Flower Reflections

In my field of specialty, the financial payout equals nothing. Seldom, there is any recognition for good deeds or experience. More often then not, I watch others advance even though I know that I have more expertise and wisdom. Sometimes I ask, "Lord, when will my day come?"

As I look out over the garden and admire the spring flowers, I notice the clumps of bulbs gathered in big groups creating a dramatic backdrop of color. Other flowers amass on a single plant extending the beauty of the entire bush. A thought comes to me, and I am humbled by nature's lesson.

How often do I walk up to each flower and give recognition to each individual bloom? Mostly, I look at the flowers as a whole and admire the entire grouping, "Oh, look at the daffodils. Aren't they amazing! The tulips are gorgeous this year. Yay! The columbine is in bloom. I love columbine. It's so pretty." I feel a great sense of peace and happiness as the plants give their energy and light.



Aquilegia formosa (aka columbine)

I guess we humans are like the flowers in the eyes of the Divine who loves all the flowers (us). Like the garden flowers, we may not be recognized individually or stand out prominently in this world. But as a group, we are stronger and more vibrant as we perform good deeds from the heart giving light to all around us. Sometimes, we may stand alone, but like the lone flower, which is still beautiful and loved, it's not as likely to attract attention from as the large grouping does. Together, we make a beautiful show and shine in the eyes of the Divine.

Yes, we may begin as one lone flower with a thought or idea, and like the flower that must survive the odds to multiply by spreading seed (or rhizomes), so must the individual. If the plant successfully multiplies, in years to come, a spectacular mass may grow where only one stood. As in nature, nothing happens overnight, but in time, a strong support system may be established.


Hellebores orientalis (aka Lenten Rose)

And, since I am here to do God's will as I try to shed this human ego, that'll be fine by me.

The Agrarian Urbanite March 2010

YAY!!! It's March and that means that Spring is right around the corner. It's already apparent with all the bulbs spiking out of the Earth and the lengthening days...

Warmer weather is near, but until then, on a wet spring day, curl up with The Agrarian Urbanite. All new March issue...

Hang in there and thanks for reading.

Message Revealed

I know what the message means. After years of the same thematic dream, today, I understand the simplicity of the message.

The basis of the dream contends with separation. In these reoccurring dreams, I am alone after a long relationship. My partner is gone without any forwarding information, yet the relationship was not officially ended. I feel a mixture of emotions usually abandonment ranking high on the list. Sometimes, I feel alone. There is usually a tinge of great sadness.

In other dreams, I am reunited with this person. The feeling is sometimes euphoric and usually very comfortable and secure. In most of these types of dreams I ask myself, “Why did we ever separate?”

The person is shown to me as someone I know on this Earthly realm. He may be my husband or a past endearing friend. At first, I felt confused by this, especially when the partner in the dream was my husband (though not married in the dream…always a boyfriend). I couldn’t understand why he left or why he didn’t call. I wonder why he didn’t end the relationship. It was as though a lapse of time passed, like a couple months, and suddenly I realize that I am without this partner. It’s just like waking up, after a long spell, to ask myself, “Where is he?”

There is at least one school of thought that when God creates us on the other side, we are born with a soul mate, a yin to our yang, a twin. I’ve seen it called twin flames. When we choose to come into this realm and live a life on Earth to evolve our own souls and to learn for God, rarely does our twin come to this realm at the same time. The twin souls evolve at different rates and choose different paths. Soul mates don’t stick together like glue. They are actually independent of each other, yet completely connected.

his Earthly existence can be very difficult, challenging and damaging while on this plane. And since we are here primarily for God, learning like one does in a classroom, we don’t need distractions. I think that we do deeply feel separated from the love of the other side, and we find familiar souls from the other side here to help us recall that love.

Chances are if you feel a kindredship or connection to someone, it is because you know each other from a past life or from the other side. The Mormons believe that when we marry and have children, that this family unit is together forever in the heavenly realm. The Mormons marry for eternity, and to a point this is true. My opinion is that when you cross over, you are not “married” to your family, but you definitely have a closer bond with them. Like soldiers, who bond during wars, life on Earth is sometimes like a warzone, and people who experience hardships together, and get through it, often bond. It’s a bond that only people who have been through extraordinary events together can understand.

