Winter and Toxins
We talked last winter about toxins in the home. Windows are shut tight, the heating systems are on. It is a time when mold can grow indoors, and problems with dust can also increase.
But what about toxins we are not even aware of that may exist in foods or packaging of foods?
I recently read and article in a local healthy living newsletter that talks about some unknown dangers do chemicals such as BPA. BPA which stands for bisphenol A, is an endocrine disrupt or linked to development problems in fetuses, infants and children. And although many food manufacturers have removed BPA from packaging, it can still be found in the linings of canned goods.
There is a group called the Environmental Working Group has created a way for us to find out which foods may contain BPA. All you need to do is go on their website and check the list for offending UPC codes.
Their website is Tinyurl.com/EWG-BPA-lookup.
Remember winter is a time when our bodies store things, do not let an excess amount of chemicals be one of those toxins we do not want.
Another tip - remember that house plants will also clear the air of indoor toxins.
Be well
Maery
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Return of the Sun
Winter came early here in the Northeast U.S. We rarely ever get snow here in southern new York before Christmas. When we were growing up, my brothers and i used to pray for snow so we could have a White Christmas and go sleigh riding.
So today, December 17th, we had our first snowfall. At 6 am there was already an inch, but then it continued until it was 4 or 5 inches. Then came freezing rain, promising to make the roads even more slippery. Followed by rain. So by tonight it will be an icy mess.
Although it felt like a dark and dreary day, cold and rainy, I knew that as of December 15th, our sunsets here would be a minute later, so that by the end of January it will be light at 5 pm after work. About a week ago sunset was at the same time each day, instead of retreating even early.
We still have the Winter Solstice on December 21st and that will be when day and night will be of equal length.
And last year I wrote a lot about the effects that light has on us - how all the darkness so early in the day can make us feel tired, and some people depressed.
But then I thought about light in terms of color. What can be more beautiful than light when it hits stained glass so that the color in the glass seems to radiate. Is color itself a form of light? Is light a form of color? Doesn't light break down into the colors of the spectrum? At least what we can see with our vision.
So, if we are craving or missing light, maybe the use of color in our lives can help compensate for that.
Surround yourself with your favorite colors. The reds and yellows are warm, invigorating, the blues are cool and calming.
What started me down this particular path was looking at the sky and clouds. I was caught by the fact that some of the clouds in the sky were pink. I wondered why pink?
The reason for colors in the clouds and sky is because light becomes scattered. I never thought about light in these terms before. So light are color are everywhere - we just have to see it with our eyes and conscious of our surroundings.
Every sunset and sunrise are different colors every day. No two are ever alike, which to me is amazing. Imagine how boring ti would be if everything was the same every day.
So the blue color of the sky is a direct result of what is called "Rayleigh" scattering which redirects the higher frequency (blue) sunlight back into the field of view. Blue light is scattered more easily than red, so the Sun can take on a reddish color when seen through a thick atmosphere like sunrise or sunset.
As for clouds, when there is a greenish hue in a cloud, it happens when sunlight is scattered by ice. A cumulonimbus cloud (a dense towering vertical cloud) that emits green is evidence of a severe thunderstorm which can produce heavy rain, hail, high winds, and possibly tornadoes. Usually when I see green clouds I know to take cover or head home. The green is usually dark and heavy. the last green clouds I encountered was indeed a coming storm, complete with large hail stones! During Hurricane Andrew in the 90's, I heard from a friend about a greenish color. That was certainly a powerful hurricane, the beginning of a long line of severe hurricanes to pass through the southern United States.
Yellow colored clouds are usually due to pollutants in the air, caused possibly by forest fires, or nitrogen dioxide in areas of countries with high pollution from industry.
Of course the most common colors are red, orange or pink clouds which are visible mostly at sunrise and sunset by scattering of light from the Sun.
Ever notice how the Sun gets bright red like a fiery ball when it is about to disappear below the horizon? That is because the angle between the Sun and horizon changes. If the angle is less than 10 per cent - such as just before sunrise or sunset - red is the most predominant color due to refraction so that any colors other than red cannot be seen.
And lastly why are clouds white? Within the clouds tiny particles of water are "densely packed." Sunlight, our beautiful life giving sunlight cannot penetrate far into the cloud before it is reflected out, and the result of the reflected light is white.
