Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Summertime - or is it?

Mother Nature has sure been unpredictable lately. After only about 2 weeks of hot summer weather, early evenings are once again chilly enough to send me into the house for a jacket. The air is already beginning to feel like Autumn, but at least we haven't had frost.

News reports said some places in Oregon were down to 20 degrees last week, and gardens were ruined. That might be enough to put me in a blue funk for days. I'd be headed straight for FeelBach! to get the flower essence just right for lifting depression.

Since winter overstayed its welcome, our gardens are behind schedule. I think my corn will be nothing more than a treat for the horses - they love even the stalks, so it doesn't matter to them if the ears grow or not.

Meanwhile, we have a doe and fawn who have been helping themselves to the tops of the bean plants, a bit of lettuce, part of a row of carrots, and a few pea plants. She's even trimmed the raspberry canes back - but they're producing abundantly anyway.

Every time I go out to the garden I expect to find it empty, but so far she's leaving some for the rest of us. I hope she doesn't tell the other deer about her tasty finds, or it will be empty one of these days!

It's turning into such a busy summer, I might be relieved to harvest only enough to eat fresh - and not feel obligated to can or freeze the rest. Maybe I should thank that deer for her efforts to ease my work load. I think I'll do that.

Wishing you joy...

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Using Bach Flowers for summer colds

Summer colds are always a puzzle - why now, when the weather is hot and we're no longer closed up in rooms with other people who are sneezing and blowing?

The answer could lie in our own mental and emotional states.

According to the book, Heal Your Body, by Louise Hay, colds are a result of mental confusion and disorder - too much going on at once and focusing on small hurts. Since summer is often a time of frantic activity, and asking ourselves to do more than anyone should try to accomplish in a day, that could explain summer colds.

Parents of school-age children are under tremendous pressure to make sure the kids enjoy the summer, stay productive, and stay out of trouble. And all of us want to try to find a little time for ourselves to enjoy warm weather activities. We may even feel some duty to host BBQ parties or go boating with out of town visitors. All that adds extra duties to an already full life.

The result - we can begin to feel inadequate, like we're the only ones who can't seem to manage it all smoothly and effortlessly. Of course that's nonsense, but we're always more critical of ourselves than of anyone else.

I think a good cure for summer colds would be to use the questionnaire at Feel Bach! and start working on those emotional weak spots that summer brings into full play. In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to do - and then maybe my rotten summer cold will go away.

Now thatI figured that out, I wonder if there's a cure (other than mayhem) for a disobedient cat who insists on landing in the middle of my paperwork every few minutes. I've dumped her on the floor 3 times since I started this note to you.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Another Speedy Success with Bach Flower Remedies

A few days ago I wrote you about my friend who started on Sweet Dreams and got instant relief. Even I, who believe strongly in Bach Flower Essences, could hardly believe it worked so quickly.

Yesterday when I spoke to him he complained that he felt "too rested" now - he didn't want to go to bed at night because he's not tired any more. Sheesh! It's always something.

But anyway, I have another happy success to report today. It's about a little Red Heeler named Kisha. This sweet little dog came into rescue as an owner turnover, and the owner had obviously been cruel, because she was terrified of everyone. When you approached her, she'd just try to get as far into a corner as possible and sink as far into the floor as she could.

I only volunteer at rescue one day a week, so about ten days ago she got her first dose of Feel5ive. I kind of have my doubts about other volunteers "remembering" to give it every day, but I gave her a good dose in her water dish again on Sunday. Then I did spend some time with her, just holding her and telling her that life was going to be better soon. In fact, I told her a story about how someone would come and take her home and she would be pampered and spoiled and be Queen of the house.

And my story came true! The very next day a couple came to look at dogs and she ran right up to the lady to say "Hello, take me home." Now she's the Queen of a one-dog home and hopefully will never again have to be afraid.

Kisha doesn't know that Feel5ive gave her the confidence to introduce herself, but if she did, she'd say thanks. I know she would. She's just that kind of a girl.

Darn, I miss her. I wonder if her new family would let me come to visit?

Wishing you joy and happy endings...

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Bach Flowers to the rescue - again

A few days ago a friend confided to me that he hadn't slept well in months. He'd taken prescriptions and over the counter medicines, with no relief. Finally he tried melatonin. The melatonin made him sleep, but even it made him feel groggy and slow-witted for the whole next day. He just didn't know what to do next.

Now this friend is not in the best of health - and he takes so many prescriptions that he's sure they're all fighting in his body. But the doctors tell him to take them, so he does. I suppose he's more afraid not to take them than he is of the side effects.

I considered his problem and the fact that for a short while I had experienced sleeping problems. I thought about the bottle of Feel Bach Sweet Dreams on my shelf. Then I decided there was no harm in trying, and yesterday took him the bottle. I knew it was safe, and if it was the wrong formula for him it would do no harm.

What I didn't know was if he would take it, since he believes in prescriptions. But he said he'd try it - he felt desperate. I cautioned him that sometimes it takes several days to notice the change, and wondered if he'd stick with it.

Well, Bach Flowers must have been exactly what he needed, because this morning he called to tell me he had awakened only once during the night, and had taken more at that time. And this morning, he felt rested for the first time in months.

Wow. I had no idea it could work that quickly! I'm sure glad I shared.

Is there someone in your life who would benefit from you sharing? If so, just do it. Helping that way feels really good!

Yours for happiness,
Marte

Friday, July 04, 2008

Celebrate Independence!

Wishing you a happy and safe Independence Day, celebrating with people you care for. While you're at it, send up some thanks that we do have Independence. Our freedom is something to be cherished.

Meanwhile, if you live where you can buy and use your own fireworks, please be careful!

While volunteering in town a couple of days ago I heard bottle rockets going off, and then soon heard the fire trucks responding.

After a long, cold, wet spring, summer arrived with a vengeance about 10 days ago. Our temperatures are now hovering in the high 90's and things have dried out quickly. A scary time to have fire dropping to the ground.

Keep your garden hoses out, and be alert - just in case a neighbor gets silly.

Oh, and please remember to keep your pets indoors. Animal rescues get more lost pet calls on the 5th of July than any other time of year. Who knows why dogs and cats are so terrified of fireworks - just as some of them are terrified of thunderstorms, but some are. And when these critters get scared, they run. And sometimes they run so hard and so far that they can't find their way home again.

If you have Feel Bach's "Thunder Storms," begin giving it in the morning. If you don't have any, use some Feel5ive to help ease the stress your pets may experience this 4th of July.

Best wishes for joy and safety - from the whole Feel Bach! team.