Natural Inspiration: Share my World

We get this one life to enjoy the adventure: Come on out and share my world. Being willing to take a risk means overcoming the fear of change. Whether we like it or not, change happens everyday. We have excuses to not try. "Where's the money coming from/" "I don't have time in my schedule."  "I have responsibilities."
No matter what, there's another day coming. We can wait for the next one or we can live the moment we have right now.

Does it happen at the end of the rainbow?

 ​Is it in the light of a new day?

Maybe it's just below the surface of the ice.

Maybe it's just beyond this thicket of trees.

My Inspiration:

If I could maybe I'd give you my world

How can I when you won't take it from me

                                             - Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way"

Shared Thoughts:

Life knocks every day, we just need to reach out, hang on and ride it to the end. We've been given this Earth and it's an amazing world, full of beauty with just enough thorns to remind us to enjoy those almost perfect moments when they happen.

                                             -- L. M-S.

Natural Inspiration - Flight

 A beautiful sunset leads to sweet dreams with complex layers of beauty.

Hummingbirds remind us of the joy in life and the lightness of being

Blue heron in the center of the picture was as surprised to see me this morning as I was to see it. Native American tribes see the heron as a symbol of curiosity and determination. - it reminds us to move forward, open doors and try new things.

When we yearn for freedom, we look to the sky -  Gulls have a complex and highly developed repertoire for communication which includes a range of vocalizations and body movements

Considered the "spirit of northern waters" - Common loons return to the same breeding ground every year and are believed to mate for life. Each year they renew the bond with a little romance - synchronized swimming, head posturing and diving.

My inspiration for the day -
The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.
                                         Samuel Johnson

Shared thought -
When the answer seems to be, "not yet,"  Patience along with perseverance will lead to the heart's desire. I look to those with power to overcome the force of gravity and my hopes no longer have to be earth-bound.
                                       

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Resolutions for Romance

Perhaps a resolution is  a simple desire to do something positive. For romance to flourish and grow, couples focus on the shared journey. Make it simple for this year.

• Say "I love you" often to remind you of the commitment you've made to share challenges, goals and finding happiness together.
• Talk and Act out of love. Communicate honestly and often even when the seemingly smallest issue comes up. Be truthful while staying sensitive to the other person's feelings.
• Bond - find activities you enjoy doing together and indulge in that time together at least once a week for "date time". Whether the fun is all about the Sunday afternoon "tailgate party" watching your favorite sport, cooking together, getting up early to catch the sunrise or fishing, spelunking, bird-watching  rock climbing  paragliding or lawn bowling in the back yard - always remember playtime.
• Dream about the future. Would you like a dream vacation in Belize? Do you want to start a business together? Interested in waterfront property or building a sustainable orchard? State your dreams. The simple act of saying out loud what you want helps to focus your energy and planning for the future.
• Kindle intimacy. Try something new and let your partner know what you like. Share your fantasies. Say, "I'd love to try (this passion) with you."
• Be socially and environmentally responsible together. Nothing says love quite like working together to make your little part of the world better.

Wishing you much love and joy in the coming year.

Be My Snow Angel

Cleaning up the yard after a storm can be especially romantic.

Snow is the perfect medium for artwork. Jump in, walk the path, fall backward and create angels. Let the kid inside out to play. Shoveling provides a nice workout when performed safely. The chill in the air makes cheeks rosy. Then head inside for warm drinks and snuggling.

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Eagles and Courting

The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) officially landed in the Endangered Species category in 1967 and conservation recovery efforts now have them soaring in our semi-wilderness playground. We spent our July Fourth late afternoon in the boat, floating along the far shoreline, watching for nesting pairs. We found four juvenile eagles and saw two adult pairs.

These eaglets have not yet developed the coloring of their parents. Just learning to fly, land on perches and beginning to hunt for food. They will reach maturity and start looking for a mate at age four or five.


Romantically speaking - eagles mate for life. The one that is left after one in the pair bond dies will accept a new mate. An eagle's lifespan in the wild is about 30 years, so, lots of time for many children and grandchildren.


A whirlwind romance perhaps, an eagle will perform for a potential mate by flying and swooping and  cartwheeling. Skydiving anyone? The male and female will soar high in the air, lock talons and go into freefall together, pulling up at the last minute to soar again into the air. Humans don't fall in love quite  the same way, but activities that release neurotransmitters (those chemicals that send messages throughout the body) do help with bonding. Consider the thrill of seeing eagles soaring together, the romance of a tandem skydive, or climbing a rock-face. The limit is the imagination and sense of self-preservation.  


