Wrapping up 2014, what have I learned/experienced?
Rapid Spontaneous Events are getting more rapid and spontaneous.
"R and R" Reading and Research is on sensory overload.
Learning to Knit again, just for fun, with specialty yarns like sequins and eyelash yarns are works in progress, "knitting with cobwebs."
Picking up Paintbrushes, tools of the trade, took me to higher levels of love and gratitude.
Trying Yoga and listening to guided Meditations while practicing Tai Chi and/or Yoga combinations widened my spectrum of enjoyment and relaxation.
Treasuring Family, Friends, and Pets more than ever this year.
Mindful Eating, enjoying taste and texture went up a notch.
Returning to a Sacred Quiet Mountain invited inner peace and deep calm.
* "Once...in an unguarded moment, you recognize yourself as a friend." Elizabeth Gilbert
2015 Celebrate You, Explore You, Reflect You, Love You~
"Happy Everything Day" is every day, Keep Going Keep Positive!
Related Posts:
Dreaming Full Circle
Going Within Clouds
EnLIGHTened Travel
Unplugged Letting Go Again
T-I-M-E
In the (K)now
Universe: Shadows of Cranes
Resources:
* Super Soul Sunday, Oprah Winfrey interviews, various topics, OWN Network
Deepak Chopra,M.D., new book The Future of God, Chopra Center Meditation, Yoga
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
Dr. Paul Lam, Tai Chi for Health worldwide
Yoga
Peggy Cappy, DVD's, various programs
Wei Lana Yoga
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Oil Painting by Dahlis
Universe: Shadows of Cranes
Evergreen
This recent no flash winter photo taken through a window from quite a distance showed grey grass in our chilly yard. "Imagine" the grass turned neon green?
Last summer, a cat friend came to play. She has a nearby home and her long haired gold and white coat is always perfectly groomed. Her presence brings harmony and peace. Our resident cats do not even hiss at Fluffy! Dark tabby, Sasha, usually defensive and protective, sits on the porch silently while Fluffy floats by.
* Fluffy reminds me of Gentle Phoebe, a snowy white Norwegian Forest Cat.
No matter what Season, Time, Day, Year, Eon or Light Year on Earth and Beyond:
** "Be Present...."
May All Beings Be At Peace.
Soft and Gentle, May Peace Come to Us All~
Key Word Search: Cats
Related Posts:
Good Enough
* Phoebe's Angel
* Stars and Snow Spirit of Phoebe
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author and Tai Chi Instructor
Photo by Dahlis
Fluffy Surrounded by Evergreen
* Inspire Creativity!
Breezing right along, looking and enjoying some me time on the Internet I came across the following blog post, Inspire Creativity.
What sparks your creativity?
* This list to help jump start your creative drive is quoted from from Sue Broome, author, spiritual teacher, and Angel guidance:
Window Shop [Love It]
Eat one of your favorite foods, enjoying every bite
Watch the Clouds
Play with your pet or borrow a pet
Learn a new craft
Daydream [Albert Einstein is Near]
Reminisce over some favorite holiday memories
Sit and listen to sounds you hear and make up a story about one of them
Sue continues, "Not today? Relax! Feel inspired another day."
Learning a new craft can mean taking a basic knit, crochet or woven pattern and making up your own. I am currently trying new yarns, eyelash yarn, sequined yarn, quite unlike basic yarn that is easy to knit. So far I have ripped out a lot of tries, but I think I have a basic feel for these along with "easier" traditional yarns.
Take a basic recipe and improvise. I made a soup with cucumbers in it. Tonight I'll see how it turned out~
"Angel Blessings to You, Sue"
"Find Joy in Every Breath," Debra
Related Posts:
Holiday Memories include
Cat's Christmas
Our Christmas Puppy
Mary and the Angel
A Christmas Memory
Knitting Adventures are
Call to Colors
A Stitch in Time
Begin Again
Resources:
* Sue Broome, Author, Spiritual Teacher, Certified Angel Tarot Card Reader. Empowerment4you.com Blog Post Inspire Creativity , Dec 14, 2014 . Sue is also on Facebook.
