Friday Facts ~ What has happened to our Hearts?

Do we really understand the fragility of Life?

Have we ever thought of consequence and all the Strife?

So we can run around in cars and have our pretty things

Have you ever thought of all the pain we Human’s bring?

Have you ever thought just what it’s like to have your home bulldozed

And have you thought how hard it is to find enough to eat

When driven from your home

To Walk for miles to find a drop of water

And then to find you face a gun and you come up for slaughter

Have you ever considered just how you’d feel if orphaned you were left

As your mother became a trophy with her skin stripped from her chest?

Did you never spare a thought for the Ocean and her depths?

A dumping ground for all our waste no longer we respect,

It’s time to understand that we cannot turn away

For we are each responsible for the world we live today

We humans have tipped the scales as we destroy with tools of greed

It’s time to re-awake and replant a caring seed

By Sue Dreamwalker

If you click the Links below the Facts speak for themselves..  If you prefer I hope to have linked the photo’s from their original found source where you can read more about each subject.

Wishing you ALL a Very Peaceful Weekend and loving weekend with your families, and I would just ask one thing…

Please keep sending your thoughts of Peace and Love from your hearts to the World and All who are in need

I hope you also enjoy this Video

~All around the World-Open up your Hearts~ Forever United .

Sources :

http://www.worstpolluted.org/pollution-facts-2009.html

http://worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation

http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/guarani

http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/publications/woa/woa16/woa_uk/index.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2312483/Disney-documentary-Chimpanzee-Alpha-male-Freddy-saved-Oscar-orphaned-baby-chimp.html

http://www.savetigersnow.org/problem

http://www.projectaware.org/project/marine-debris

http://michellemasters.com/stationery/blank-notecards/plant-love.-grow-peace.

http://18deviki.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/

Safely Gathering In

“Don’t judge each day by the Harvest you Reap, but by the Seeds you Plant”

~Robert Louis Stevenson~

Above you can see what is behind our Garden shed, as the onions and shallots were hanging out to dry. The barrels collect the rainwater from the roof, nothing is wasted. A roof which needs more tarpaulin to see it through the winter, another job still waiting to be done, but that’s one for Hubby. 

Our days always fly by with speed as we are always finding something or other to keep us busy.. This week we brought the Onions back from the allotments to finish off drying and to clean up,

This was the job I elected to do with the shallots as they were fiddly, you allow them to dry off for a few weeks as you see them above and then you clean them up by peeling a few thin layers of skins back until you get to the cleaner layers ensuring there are no bad ones, keeping the long stalks in tact. These damaged ones are put to one side to be used up sooner or if too bad discarded to the compost heap.

Shallots outer skins removed, polished and now drying

I then us a clean duster and dry and shine them off and again these are left to air dry to allow the skins to harden and turn to that onion colour again.

Then after a few more days its time to hang them… I expect every gardener has their own ways of hanging onions, But this was how I saw both my Grandparents and Parents preserve their onions…

Onions that are cleaned off and drying before hanging for final storage

I got a long length of strong string and doubled it up into four with the loops at the bottom and tying a knot at the top, suspended from a hook.. You then work from the bottom to the top twisting the onions dried stalks in-between the string until it looks like this , Leaving the long ends for later.

Shallots hung on string for storage

Once you have done the whole string with your onions you then can trim back the dried stalks. Above you can see the ones I have hung on strings that will continue to dry off for storage 

Behind the shed  also is a huge rambling Blackberry Bush so we have been gathering in these wonderful Berries also and Freezing them after cleaning them. Also made some Apple and Blackberry crumble for desert on Sunday.

These Blackberries were picked from behind our Allotment Shed,

I have made more broccoli soup, and baking Fruit Scones too. Recipe can be found here as I followed a Mary Berry recipe, they are Light and delicious.

Fruit Scones with added cherries

The Tomatoes in the Green house are still ripening and I hope they do soon or else there will be a lot of Green Tomato Chutney made 

Green House Tomatoes, still waiting for them to ripen

I still have one other project still waiting to do and that is to paint a mandala, You can see Here on Heartsong Blog I chose one from Shree’s selection that she has created and generously offered to share which can be found Here  Shree, if your reading, its now half way done painting in watercolour paints. I set up my easel outside in the sun and low and behold a Butterfly landed on the corner of my painting as if giving me its blessing and stayed there for at least 3 minutes until I moved, as I am sure I held my breath as I examined the Peacock Butterfly in detail. Such a Delight   .