Not into extreme sports try: holding hands, going to a movie, window-shopping together just for fun, going out for a special meal, moderate exercises like running or skating, and taking bubble baths.

The Bald Eagle was removed from the federal listing in 2007. Efforts continue to preserve their habitat and nesting areas. 

Watching eagles soar, spending time together and learning from other species - ROMANTIC.

Romancing the Rain

Light rain, fog and mist at a balmy 58 °F - only a romantic thinks the conditions are perfect to stand in the water to capture the perfect picture.

Ideas for spending a rainy day we could . . .

catch up on reading

play the Dream Game - "if only it wasn't raining we would be taking a three-mile walk."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would go to the little league game."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would fly a kite in the Sonoran Desert."
     "if only it wasn't raining we would yodel in the Swiss Alps"
   
See how the dream game works, consider it a no-dream-impossible mind-storming of adventures that are possible together. The relationship benefits with a vision of the future together.

snuggling

dancing

and somehow just starting the day right, creates a bright spot.

When strawberries are fresh and in-season, take a moment to savor nature's bounty!

Watching Wildlife

Wildlife watching opportunities might be in your neighborhood. At the lakeside retreat we can watch birds any time of day -  loons, American Bald Eagles, osprey, Merganser ducks along with Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers on the suet feeder. Hummingbirds love the garden and the feeder.

This chipmunk was very patient with me getting close enough to take pictures. Of course, a quick chirp made by my sweetheart who was sitting across the lawn sent the chipmunk scurrying to the safety of a maple tree about three feet away.

To share the experiences we often call to each other to "Come look!" We watch the animals almost as closely as we watched our children while they were growing up. I think we have a better handle on being amused now though.

If wildlife watching opportunities are limited in your area. Live web-cam watching on the internet is just as amazing. Check out either the Audubon Society or NatureWatch from the USDA Forest Service.

Keep in mind to be respectful and not interfere with the birds and animals you are watching. Observing and sharing ideas about wildlife and the environment improves communication and bonding between two people. And paying attention to each other is pretty important too.

Birds and Butterflies

Patience - the one element more important than the right equipment for capturing the beauty of nature.

For city-dwellers the best place to find butterflies and learn about them is the nearest Butterfly Pavilion. For those lucky enough to be blessed with a backyard or patio to attract butterflies host a garden designed for the butterfly's pleasure.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, nectar producing plants with multiple florets will attract visitors.

Make butterfly watching a couples adventure.

     Hold hands while walking through the garden and even better share that meaningful look or sneak a quick kiss in a secluded spot.

     Choose flowers or seeds and plant them together. 

     Share the use of the camera and have a contest to see who takes the best picture of the day.

     Research the secrets of gardening without pesticides.

Patience -an important element that two people need for capturing the beauty of a wonderful relationship.

Competitive Sprouting

Green thumb competition sprouts romantic teasing. In some areas, health foodies feel the time warp to the pre-living foods boom that brought alfalfa, clover and other sprouts to the neighborhood supermarket. My honey and I decided our only recourse would be growing our own. Sounded more like work than play before we visited the bulk foods store and spent like crazy for alfalfa, millet and mung beans.

The Materials
seeds; water; sealable sprouting containers like jars or boxes in glass, plastic or acrylic; tea strainer and cloth scraps

The Method
Place one teaspoon alfalfa seeds in sprouting container and cover with at least an inch or two of water. Let sit overnight to open the seed casing for germination. In the morning drain using the tea strainer or cloth scraps. Let the seeds drain for a few minutes and then place in the sprouting container and seal. Place in a warm spot or an area with natural light. I used the kitchen window in the sun. My honey chose the fireplace mantle in the living room. Rinse the seeds and then the sprouts each morning and evening.

The Competition
We took advantage of the variables. Separate containers. Sprouting location. How dry to keep the seeds. Cover options. Whether to add a dry cloth for a sprouting bed. Music genre to play. Gently rolled or shaken up. Talking to the plants. Up to a point science controls the outcome, then experience and art take over.

"You've grown a mass of unruly snakes."

Yes, mine looks like a luscious pile of tangled sprouts. My honey grew an orderly patch of white stems with bright green tips. I couldn't think of a good comeback line and chose to avoid a cliche like 'they all taste the same'.

The Benefits
What started as a little competition may turn into an all out foodie war, but the best part is both sides win. According to Dr. Gillian McKeith in Living Food for Health, sprouts provide plenty of antioxidant vitamins, enzymes, trace minerals, chlorophyll and fiber.

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Is that Love in the Air Contagious?