Debra Basham, Author, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT, Finding Joy in the Journey, blog, Yellow Brick Road Your Path to Heart and Health, Dec 2014
Imagine Healing and SCS Matters with Joel P. Bowman, Ph. D.
Ask Your Angels by Alma Daniel et al.
Healing with the Angels, Doreen Virtue
Paul Lam, M.D. Tai Chi for Health Institute
Spark your creativity while your health improves
Deepak Chopra, M.D. Chopra Center Meditation online, Yoga and more
Start a Blog with Blogger, create with pictures, video, discussions, and more. Choice of templates, layouts, your designs for your audience. Fun and Easy.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist. Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Oil Painting by Dahlis
Four Visions of Sharon
Blue Lights
Hot Pink Recovery
Everyday Miracles
Ask and Receive
The Pink Blanket
A friend prepared for surgery. She asked for prayers, technicolor prayers! "Please send blue and pink light for me."
The day after out of town surgery, she was already home! What a surprise for both of us!
"You won't believe what happened! I looked up and saw that beautiful blue we love! I was enthralled, the lights overhead were not neon glaring white but stunning blue! One of the surgeons came in and asked me if we could pray together. Imagine!"
"I go out. I wake up. I see the true blue again! What I asked for!"
"Blue brings calming and energy in balance and Pink is the color of unconditional love."
* "Thought Transcends Matter...."
Pink and Blue: think baby stars being born in the constellation of Orion.
Related Posts
The Pink Blanket and Healing Hearts (May 2011)
Color (Y)our World (Feb 2011)
Resources:
Barbara Streisand, a quote from the Doctor Oz Show, Dec 9, 2014. Barbara encourages women to take care of their hearts. She has started a treatment center for women at Cedar's Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA USA.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist Author and Tai Chi Instructor
Images
Painting with Light, Grand Mere Dunes MI, oil painting by Dahlis. The blue light is a sunbeam of natural light that crossed the painting and reflected blue in the photo! There is an angel in the sky, upper left above the blue light. Tinges of pink dot the sunset.
Pink Flower, photo by Emilie
What makes you joyful? Touches your heart? Sparks a smile, a laugh, a memory, an inspiration?
*" 'It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful.' "
** Last night a written message came over the TV, I perked up when I read the word JOYFUL in very large print! I contemplated back over my day. When had I felt the greatest joy?
Hands Down Joy: a painting session, brought me back in touch with my first love, painting portraits of animals. I picked up slender long handled brushes and carefully brushed in tiny hair strokes on muzzles. Then I added a shiny highlighted look to sleek black coats. I felt DEEP joy, gratitude, relaxation, and pride of accomplishment...SOUL DEEP. I realized that this experience is also a meditative moment and memory timeline. I never realized this before? An "Ah Ha" moment is here. I felt unseen guides' suggestions including, "Time to Quit!"
I remember one of my artist friends told me, "There is nothing like painting, nothing even comes close...." I smiled~
Sunrise~Sunset a Tai Chi Moment
*** Later, I listened to a guided meditation, Miraculous Esteem, picked out at random from the Cd collection. I chose to practice Tai Chi while listening to the spoken messages followed by mantra and quiet music time. Great Joy and Relaxation is hear and now! Meditation in Motion is combined with freedom, gratitude, abundance of heart, inner happiness and peace.
Other sources of Joy Today:
Interaction with family, friends, and pets
Looking out the window and noting the changing light
Enjoyment of simple yet nutrient rich food
Restful Sleep
"Three Deep Breaths and A Smile," Rudi Tanzi, Ph. D
Resources:
* Debra Basham, CHTP, NLP, HTt, RMT, Finding Joy in the Journey, blog post Yellow Brick Road, Your Path to Heart and Health, Dec 3, 2014
Quote from Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer by Brother David Steindl-Rast
** OWN Oprah Winfrey Network, TV and online programs, variety of topics.
Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Oprah Winfrey, 21 Day Meditation Experiences, Chopra Center Meditation online. The Future of God, new book by Deepak Chopra.