Do we have deeper bonds with or love for some over others while here? My opinion is yes. The reason that we feel more connected to certain folks on Earth is most likely that we are probably closely interconnected on the other side. This includes deep and long lasting friendships and relationships that we experience here.

Some people we meet may come and go, and this is usually because we have something to learn from each other or there is a reason for having contact with each other. These are not our closest relationships, and may even be someone we don’t like or who gets under our skin for some unknown reason. This is not limited to just everyday people. They can be family members, friends, coworkers or that person you just encountered at the market.

The bottom line is that we are all here, on Earth, together, to either help each other learn, evolve or support each other.

With that said, back to the message.

Anyone who studies dreams realizes that dreams are rarely literal translations. We usually pull symbolic yet familiar images that help us feel more comfortable in the dream. Dreams are mostly symbolic not literal. At times, these familiar images may cause great discomfort and confusion, too, but this is because you are giving literal translation to the dream instead of trying to interpret the symbols.

In the aforementioned dreams, the feelings of separation, loneliness and abandonment are specifically dealing with my soul mate on the other side. My little Earthly brain translates this into something recognizable for me by using real people in my life, “Why would my beloved boyfriend just vanish without any word how to reach him?” I feel alone and sad.

What I am really experiencing is the separation from the heavenly plane. No has left me, and I haven’t left anyone. I am here merely to do a job…a job for God, the Creator, the Divine, the Goddess…or whoever you like to think of as your personal higher power.

I miss the other side, the love, my soul mate, and everyone else watching out for me and guiding me. Those hazy periods when I think that I am alone are simply those moments here on Earth when I forget about that link to the other side and my soul mate.

Friday's Funny Stuff

Wow. Since I'm not on Facebook for the Lenten season, I will actually have to return to blogging to post quirky things I read during the day.

This came from our downtown liquor store whose e-mail list, yes, I'm on.

First, in regards to giving up drinking for lent, they want you to know the following:

A Short Statement About Lent and Alcohol
Every year proceeding Lent I talk with customers about their desire to quit drinking during the forty days that proceed Easter. I think it's neat that they engage in self-denial in order to prepare for the holiday, but they are misguided in giving up booze. Western culture has been sustained in part through the cultivation of alcohol. For instance, beer from monasteries was safer to drink than water and was an important source for nutrients and calories. Trappist beers sustained monks when fasting. And they were necessary to drink when the plague infected rat made its way into the village watering hole. Authentic Trappist beers are brewed within the walls of a monastery, and the revenue is used to sustain the grounds and the monks. So by choosing to abstain from alcohol during Lent, you're really doing a disservice to the Christian tradition.

God forbid anyone try to instill (no intended pun) some discipline into their lives. Lent is a great time to work on will power and build personal strength. Of course, it doesn't have to be all about giving things up; you can also incorporate something positive into your daily life like exercise or meditation for all those non-Catholics/Christians. Nice history lesson though.

The other funny thing the liquor store shared this week:

1. Take one drink every time a NBC announcer invites you to "share a moment with the world.”
2. Take one drink every time snowboarding highlights are backed up by rock-and-roll guitar/heavy metal music.
3. Take one drink every time a female athlete is described as "America's _____ing sweetheart."
4. Clap your hands and take one drink every time reference is made to "the revolutionary new clap skate" being used in speed skating.
5. Take one drink every time figure skating commentator Scott Hamilton shouts that a skater "NAILED!!" a jump.
6. Take one drink every time you hear a hockey announcer shout, "He shoots...he scores!" Take two drinks if you're watching women's hockey and you hear, "She shoots...she scores!"
7. Take one drink every time NBC promises to get "up close and personal" with an athlete.
8. Take one drink every time a skater is presented with a bouquet of flowers.
9. Take one drink every time America's quest for its first medal in luge is mentioned. Take an extra drink if America actually happens to win a medal in luge.
10. Take one drink every time a worthwhile event is cut short to get back to the excited world of Figure Skating.
11. Take one drink every time Lindsey Vonn's leg injury is mentioned. Take two if they mention her alternative remedies.
12. Finish the bottle if the only coverage in the next twenty minutes of viewing is curling or figure skating.