With Valentine's Day people and especially marketing professionals focus on LOVE. Often thought to be an exclusive holiday for couples, it is a wonderful time to visit family and friends.

I purchased a pack of recycled paper Valentines, though I could have made my own from scraps of craft paper and fabric. I splurged on good quality chocolate. To be more eco-friendly give local treats.

My honey and I made a list of people who weren't as likely to be remembered on Valentine's Day and set out with our goodies and cards. Everyone we visited gave us surprised smiles and had a romantic story to share with us. Their reminiscences made us feel more romantic too and glad we'd taken the time. Sharing love sparks more love. And isn't that what life is all about?

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“My Green Goddess”

I'm not one of those ladies who gets up an hour early to style my hair and apply makeup to look perfect. I insist on natural beauty, without trying to look commercial perfect, but I love to feel pampered. Seeing me in various stages of spa treatments is nothing new. While preparing for our evening out, I wandered upstairs to apply a honey, aloe and avocado mask to my face, neck and décolletage. I thought nothing of wandering back downstairs.

My honey didn't look up from reading a technology magazine and proceeded to read me highlights from a research article. Our eyes met as usual in private couple's communication for passing non-verbal messages. Conversation stopped mid-sentence.

“My green goddess.” After tasting the mask my honey asked, “How long do you have to leave it on?”

I'm sure I blinked at the question and maintained silence because I thought it might have been shock or disapproval. I shouldn't have worried.

“You couldn't look bad if you tried. Just I'm already dressed and I'd hate to wear my appetizer all evening.” Aww, romance lives and breathes due to humor.

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Romantic Use of Time

My honey and I tried an experiment to determine how much time we spend together or doing things for each other because we often hear one complaint from people. “We’d be able to have romance if it wasn’t for children, jobs etc.” True enough sometimes I think we take for granted some of the things we do like daily chores as benefiting our selves and others too.

Here’s how our typical day breaks down.
My honey – 51.8% of time with me or for me, 25% chores and work
Me – 40.6% time with my honey, 16.1% cooking, 37.5% working

Our times don’t add up to 100% because of incidentals like grooming, exercise, email, taking breaks and personal time. Surprise! My honey spent more time for my benefit than I though. We each recorded three intentional hugs throughout the day, multiple quick kisses and numerous ‘thank yous” We also eat our meals together. Despite varying schedules day to day we appreciate every moment we spend together and we discovered even though we have tasks and outside responsibilities the majority of our time is spent on our relationship. Even work can be considered for us because we both enjoy the results.

Try keeping a record and you might be surprised as we were how many romantic or necessary things we do for each other.

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Amateur Trackers We Are

Winter is the best time to develop tracking skills because snow creates almost forensic-quality imprints. After studying several guides on identifying animals and behavior by their tracks, we set out on a warm sunny day (if 26 degrees F is considered warm). We started with the exercise path before heading deeper into our urban wilds. Don’t laugh we worked on guessing gender and size of the Homo sapiens who’d been there before us and Canis lupus familiaris (dog) was also easy. Our observational skills and the guide also helped us identify squirrel, rabbit and fox.

We were fooled though the next weekend when we planned an outdoor adventure with another couple. We had reservations at an outdoor lodge and the blizzard conditions weren’t stopping us. With the guys in the front bucket seats and the gals in the backseat we drove along the major highway at about 25mph. Headed into the snowstorm we thought the big flakes became mesmerizing picked up by the headlights in the dark.

My honey saw tracks. “It might be a moose.”

The guys kept lookout eager to see a moose up close. “I see it,” one of them yelled.

“Yeah, if moose wear parkas and running shoes.” Us urban trackers should have picked up on the first sign. We passed an abandoned car on the side of the road about half a mile back.

Grab a guide, learn some signs and get out in nature with someone you care about. Happy tracking.

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Endings and Beginnings

Every day offers new possibilities. For my honey and I 2010 begins where 2009 leaves off. Does this justify a celebration? Of course, especially for romantic reasons.

Who we’ve met – humans as social beings enjoy connections with others to share ideas and enjoy camaraderie. Our acquaintances expanded from attending a wedding, reaching out to new neighbors and regular visits to the public library.

What we’ve done – we share our accomplishments. We’re both looking to the future and everything we’ve done individually or as a couple is a joint effort. This year publications increased and I’m especially proud of inclusion in Cern Zoo (and it's top secret which story is mine until next year - perhaps you can guess).

Where we want to go – we prefer to not make resolutions though we do set goals. Our romantic destinations for the coming year include a moonlight picnic by the lake, toad hollow to learn more about ecosystems and human effect on them, to the top of a mountain (any mountain) and at least one public lecture.