Mandala half completed. Click to find out more

Please click onto the pictures to enlarge and to see more details And I will leave you with some more Wonderful Butterflies which visited us over the past few days too.. Our Buddleia Bush is still in flower and seems to be attracting many as they stop off for a drink… And here are some of our flowers in bloom I thought I would share.. I hope you enjoyed what I have been up to.

 Love and Light ~Sue 

Peacock butterfly in our allotments

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Tortoiseshell underside sat on my dragonfly solar light

A small white and Peacock sharing

 

Seeds of Truth~ I am sowing

Our Sweetcorn is almost ready for harvesting in another couple of weeks , as the cobs are filling out nicely,.. Here is me a little windswept among the corn. You can see how high it now is.   Hello everyone!

I felt like I was dancing in the wind as the corn swayed back and forth reminding me of the Native American Indian’s Corn Dance Native ceremonies help people to remember their responsibilities to nature around them and to the Universe. 

In Australia the Aboriginal people speak of ‘Dreaming’ and again these stories are passed down word of mouth through generations. When Western science meets the stories of the indigenous peoples of both cultures, the Western approach fails to understand that native stories are stories of origin, which are a creative interpretation of the experiences of peoples within places, which are interwoven with metaphoric meaning.

We tend to not understand, because many refuse to open their minds as to any other possibilities than their own meanings of man’s origin. It is time we opened our Minds again to the Truth of what is happening in our world.

To the Native everything is considered to be “alive”, and imbued with ‘Spirit Energy’ even the pebble has its own form and energy. And everything is interrelated to everything around us.  They understand the relationship of Time and Space between living and none living things. Understanding not only the physical, but the psychological and Spiritual , which involves ‘Dreams’,‘Visions’ and that ‘Knowing’. And they Know that life is a circle of learning. And to help remember and create harmony, between Earth, Sky, and its peoples, many ceremonies and  blessings of gratitude took place and one of these is the Corn Dance .. 

 

The Corn Dance rituals were performed at particular times of the year during various growing cycles, bringing their community together to celebrate and remember the sacredness of Corn and all plant life upon which they depended.. In which we all depend upon today..  The indigenous not only expressed the relationship between plant and animal world, but they built great canals.. The Hohokam people built these canals in the Tuscan Valley, long before the arrival of Europeans. The Hohokam systems were able to supply the irrigation needs of over fourteen thousand acres of cropland.   They understood agriculture and how to maintain key plants such as corn. The ceremony associated with Corn showed the community how important it was for all to work together in order for survival. Native People loved their gardens and grew Corn, Tobacco Aramanth and Quinoa and were spiritually symbolic of  Native myths and cosmologies.

The Following Story is of the Tuscarora Corn Spirit.

In a time long ago, in a village that was well known for its plentiful corn harvest, became negligent of respecting the Corn Spirit. The people had become so used to the bountiful harvests they took them for granted. And they let the weeds grow  in their gardens, and didn’t store their seeds correctly, nor did they give thanks for their harvest to the Corn Spirit.

They soon found that the mice ate the Corn they had carelessly stored. So the men began to hunt, but found they could find no game, and so soon the people began to starve.

There was only one man who kept the covenant of respect to the Corn Spirit, his name was Dayohagwenda , and his garden produced rich harvests of corn.  One day when Dayohagwenda was picking herbs, he came upon an old man dressed in rags and weeping. He asked the old man what was wrong. The old man said.” Your people have forgotten me, I am the Corn Spirit and I will soon die”

Dayohagwenda returned to his village and told them that the Corn Spirit would soon die if they didn’t return to their ways of honouring him, through careful planting, weeding and harvesting and storing their corn. So they immediately began to do this and their corn once again thrived in abundance, as they gave thanks to the Corn Spirit for blessing their food..

  Morden Native peoples and farmers are today under threat by huge corporations that are genetically altering seeds  This move is to gain control over the Worlds Food supplies.. You can see one such Farmers Fight here….. And Here  and how another 75 year old farmer lost his fight in the high court… HERE   Below is an interesting Fact on some of todays Sweetcorn on the cob..This Genetically Modified Corn modified by Monsanto which has the substance Bt-Toxin, This toxin is a pesticide designed to break down the stomach of insects eating the crops.  Now this  Dangerous Toxin has been found in the blood of Pregnant Women  Listen to this Two minute Video which is informing us of its sale as Corn on the cob in Walmart which is Asada here in the UK.. 