So when you can, try to observe sky and or clouds on a regular basis. You will be amazed at the ever changing colors, shapes, thickness, texture that you will see, like an ever changing kaleidoscope. It will connect you to nature instead of the bustle of daily work life, and so you will be, even if in small, living a more natural life. And feel the better for it.
Enjoy and watch the skies. Thank you to what keeps on making the clouds.
Maery
sources: Wikipedia
Friday, December 2, 2016
2016
Dear Friends,
It is now just about an entire year since I began this blog in 2015.
I hope you have enjoyed all the articles, stories and photographs.
We are quickly approaching the season of Winter again, so below I have reposted the Winter article with the approach to the seasons and health.
Stay healthy throughout the holidays and Winter and be safe out there.
Soon, in another week, here in the Northern Hemisphere, sunset will start to come a bit later each day, so that by January it will no longer be so dark at 5 pm. Which can only mean the days are getting longer, the Sun begins its return, and Spring, don't forget, is not too far behind.
Winter is always a time for quiet contemplation, so make the best use of this season.
I only hope there is not too much snow!
Granted here in the U.S. we are currently experiencing a drought. I did, during the most recent holiday, take some photos of water to celebrate water. Those I hope will be posted shortly.
Enjoy life and be healthy, for life is a precious commodity.
Maery
Staying Healthy
An Approach to Winter
In the page "More About Natural Living", I mentioned writing about how the season affect us. Some of it will be observations and experiences through my own research, but also articles and the concept of the seasons through Chinese medicine. The references to Chinese medicine will include things such as the element associated with the season, as well as body organs, climate, taste, emotion, foods to include or avoid. These references are helpful and informative, however in addition to that, at some point I would like to have additional articles on how things like light and color and emotions and stress also affect us. Diet and nutrition are also important topics. So here at least is a beginning.
Winter
The days were growing noticeably shorter even in late Aug
ust. But August found us in our cycle called Later Summer (in Chinese medicine and lore), and blending into Autumn. Now in December we should be in winter, with the Winter Solstice about to occur, even though mild temperatures here make us wonder if it is truly winter.
Despite the temperatures, yes darkness comes earlier, and our energy retreats towards winter patterns. The rain and cold remind us that it is leaning more towards Winter, or when a storm approaches with high winds and a sharper chill to the air, we know freezing temperatures may soon be the norm.
According to Chinese medicine, Winter is governed by the element of Water. We become introspective in Winter, and things go more dormant for a period of rest, in order to emerge again in the Spring. The trees have shed their leaves, plants wither and die and go to see, waiting for the next cycle.
Water is essential to life. In our body, fluids like blood flowing are important, as well as the fluids in the lymph system, which help to process and eliminate waste so you can fight infections. There is also fluids like saliva, perspiration, tears and urine. Everything is flowing, and should be flowing. Water is part of the circulation system, perhaps like the oceans for the earth.
The body organs that dominate in the Winter cycle are the bladder and kidneys. The climate associated with Winter and Water is cold, and the compass direction for Winter is the North.
I have read that the kidneys are nourished by cold, but extreme cold and or wetness can weaken the kidneys. I think of the few times I have been in desert areas of the world, with such a compelling dryness, and remember what a different feeling when compared to humidity. I remember being in Colorado as well, in higher altitudes, and having the skin on my hands cracking from the dry air, which I was not used to, and coming home to breathe in moist air for my lungs. In Israel it is hot during the day, and then cold at night, and also dry. The wind also takes moisture out of your body there, so you must drink a great deal of water especially if you are outdoors. It was a harsh environment it seemed, which would put stress on our bodies and systems if we are not used to it, but we can always adapt. I know recently while visiting the local mountains, the Catskill area, it was 64 degrees in November, but there was a damp and biting wind and no sun and I was indeed chilled to the bone. You can think back to your own experiences with temperatures and conditions and remember how it felt, or be more conscious of this in the future.
The taste that is associated with Winter is salt. Interestingly most water has salt in it, as well as our blood, and also of course the oceans. If you crave salt or dislike salt you may have a Water imbalance. If you eat too much salt, it creates a craving for water and can weaken the kidneys. Salt can also cause water retention and toxins to be held, so we can become easily toxic. Salt intake is also linked to high blood pressure. There will most likely be another whole article on salt, but best not to add it to food, and if you must use salt in cooking, use something more natural like sea salt, as table salt has alot of chemicals and additives, in addition to being bleached.
