Showing posts with label Valentine's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine's Day. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2020

Culebra's Slide to Spring ~ Valentine's Day 2020

While I am gone from Culebra for a few months of the year, all the shades of seasonal weather get felt when I am here, which is why every cool night, every not blaringly hot day is that quiet delight that we all express and enjoy. No sweat face!!! 

G'morning, too bright to look at water

Talk of weather might seem cliche' and boring, but when weather is what is constantly around you, when there is no giant building using a/c to while away the hottest hours, when hard rains and lightning and thunder are truly a local phenomenon, as in, it rained on my roof but not on yours, 1/4 mile from me, or, the whole ISLAND got rain! which, for a 3 x 7 mile island doesn't seem too extraordinary, except that, it is. Weather is part of the story every day, where "I wore a sweater last night!" is cause for oh my.

I took this while chatting with Allie.
She told me it was rainy and grey in California
so I sent this to torment her, because that is what good mother outlaws do.
She loves me anyway.

Oops! Where was I? Ok, on a housesitting hilltop, surrounded by this weather. Reel it in, MJ. I know I should go to town and do something, but leaving seems too difficult, I might miss too much, it happens so fast. From steel grey to heatherish lavenders, greens and blues, the water never stops calling. The clouds skitter through. Tropical plantings make wind music in the day and feather brushings at night. I'll get to town, but not quite yet.


The same outlook, literally five minutes apart in time. The above is not in black and white, it was more like all the color had been leached from the sky and sea, leaving mercury.


It stayed bright the rest of the day, keeping me walking in circles around the decks and yard to drink up the views. Yes, dizzying. 

What it looks like from here when you fly in
This morning, as the dogs ran the front and back yards, I wandered with them, camera in hand. I'm not really sure who wanders with who, it doesn't matter as long as they return when I call and they always do. That's what being the Treats Queen gets me.

Classic!

Strawberry cactus (yes, the fruit is edible!)

A banana quit swooped by.
It wasn't until I saw this on a bigger screen that I realized
how much I love this repeated from nature color palette.
It's Valentine's Day, a more emotional, commercial, endearing and historically ridiculous holiday may not exist, though there are some good contenders in American culture. But who cares, when the idea is sharing love? Platonic, erotic, courtly or simply sweetly romantic, love is not a bad thing to celebrate, even if it's just with a spoken greeting and smile. 

Have a freehearted Friday. Do something fortuitous. And happy Valentine's Day

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Not Enough Time In the World

There is much going on. But most of it is in my own head, so I'll just do the best I can here.

Let's go!
First. Shirley Temple (Black) died. She of the movies, and she of the Shirley Temple cocktail, of which I was an imbiber, sitting next to my Dad on a few bar stools in my youth. He rarely was in a bar, so it was an extra special treat.

I'm glad to be old enough to have been around when she was beautifully young and singing and making girls wish we all had curly hair - ok, I wasn't around when she actually was filming her movies, I'm old but not that old! but it was still a time when watching her was a sweet pleasure  and still before we girls got to the age of hippie hipness, wishing we all had long straight hair. Here's to Shirley Temple...for bringing us smiles and later in life, working to bring us hope; not a bad legacy for one life.


Another little girl brought me a lot of smiles and laughter yesterday. Her two favorite friends, Lucy and Fluffy, helped too. Lucy, who doesn't like much of anything, including 'bonatoes', bananas ("I don't like bananas either!") or getting out much. Au contraire, says Fluffy. Fluffy isn't afraid of anything, anytime, anywhere. The stars came out and we finally got them both put to bed, Fluffy going to sleep immediately while rascally Lucy kept awake as long as possible. If there is a good angel on one shoulder and a naughty one on the other, their names are Lucy and Fluffy. Thanks, little one, for the introductions. 