How we plan to get there – laugh a lot. Rocky patches become less tragic when we take them less seriously. We enjoy collecting humorous anecdotes and share our memories. This year we’ve added to our “inside jokes” with a heart to heart with a monkey, the draw of our magnetic personalities to draw others to us at concerts and going up a tree and out on the limb

Why we choose to go forward together – Our commitment to each other is our absolute and to that end we make time together a priority. As situations arise we adapt physically and philosophically. May you take advantage of many opportunities in the coming year and joy in the ability to share them with someone you love. Join us as we find new dating possibilities that are environmentally friendly. Thank you for spending this past year with us.

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Season of Gifts – Family and Friends

A commitment to sustainable lifestyle doesn’t mean eschewing all things commercial during the holiday season. My honey and I aren’t lavish givers, though we do enjoy a little shopping as eco-elves. Shopping during the holidays makes a beautiful date especially if you love being around other people like I do. Choosing gifts is harder and we’ve come up with a few guidelines we use.

Know the recipient – make gifts personal and don’t bother giving something that will be returned for a refund. If the recipient loves hot chocolate how about two mugs, a jar of organic, rainforest friendly or fair trade chocolate mix and maybe a comfy blanket or quilt. We also love to give trees for planting and books.

Hand-knit socks – so, knowing how to knit is a must, but choosing the wool yarn from small, local producers and spending time making the socks adds something special to the gift. And the socks seem extra warm and cozy

A craft – artists and crafters can create one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends. Some artists hesitate to give this type of gift afraid it makes them look cheap. Have no fear, this gift becomes ever more precious throughout the years. I painted a picture for my wall of a waterfall; my grandmother loved it so I gave it to her. She kept it through two moves one to assisted living and then to the nursing home. The painting is now back on my wall and is more precious because my grandmother loved it so much.

Tickets – entertainment is expensive and providing tickets for two and offering to baby sit if the couple has children allows for a needed evening out for them and an evening of fun with borrowed children for you.

Fill a need – if someone you know really needs a set of dishes, a kitchen table or to have windows washed, go ahead and grant the wish. For bigger items check out thrift stores and second hand to find one that can be refurbished. For recipients of fixed incomes consider, slippers, warm sweaters and sweatshirts, lap blankets or a few good books on tape (if they have something to play them on). Don’t be afraid to re-gift or buy used and let the recipient know of was to pass them on if they are interested.

Gift Bags – Fill a reusable canvas shopping bag with non-perishable food, favorite snacks, a bottle of wine or sparkling cider or perhaps eco-friendly soap, lotion and massage oil as well as spa tools. Be creative as you show that living environmentally friendly can be a pleasure

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A Season of Gifts – Couples

Preparing for the winter holidays means thinking about gifts, whether to give or not and what to give. My honey and I have an agreement; no stocking stuffers or impersonal gifts for each other. This means less stress on the budget and no gift returns. (SIGH! – that’s relief) we don’t have to move mountains of wrapping paper, figure out what to do with non-recyclable packaging, hunt up packages of batteries or head to the store for additional rechargeables. Any gifts given are truly wanted though usually not a surprise.

We found a way to kept the holiday excitement and spirit while banishing stress with Sweetie Days. We wrote 30 personal requests on the back of repurposed paper and placed them in two bowls. Each evening (choose your own interval two/per weekend ‘til New Years, or one every night for eight or twelve days) we draw a slip of paper and fulfill the request. Below are some of our favorite suggestions to inspire your holiday fun.

Pose for a couple’s portrait with me.
Snowball Fight (we didn’t have snow when we drew this request and used rolled up socks instead)
Neck massage
Light Candles and Share your favorite memory
Write me a poem
Dance with me to ‘our’ song
Bake cookies
Give me Seven Minutes in Heaven
Take a walk with me
Lap dance for me (PS – a great resource is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Exotic and Pole Dancing by Wendy Reardon)
Tickle me and make me laugh

Talk about giving – fulfilling a wish for the one you love and having a wish granted in return is a romantic way to spend the season. And it’s a great idea for sparking relationships any time of the year.

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To Woo or Not to Woo

"I need to be wooed."

My honey is a stickler for details. "But you're already caught."

Not the average evening starts with the dictionary and discussion of wooing. The traditional meaning as my honey pointed out is to seek someone's affection with a goal toward marriage.

"Hmm I see the point, but I'll make a second. Relationships need to be nurtured and wooing is one means."