In looking to see if this was a liquor store original, I found this funny slide show on the NBC website in regards to Olympic Drinking Games.

Well, it's good to be back. I'll be writing more soon. Cheers!

The Agrarian Urbanite Febraury 2010

Whew. Got it done. The new Agrarian Urbanite issue is available.

Due to some technical difficulties, I wasn't as stern at editing this month. Please forgive any major flaws! And that's the beauty of being my own writer, publisher and editor. Sometimes, I get to say, "Whatever."

Now, go read. It's good for you!

Avatar Blues or Avatar Awakening?

Chad sent me this from CNN Entertainment, "Audiences Experience 'Avatar' Blues"

It's all about how some audience members have felt very depressed after seeing Avatar. Some have even contemplated suicide.

But why? Why would a movie that is supposed to be so fantastic cause such grief?

Because the visual effects are so surreal and spectacular that people long to live on the planet Pandora.

Is this what we have become as a culture? So completely shut off that no one goes outside or visits a city, state or national park? What, are people JUST noticing how fucking ugly most of this world is due to the destruction of humans? What, are they suddenly sick of their beautiful strip malls and parking lots?

Yes, it's depressing out there. And those of you know me, know my Earth beliefs. You know how I know that if we are to survive as a human species that we must reconnect with Earth. It is detrimental that we save Her sacred and pristine places that we, humans, not fucking trample on every square inch.

There is a reason that the term "rape" is used when referring to Earth and Her resources. There seems to be a mentality that wants to destroy everything pure...like a sex offender having to penetrate the most scared parts of a person's being.

"Avatar depression" doesn't surprise me. I often feel crappy after taking a look around at the relationship between humans and Nature. For the past few years, I have really trying to keep my eyes open to signs that Nature is returning. I see it in abundance in many places, but I won't talk about what or where because I want it to take over.

What folks are truly feeling is a deep sense of loss and regret that Earth, in her pristine states, is/was like Pandora of the movie. The feelings of sadness are natural, but you know what? Don't go put your head in a hole or get mixed up with some online support group (which exist for Avatar Depression). Get outside, and do something about it! Begin by fighting for our National Parks, Wilderness Areas and Forests...to stop mining and foresting of these national treasures. Go out and picket for more green spaces in your community. Fight mountain top removal. Don't whimper. DO SOMETHING!

And do I care that a movie (ironically a BIG RESOURCE HOG) is having this effect on people?
All I care about is that that the human race wakes up.

More Windows

A few days ago, I told you about a dream involving windows. I insisted that the dream had nothing to do with Windows the operating system.

I may have been wrong.

I unexpectedly received a new computer for Christmas, and before I got a chance to really use it, it blue screened. Now, mind you, my old computer, as worn out as it was with all its little nuances, never blue screened on me. I didn't even know what "blue screen of death" meant till BB was all like, "OH! THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!"

I didn't even have a chance to write anything except snippets on Facebook before the whole thing crashed. I completely forgot that I had a new computer.

Yesterday, my new computer, with the help of Gary the Dell Technician, my computer made a full recovery. And now I remember...it's running Windows 7.

And it is so BRIGHT! It's almost hard to type with this big fancy screen and all these new buttons.

But I think I'll get used to it.

Inspired by Windows

I don't mean Windows as in computer.

Dreams are tricky and challenging to write about without getting bogged down in detail that bores the reader. Last night I visited a house that often reoccurs in my dreams.

Last night's dream gave me some perspective. The home in the dream is mine (not in this physical world, but in my sleeping state). The home morphs, but essentially, it is the same place. As it continues to resurface, I am able to explore it more.

In the past, I spent a lot of time on the main level, and rarely went to the second floor. When I did venture to the second floor, it scared me and I felt a haunting presence. In dream interpretation, the second floor (in this case the attic) often symbolizes the mind, spirituality and higher self. That I felt a haunting presence may have symbolized that I held repressed feelings, but last night, the dream was different.