To see what Bt-Toxin has done in India to the Cotton Crops which this Toxin is in, then I urge you to look at this Video Below just over 3 minutes long which will make you THINK  what effects Monsanto is having around the world.. Here in India the farmers and pickers of the crops are suffering flu like symptoms and are experiencing sores and itching and their animals are dying from eating the crops after harvest.. And where farmers who have bought the seeds and failed crops and lost their herds the Suicide rate among farmers is extremely high as they can not pay back their debts.

  If we do not start and open our eyes now to the Seeds of Truth there will be no more seeds to sow left worth sowing… Please look at what you are Eating, and look at your processed Corn products. In fact please Look into the facts for yourselves .. Thank you for reading Sue ~Dreamwalker  

Fly to Freedom~ A poem Spinning Threads

Spinning Threads

I’m spinning a spiral of threads to catch the light

And each one I weave brings new insights

Many years in this cocoon I’ve been caught

But soon my wings will fly fearing nought

For the life that I led has been transformed

All will be revealed in this New Dawn

Freedoms at last as we all escape

Flex your wings don’t hesitate.

We shake off the shell of the cocoons grasp

To become that which we are at last

For once more we return to that from which we came

As this is the finish, the End of the Game

A mortal serpent coiled in its ring

To spiral on out to leap up and Sting

Look to the skies for your answers lie their

Which were always within you so do not despair.

To unlock the spiral hold light in your eye

Let go of illusion be ready to fly.

For this world that we know will soon spin a web

To stop all the hatred that’s killing her dead.

To combat the Fear spin your own nest

Out of love and forgiveness just trying your best

Help up your neighbour don’t be selfish or mean

For the chaos around you is soon to be seen

Believe not the powers but follow your hearts

For WE spin the web and make a new start

Free your Mind of the indoctrinate thought

Break free from the shell in which you are caught

And embrace the threads of goodness and Peace

And Help Mother Earth and ourselves to release

A new Dawn is coming be ready be brave.

For your web of thoughts will set a new stage

And we are the people with one common theme

So live from the heart and follow your dreams.

By Sue Dreamwalker

Today I had the pleasure of seeing lots of Butterflies upon my Buddleia Bush I ran outside and although many were high up out of clear shot, I caught these images upon the Tree…and within my garden.  There must have been at least 20 at one time of various species of butterflies above the bush.

 Caterpillars spend so long among the cabbages and nettles of life, We too fail to see how we can emerge and free ourselves from the constraints of our perceptions and thoughts. By allowing our minds to release from the threads we get caught within we see how we can weave a new way of being here on Earth… But we all have to set ourselves Free and learn again how to fly.. And embrace the Positive Peaceful ways of living together in harmony.. Its up to each of us… in our bid to help change and preserve our Wonderful Earth .. 

Thank you for the Butterflies

Two on this flower can you spot the other one behind it?

They love drinking the nectar from my bushes

Another Peacock

Small White

A small white and Peacock sharing

Buddleia Bush

Peacock Butterfly

Eastern Comma Butterfly

Sitting Pretty..

Close up view but he just moved as the camera clicked

Friday Facts ~On a Summers Evening

Do you remember those childhood Summer days when all you seemed to remember was the Sunny days?, Well for once this Summer here in the U.K. it’s been a little like that.. And I have been soaking it up, as I have enjoyed my flower garden at home and of course the allotment…

Last evening we sat out enjoying the last rays of what had been a very hot day, in fact one of the hottest so far.. I had taken my knitting outside sitting under the umbrella’s shade..

When my hubby spotted something unusual crawling across the drive towards the Lawn.. 

I couldn’t believe the size of him/her.. as I went to get my phone to take a photo, I pulled out my tape measure from my knitting bag so you can see the size of him.

He moved determinedly across the lawn. And we moved him into the rockery away from any bird’s eye view. But half an hour later he was back on the lawn obviously knowing where he wanted to go.

I had an idea he was from the Moth family but hadn’t a clue what he was.. So I googled Largest caterpillar moth and found a picture of him straight away..

He is called the Elephant Hawk Moth, and this is what he looks like when he/she pupates into a Moth.

In all my years I have never seen a moth in this area as this one, his wings span can be up to 70mm apparently they can  be found throughout most of England, Wales and Ireland. In Scotland they are mainly found in the south and west.

The elephant name is given due to his trunk like section behind his very small head.. Although when he was sniffing around on our lawn He looked more like a little shrew.  I thought he must be ready to pupate but didn’t realise until reading various information that they pupate beneath the soil..

So as he ambled his way around our lawn for the best part on an hour, we decided to help him find a suitable spot.  We placed him beneath the Rhododendron and magnolia tree where we often empty lots of rich compost soil. There its soil is soft and also it is more sheltered from hard frosts and snow in the winter..