Can I give tried and true a twist?

Every good tradition can benefit from new experiences and knowledge. We've made some environmentally-friendly suggestions, however you know your sweetie better than anyone so go ahead and personalize.

Flowers - how about an organic bouquet, picking a posy in the garden, edible bouquets made with fruit, plant a tree together

Chocolates or candy - consider fair trade, organic and minimally processed chocolate, regional favorites (whoopie pies, moon pies, fried dough, funnel cakes etc.), kettle corn is a tasty sweet too (to make your own add a little sugar to buttered popcorn and maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon or another favorite flavoring. I add vanilla to melted butter)

Love notes - written on garden path stones, printed in chalk-substitute on the sidewalk, set to music and sung to your sweetie

Steal a kiss - sneak up behind your sweetie during chores, in a private arbor or after climbing to the top of a mountain.

Dinner - skip the restaurant and go on a picnic or if you aren't normally the one who cooks and cleans surprise your sweetie with a meal on the table even if it's takeout.

Laughter - my honey used the word 'woo' as the basis for the sound a train makes, the sound a rider on a bucking horse makes, as a howl at the moon and finally as in 'woo baby, I'm exhausted'.

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Bedtime Story for Two

We’re caught in the in-between season, a tease of warmth during the day, temperatures sliding below freezing at night and the occasional unexpected but not unusual snowstorm. My honey and I have become a touch more judicious about our dating activities. Ok, so it’s me; I want to stay warm and nothing feels quite as cozy as smooth sheets, soft pillow and handmade quilts.

Add an energy conserving bedside lamp and a good thriller and we’re good for over an hour. Reading is yet another reason we are compatible, I love to read aloud and my honey loves to listen to my voice. I get practice modulating for public speaking and my honey loves the variations.

“When there’s dialogue and your accent changes from Irish to French to Russian I feel like I’m right there.”

Here I give kudos to the writer we both agree writes a great novel. My honey said, “I wonder if Jack Higgins writes in accent.”

I have to say with respect of a fellow writer, “I’m awed by how real the dialogue is written; it just begs to be read correctly.”

My honey and I are also in the habit of reading snippets to each other when we each are reading to ourselves. Try sharing a good book, a magazine or even the news.

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Wriggler Wranglers

Our outdoor vermicomposting system utilizes worms to break down our vegetarian scraps. Over the summer they doubled in population with extra food from family and neighbors. With winter approaching we made a date to build an indoor worm farm. We had two large Styrofoam shipping coolers someone discarded in our yard and we kept because we figured we could use them for something.

My honey drilled holes in the bottom and sides, cut leftover screening and prepped the boxes with wood shavings, newspaper and sandy soil (we’ve heard crushed eggshells work too for helping the worms’ digestion). I went to the backyard composter to round up worms. Seriously it takes about one pound of worms to process two pounds of table scraps in a week and one pound of worms is about 1000 of the little red wrigglers. We measured our weekly waste and planned accordingly.

One evening after we had the worms settled my honey actually said, “I’m saving these pieces of pizza crust for the worms.”

Neither one of us can tell of Fred/Frieda (worms are hermaphrodites) or Keshia/Ken is the one who is on top waiting for the freshest serving, but the soil for our gardening is beautifully aerated, moist and loaded with nutrients. Doesn’t organic soil sound almost mouthwatering? Weird.

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Four Wheeling the Logging Roads

As a sport perhaps Four Wheeling (also called off-roading) is less likely to be rated an eco-friendly activity. Depends on perspective and those participants attempting to improve the sport. My honey and I chose an eight-mile jaunt on logging roads to look at the forestry and check out the flora and fauna.

The area was clear-cut and then reforested. Clear cutting doesn’t have to be viewed as a bad activity. Especially when the goal is sustainability. All the usable lumber can be used and the slash allowed to decompose for soil enrichment. The diseased trees and dense undergrowth with broken branches and litter was taken care of.

The area was then reforested, the trees are fast growing, placed in neat rows and kept thinned to make forest management easier. Nature’s chance to begin anew and it didn’t take long for the native grasses and shrubs to reseed and take advantage of the rejuvenated soil and extra sunlight.

Preservation is fine to a point. Technology is fine to a point. Instead of seeking to win an argument or compromise, we as humans need to think about our impact on the environment and those around us and then be free to make the most workable decisions instead of relying on emotions.

To get you own information in your area:
1. go to the source instead of accepting regurgitated information
2. consider short-tem and long-term goals
3. forgo philosophical trends in favor of strategic action

For additional resources and information check out the Forest Stewardship Council.
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