The emotion of Winter is fear, whether it be anxiety, stress or any other emotion. Trembling is actually a water imbalance and is a release of fearful energy and tension. Think of the expression "paralyzed with fear" - fear can be a very powerful emotion, and can create blockages. Fear in some ways blocks many things, because it numbs you.
The sound of Winter is groaning. Have you ever heard trees that grown in the wind during a storm? Their branches creak and groan. For people, the sound of a groan comes from deep within.
Some Considerations
So what can you do to fortify yourself or flow with the ways of the Winter season?
Well first think about Water and emotions. Water can be calm, still or gentle, or stormy, and hard to contain. How do you feel when you become too emotional? We may feel drained, and we can easily become exhausted and run down. We also need to remember that our kidneys are a filter for the blood systems and also ridding the body of toxic waste and heavy metals. So we can eat well and cleanse, although Spring is technically the time for deep cleansing.
Negativity can also be harmful, and must be eliminated from the body, believed to be processed out through the bladder. So it is important to be positive and have a good attitude, and using positive affirmations on a daily basis.
Other suggestions that might help in the Winter season include things like massage, where it will work on the meridians associated with the kidney, for example, along the spine. Massage also helps to relieve tension and toxins. Yoga is also excellent, providing stretching, relaxation and reducing stress.
With diet and nutrition, you would want to eat foods that provide a little more heat, eat a little heavier, but not too heavy. Everything should be in moderation. When you over eat at Thanksgiving you often feel heavy and bloated.
Your diet for winter should include hot soups with plenty of fresh vegetables, and spices that warm like ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper. Small amounts of whole grains are good fuel in winter, like millet, buckwheat, brown rice with red or black beans or lentils. Remember do not add salt to your food, because there is already some salt in your food, and we do need some salt. Sea salt is the most natural. If you bathe in the ocean or take a mineral bath, the stored salts and toxins will be drawn out. Food will taste like real food without adding alot of salt. I gave up adding salt to my food, sometimes substituting with garlic or onion instead.
It is also important to keep warm in the winter - sitting by the fire, or with a blanket and a hot herbal tea or soup. Eating more cooked warm foods as opposed to cold or raw in winter.
Before long the days will get longer and the sunshine brighter, bringing about another whole new cycle of rebirth to look forward to.
Stay warm,
Maery
(remember to always follow the advice of your health care professional when it comes to health, diet and exercise)
Dear Friends,
It is now just about an entire year since I began this blog in 2015.
I hope you have enjoyed all the articles, stories and photographs.
We are quickly approaching the season of Winter again, so below I have reposted the Winter article with the approach to the seasons and health.
Stay healthy throughout the holidays and Winter and be safe out there.
Soon, in another week, here in the Northern Hemisphere, sunset will start to come a bit later each day, so that by January it will no longer be so dark at 5 pm. Which can only mean the days are getting longer, the Sun begins its return, and Spring, don't forget, is not too far behind.
Winter is always a time for quiet contemplation, so make the best use of this season.
I only hope there is not too much snow!
Granted here in the U.S. we are currently experiencing a drought. I did, during the most recent holiday, take some photos of water to celebrate water. Those I hope will be posted shortly.
Enjoy life and be healthy, for life is a precious commodity.
Maery
Staying Healthy
An Approach to Winter
In the page "More About Natural Living", I mentioned writing about how the season affect us. Some of it will be observations and experiences through my own research, but also articles and the concept of the seasons through Chinese medicine. The references to Chinese medicine will include things such as the element associated with the season, as well as body organs, climate, taste, emotion, foods to include or avoid. These references are helpful and informative, however in addition to that, at some point I would like to have additional articles on how things like light and color and emotions and stress also affect us. Diet and nutrition are also important topics. So here at least is a beginning.
Winter
The days were growing noticeably shorter even in late Aug
 |
| Gardiner's Bay and Gardiner's Island |
Despite the temperatures, yes darkness comes earlier, and our energy retreats towards winter patterns. The rain and cold remind us that it is leaning more towards Winter, or when a storm approaches with high winds and a sharper chill to the air, we know freezing temperatures may soon be the norm.
According to Chinese medicine, Winter is governed by the element of Water. We become introspective in Winter, and things go more dormant for a period of rest, in order to emerge again in the Spring. The trees have shed their leaves, plants wither and die and go to see, waiting for the next cycle.
