Message from the Mountain

We didn’t really sample the wild raspberries when they were in season because we were too busy with other things to take the time to pick them. It is often the way that when lives get complicated, the gifts of Nature slip by. It is time to reconnect the pleasures of life. Support the show

Summer afternoon rainstorms can be brief and powerful, sweeping across the valley and mountains and then gone. Often the sun returns to shine through the raindrops still on the leaves. There could be an accompanying rainbow. Life is renewed. Support the show

Our fifty-year-old pear trees are laden with fruit, and yet the big pears are scabby and the little pears are too small to do anything with but cook them up for syrup. Still, we really enjoy watching them grow, and the wildlife attracted to them. Support the show

The lawn should be cut again, but the earth is still tender from earlier summer rains. It is now covered with hay and some beautiful brown eyed susans. I like the wild lawn. Support the show

Today is podcast #5400, sort of a milestone for me. I started in 2006, and now in 2022 I still reach to Nature and the Cosmos for guidance each day with the intention of sharing what “my second head” shares with me. We all reach some sort of milestone every day. Support the show

Hot days and cool nights create a morning mist in the valleys that hint of the season to come. It is a great time to start the day appreciating all the positive things that take place, often going unnoticed. Support the show

As the August days begin to slip by, life often gets busy, and it can be hard to pause and find joy in each day. Flowers are a good way to bring us back to the moment, giving us the opportunity to feel gratitude in our hearts, so take a deep breath and experience a moment of joy. Support the show

Recently the Hathaway-Bennett family band made a rare public appearance when it debuted two gifted fourth generation members, Madison LaForce on voice and Josh Adams on guitar. You could see how proud our oldest member was as he watched the youngest play. Support the show

The August flowers in the Lupine Field are now beginning to bloom. The blue, ragged robin and the golden rod, as well as brown eyed susans, all contribute to a beautiful wildflower garden. No matter what the season, there is always something beautiful waiting. Support the show

I think back to pre-air-conditioning days when people used to build screened porches onto their houses so they could spend summer evenings out in the air free from bugs. It was a time when one could hear the crickets sing. Now, people are building porches again. Support the show

I was recently sent a photo of me playing a concert on a beautiful evening at the edge of a lake. That was a happy event. Not only did I enjoy playing, but it was in front of a live group of people who also appeared happy. For me it is the interaction of energy. Support the show

Now that the calendar page has turned to August, if one is going to enjoy summer, it’s time to start. People who have been thinking of change are now realizing it is time to start on those life changes that their hearts have been hinting at. Support the show

Over fifty years ago my parents gave us a package of shrubs and trees that were advertised on the back cover of Parade Magazine. Three still survive, including spirea, a plant with small pink blossoms that when it is pruned continues to grow new flowers. People’s abilities can dry up if left alone.   Support the show

I recently took photos of the lilies that I planted couple of months ago. I noticed a face peeking out of one of the blossoms. My wife said it was a rabbit, and sure enough I saw it. I love it when Nature shows us animal spirits. Support the show

Sometimes the goals we have set for ourselves in life seem out of reach, and it is tempting to give up. If your goal still rings true in your heart, remember that each step you take along your path will get you there or to a place even better. Trust and believe. Support the show

The hostas are an interesting plant with large green leaves and small flowers on tall stems. At first glance the flowers go unnoticed. Often people with abilities can go unnoticed because they are not as “flashy” as others. Just stand tall and believe in your gifts. Support the show

With the summer heat reaching all-time highs, many people are retreating to air-conditioned places or cool spots in Nature, especially in the afternoons. I am reminded of the lazy afternoons as a child that I spent at the lake or hanging out on the front porch. Sometimes it is good to be lazy. Support the show

The mid-summer day lilies are adding their light colors to the buffet of flower blooms. I consider people like flowers, who bloom when they share their abilities with heart based love for others that they may or not know. Like flowers, they bloom whenever it is time. Support the show

A heat wave is three days or more in a row of 90 degree or more weather. It is a time to limit outdoor activities, to stay as cool as possible, and keep hydrated. It is easy to forget when we are absorbed in life. It all comes back to setting intentions to be mindful of the moment. Support the show

Every time I take a photo, I strive for perfection. Rarely does that photo turn out perfect, at least in my eyes. Perfection in life is hard to obtain, and I have come to realize that real perfection is one’s intention to do something perfectly. Support the show

JUST BEFORE NIGHTFALL- Just before nightfall, when the setting sun has disappeared behind the mountains, it creates a backlight setting, silhouetting the landscape. As darkness envelopes it, we are filled with anticipation of the approaching night and the next day. Support the show

My favorite lily of the moment is a peach colored day lily. What I love about having a variety of lilies is that they do not all bloom at the same time. I am reminded of favorite flavors of ice cream. We have one favorite until we find another favorite. Support the show

As the parade of beautiful summer flowers continues, I am excited to discover the first of the phlox flowering. One of the keys to life is to feeling excitement and joy every day as you make marvelous discoveries. Support the show

It was a rainy evening when we heard a big crash that shook the house. Looking out the window we saw an old dead birch tree lying on the ground, a casualty of the weather. It was a reminder to always be aware of potentially dangerous conditions in all of life. Support the show

A viewer asked me the other day what it looked like when I looked back in the other direction from the seat by the orchard. It is a view of the entrance to the Cabin and the road approaching it and the Orchard. We do have choices in life, to look back, or look forward to the future. Support the show