Super Brain, book by Deepak Chopra, M. D., and Rudi Tanzi, Ph. D.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist. Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Oil painting by Dahlis Sunrise/Sunset, the sun is Yin and Yang symbol, playing with light and color
Windows of Light
* Many years ago, "Words slipped easily, like gentle rain, from my pencil...I didn't question the words....I didn't think about shades of meaning. I didn't think. I couldn't."
Universe
My soul opens like a lotus flower, to the will of God
I am the gentle breeze in the night,
I am the art of clouds and rain,
I am the voice that whispers your name
In the silence of the storm.
I am the rhythm of the ocean,
I share in the joy of rediscovering you:
I am loved and safe.
Touch me gently: You have created me,
I AM YOUR CHILD
Words elude me once again, thoughts stream in like rainbows. I want to write more today, to comment, to expand. I hear a whisper: "ENOUGH."
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
* Quote from Silver Butterfly, Create A Vision, Awaken Your Creative Spirit, free illustrated E-book PDF format by Dahlis Roy. Request from dahlis.roy@gmail.com
Photo by Dahlis
Light Through Windows
One Step at a Time
Recently I settled down for a bit of rest and TV. There were some scenes in black and white of various breeds of dogs on a beach. The views presented one dog at a time, sometimes a puppy, sometimes and adult dog. Some dogs ran, some played in the water, some napped on the rocks.
My mind started to relax. All of a sudden, seeing the rocks by the water, my imagination re-played a rock I have. My small rock is white and naturally shaped like a heart. It was given to me by a neighbor years ago.
"I found this under my oak tree, and I think it is for you."
I have to hold this rock in my hand right now! Where is it? I had organized things lately (oh no) and it may have been moved or put away. I searched in the first logical place, not there. I was becoming irritable. I really wanted to reconnect with the little heart rock and quickly.
I went through my dishes of rocks. I have many random rock and shell displays. My heart leaped up with joy! There it is!
Soul to Soul
I quickly carried the little rock into my living room along with some other stones from a creek bed in the Pennsylvania mountains. As I placed the pieces on the mantel, I felt but did not see a golden light with me. Recently my neighbor had passed away. She told me she would be in touch. I felt her close and loving! I lingered a bit at the mantel enjoying a light hearted moment. As the golden light faded, I paused to ponder the wonder and joy of the windows, doors, and dimensions of our lives.
* "There is no difference between the visible and the invisible-none."
** Glow in the Forest
Every Moment is A Gift
What are you grateful for in these Moments of Thanksgiving?
Blog Search Key Word Angels
Related Posts:
* By an Unfaltering Trust (July 2011)
Resources:
Super Soul Sunday, various topics, Oprah Winfrey OWN Network
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photo by Dahlis
The Rose
Oil Painting by Jan, close-up view with stepping stones
Glow in the Forest
Today, during silent meditation in my home quiet space, I immediately sank into deep rest.
Instead of seeing parades of animal images, scrolls of ancient writings, cave symbols, or colors in muted shades, streaks or bright spots, I slipped into a welcome state of non-image inner peace. This was new for me! Yet I was not asleep, even though the soft musical accompaniment also vanished. Intuitively I felt subtle layers of unbounded awareness and subconscious connection. I loved this state of be-ing and welcomed feelings of safety, security and relaxation.
I needed this restful comfort after an intense experience of placing a painting in her new home. I heard Louise coach me from long ago, "Everything you do is intense, you lead a complex inner life." Now, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Meditation help~a lot.
Courage is Here
The painting of a Black Wolf named Courage went to a new home today, to continue her own journey. Do paintings go on journeys? You Bet! As I placed Black Wolf on my mantel, waiting for her new owner to come, she almost whispered to me, "Mantel."
"She wants her own mantel," drifted into my focus. I let it go....
Black Wolf's new owner let me know, "I'm going to place her on my mantel! It is made of stones."
This is where Black Wolf wants to be!
"Imagine"
Jaw Drop Moment
* Black Wolf's image had been with me a long time, long before I painted her. Now Black Wolf and her Spirit Guides, a white wolf and other animals and birds seen above her head, go on their continuing journeys. They will radiate outward, providing refreshing, rejuvenating energy in their new location.
What greater joy and gratitude does an artist know on Earth?