Water is essential to life. In our body, fluids like blood flowing are important, as well as the fluids in the lymph system, which help to process and eliminate waste so you can fight infections. There is also fluids like saliva, perspiration, tears and urine. Everything is flowing, and should be flowing. Water is part of the circulation system, perhaps like the oceans for the earth.
The body organs that dominate in the Winter cycle are the bladder and kidneys. The climate associated with Winter and Water is cold, and the compass direction for Winter is the North.
I have read that the kidneys are nourished by cold, but extreme cold and or wetness can weaken the kidneys. I think of the few times I have been in desert areas of the world, with such a compelling dryness, and remember what a different feeling when compared to humidity. I remember being in Colorado as well, in higher altitudes, and having the skin on my hands cracking from the dry air, which I was not used to, and coming home to breathe in moist air for my lungs. In Israel it is hot during the day, and then cold at night, and also dry. The wind also takes moisture out of your body there, so you must drink a great deal of water especially if you are outdoors. It was a harsh environment it seemed, which would put stress on our bodies and systems if we are not used to it, but we can always adapt. I know recently while visiting the local mountains, the Catskill area, it was 64 degrees in November, but there was a damp and biting wind and no sun and I was indeed chilled to the bone. You can think back to your own experiences with temperatures and conditions and remember how it felt, or be more conscious of this in the future.
The taste that is associated with Winter is salt. Interestingly most water has salt in it, as well as our blood, and also of course the oceans. If you crave salt or dislike salt you may have a Water imbalance. If you eat too much salt, it creates a craving for water and can weaken the kidneys. Salt can also cause water retention and toxins to be held, so we can become easily toxic. Salt intake is also linked to high blood pressure. There will most likely be another whole article on salt, but best not to add it to food, and if you must use salt in cooking, use something more natural like sea salt, as table salt has alot of chemicals and additives, in addition to being bleached.
The emotion of Winter is fear, whether it be anxiety, stress or any other emotion. Trembling is actually a water imbalance and is a release of fearful energy and tension. Think of the expression "paralyzed with fear" - fear can be a very powerful emotion, and can create blockages. Fear in some ways blocks many things, because it numbs you.
The sound of Winter is groaning. Have you ever heard trees that grown in the wind during a storm? Their branches creak and groan. For people, the sound of a groan comes from deep within.
Some Considerations
So what can you do to fortify yourself or flow with the ways of the Winter season?
Well first think about Water and emotions. Water can be calm, still or gentle, or stormy, and hard to contain. How do you feel when you become too emotional? We may feel drained, and we can easily become exhausted and run down. We also need to remember that our kidneys are a filter for the blood systems and also ridding the body of toxic waste and heavy metals. So we can eat well and cleanse, although Spring is technically the time for deep cleansing.
Negativity can also be harmful, and must be eliminated from the body, believed to be processed out through the bladder. So it is important to be positive and have a good attitude, and using positive affirmations on a daily basis.
Other suggestions that might help in the Winter season include things like massage, where it will work on the meridians associated with the kidney, for example, along the spine. Massage also helps to relieve tension and toxins. Yoga is also excellent, providing stretching, relaxation and reducing stress.
With diet and nutrition, you would want to eat foods that provide a little more heat, eat a little heavier, but not too heavy. Everything should be in moderation. When you over eat at Thanksgiving you often feel heavy and bloated.
Your diet for winter should include hot soups with plenty of fresh vegetables, and spices that warm like ginger, garlic and cayenne pepper. Small amounts of whole grains are good fuel in winter, like millet, buckwheat, brown rice with red or black beans or lentils. Remember do not add salt to your food, because there is already some salt in your food, and we do need some salt. Sea salt is the most natural. If you bathe in the ocean or take a mineral bath, the stored salts and toxins will be drawn out. Food will taste like real food without adding alot of salt. I gave up adding salt to my food, sometimes substituting with garlic or onion instead.
It is also important to keep warm in the winter - sitting by the fire, or with a blanket and a hot herbal tea or soup. Eating more cooked warm foods as opposed to cold or raw in winter.
Before long the days will get longer and the sunshine brighter, bringing about another whole new cycle of rebirth to look forward to.