We also saved a frog from our pond as we sat in the candlelight of our garden from a neighbours cat, the squeal of the frog alerted me first, the cat ran off, as the Frog played dead on the lawn.. Making me laugh as he jumped and landed on my foot.. He soon hopped back into the safety of the pond none the worse for his ordeal.. The cat later returned sniffing where she had left him, and sulked away the disappointed hunter for the night..

I hope they both go on to survive the ravages nature throws there way.. I was particularly pleased to see the Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar.. a species here I had personally never seen before.. Especially in the light that here in Britain around 60% of our Butterflies and Moths are in decline over the last 10 yrs they have taken a dramatic fall. Scientists have done a study that says “  More than one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether”

But not only are our insects disappearing but also Other once common species like the lesser spotted woodpecker, barbastelle bat and hedgehog are vanishing before our eyes.

Extinction is happening across the world. Did you know that our animals, fish, birds ect are also under great threat? “In the past 500 years, we know of approximately 1,000 species that have gone extinct — but this doesn’t account for thousands of species that disappeared before scientists had a chance to describe them” And the cause? “ The current crisis is almost entirely caused by us — humans. In fact, 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species and ... Because the rate of change in our biosphere is increasing, and because every species’ extinction potentially leads to the extinction of others bound to that species in a complex ecological web, numbers of extinctions are likely to snowball in the coming decades as ecosystems unravel.”

To find a list of facts on what is under threat and why visit HERE you will be shocked  at how many species are dying never to be seen again.

That’s why conservation is so important.  I was very happy this year when we had a Bees Nest in our Garden Rockery, and one under our allotment shed this year… We must be doing something right to keep attracting them..

Speaking of the Allotment, I will finish with a few photos of some Sunflowers in the Allotments and the Bees enjoying them.

 

Have a wonderful Weekend all of you 

~Sue Dreamwalker~

Sources:

http://www.wallwork.me.uk/garden/elephant_hawk_moth_large.jpg

http://www.uksafari.com/elephanthm.htm

http://butterfly-conservation.org/48-4026/sixty-per-cent-of-uk-species-in-decline-groundbreaking-study-finds.html

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/

 

Infinite Thoughts ~ A Poem

Below is a poem I wrote a few months ago, as I spent a sleepless night mulling over the world in my mind.. I am being driven ever more to Connect our thoughts to help us realise that we need to alter our ways of being.. I know for most of my readers you are already on my wave length, But for those who may happen upon my post, I ask them to consider their choices, in contributing to a more balanced and harmonious Planet..

We not only need to look at our throw-away material goods and take-away eating habits, but we also need to understand the nature of our thoughts create the very world we live in..  By this I mean how we so easily judge and condemn, how we take what we are shown and never question or look deeper into facts..  We so need to start caring for our communities again.. and learn to live from our hearts with love.

Only through delving and digging do we unearth the truth.. And  many now are starting to see through the mist as they awaken from their sleep and the Illusions we have created.