It felt that Chad and I had sold the home, but I still felt ownership. I ventured upstairs with the new folks, a young woman and man (my guides?). It was very sunny and beautiful. The stairs opened to a large landing and open space where they had their bed prettily made with a floral bedspread. Off the landing, were several bedrooms and one bathroom.

I asked them why they chose the landing thinking that we had not considered the upstairs because their was only one bathroom which the three of us would have to share (Chad, Blue and I). Chad and I slept on the main level because the "master suite" was downstairs. I explained to them that the prior folks had also chosen to live upstairs. (Chad and I lived in the house, then another set of people lived in the house, then we moved back to the house, and now these two people lived in the house...told you it has been reoccurring.)

The couple smiled and retorted happily, "We like the windows up here. It's so sunny." I looked around and saw, for the first time, that indeed, there were many natural wooden, historic and pristine windows with light flooding the space. I felt a deep sense of regret that I had not noticed this before and that we had not chosen to live in the attic.

But knowing that this home reoccurs in my sleep state, I'm sure the story will continue and be a more happy undaunted one. I just hope that we really didn't sell it.

The Agrarian Urbanite (January 2010)

It's January 2010 and The Agrarian Urbanite helps you to get ready for spring gardening in this new issue ready to read now at The Agrarian Urbanite.

Get to reading. It's good for you!

The Agrarian Urbanite December 2009

Yay! Just a day late, but the new issue of The Agrarian Urbanite is online and ready for you to read. We also tweet @TheAgUrbanite and we have a Facebook fan page named, appropriately, The Agrarian Urbanite. So for all updates on The Agrarian, check out one (or hopefully) all of our sites.

Obvious Beauty

I am again convinced that thoughts are universal; they are energy and Jung's collective unconscious theory is alive well.

In 2000, Rick Riordan said it in his book Last King of Texas. He said the same thing that I said in 2001 while living in Gila Hot Springs, New Mexico while standing at the top of a mesa overlooking the twisted scrubby junipers of the desert. In 2001, I didn't know Riordan or that he has written two award winning books in two years. I felt, at the time, that I was having a completely original thought; one that I have held close to my heart since that day on the mesa.

Two months ago, I discovered the mastermind of Riordan last month at a book fair in the children's fantasy genre at Blue's school. Riordan's book The Lightning Thief (and several others) didn't seem to interest my son, but their captive covers and adventure based themes drew me right in. I went home, befriended google and awoke to the world of Rick Riordan a mere ten years after the publication of his first book, Big Red Tequila, which is an adult mystery novel along the lines of Carl Hiaasen, Tony Hillerman and Elmore Leonard.

I immediately took the plunge. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't usually read one book at a time. I may have two, three or even four books going at any given time, but I plugged through Riordan's first two novels ignoring everything else on my nightstand. Riordan is a crafty writer and highly entertaining with a PhD in literature, and as a former middle school teacher, knows how to capture his audience and get his point across.

I came up for air on his third Book, The Last King of Texas, because the long awaited Born to Run by Christopher McDougall about the Tarahumara of Mexico finally made its way down the waiting list at the public library to my name. Today, I grabbed the top book on my nightstand thinking that I was grabbing Born to Run, but instead picked up the Riordan book that I had put to rest a few days ago. Instead of the bookmark doing its job at the beginning of a chapter, I had stuck it in the middle of the chapter telling me that I must have fallen asleep while reading...not because the new book bores me, but probably because the codeine cough suppressant I was taking kicked in.

Not remembering where I was at in the story, I began at the top on the page and came across these words in regards to comparing San Francisco to the character's home town of San Antonio:

"My California friends would not have called this a particularly beautiful place. Those brave enough to visit me in Texas complained of...the harsh flat prairie ugliness. I try telling them that it's a matter of perspective, that San Francisco is like a Monet- any idiot can appreciate it. San Antonio, on the other hand, takes time, patience...But it's beautiful, too. You just have to be more perspective."

I said something very similar just a year or so later with absolutely no concept of the man Riordan or his thoughts. I can remember exactly where I was and the view. Chad stood with me. Sally the dog chomped on some disgusting year old deer jerky hide that she found under a scrub tree and snarled at me every time I came within ten feet of her to grab the nasty thing away. Standing on the mesa, the view was pretty but not astounding, especially for all the work it took to get to the top. I reflected back to Arizona and the year we spent in Flagstaff where the winter was bone chilling for my southeastern bones. During those frigid months, we often trekked down to Sedona's desert for the warmth.