Stay warm,
Maery
(remember to always follow the advice of your health care professional when it comes to health, diet and exercise)
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Shifting from Autumn
to Winter very soon....
We have had a very unusually warm Autumn here in the Northeast United States. Today for example it was 62 degrees Farenheit, very welcome because it allowed us all to work on our leaves, that suddenly fell all at once with storms and wind and rain. Some days it is raining leaves, with all the colors swirling around and around.
We will transition into Winter very soon, but it is always a gradual process, for not even the tide comes in all at once. Generally cooler days, turning gradually colder, less sunlight, as things begin to retreat for the Winter. Even so, I believe here we have only had one real frost, and the temperatures remain above freezing, unusual for this time of year.
One thing I noticed was that we had some warm days, followed by a brief and sudden cold snap, while the leaves were still on the trees and just starting to turn color. I made note of this, because when that happens, the leaves die on the tree, suspended in whatever state they were in at the time of the cold spell, like being freeze dried. So what I am able to see, and will cherish throughout the winter, are some trees, particularly the oaks, that will retain their leaves. Some are a darkish brown color, but others are red, as they were just starting to turn, and now remain on the branches. Only a stiff wind or storm would make them come down now.
So at least some trees will not appear barren this winter. What a treat to the eyes and the senses and a sense of the aesthetic.
The light of course is fading, and sunset gets earlier each day. But the good news is that somewhere within the first week of December, things will go stationary, and then sunset will begin one minute later. And although the Winter Solstice will occur later in the month, the solstice in this case is a day where light and dark are of equal value, not necessarily the earliest sunset, which some people may not understand. So soon the Sun will make its journey back towards Spring time!
Next time it will be time to look at how the Winter season affects our bodies and health so we can prepare and be healthy and fit and happy!
Until next,
Maery
to Winter very soon....
We have had a very unusually warm Autumn here in the Northeast United States. Today for example it was 62 degrees Farenheit, very welcome because it allowed us all to work on our leaves, that suddenly fell all at once with storms and wind and rain. Some days it is raining leaves, with all the colors swirling around and around.
 |
| Autumn Colors in the Hamptons |
One thing I noticed was that we had some warm days, followed by a brief and sudden cold snap, while the leaves were still on the trees and just starting to turn color. I made note of this, because when that happens, the leaves die on the tree, suspended in whatever state they were in at the time of the cold spell, like being freeze dried. So what I am able to see, and will cherish throughout the winter, are some trees, particularly the oaks, that will retain their leaves. Some are a darkish brown color, but others are red, as they were just starting to turn, and now remain on the branches. Only a stiff wind or storm would make them come down now.
So at least some trees will not appear barren this winter. What a treat to the eyes and the senses and a sense of the aesthetic.
The light of course is fading, and sunset gets earlier each day. But the good news is that somewhere within the first week of December, things will go stationary, and then sunset will begin one minute later. And although the Winter Solstice will occur later in the month, the solstice in this case is a day where light and dark are of equal value, not necessarily the earliest sunset, which some people may not understand. So soon the Sun will make its journey back towards Spring time!
Next time it will be time to look at how the Winter season affects our bodies and health so we can prepare and be healthy and fit and happy!
 |
| No Leaves in an Autumn Sky |
Maery
Friday, October 21, 2016
Should I buy a Village in Spain?
Where does your heart and soul belong.....
These days it is quite common for people to not only travel to distant places and foreign lands, but often relocating far from where one was born. Or sometimes people come back home, where ever that is, to be back home again.
The possibilities are endless with travel being so easy, instead of horses and wagons in earlier days, or even stage coaches. Now we have planes and trains and automobiles. How the world has changed, but sometimes you long for a simpler life.
Where would you live, if given anywhere on the planet? Would it be in some far exotic land? Would you live in a tent, an igloo, a yurt, a cabin, a palace, a cottage, a mansion, a trailer? Would you live in a city or the country, in a desert or on a mountain, in a valley, on a river, stream, lake or pond? Would you live on the ocean or a cliff high above the world below? In a forest? A prairie, a meadow, a field, an apartment building on Park Avenue? A penthouse?
I know I recently wrote an article asking about why people live where they do and I still wonder about it. If you were born and grew up in a small village, when you leave do you carry the customs, the language, the ways and means of that village with you? And when and if you go back to where you born, do you bring with you what you have learned and seen and experienced elsewhere in the world?
