Message from the Mountain

A good portion of the front “lawn” is now covered with beautiful forget-me-nots.  They have spread over the years from just a couple of plants. Now, I anticipate their yearly flowering. Each year is …

The old pear tree is loaded once again with fragrant white blossoms. It is that time of year when nature is in full production mode. It is also a great time to pause each day and take in the smells a…

We often think of the term “mother lode” as meaning a very valuable treasure. Derek filled our car with a mother lode of plants given to us by friends who were trimming their garden. The goal is to s…

As I photographed pear blossoms, I glanced at a nearby apple tree, and saw a small patch of blue. Curious, I looked from a different angle and saw it was an indigo bunting. I had been waiting to see …

I am constantly looking for signs that I am on the right path for my soul’s purpose, and recently a stone heart appeared in the walkway behind the Center going to a portion of the Ormond Gardens. I k…

With all the stressors in the world people are searching more and more to find both inner and outer peace. Recently my wife and son erected the screen house by the Cabin on top of the Mountain, a ver…

There is nothing like being outside in Nature, but sometimes Nature brings us beautiful surprises right outside our windows, as was the case of a beautiful scarlet tanager posing on a sunlit branch. …

Mothers Day is always special. This year my wife is celebrating it enjoying the tulips that she planted last fall, a gift last Mothers Day from our granddaughter. The love we feel in our hearts for m…

The season is changing rapidly now. Every day there is something new to discover in Nature, including the first strawberry blossoms. Life is also very busy this time of year. It is always good to pau…

I watched a hawk perched on a limb outside one of our windows, surveying the landscape where there has been chipmunk activity recently. Often people forget to step back and survey the landscape of th…

After the recent storms, it is important to keep your head up while walking in Nature. There are a lot of broken limbs ready to fall without notice, especially when walking amongst the trees. It is g…

Finally, the temperature here in the foothills reached 70 degrees, and my wife, daughter and I decided to take a walk in Nature. We wandered about the Orchard and trails. It was very peaceful and rej…

People often wished they had a crystal ball to help them see the future or resolve situations from their past. We all experience life-changing events, positive and negative, large and small. Our live…

We cleaned the old nests out of the birdhouses in the Lupine Field a few weeks ago and now we have a new renter settled in, even though the house has a little lean to it. It is fun to watch the swall…

As I record this message, I am grateful for the container of mayflowers on the kitchen windowsill. The smell is one of my favorites, and I find myself leaning over the sink often to experience it. Yo…

Derek has already spent several days here preparing the gardens and grounds for more planting and expansion. I marvel at his work, and I know his acts of kindness are and will provide peace and pleas…

When I was a kid, the month of May meant May baskets. A time to catch a friend unaware and “hang” a basket full of candy, and when everyone was caught, they all would eat the treats. On May 1st, when…

Most people have repaired some sort of walls in their life, whether in their home or their yard. I watched two women carry supplies to the top of a tall sea wall and climb down a ladder to repair the…

I am grateful for finding a well-placed bench, on the Center’s land or wherever we go. A bench is a place to pause and rest and take a moment to communicate with one’s Source. I am refreshed there.

Su…

We had been waiting all winter for our weekend trip to the ocean. I left the shade partly open the first night and I awoke at 5 am to a red glow. It only lasted a couple of minutes, but the energy su…