Chrysanthemum is from the Greek, “khrysos” for”gold” and “anthemon” for “flower”. The “gold flower” is truly a treasure. From Bud to Bloom: When we find ourselves as tightly wound as a burgeoning bud, holding our breath against a pinched world, it is good to remember the hidden treasures of our soul. It’s all in the…

Wherever you stand, whatever is before you, be in the soul of that place. There you will find your belonging. — Rumi . A pair of sandhill cranes graced our backyard. Their long-legs moved in elegant, unhurried and seemingly choreographed strides. Side by side, they moved as if bound by an invisible thread, mirroring a…

*Thank you, Mark (at the gym), for giving me this idea: Side B as a metaphor for our lives. It was the summer of 1954 when I earned enough babysitting money to buy my own record player and records. The 45 rpms came in a paper sleeve, 89 cents at Newberry’s 5 & 10 on…

Note: I borrowed this title from two books: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and One True Thing by Anna Quindlen. Both examine of the complex nature of family bonds, specifically parent-child, in the midst of struggles, turmoil, heartaches, distance and pain. And running through this labyrinth of emotions is a force, the one true…

In the early light, one hears the throb of life itself: Dawn’s Chorus. –Rachel Carson Fred Rogers said it best, “In this fast-paced world with constant worrisome distractions, we need more time to pause, observe, listen, wonder and claim our place in the flow of life. A light misty halo rises from the surface of…

Dedication: To John Adair and my Music Makers and Joyful Chords. Their song of life paints my inner landscape with colorful fields of joy. This I have learned, to be patient with all that is unsettled for something good is always growing. So, in my quiet spaces, I am a single drop of rain released…

Preface: The Evening Primrose is one of 4 flowers that bloom in the twilight of the day. Flowers, often associated with youth, actually represent the full maturation process, not unlike us. It is now the Tranquility of Twilight, a time to slip into the evening of our bloom. Nearing the completion of the day, a…

Remember when morning had a voice? It was an early call from a full-throated rooster announcing the night as officially over and a new day was waiting for our attention. His voice rang out with precision. Be alert! A fresh new start begins. The rooster’s crow rippled throughout meadows and farms. Like an orchestra leader…

Thank you, January,For letting me sink Deep in my easy chairHaving a good think. —g. hill Calendar months have a way of folding into each other—- March thaws us into an April spring. June warms us into playful July. And September begins to color its way into October.But December and January stand in contrast to…

Note: Taken from The Nature Whisperer: Seasons of Light, by Dr. Gloria J. Hill. An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language. ——Martin Buber, I and Thou Deer hold a magical spell over me. Perhaps it all began way back when I was a little girl.___________Travel back with me in time as…