And again I ask the question why do we feel better in certain places than others?
The thing that prompted me to visit this again was when I came across an article last week about buying a whole village in Northern Spain, it peaked my interest. The article said many towns were being abandoned because of hard times in the economy. The one pictured in the article had just a few houses in it. I imagined friends and family occupying many of the houses, creating a little community. Or you could make it a retreat, a spa, a healing refuge and accommodate guests.
It was on the coast of the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic side, not far from my brother's place in St. Jean De Luz in France. So I would already have family nearby.
The only thing is I don't speak Spanish, having learned Latin and French in school. And I am not ready to retire and make a big move, but it is good to dream.
There are many places I would still like to visit. I know that France agrees with me very well, but there are still parts to explore, like Normandy in the north, where many of my ancestors came from. There is also Denmark, especially Copenhagen, where my grandfather was born.
I've been to Germany, but found the land somewhat hard and intense. Holland was a bit softer and more cheerful, but I regret I was too early for the tulips. And I got a good recipe for apple pie while there!
I never made it to Dublin, but will get to Ireland someday. I have been to London many times, but don't know if I could actually live there. I stayed near where Charles Dickens lived, one of my favorite authors. In the shadows and in amongst the crowds on the sidewalks and cars and buses in the streets you could almost hear the whispers of Dickens' characters, as though they had actually lived. Were the characters real people? Or were they just caricatures of people living at the time in a great city? A place that has much history, and palaces and kings and queens, of history playing out.
The coast of Cornwall is charming and picturesque by the sea, and yes I climbed those stairs at Tintagel and had a cream tea. I also went to Tribarwith, and sat inside a cave, pretending it was Merlin's Cave. But there are so many caves carved out the rock by the sea, and it all seems so wild and untamed. A kind of refuge in and amongst the fury of the sea and the wind.
Wales was wild and green. The fog that rolled in at night was a bit spooky, like a gothic thriller. I remember sitting on the cliffs by the sea, while two friends sat and played their flutes to the wind.
Israel was both mountain and desert, and cold especially at night. I experienced my first sand storm, and there was sand and grit everywhere. In March I was cold, even during the day. I traveled to the Dead Sea and floated on its green waters. I got to see what life would be like in these small villages. At night there would be campfires and storytelling, while in the distance other villages were being bombed. We were told it was just fireworks!
I have been to the Caribbean islands, with the warm turquoise waters and the island of Bermuda out in the ocean all alone. And to Saint Martin, where I sailed on a catamaran all day long, returning at night into the glorious sunset.
I have been across the U.S. to many places, but have yet to see the Grand Canyon, the Redwood Forest, Yosemite and Yellowstone Parks. I have not seen Niagra Falls. So many places to see and explore.
Yet where does one feel comfortable? Where does one truly belong. I think, like me, if you can, you travel to other places, just to see and feel and compare. And ask yourself where you feel you belong. Only you have the answer!
Maery
Where does your heart and soul belong.....
These days it is quite common for people to not only travel to distant places and foreign lands, but often relocating far from where one was born. Or sometimes people come back home, where ever that is, to be back home again.
The possibilities are endless with travel being so easy, instead of horses and wagons in earlier days, or even stage coaches. Now we have planes and trains and automobiles. How the world has changed, but sometimes you long for a simpler life.
Where would you live, if given anywhere on the planet? Would it be in some far exotic land? Would you live in a tent, an igloo, a yurt, a cabin, a palace, a cottage, a mansion, a trailer? Would you live in a city or the country, in a desert or on a mountain, in a valley, on a river, stream, lake or pond? Would you live on the ocean or a cliff high above the world below? In a forest? A prairie, a meadow, a field, an apartment building on Park Avenue? A penthouse?
I know I recently wrote an article asking about why people live where they do and I still wonder about it. If you were born and grew up in a small village, when you leave do you carry the customs, the language, the ways and means of that village with you? And when and if you go back to where you born, do you bring with you what you have learned and seen and experienced elsewhere in the world?
And again I ask the question why do we feel better in certain places than others?
The thing that prompted me to visit this again was when I came across an article last week about buying a whole village in Northern Spain, it peaked my interest. The article said many towns were being abandoned because of hard times in the economy. The one pictured in the article had just a few houses in it. I imagined friends and family occupying many of the houses, creating a little community. Or you could make it a retreat, a spa, a healing refuge and accommodate guests.