You don't have to be a genius to notice the beauty of Sedona. Thousand foot vermilion rock walls surround the town with gorgeous fine grained red-orange dirt covering every inch of the ground. The sharp clear blue sky and green junipers contrast the overwhelming red to create a delicacy for the eyes which feeds the brain from an astounding sensory buffet. The beauty is so in your face, so obvious, that the mind doesn't have to work, the mouth falls open and drool dribbles down your chin.

From the top of the mesa in New Mexico, not so much. Not to say that it wasn't beautiful, because it was, but it was more cerebral. A quick drive through it may leave one saying, "Oh this is pretty, but where is the OUTSTANDING?" A quick visit wouldn't feed the senses like a Calabash buffet, because the beauty was subtle. Through time and patience its outstanding beauty relaxes the senses like a fine meal served over the course of three hours.

I said something like this to Chad, and I have been looking in my journals all morning for the thought. Surely I would have put something this profound to paper, but out of about a hundred hand written journals over the course of thirty years, I haven't the patience to scour them. I have several New Mexico journals which branch from the Peace Corps year, and it's just a lot of information. Though I'm finding unbelievable fantastic memories like, "was having a nice morning casually walking the dog until she rolled in horse shit...". I could get lost in that stuff all morning, but they are also filled with an insane amount of self loathing that I can't bring myself to relive at the moment.

But talk about synchronicity! What the (fill in your favorite expletive). ***WARNING*** DIGRESSION... When I had this Riordan moment, I immediately went to my journals, none of which are labeled. I looked through one journal that I knew had my New Mexico writings, but found nothing. I picked up another journal that I suspected had New Mexico reflections in it and randomly opened it. My eyes cast down to the story of Sally rolling in horse manure, and I told you about it just moments before. Immediately after writing the above words, I let my eyes wander to the entry above the horse poop entry. ***DIGRESSION OVER***

Written on 30 April 2001 12:22 mountain time, it reads: "Chad was joking saying, "I wonder if this area is a big vortex..." As I sit way up here and look out- it's pretty red out there- it's just not as red as Sedona. That's good because then those fake freaks will stay away-they only look for the obvious as most people do. It's easy to find beauty in an obvious area like Sedona, but it takes true patience and wisdom to find beauty in the not so obvious."

Pretty similar stuff, Riordan and I. Must be a pretty profound thought for it to travel through the collective unconscious to eventually reach a woman on a mesa in New Mexico two years or so later...a women with no concept of Riordan or, at the time, Jung's collective unconscious.

Making Headway

Sometimes, I get real bummed out wondering if my work really matters. I think, "Is anyone reading? Are my words helping to educate?" Writing can be a slow and tedious process with constant self doubt, but then, it seems, at the darkest moment and ray of light shines...

This week in Knoxville's Metro Pulse, writer Matt Edens gives mention in his Urban Renewal article to The Agrarian Urbanite!

Validation is good.

Words Caught In My Throat

Do you ever have those dreams where you confront someone and the words seem to catch in your throat? That's what happened to me last night.

I awoke from yet another epic dream filled with so much activity that it wouldn't make much sense to you. For your benefit, I will make it brief...

My parents, family and I are at a Christian Rally. I feel disgusted by their Jesus brainwashing and using God as a fear mechanism.

Eventually, I am standing next to man who is being very nice to me thinking that I am on his wavelength when I speak out and say, "Save it. I'm not a Christian."

His face went purple with anger as he began to yell at me. I said to him, "Is this how Jesus would react? Jesus taught to many even those considered heathens." He became even angrier and became more belligerent telling me that I was going to hell.