These moments nourish my creativity: intuition, intention, attention, concentration, focus, awareness and unconditional love.
"The paint is Incidental."
** "All my Senses Come to Life...."
Related Posts:
* Thin Ice the story of Black Wolf (Feb 2012)
Building Blocks (Oct 2013)
Angels in the Architecture (June 2013)
Encounters with Michael, the Artist meets the Archangel (Feb 2011)
Winter Wolf (Nov 2010)
Resources:
** Song of the Day, as I write I am playing One by Ed Sheeran from the album X.
Rise of Black Wolf, PBS documentary 2010, Black Wolf breaks all the rules of the pack, yet lives to be one of the oldest wolves in Yellowstone
Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey team up to present 21 Day Meditation Experiences including The Energy of Attraction and many more
Paul Lam, M.D. Tai Chi for Health Worldwide, music, DVD, workshops, feel better, relax while exercising, increase range of motion, balance and stamina. Programs for all skill levels.
Help for adult ADD/ADHD
Daniel Amen, M.D. Healing ADD (revised ed. 2013)
Edward Hallowell, M.D. Answers to Distraction
Totally ADD online
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Oil Painting by Dahlis
Courage, The Journey of Black Wolf
Sun Dappled Sancat
Animal Prints!
Spots and Stripes Forever
Spots turning into Stripes? Some research suggests that spots came before stripes, rosettes and swirls. Both Sancat and Sasha, brother and sister, have a row of small round spots on each side of their spinal dorsal stripes. Their mid sections, legs, necks and faces show "tiger" stripes. Under their eyes, both sport war paint markings.
Magic markings render the cat, wild or tame, and other creatures nearly invisible outdoors. They blend with leaves, twigs, shadows and sun shade dapple patterns of nature. Unless they move, we and others may not spot them.
Fashion Statement, "My spots, stripes, and swirls go with everything!"
Orange Poses
Prints Charming:
Orange, our newest and youngest cat, is the color of a newly minted copper coin. He sports tiny webbed feet. Orange has a short thick, sleek coat.
He feels like a densely woven cotton blanket. His muscles bound and
leap like steel springs. When you pick up Orange, he feels like a solid
steel ball.
Orange's swirls look like patterns in solid marble. He has a corkscrew tail and curls it like a prehensile tail found on ancient furry mammals. Did Orange's ancestors hang from trees by their tails? Orange's swirls resemble Valicotherium, a furry mammal in the Jurassic Period, who resembled today's flying squirrel. Orange's back recalls SW Native American art, like viewing a totem pole from neck to tail. He has moth-like figures complete with eye spots at base of neck, all "painted" in fur.
Orange is very active~ready to accelerate into high gear from a resting state. A steak of orange in the yard, he is here, there and everywhere all at once.
Balancing Act
Orange reminds me of a Sumatran rainforest tree climber mixed with British cats. Orange was up our giant oak tree last week. I helped coach Orange down and encouraged him by talking to him in "Cat" language. I got a bit of food in a dish and said, "Row" like a cat. "Row" (rhymes with "now") means "food or dish." All of our cats say it! We trilled at each other, making sounds of confidence and safety.
He carefully looked for a way down. But instead of leaping the great distance to the ground, he studied the tree. We both studied the tree. Orange found the best branch for his descent and climbed onto it carefully. Then Orange realized one hind foot was tangled in a smaller twig. Still poised to leap, he slowly unwound his foot by rotating his hip joint outward, like a Tai Chi/Yoga move. He now carefully placed the hind foot securely on the branch. Looking downward, he bent forward, again like Tai Chi/Yoga, leaning and stretching forefeet head and neck at an angle down on the tree trunk. His hind claws were still hooked firmly onto the branch. Orange pushed off the trunk with his forefeet, sprang back at the tree with his leaping steel spring hind feet. He was airborn! Orange had safely and gently leaped to the grass!
We both celebrated the event in our warm home with much purring.
Reptilian
Sasha, our dark tabby, waves or slashes he tail quite a bit. Sasha is a Triceratops! Sasha is a Stegosaurus! Sasha is a dark leopard cub! Little leopard cubs encourage their tree resting mother, to get up and hunt for them by "beating" her with their tails. She yawns and stretches. When Sasha wants food, we get a similar treatment along with pleading kitten screeching noises to stimulate us into action.