It was on the coast of the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic side, not far from my brother's place in St. Jean De Luz in France. So I would already have family nearby.
 |
| St. Jean de Luz |
 |
| Mon Frere St. Jean de Luz |
The only thing is I don't speak Spanish, having learned Latin and French in school. And I am not ready to retire and make a big move, but it is good to dream.
There are many places I would still like to visit. I know that France agrees with me very well, but there are still parts to explore, like Normandy in the north, where many of my ancestors came from. There is also Denmark, especially Copenhagen, where my grandfather was born.
I've been to Germany, but found the land somewhat hard and intense. Holland was a bit softer and more cheerful, but I regret I was too early for the tulips. And I got a good recipe for apple pie while there!
I never made it to Dublin, but will get to Ireland someday. I have been to London many times, but don't know if I could actually live there. I stayed near where Charles Dickens lived, one of my favorite authors. In the shadows and in amongst the crowds on the sidewalks and cars and buses in the streets you could almost hear the whispers of Dickens' characters, as though they had actually lived. Were the characters real people? Or were they just caricatures of people living at the time in a great city? A place that has much history, and palaces and kings and queens, of history playing out.
 |
| Me at Merlin's Cave |
 |
| Climbing down the Steps of Tintagel |
 |
| Tintagel |
Israel was both mountain and desert, and cold especially at night. I experienced my first sand storm, and there was sand and grit everywhere. In March I was cold, even during the day. I traveled to the Dead Sea and floated on its green waters. I got to see what life would be like in these small villages. At night there would be campfires and storytelling, while in the distance other villages were being bombed. We were told it was just fireworks!
I have been to the Caribbean islands, with the warm turquoise waters and the island of Bermuda out in the ocean all alone. And to Saint Martin, where I sailed on a catamaran all day long, returning at night into the glorious sunset.
I have been across the U.S. to many places, but have yet to see the Grand Canyon, the Redwood Forest, Yosemite and Yellowstone Parks. I have not seen Niagra Falls. So many places to see and explore.
Yet where does one feel comfortable? Where does one truly belong. I think, like me, if you can, you travel to other places, just to see and feel and compare. And ask yourself where you feel you belong. Only you have the answer!
Maery
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Hurricane Matthew Strikes
Haiti and the U.S Coast
A hurricane struck the island of Haiti and then moved into the waters along the Atlantic coast of Florida, finally making landfall in South Carolina. At this very moment it is raining here, as remnants of the storm go by, but nothing like what the rest of the country faced with high winds, 12 inches of rain and storm surges.
Sadly about 300 people died in Haiti, and from the water people are now getting cholera. I know relief in the way of help is on the way.
There has been alot of flooding in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Millions without power. The storm was a category 3 at one point, but the storm and the damage could have been worse.
I remember thinking this summer we were due for a hurricane because we were having a drought, and often hurricanes will follow a dry season. Also the waters of the Atlantic Ocean were very warm, which is one of the conditions needed for a hurricane to form.
The hurricane season is not over yet, but it is hoped that there will be no more storms of this magnitude and people will be safe.
I am grateful that we are just having a little rain!
Wishing well for everyone,
Maery
Haiti and the U.S Coast
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| Stormy skies |
Sadly about 300 people died in Haiti, and from the water people are now getting cholera. I know relief in the way of help is on the way.
There has been alot of flooding in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Millions without power. The storm was a category 3 at one point, but the storm and the damage could have been worse.
I remember thinking this summer we were due for a hurricane because we were having a drought, and often hurricanes will follow a dry season. Also the waters of the Atlantic Ocean were very warm, which is one of the conditions needed for a hurricane to form.
The hurricane season is not over yet, but it is hoped that there will be no more storms of this magnitude and people will be safe.
I am grateful that we are just having a little rain!
Wishing well for everyone,
Maery
Saturday, September 24, 2016
New York City and New Jersey
Violence and Sadness in my City
For many years I worked in Manhattan. I drove every day to the city, and felt I knew its highways, bridges, tunnels, streets, neighborhoods. East Side, West Side, Uptown, Downtown. It would take me six weeks to go through the entire city and to see every client. And it meant walking from a parking garage to many offices.
