the popularity of fresh flowers

Yesterday, two black birds wandered through the yard pecking for food. One flew away. The other, before departing, picked a sprig of forget-me-knots from the garden, like a small bouquet, then took to flight transporting it by beak. 

Begin

To write a blog post, or write, or gain increased flexibility, or start a relationship, or learn more about something, you have to begin. So I will do that here--begin--after another month away from posting, and offer you three possibly disparate things. Although, likely they also share threads of connection. If you see one, consider posting what you find. I'm interested to hear your ideas.

Here we go:

1. In March perhaps, I watched an engaging, courageous, creative documentary on copyright and remix culture. It is called, RiP: A Remix Manifesto, written and directed by Canadian, Brett Gaylor. You can watch for free on the web--just follow this link.

2. Tweenbots. I discovered this via someone posting it on a list-serve I am on. Curious? Click here.

3. A quote of words that a friend sent me in a little note today. I had heard it before, perhaps several years ago, and it was excellent to receive it again. (I offer my thanks.) These are words one might benefit from reading each day upon waking and each evening, or when self-doubt or sadness stops by, swimming or storming in.

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. --Martha Graham.

Yesterday, I pondered the question:

What is the best that could happen?

how many fingers?

Yesterday, I went for a long walk in the amazing spring weather Kingston was enjoying. It was not a fancy walk to an exotic location. Rather a simple walk a number of times around a dirt track near where I live. That was just fine: to walk along at a leisurely pace and reflect and enjoy the sun and take in the scenes around me. These were scenes that included many people out walking their dogs--or visiting with each other while their dogs played and tumbled about. A young girl, age four fingers and two thumbs, slowly approached walking with her beautiful, tan-coloured dog. Unfortunately, I forget the dog's name although I was introduced. (I'll use a substitute name here.) I smiled in her direction. She asked, "Would you like to pet my dog, Natasha?". I was honoured of course. The dog, as it turned out, was eight fingers, two thumbs, and two more fingers old--and appeared very gentle, wise, and serene.

On my second attempt...

This is the second whole chicken I have cooked in my life. The first, I cooked about a year ago. It turned out in such a way that it left lots of room for improvement. Today's, however, turned out great. I suspect I would have made my great-grandmother proud--although she might have wondered what took me so long.

Roasting this bird brought me a lot of satisfaction and I wondered why. I enjoy cooking, so that may be what it was about. But I suspect there are at least two other factors: one, I got to experience the thrill of doing something new(er) and the satisfaction that comes from accomplishment and having moved significantly along a learning curve; and two, it was an accomplishment or "contribution" that was concrete, unlike a significant percentage of the work I do as a psychotherpaist working with others: this is work that is satisfying and wonderful for me but it can also seem somewhat elusive or intangible at times, difficult to "see" (or show) the work I have done. I do see it but it's not the kind of work where I can say, "see that gorgeous painting or that product or that sidewalk? I did that." And, by the way, that's okay, and I also have many lovely stories, concrete in their own right. At the end of the day, it's nice for me to be able to experience both: to operate in the realms of the tangibles, like the roast chicken, the workshops I develop (then teach), the garden and in the realm of the intangibles, the things you cannot pick up with your hands but you can know just the same in your heart.

Coming back to the bird, with thanks to people who provided resources on the internet for others to benefit from:

• the recipe I used for roasting the chicken can be found by clicking here for "Bacon Roasted Chicken" at allrecipes.com (I read some others' comments on the site and modified the recipe a little bit)
  
• a brief lesson in carving a chicken--something I was also needing--can be found in this video, the first one I came across, which made it look easy enough (and it was).
  

And also with thanks to my mom--who gave me the bird to roast--picking it up on a buy one, get one free special. She was a guest for the meal of my first bird--the one that didn't turn out so well, and she and those present ate it graciously and helped supportively. I suppose, giving me another bird to try could be a way of saying "you need more practice" but really, I think it was more a way of saying, "here is some food as a gift," "I got a great deal," and also "I believe in you."

Inspired? Try roasting your own chicken--or, if you are a pro at chickens (or have no desire to cook or eat such a thing), try out something you haven't done before--just for the thrill of it... I'll invite you to consider also how you might in the coming week offer to someone else a gift of nourishment, kindness, or the gift of conveying, "I believe in you". Then, to do this in some concrete way, however large or small.

I am celebrating much today, including the sun that is shining gloriously and unexpected, the spring bulbs that are bursting green sprouts through the soil, friends, kindness, baby steps, and growth...

Best wishes to you.

Tracy

last day of winter

I heard on the radio this morning that today is the last day of winter. What will you do today to celebrate (or to mark the occasion)? 

Tree Canada

Today, I have savoured what could be described by all accounts as a very relaxed, lazy sort of day. It has included in part reading gardening magazines with legs outstretched and tea nearby, thinking about what I might plant this year to continue developing a welcoming outdoor space for birds, insects, butterflies, and people alike. Percolating in the background were issues related to work, thankfully about nothing out-and-out negative--but rather with thoughts about the "what's coming nexts" and challenges to find solutions for. While reading an issue of Canadian Gardening magazine, I came across reference to an organization called Tree Canada. From their website: 

"Tree Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization established in 1992. Under the direction of a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors, Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in an effort to help reduce the harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions. Tree Canada is a leader in promoting the value of urban forests in Canada."

The logo above is also from their site. Anyone interested in greening rural or urban spaces through tree planting might enjoy checking out the site. It has resources for children and teachers on it, and I noticed there is an option to make a donation on the site with 85% of the amount going directly to the planting of trees in Canada. 

I also learned that apparently Kingston, Ontario won a Green Streets Canada award from the organization last year for "creating an urban forest". I couldn't find details of the Kingston project on the website but I am very curious. Any Kingston and area readers know details of the project that won the award?