A Clouded Leopard has markings similar to a boa constrictor.
Snow Leopard's body and tail have rosettes. Their tails also can look reptilian with patterns resembling a snake's head. Snow Leopards have snowshoe feet and extra thick coats for protection. Their ice patterned coats of gray, black and silver match their high mountain homes.
Tom, our grey wolf in cat's clothing, has a white tail tip, an 11 million year old "tale." Tom, has fine barring under his coat, visible in certain lighting similar to a Bobcat. Prehistoric three toed donkey like animals have the same grey-tan pattern with leg barring like Tom! Tom has a Cheetah tail with rings and white tip, however Cheetah is a separate genetic line of cat. Domestic cat line (small Felids) and Cheetahs developed on Earth at the same time. Lions, Tigers, Panthers etc. came later, branching off from the small cats.
A Tom Cat in A Pear Tree
A purring lap cat comforts itself and you at the same time. Cat's Purr has healing frequencies. Cats sound different, some, like Tom and Sancat, are thunderous purring machines. Others like Orange and Sasha purr quiet and mighty. When one chooses to sit on my lap, the vibrations stemming from each cat feel different. Orange vibrates out of his tiny strong foot pads while Sancat's purr center is his mid section.
A Cheetah's purr is very loud, but at a much lower frequency than the domestic cat.
Phoebe, A Norwegian Forest Cat
Unicorn Tapestries have fanciful animals similar to ancient cats.
Thousands of Years Ago Cats Were Worshiped as Gods,
Cats Have Never Forgotten This.
Blog Search, Key Word Cats
Related Posts:
Enter Extra Orange, a story of rescue and wonder
The Invisible Cheetah "There's got to be a Cheetah attached to that tail."
Mrs. Harris is a Sand Cat and Fully Present
Creature Teachers
Escape Artists
Stars and Snow, Spirit of Phoebe
Resources:
Book of Cats, illustrated by Reader's Digest, history of coat color and family tree of cats plus markings and breed descriptions.
How to Speak Cat, The Essential Primer of Cat Language by Alexandra Sellers
"Imagine"
Unicorn Tapestries
Fanciful Creatures
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Images by Dahlis
Sun Dappled Sancat, here San's stripes and spots appear like swirls in the lattice of sun and shadows. Photo by Dahlis
Orange Poses
Sasha all curled up and Tom, poised to leap, photos by Dahlis
Oil Painting by Dahlis
Stars and Snow, Spirit of Phoebe
Wind and Clouds
Mind Fields
Take a Hike! Any Hike Anywhere!
A quick outdoor break (yes please) from work or home into to a courtyard, garden or open space is so needed. Feel quiet, relaxed and refreshed. If it is storming, like today, imagine your hike in a beautiful space as you walk or practice other exercise indoors. Music is here!
Mind Games
Connect the Dots
* "God is live stream!"
"How do you feed your creativity?"
"Go Play!"
"Exercises I tried on...." I liked that, "exercises I tried on." .Feeling the right exercises for your body as needed, even bits and pieces of exercise feel wonderful.
"Bring Back the Mountain!" While hiking in the mountains, you feel rock solid and empty sky experiences. I think of Long's Peak in Colorado USA, the sacred mountain.
"Home from the Mountain...." "The Grand Invitation.... The Sweet Mundane."
The ever present "Now" is here.
"Actively Pray:" ask for, listen, journal, poetry, sing, speak, dance, observe..."sweat!"
** "Spirituality is going beyond belief," Pema Chodron
Focus-Breathe- Relax-Laugh
I saw a group of people on the streets of New York City on TV coached into a brief meditation:
Hold Hands with the person next to you.
At home, I was alone, I imagined holding hands. I felt energy instantly all over.
*** Deepak Chopra softly suggests to think silently and slowly to yourself positive words you need to hear such as Safe, Secure, Reassurance, Love, Truth, Beauty,...."
"When you are ready invite 'Laughter' to enter." The audience chuckled and smiled, I actually felt laughter here at home. I laughed out loud! Invite laughter every day, feeling lighter and happier helps you and others.