And in doing so, in and amongst the traffic and the people, and the buildings and the weather and seasons, I felt I knew the pulse of the city. Varying times of the day would be different. Morning was the brightest light and the freshest. By noon or 1 pm things would shift. By 3 p.m. the light begins to wane and things shift to people leaving the city in a mass exodus to points north, east or west to the suburbs. Nighttime was very different. Darkness of course would descend, but it is true that the city never sleeps. There are bright lights and people walking every where throughout the night, whether it be to go to restaurants or movies or plays. People constantly on the move.
I had decided a long time ago that in order to survive in the frantic pace of the city I had to imagine the flow of life in the city like a river, and that while I was there to go with the flow of that river, rather than fighting it. I am not a city girl, and I was always glad to go home at night to my own house in suburbia.
One thing I used to do was attend lectures and classes in the evenings, on all kinds of topics, and to meet all kinds of interesting and wonderful people, all as unique as the city itself. For awhile I traveled to 39th Street off of Park Avenue at a tiny place called the Kittredge Club that was rented out for these lectures. What a magical time for me.
But things change, and later I went to lectures on West 29th Street for a few years. I'd hear all kinds of wonderful stories and learn about life, much of which I have been able to incorporate into my own life, and then make into articles such as those I write here on this blog. And later on I attended lectures somewhere near 22nd Street as well, until my days in Manhattan became few and far between.
Last weekend on September 17th I was dismayed and saddened to hear of a bomb exploding in Chelsea, on 23rd Street. Some people were injured, buildings destroyed, lives shattered. And yet it was only 6 blocks from where I had some of my happiest days in New York City, as well as only about 2 blocks from where I also met with friends.
On the same day, there was a bomb in New Jersey, not so very far away.
It was sad to know that violence and hatred seems to be spreading like a virus everywhere. What can one do about it. Except live a good life and keep the memories of what you hold dear.
And my condolences go out to those who were directly affected. Not only here on this side of the globe, but around the world. For aren't we all connected somehow someway? I would like to think so. We are all humans, all trying our best in our lives.
I do not have answers, but I can think and feel and live and love and always try to do the right thing.
And pray for peace.
Be well and safe,
Maery
Violence and Sadness in my City
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| A New Day - A New Dawn of Hope |
For many years I worked in Manhattan. I drove every day to the city, and felt I knew its highways, bridges, tunnels, streets, neighborhoods. East Side, West Side, Uptown, Downtown. It would take me six weeks to go through the entire city and to see every client. And it meant walking from a parking garage to many offices.
And in doing so, in and amongst the traffic and the people, and the buildings and the weather and seasons, I felt I knew the pulse of the city. Varying times of the day would be different. Morning was the brightest light and the freshest. By noon or 1 pm things would shift. By 3 p.m. the light begins to wane and things shift to people leaving the city in a mass exodus to points north, east or west to the suburbs. Nighttime was very different. Darkness of course would descend, but it is true that the city never sleeps. There are bright lights and people walking every where throughout the night, whether it be to go to restaurants or movies or plays. People constantly on the move.
I had decided a long time ago that in order to survive in the frantic pace of the city I had to imagine the flow of life in the city like a river, and that while I was there to go with the flow of that river, rather than fighting it. I am not a city girl, and I was always glad to go home at night to my own house in suburbia.
One thing I used to do was attend lectures and classes in the evenings, on all kinds of topics, and to meet all kinds of interesting and wonderful people, all as unique as the city itself. For awhile I traveled to 39th Street off of Park Avenue at a tiny place called the Kittredge Club that was rented out for these lectures. What a magical time for me.
But things change, and later I went to lectures on West 29th Street for a few years. I'd hear all kinds of wonderful stories and learn about life, much of which I have been able to incorporate into my own life, and then make into articles such as those I write here on this blog. And later on I attended lectures somewhere near 22nd Street as well, until my days in Manhattan became few and far between.
On the same day, there was a bomb in New Jersey, not so very far away.
It was sad to know that violence and hatred seems to be spreading like a virus everywhere. What can one do about it. Except live a good life and keep the memories of what you hold dear.
And my condolences go out to those who were directly affected. Not only here on this side of the globe, but around the world. For aren't we all connected somehow someway? I would like to think so. We are all humans, all trying our best in our lives.
I do not have answers, but I can think and feel and live and love and always try to do the right thing.
And pray for peace.
Be well and safe,
Maery
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