medicine large amounts of raw foods are never good as they cool stomach fire needed for healthy digestion.)
"The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and be witness to a long life."
Huangdi Neijing Suwen
Giving
December 2007
Hello Holidays! We are
hip deep in Christmas. It is everywhere. Although the
commercialization and over saturation are little much
this time of year I do love the holidays. I like the
music, the movies- from "Miracle of 34th Street" to
"Elf" to "National Lampoon's Christmas". I like the
decorations with the sparkles and cheer. I like the
foods and sweet treats but try to exercise caution. But
mostly I like the generous spirit I see in people.
Generally people seem to be thinking of others and nice
things they can do them. Some times people are only
able to buy something quick off a shelf, which is still
so kind. While others spend many moments considering
their loved ones' needs and taste. None of us seem to
need any more stuff but it is so nice to be thought of.
Some of us have more time than money too. We are in that category since we got married earlier this year. So I will be baking cookies and doing crafts for gifts. I baked cookies for gifts for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. Everyone seemed to enjoy them so I wanted to do it again this year but with different cookies. Crafting during the holidays has always been very fun (and therapeutic) for me. It seems to counteract some of the stress of this time of year. And there is something about the creating that feels good and I hope feels good to others to receive.
So take care of yourselves with all the potential stressors right now. And take care of others too!
I wish you all a sparkly, happy holiday filled with more love than thought possible!
Hugs,
Victoria
Some of us have more time than money too. We are in that category since we got married earlier this year. So I will be baking cookies and doing crafts for gifts. I baked cookies for gifts for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. Everyone seemed to enjoy them so I wanted to do it again this year but with different cookies. Crafting during the holidays has always been very fun (and therapeutic) for me. It seems to counteract some of the stress of this time of year. And there is something about the creating that feels good and I hope feels good to others to receive.
So take care of yourselves with all the potential stressors right now. And take care of others too!
I wish you all a sparkly, happy holiday filled with more love than thought possible!
Hugs,
Victoria