Just yesterday I was in a large local store. The manager and his team were laughing out loud! I happened to be walking along...I caught them laughing! I stayed back a bit. The group broke up when they saw me. The manager spoke to me still smiling:
"How are you today?"
I smiled widely, and meant it.
"You know," he continued, "Sometimes when we're all having a challenging day, you just gotta laugh!"
Pink Lotus
Related Posts:
Dreaming Full Circle and enLIGHTened Travel Long's Peek Mountain Adventure (Oct 2014)
Going within Clouds (Sept 2014)
The Pink Lotus (Apr 2013)
Carry Water Chop Wood (June 2011)
See Spots Run (Mar 2011)
Resources:
OWN Network Super Soul Sunday interviews:
* Alanis Morrissette, Singer, Songwriter, Sept 28, 2014
** Pema Chodron, Author, Buddhist Nun, Spiritual Teacher, Oct 26, 2014
*** Deepak Chopra, M.D. Author, Spiritual Teacher, Meditation Expert
OWN Help Desk, Sept 28, 2014
"Exploring the genius of every child."
Vinci is a proud sponsor of Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids.org
Dinosaur Train, One Big Frog, Oct 31, 2014, "You guys have a lot to learn about the sit still and wait method,"
Dahlis Roy Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Art Work by Dahlis
Wind and Clouds, Yin and Yang Moon, oil painting
See Spots Run, Cheetahs at Play, oil painting
The Pink Lotus, Dreaming Out Loud, crayon sketch
Every year we plan a leaf tour. We oooh and awe at the flames and spikes of autumn color. We had a re-winding and fast forwarding day interspersed with russets and golds and fields of greens.
This year was no exception, but turned into an exceptional unplanned experience and memory bank treasure.
The morning of the leaf tour, Chessie, our cat of long ago, came my imagination as I published The Joy of Buckwheat post. In the Buckwheat Story, Chessie Studies Flowers photo seemed to fit the visual image I felt that day. Why is Chessie on my mind?
Our Leaf Tour Rewind
Off we go to Weko Beach, sand, dunes, water, and snow fences waiting for winter. On the road into the beach glittering sunlight sparkles through tall painted trees. I noticed craggy rock outcroppings, steep grades and gullies recalling Pennsylvania and Virginia forest views in past autumns.
The dune grass is unusually green this year due to frequent rain. We pause awestruck by water and sky, stillness and motion. We search for flickers of Chicago skyscrapers across the vast expanse of water. We notice the curve of the Earth on the horizon.
Refreshed by the energy of nature, we wandered onward, free of agendas and timed schedules.
* "Time Tunnel Approaching!"
We had planned to dine at Wheatberry Restaurant in Buchanan, Michigan. Hardy fare with a Southern feel and music accompaniment set the stage as we looked out the panorama windows at sun coin leaves and the river nearby. The tables were simply set, tablecloths were plain brown paper. I liked that, recycle and no wash up required.
I felt the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. I saw again in my imagination Big Ridge mountain and our home in Tennessee where our collie kept our young kids in our yard. As I sat and touched the table, I felt connected to a restaurant meal in Tennessee. I remembered friends had treated me on my way out of town, moving from misty mountains into the vast stretch of the great plains.
The food at Wheatberry was note perfect. Hot yellow corn bread slices with country butter greeted us! We all remembered corn bread baked in a big old cast iron skillet. Hand mashed potatoes, lumpy like I enjoy them, were thick and creamy, with skins on, tasting of butter and cream. Small or large plates were available for any appetite. Three Sisters plate featured bean mix with onions and peppers, topped with polenta. Thick tomato basil soup, with a touch of cream, was sprinkled with cheese. The deserts reminded me of The Pioneer Woman cooking show. Blueberry crumble served steamy hot with chilly ice cream, key lime pie made with fresh squeezed lime juice and coconut crust topped the day.
After eating we continued wandering down and about. I recognized the territory of Route 12 in SW MI. Somehow I had always connected Rt 12 with The Chessie Car, a railroad box car on display in a field complete with logo of the C and O (Chesapeake and Ohio) railroad. I love old railroads, scenes from the past. As a child I loved the Chessie cars, they had a cat painted on them!