My voice became stuck in my throat though I had so much to say to him. Somehow I was able to express what was in my heart. The gist wasn't about his Christianity versus my beliefs, but how I accepted him and his beliefs, though not my own, and that he has a right to practice those beliefs just as I have a right to practice mine. He felt and exhibited scorn and rage towards me for not being of his beliefs. I said that I thought it interesting that he, the Christian, who should be loving, sharing and open was only this way with people who shared his same beliefs and that anyone else was going to hell. I also told him that I wasn't interested in pushing my beliefs on anyone and that we all have a right to the Divine Power no matter how we practice. I finished by saying that it seemed my views were more Christian-like than his because Jesus didn't scorn people for being different, and that He embraced us all.

I wasn't afraid. I had huge amounts of emotion that felt completely bottled up inside me, and it was hard to get it all out, which I did mostly in my brain and telepathically.

In just a few days of each other, I have had two dreams that have both dealt with my standing strong to "authority"...the first was a staunch Limbaugh-spewing type person and the second represented the church. Interesting.

On another note/dream...I had a dream that someone who I loved and admired, who is now deceased, was a secret fascist and even had a photo taken with Mussolini. This was complete news to me! I found it very hard to believe that this person, of all people, a little old grandmother type, had a secret life. My father and the woman's mother became very angry at me for even bringing her memory up (but I didn't know!).

The interesting part...these same people that were raking the deceased over the coals for being with Mussolini were also firm George W. Bush supporters, who to me, was the epitome of a fascist.

The Agrarian Urbanite (November 2009)

Despite this writer's fight with the flu, November's Agrarian Urbanite manifested!

This month, The Agrarian Urbanite explores the true meaning of regenerative agriculture and gives a brief description of design principles. There are other articles to assist with winter gardening.

The Agrarian Urbanite is a monthly grassroots publication dedicated to providing practical agricultural education focused on sustainable, regenerative and organic techniques.

The Agrarian Urbanite is a guide for creating balanced, healthier and sustainable communities & neighborhoods.

The Agrarian Urbanite hopes to restore Spirit, Humankind and Earth by being a catalyst for folks to think beyond the garden, building foundations of knowledge & inspiring action.

Volume 1 Issue 6 (November 2009)

Elfin Dreams

From Dream Moods: "To see an elf in your dream refers to some imbalance and disharmony in your life. The elf often serves as a guide of the soul. Alternatively, it suggests that you need to be more carefree, worry-free, and light-hearted."

That's the truth.

Last night, I dreamed of two elves...a male and a female. Both were injured and couldn’t walk. Hundreds of people, including us were attending a seminar at a place that boasted regenerative techniques, but we knew better having been evicted from the place years before. Chad, Blue and I had previously lived at this place which was sort of an intentional community. I walked into the house one day to find all my stuff gone. When I asked Chad, he didn’t give me a reason to our eviction except that it was something between the head lady and me. I sensed tension from her while living there, but never found out what I did “wrong” to get our family evicted and made homeless.

So now, Chad and I are back. I recognize the two elfin friends. She reveals to me that she and her spouse can’t walk. I tell her that we will carry them. The way to enter the seminar is through the house we used to live in and out the backdoor, but it’s a ten foot drop with no stairs. The woman in charge is pushing people out the back door one at a time. I jump out, than realize that my elfin friend will be greatly injured. I catch my elfin friend as the women shoved her a little too hard from the house.

We walk down to the area where the ‘leader’ is giving a talk. He tells us to focus on the light and tell what we see. The elves don’t listen to him and focus on the earth, specifically a two creeks that merge. The man ‘leader’ is responsible for some bad development and has steered the ‘foundations’ mission away from the original intent which was Earth restoration. The elves had been involved years ago with the restoration of the creek…a vital thing for their survival.

In the dream, the creek ran clear. New plant life grew. Regeneration was happening.

Once the man saw what the elves were trying to bring attention to the water, he disbanded the seminar sending people off with group leaders to other areas like young students leaving an assembly at school. It began to rain, and we were outdoors. I carried my female elfin friend to shelter when we realized that her male counterpart was missing. We knew that he was back in the marsh area unable to walk.

He was lured into the marsh by a group of boys. They didn’t know that he couldn’t walk long distances when they quickly fled as the rain started. As I held my female elfin friend, interviewing the boys, one asked. “Is that an…?” I replied, “Yes, and elf. And he’s an elf. We must go get him.”

Their teacher lets me choose one male pupil. From the eager volunteers, I pick a boy with red hair.