Welcome to the World  of Reality  and May you add only Peace and Harmony

~~~~~~

Infinite thoughts flit beyond time
Holding the matrix the spell of the mind
Creator of Cosmos and Spirit of Clan
Perfection was balanced until the dawning of man.
~~
Custodians we are with free will to unleash
Our aim it might seem is our power to increase.
The populous in peril pollutants we thrive
While Our kingdom of animals take a nose dive
~~
Ocean floors rock as the blood we bleed dry
Our birds drop from wing as we pollute all our skies
We microwave and signal with short wave and long
Oceans lay dead as the Whales lost their song
~~
The Bees in decline as the crops are man-made
And  yet thousands still perish for lack of the rains
While ice-caps melt warming oceans high tides
As foolish wars kill for power and pride
~~
Gold became King though I think mind forgot
We cannot survive eating gold in the rot
We’ve created the chaos with gadgets that rule
They do everything except keep our homes fuelled
~~
Because the land left is Desert and the water is all salt
The Sun scorched our bones when we didn’t call a  halt
Our mad rush for Profit doomed Man and his Kind
Known as the  Race left with nowhere to hide.
~~
Evolution will show it again and again
That Mankind did lose his supremo reign
And that Nature our Mother will dress us all down
As her infinite self builds back from Dark clouds.

~~

So if you can change but one thing in your life

Then do it right now and end much more strife

It’s time we all stood together as One

And brought back the teachings of those ancients that shone

~~

For their wisdom is etched in the rocks of the past

They knew we would travel our existing paths

We each have a choice in which road we take

Let’s choose the right one for our Grandchildren’s sake.

By Sue Dreamwalker

Please click then scroll down to find the above photo to learn more about the Hopi Prophecy in this picture ..and a lovely site I came across today while looking for this particular picture on Google. http://seekeronline.info/journals/y2008/jun08.htm

My Creative Art~Trees

Oh mighty brothers that reach up high

Your branches swaying in breeze from sky

Tell me as I sit beneath your shade

What wisdom have you for me today..

Spring one with your leaves so fresh

Your colours of green replenish and re-fresh

Your blossoms shower us in petals so light

From winters sleep you grow in delight

Summer Oh how you please

As you rustle your full grown leaves

Your breath so pure so we may breathe

I pray this Earth you never leave

Autumn of golden rich fruits you carry

To sustain life in harvest berries

Fallen leaves and wood for the fire

Replenishing larders, of you I never tire

Winter with your ever-greens

White coats of snow on branches gleam

In your forests shelter you bring

Silent and tall as you sleep until Spring

Lets not forget our brothers the Tree 

Hundred of years they stand still and ‘see’

Majestic and strong they give life to all

Save our trees don’t let them fall.

Above are the paintings I did,while taking time out. Trees are so important, and I love nothing better to sit beneath a tree and meditate feeling its energy.

Our Relationship to the Earth has changed as we have become more aware of how our actions can affect the balance of Nature, we are beginning to see ourselves as part of the Global Community and we are embracing a more heart-centred common goal of preservation. Trees are part of that community and we need to understand how important a part Tree’s play in our lives..

They not only bring us the very oxygen we breath, but they give homes to thousands of species of insects and birds providing not only food and shelter but the very habitat that those species need to survive, as well as food, fuel, and shelter for us Humans, When the trees start dying, then the insects have no home and also die, this has a knock on effect around the whole eco system.We must not forget we are part of that knock on effect.

Trees teach us the importance of renewal as they shed their leaves and seeds, their outer achievements and find strength and vitality through a period of rest in the winter months, They teach us stillness, about slowing down, and finding contentment within. They show us the importance of having strong roots to maintain stability.

We are destroying the lungs of the Earth as the many forests are cut down.. Here is a site which explains what you can do to conserve Trees.

Remember the ‘Standing Ones’ as they were once known, and let us remember they give us our very breath we breathe, we owe them a debt of gratitude. They need our respect. Enjoy your walks, Enjoy your Trees, and Enjoy Nature..

Blessings Sue Dreamwalker

Paintings are 38cms-20cms

Together we Stand!…

Have you see the film Happy Feet?

Did it not make you smile and laugh.. Well here is your chance to do a little dancing of your own, and help a few Penguins along the way and you don’t even have to move from your arm-chair… All you have to do is feel the beat of Nature in your heart and click your fingers and your mouse.

Something was on my mind last night.. I couldn’t sleep, So I wrote the poem below as I thought about the Antarctic Ocean under threat, I support Avaaz in many of their campaigns of human rights and environmental issues so I will just use their words here as “The whales and penguins can’t speak for themselves, so it’s up to us to defend them. Let’s change negotiators’ minds with a massive wave of public pressure — Avaaz will surround the meeting with hard-hitting ads, and together we’ll deliver our message to delegates via a deafening cry on social networks.”

So Lets apply the pressure!…

Watch the Videos and click the links and Please support Avaaz in their petition.. Once we ALL of us join together and make a Stand.. We CAN make a Difference in the World..

Keep reading…..

Can you not hear the sound?

Do you not listen with ear to ground?

Is not your head tilted to listen?

Are not your eyes moist with tears that glisten?

Can you not feel it deep inside?

Do you not see the rising tide?

Is not your heart open and wide?

Are you not touched with humble pride?

Can you not see her virgin grace?

Do you not see this beautiful place?

Is it not time you used your voice?

Are you ready to make a choice?

Listen; really listen to our Earths Lament

As our Grandchildren ask where our species went

Can you not hear the silence of a dead sea?

Are your eyes cried out with sorrow, don’t you see?

Will you join me to make a stand?

Will you unite to save this land?

When will you wake up before it’s too late?

We need your voice to save the Antarctic

Do we destroy everything we touch?

Do we not rape and pillage so much?

Is it not time to listen?

Please read and Sign this petition

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_southern_ocean_5/?tlGazab

“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.”

 

© Sue Dreamwalker – 2012 All rights reserved.

 

Links

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Antarctic Ocean Alliance

The New York Times

Avaaz- The World In Action