We went down Rt. 12....The Chessie Car wasn't there! I looked.
"Where is it?"
I know we had seen the boxcar many times on past ventures. We tuned into New Buffalo, Michigan and turned left at the next intersection route 239, heading for the interstate and home. I always daydream when someone else drives. I like that. Daydreaming straight ahead and staring at the road, I suddenly and for no reason I turned my head to the right and saw the Chessie Car Logo shaking me out of my daydream. I guess I had daydreamed the wrong route number!
"Turn in here!"
We turned into a small road way leading to the New Buffalo Railroad Museum. "It won't be open late Sunday afternoon," I thought.
"It was open!"
* "Time Tunnel Approaching!"
Inside the museum were a wealth of photographs, moving model trains complete with roundhouse and sidetracks, small boxcar, engine and caboose models of the Chessie Line and other rail lines, articles, and posters about trains in the past picturing coal burning engines (oh boy) the black and white smoke I knew so well emitted was emitted from ancient smokestacks. When the trains came, we ran and closed the windows! My parents and I lived on a wooded hill above a roundhouse. The whistles and chugs of engines running, switching, and grinding echoed day and night. We knew what the different whistles meant! I can even make out a freight train whistle to this day.
I remembered my Dad and our electric train set up. I loved picking up the Lionel Train cars, I loved the tracks, I loved the farmhouse scenery complete with small toy animals I had hand painted. Each one different, including collies of all different coat colors.
Then I wandered into a sunny corner on the ground floor of the museum. My intuition paid off big time!
First I saw the old Royal and Underwood Typewriters. I snapped their photos.
Then, I turned slowly to survey the old framed pictures on the wall to the left.
My heart leaped up! I smiled!
There were three glass framed drawings of of cats! Not just any cat but the Chessie Cat!
Our Determined Chessie
The top picture was of the Chessie Logo drawing for the C and O Railroad, The Chessie Line. A tabby kitten rested under a blanked with her paw and face peeking out That's how our own cat, Chessie, got her name. She was in the same position when she was a tiny kitten. We had seen a Chessie car that day on a freight train. Chessie, our kitten, had a name!
The middle picture showed Chessie and Kittens, all three in the same position with kittens on smaller scale.
The bottom picture looked like our grey Tom, face and all. His portrait was a headstudy. His name is Peake.
I flashed back to the Chessie Handkerchief my aunt had given me, complete with Chessie, Peake, and Kittens in color embossed into the cotton! On the handkerchief, Peake is painted in full body image, smiling proudly with his eyes closed.
OH MY! I stood in awe and wonder and marveled at the artist's skills.
Later, we even toured the Chessie boxcar and Pullman sleeper car. Both were open!
When
we left the museum, coming into the present moment, there were Canada Geese in a nearby pond. Several
were grazing and some rested. Two geese slowly strutted across the driveway in front of us, walking mindfully like a person practicing Tai Chi. A sentinel
goose kept close watch. We turned toward home, elated satisfied happy campers on our day trip through time.
Capping off Autumn Fest view of North Lake Park, Grand Mere Dunes
Just yesterday, while stopped for a passing freight train, we spotted a (gasp) Chessie boxcar on the train. We haven't seen one for years. I always look. Still in operation, the Chessie Line lives again.
What are the odds of seeing her? A freight train whistle is blowing right now as I write.
"Paired particles separated my millions of light-years will move in instantaneous concert with each other because time and distance are themselves an illusion,"
John Stewart Bell, physicist
Related Posts
The Joy of Buckwheat (Oct 2014)
Wander and Ponder (Oct 2013)
The Little Chessie that Could (Sept 2011)
Silver Stars and Moonbeams (March 2011)
Phantoms (May 2011)
Resources
* Dinosaur Train, PBS Kids, Learn about dinosaurs from ages past. Travel through the time tunnel. Animated Comedy and Education for kids of all ages. Oct 24, 2014, The Haunted Roundhouse, Volaticotherium a small furry mammal, similar to today's flying squirrel announces, "Just call me Vlad!"
