Message from the Mountain

This is an excellent time of the year to establish a habit of pausing for a moment and taking in Nature's spectacular show, whether it is the smells, the colors, the sounds, or tastes. Being grateful…

I recently watched a spring ritual play out on our front lawn. A male turkey was strutting his stuff the best he could with several tail feathers missing, try to attract a single female. I wonder if …

The ferns that grow in the orchard are ready to unfurl their leaves, creating a sea of green. Many people harvest the fiddleheads before they open to enjoy one of Nature’s delicacies. There are peopl…

Humans are not the only ones currently looking for places to live. Much of nature is doing the same thing. We recently discovered a mud bird house built on the side of our non-workable outhouse by th…

Since the beginning, man has constantly tried to create tools that would be more efficient and make life easier. Recently, I was supplied with a “grabber” after my hip operation. We have an old woode…

I have spent a lot of time in my life waiting for something to happen, only to find that when it does, it can be sudden and without a big flash of excitement. This happened recently when I suddenly r…

It all began when we first bought the Center property and found old flower gardens. I saved as much as I could, and then Martha Douglass added to them. Now it is Derek who continues to develop the Ga…

The lilacs are in full bloom. It is one of my favorite times of the year. Just the smell of lilacs takes me on a journey in my mind to Memorial Day parades when my father joined other veterans who sq…

Here in the foothills our senses are alive, especially this time of year. If you have allergies, it may not be a pleasant time, but if smell is important to you, it is like living in a bouquet. There…

After a long spring of waiting for the weather to be dry enough so we could drive to the orchard, I am now able to return to the peace and quiet where the remaining trees are now almost in full bloom…

SEEING BLUE MAKES ME HAPPY – For many people, seeing blue is related to feeling sad. I am thinking of the blue ground phlox that spread their cheeriness on the landscape this time of year. Actually, …

This time of year I look forward to being reminded of when we transplanted some beautiful blue forget-me-nots that have flourished and spread over time. Just another reminder that when we plant thing…

Several years ago, as an afterthought I transplanted a couple of small trowels full of tiny bluettes to the Center and they continue to come back every year. I am reminded that it is often not just t…

Our fifty-plus year-old pear trees are blooming again with white flowers, attracting the bees. They will eventually bear fruit that will mainly go uneaten except by critters. Sometimes it takes a whi…

The beautiful tiny and delicate primroses are now open and celebrating the May weather. I look for these special flowers each year and, with heart felt gratitude, I take in their colorful blooms and …

The way we go about setting our intentions in life can have a major effect on others. Recently we have been having some beautiful views of the sun, caused by forest fires in the west of Canada. Life …

Five days ago I had hip surgery, and it was a little more complicated than expected. I am getting better every day and am discovering life again for the first time. It is not the same as it was, and …

When the temperature reached 70 degrees last May, I sat on a bench on the mountain taking in the beauty of Nature. My heart was filled with gratitude for that special experience, and I set my intenti…

I was amazed after a few days away to find how much the landscape had turned green. The valley looked vibrant from my view on the mountain. Everything looks fresh. It is also a wonderful time to turn…

Finally the forecasters are calling for return of the sun for the next few days. Its warmth will be very welcome. Still, in all the rainy cloudy weather we have had, there were many times when my hea…