While I happen to love this photo, Lucy did not. She wanted a full on shot, perhaps not liking her profile. That wouldn't surprise me, Lucy doesn't like much of anything. I didn't dare ask if she liked me.
She was much happier with this one. Lucy doesn't know much about photography, she only knows about Lucy. 
If you are looking for something special for your Valentine, or if you want to give yourself something special and beautiful, Diane has some stunning orchids in town.



Early yesterday morning a friend on a run stopped long enough for a chat. One half of an awesome couple still pretty madly in love even as their youngest is getting ready to head off to college, I asked what they were doing for Valentine's Day. He told me his mother had pretty much wrecked all the Hallmark holidays when he was young and asked her what she wanted for Mother's Day. She told him, treat me badly today and be wonderful to me the other 364 days of the year. There is a lot of sanity in that sentiment with only a few seconds' thought. Then I read a wonderful story from the blog Simply Living with another take on Valentine's Day. Together, wrapped with a bow, I got my Valentine present early. 

Kicking out the cynical, commercial side of holidays like this one, one that has so much potential for roiled emotions concerning its theme of love, isn't a bad thing. Love is good, the more it is celebrated the better. But as a wise Mom said, it's not just for a day. Share the love. Every day.

Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/z/zora_neale_hurston.html#yExkbmfp8XEBe3wW.
 Those that don't got it can't show it.
Those that got it can't hide it. 
 ~ Zora Neale Hurston

Another thing not to forget is to look up tomorrow night. It is a full moon night, commonly called the Snow Moon, but also called the Hunger Moon, the Opening Buds Moon, the Storm Moon, the Trapper’s Moon, and the Snow Blinding Moon. Lakota Sioux called it the Moon of the Dark Red Calves. For the Cheyenne it is the  Big hoop and Stick Game Moon, and for the Tewa it was the "Moon When the Coyotes are Frightened". sourced here

Last year's February full moon ~ by any other name, it is.
And since I'm mish mashing today, I'll throw this in. Because if you read this blog much, you know I'm a big believer in the Power of One. I wonder often if people have any idea how powerful they are as individuals. And as individuals united...wow.

This is a long read and I don't know who wrote it, it came in my email and it rings true to me. You will either read it and act on it, or you won't. But knowledge is power and power is powerful. Ayup.

Good reasons to avoid products "made in china"!

TILAPIA .... 



More interesting info on the garbage we buy that comes from China. 

Buyer beware!

After reading it, I remembered that I purchased Tilapia from Walmart (ed. note - first mistake, shopping at Walmart for anything, let alone food) last week. I read the label and it was just as the article stated "packaged in Jacksonville, FL but processed in China". After reading it, I threw it in the garbage.

At my sister-in-law's suggestion, I took out of the garbage and took it back to Walmart . It had started to thaw before taking it back and inside the sealed (unopened) wrapper, there were little black particles that appeared to be feces.

I took this e-mail with me and the customer service lady told 
me that she was familiar with it and as much as her kids liked Talapia, they don't eat it anymore. I left the entire e-mail wit her because it doesn't just address Talapia.



DO NOT EAT TILAPIA:

I read several articles on Google about this, and even one that was defending the eating of tilapia said to avoid the fish that came from China.

Also, I had just returned home from buying Publix & Albertson's 4-day special of 4 bags of frozen tilapia for the price of one. Sure enough, on the top of the bags, it read "farm raised", and on the bottom in small print it said, "China".

I recently saw a Food inspector on TV... He said he had lived overseas and he had seen the filthy conditions their foods are raised and processed in. It is enough to make you throw up. Some foreign workers have to wear masks as they work in these places; because the food is so rotten and filthy, it makes them want to throw up.

 Many of their Fish on Fish Farms are fed raw sewage daily. He said he has seen so much filth throughout their food growing and processing that he would "never" eat any of it. They raise this filth, put some food coloring and some flavorings on it, and then they ship it to the USA for YOU to consume and feed to YOUR families.