I wake up.

Circle Dancing

I saw a flyer at the Food Coop today promoting Sacred Circle Dance, and I wonder if this is something I may like to try.

The end.

Art! Art! Art!

My son attends an inner city magnet school geared towards art and music. Every eight weeks, the school shows off the students' art work in an extravagant exhibit. The students work very diligently to create the pieces displayed. The parents and teachers work just as hard to create each exhibit mounting pieces in frames and on the walls so the school is like a gallery. Each piece of work is also labeled with the child's name, grade level and teacher (I have edited, to the best of my ability these names off the pics so as not to post any child's name online.) The artwork hangs for the next eight weeks when we do it all over again.

I am continuously proud and amazed at all the artwork and the students' interpretations of famous artwork. These kids come up with some beautiful pieces. Not only is their artwork displayed, but also throughout the school, there is dancing, singing and instrumental music. You can find something going on in every corner of the school.

The children are from all kinds of backgrounds and socioeconomic classes. On any given exhibit night the crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings and extended families range a wide diversity. It is not uncommon to hear several different languages spoken. While admiring the art work, I heard Spanish to one side of me and Chinese to the other as scores of people with all different skin colors came together for the common theme of honoring our children and their hard work.

This is a brief photo journal of only a small portion of some of the artwork. Lighting isn't always the best, and working with a flash often didn't work well, so some of the pics are blurry...that is solely my fault. All the artwork is beautiful and amazing, and these are a few that caught my eye.

Enjoy.

A study of Van Gough's Sunflowers (Fifth Grade)...

First Grade studied pioneer days and made blueberry jam (which was on display to eat), and an American Flag and many other aspects of pioneer life and East Tennessee history. During the last eight weeks, they took field trips to the Ramsey House, McClung Museum and the East Tennessee Historic Society which further enriches the learning...

I love Kindergartners' art work the best. They are still so inhibited and use the best colors. The first series is an interpretation of The Peale Family by Charles Wilson Peale


Kindergarten again...a study of color and emotion (I remember when Blue did this study, it still hangs in our dining room.)...

Fifth graders working in groups painted the next two...there are more group paintings, but I didn't have a chance to document them all.

Third graders completed the next series. I don't remember the subject because I was so amazed at the art...I think it was actually a science study. I'll post details tomorrow...







Second grade study on indigenous masks...

















Miscellaneous drawing...Fifth grade.














Let me know if you would like to see more. The photos that I took don't even begin to scratch the surface of the many pieces displayed.

End.

Harvest Moon Drum Circle

I feel no need to document Saturday's drum circle when BBMumblings did such a fine job over at Dither in her post pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.

Very few of us had any experience at drumming, and somehow it all came together. We kept a beat. We danced. And somehow 5 hours slipped by before we realized that we needed to take the kids home. I really think that we went through a time warp.

Babies were sleeping everywhere...and eventually many adults were sleeping where ever they could find a spot.

Can't wait for the next one.

Thanks BB for inspiring the best in us all.

The Agrarian Urbanite (October 2009)

I haven't been blogging because I have been busily working on the October issue of The Agrarian Urbanite.

Go read it.

Enjoy.

Where DC's Elite Eat

While many Americans go hungry, homeless and without proper medical care, Washington's Elite dine at places like Nora's Restaurant. As they and chomp down on fine organic foods like $12 dollar salads, $30 main plates and rich desserts; many Americans have expired food from the food pantry or eat pesticide GMO fruits and vegetables shipped in from Mexico (well, when they can afford to buy fresh produce).

My husband ate their last night being wined and dined by a bunch of DC folks who are interested in his research. Nora's is Bill Clinton's favorite restaurant in DC. So, obviously our US leaders are very aware of organic and biodynamic foods (page two) since Nora's touts their little restaurant horn about providing such fare. Yet, they still continue to authorize unhealthy and unbalanced systems for the rest of the US.

Is this a case of, "Not in my stomach! Oh, but it's okay for yours."

So what do you think? You should ask to see your representatives expense account.

P.S. I would have had the Maine Jonah Crab appetizer, the local Boston and Baby Spinach salad and Pan Seared Maine Diver Scallops.