Soar Above

Thought for the day:
Soar above any thoughts or actions of conflict--be like the red tailed hawk as it is soaring on outstretched wings above the smallness our world can be sometimes.

I am very lucky to live out of town far enough to see 2 or 3 beautiful Red Tailed Hawks flying and looking for their prey each day. I see them from my deck or from my car as I go to do errands or work. They take my breath away. They are so large and majestic.

I love to watch them soar on their large outstretched wings and study the ground so intensely. To be free like that is inspiring for humans. We are stuck on the ground where little things can seem bigger then they really are and our problems can overwhelm us at times. Each time I see a Hawk or Eagle flying I feel a little bit freer myself some how.

Take care,
MissT

Frost On Your Pumpkin

Is there frost on your pumpkin this morning?

The first frost of the season! Many people rush around and cover their precious potted flowers, and drape their haggard tomato plants with quilts. I have been known to do the same. But, the last few years I have had a different attitude about the first frost. That attitude is--bring it on! I have thoroughly enjoyed my flowers and tomato plants, but, if God sees fit it putting an end to them--I am not going to fight it. In fact, I may welcome the relief of having to water, pick, freeze, save, give away, etc... that comes with late season flowers and produce.

I always try to welcome the changes that come with each season. This year I am particularly blessed. We have a beautiful area on our property that we call, "the prairie (or prayerie") that has native grass and wild flowers. Two very good things happen with this land. First it bring lots of wild life into our lives and we do not have to mow or water it to help it grow. It is a young prairie so we have several years to go before it will be weed free, but I have enjoyed it so much this summer and fall. It has changed from the lush greens and bright reds, purples, and yellows that summer and wild flowers bring to wonderful rich golds, rusty reds, and oranges fall has to offer.

My suggestion to you on this bright cold day is to get a coat out of storage and go for a walk. See if you can see and appreciate a weed that is offering it's seeds up to the ground and to hungry birds preparing for winter. Or, look for a Red Tailed Hawk, I see one or two daily, preparing itself for the long winter. These are beautiful gifts of nature we can all share.

Thought for the Day:
Concentrate on what is good about life and spend no (or very little) time and energy on what is negative.

I saw a beautiful thing today...

. He/she was just a few feet from the window of our classroom--yet the children were all at lunch so just the teachers got to see this magnificent creature. A large Red Tailed Hawk! He stayed for the entire length of our 20 or so minutes of lunch we take between teaching, cleaning and preparing for the afternoon class. We were so glad to have the visitor but it took a while to round up a camera to capture this wondrous bird. My cell phone would have to do. To say the least, I had a really great day at work today. Things seemed so natural and worthy of praise for both the children and for me. I got some of the biggest smiles from some of the "shy" children or the "new" children so I feel I accomplished a lot. I was working with a Sub and that does not always work well as most teachers will attest to--this was not the case at all. We worked very well together. During a break in our day we went out (the children and teachers) to enjoy the sunshine. I saw a preying manias and decided to let the creature (this time small and green) crawl on me. He/she stayed on my until I did the "Pide Piper" routine back to the classroom. I deposited the Mantas on a beautiful sunflower plant in the garden area---what a day!!!

Take Care,
MissT