They have no Food & Safety Inspectors. They ship it to you to buy and poison your families and friends.

Imported food we eat and the junk we buy:

Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China, and so are most of Europe's Best.

Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.



Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from U.S.A. or Canada, the other stuff is grown in people poop (even worse than chicken poop).

China is the largest producer of garlic in the world.  U.S. is next.

Buy only local honey, much honey is shipped in huge containers from China and re-packed here.

Watch out for packages which state "prepared for", "packed by" or "imported by". I don't understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce. The country of origin should be clearly shown on the item in the store.

Go to the local farmers' markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.

Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom. It's important for all of us.

How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or Canada?

 
FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA'. SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE "LIBERTY" BRAND. "GOLD" BRAND OR THE "DOLE" IS FROM CALIFORNIA.
Beware: COSTCO sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China.

ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA.

THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO THESE FISH.

Recently 'The Montreal Gazette' had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken s--t.



If you search the Internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you'll be alarmed; e.g., growth hormones, expired anti-biotics from humans.

Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries:

Vietnam, China, Philippines.

Check this out. I did.

'Steinfeld's Pickles' are made in India - just as bad!

Another example is in canned mushrooms.

'No-Name' brand came from Indonesia.

Also check those little fruit cups. They used to be made in Canada in the Niagara region until about 2 years ago. They are now packaged in China!



While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands!  Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended!

Well, duh!  Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?

SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA AND THE U.S.A.



Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none at all.

You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.



THINK ABOUT THIS 

If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor... fast!

 The downside?

 Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports.  Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it.

START NOW and don't stop.

Send this to everybody you know.  Let's show them that we are intelligent, and NOBODY can take us for granted.

YES! YES! WE HAVE POWER, ONE PERSON AT A TIME ....LETS SEND A MESSAGE....
 

Have a true to you Thursday. Do something (non)theoretical.




Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/z/zoranealeh384229.html#kMQOxhLVkKLJw7wj.99

Monday, February 8, 2010

Don't wait for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, that day approached with expectations, delight and sometimes dismay, is soon upon us. I'm reminded of the mentor commercial on the radio where a young man is saying to himself, "What should I do? I'll take him to a movie, no! That's not big enough, I'll take him to a ball game, no! It's got to be big, really big!" Then the doorbell rings and a boy says, "Hi, I'm Jimmy. What do you want to do today?"
"What do you want to do?" asks the young man. "Well, I thought we could watch the game on tv," answers the boy. "Yeah, yeah, that's what I thought too." says the young man. Then the voice over says, "It doesn't have to be big. Just spend some time together, just be there; be a mentor." So maybe that is the way to celebrate. Just be there. Start now. If you don't have a beloved, love the ones your with, to re-coin a phrase.

Here is a partial letter John Keats wrote to his fiance, Fanny Browne. I can't think of a better example of a huge gift for the price of a pen and paper.

"My dear Girl, I love you ever and ever and without reserve. The more I have known you the more I have lov'd. ... You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest. When you pass'd my window home yesterday, I was filled with as much admiration as if I had then seen you for the first time."

This, on the other hand, probably won't do.


Yesterday on the way home via dinghy, I was startled to see that a hillside near me had been stripped of most of its green, only a few trees remaining. I was mentally gnashing my teeth because that was the place where I'd encountered the magic stairs last year, a place of some wonder and joy, suddenly gone. The stairs are still there, surrounded by nakedness, bare and barren. There are light poles and diggings; it looks like a big development is going in, and going in quickly. But I tried to follow my own advice to others and took a deep breath, looking instead at the water and incredible wealth of visual joy literally surrounding me, and remembering that once I got to experience it beautifully. My reward? A huge turtle, its head and entire back above the surface, looking my way before plunging down out of sight. I'll try to hold on to the Lesson of the Turtle today and in the days to come, even while continuing to fight bad land clearing practices here...

Have a memorable Monday. Do something mesmerizing.