Wheatberry Restaurant, Buchanan, Michigan USA
The Pioneer Woman, frontier food for hearty folk
New Buffalo Railroad Museum, Michigan USA, route 239
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, the Chessie Line
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Images:
Shell Collage, Weko Beach, photos by Dahlis
Autumn Flowers, water color painting by K.B. Wilson
Determined Chessie, photo by Paul
North Lake Park, Autumn, photo by Rob
Chessie Studies Flowers
As autumn rolls around, I remember fields of summer buckwheat in bloom. We rolled down our car windows. The air was thick and sultry, no air conditioning then. We inhaled the fresh air as we drove.
"It smells like a barn!" I looked for cows in the fields but there were none in sight.
"That's buckwheat blooming!" My Mother smiled.
I covered my nose.
However, I love buckwheat pancakes, one of the few carbohydrate foods I would eat. My Mom made them out of a ready mix box, just add milk and egg. I said "no" naturally to white flower pancakes, waffles, noodles and breads. Why? If I didn't like it, I didn't eat it.
I watched the cakes sizzle on the griddle~I think it was the yummy fat I really liked. I ate my dark colored buckwheat cakes free of syrup, but loved them with pure butter, lots of it. I didn't care for melted butter on the buckwheat, but preferred cold chunks of fresh cut butter instead. I think it is my love of separation of flavors and foods that I chose this way of enjoyment. I can taste these nutritious treats vicariously through memories streaming in as I write. My mouth waters.
I found out buckwheat is not a wheat. It is a seed of a broad leaf plant related to rhubarb. Buckwheat seeds are shaped like little triangles. The flowers are soft white with a touch of pink in the center. Five petals shape little stars.
Cocoa Buckwheat Muffin
Buckwheat flour and cereal can be cooked into a variety of nutritious dishes including cookies and muffins using cocoa powder or chocolate chips if desired. One of my favorite Buckwheat Recipes is * Old World Cauliflower Soup. I like to combine buckwheat cereal with oats and quinoa as a mixed cereal or add a spoonful of buckwheat cereal to soups and stews.
Benefits of buckwheat include: blood vessel elasticity, gluten free (it is a seed, not a grain). Buckwheat is a complex carbohydrate that may help balance glucose levels. Buckwheat is a good source of fiber and protein providing all amino acids. ** "It is also nature's best source of the bioflavanoid rutin." *** "In combination with the proteins trypsin and bromelain rutin can be used for osteoarthritis."
Mildred's Easy Buckwheat Applesauce Pancake Recipe
makes 6-8 medium sized pancakes
1 cup organic buckwheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
whisk together
in another bowl
beat 1 egg and add
1 cup unsweetened organic almond milk
1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce
stir and pour over dry ingredients
Mix well, form batter.
Optional: You can add pecans, walnuts, and/or raisins. Season to taste with cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, or cumen. For extra sweetness, add 1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar to the mix.
I use grape seed oil for frying buckwheat cakes over medium heat, turn after 5 minutes. Test for doneness,
Enjoy!
Related Posts:
Field of Greens, Kale Kale the Gangs All Here (Mar 2014)
Addiction and Discovery, Exploring Food and more (Aug 2014)
Resources:
* Pocono Cream of Buckwheat Cereal, organic, The Birkett Mills. Old World Cauliflower Soup Recipe on package and more
Order a beautifully illustrated buckwheat recipe cookbook, just $3.00 USD.
The Birkett Mills
163 Main Street
P.O.Box 440
Penn Yan N.Y. 14527 USA
http://www.bobsredmill.com
Bob's Red Mill Organic Buckwheat Flour, and Bob's Red Mill Creamy Organic Buckwheat Cereal
http://www.edenfoods.com
Eden Organic Buckwheat Hulled Whole Grain
** nutrient information on package
***
Web MD online, information about Rutin
World's Healthiest Foods online, read about benefits of buckwheat and other favorite foods, lists of nutrients contained in foods plus recipes.
Dahlis Roy: Visionary Artist, Author, and Tai Chi Instructor
Photos
Chessie Studies Flowers by Paul
Cocoa Buckwheat Muffin by Dahlis
