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"The presence of Love displaces everything that is not like itself." -- Renaissance Unity
With so many serious topics begging discussion today, how can we take the conversation lightly to the realm of Flowers & Animals? Well, in 50 years, I have discovered that there's not much good that comes from discussing or complaining about the woes of society. Better to do something about it, even if it's just one small deed. For us and all those on these pages, it's about sharing with the world our love for Flowers & Animals. Without fanfare or ego, some people go about living the connection between humans and plants & animals. It is a calling for many of them, unexplained and maybe not even understood, but they hear it. And they take action, based on their unique listening as a human being in their part of the Universe. Patrick O'Hara, an Irish Botanist, for example, is an artist, creating water colors and ceramic sculptures to help the world see what he sees in the Beauty and wonder of flowers and the wild life around them. He is called to paint it and to sculpt it. And God has given him the talents to do that beautifully, delicately, with reverence for his subjects. And because of his work, many see and feel it. Then better understand it. Why is this important? We could make the scientific argument that all
life is inter-related and connected. That if one species dies, we all
suffer in some small way, mostly in the loss of the potential lesson or
contribution that species makes to the planet This is not a small thing
actually. Especially if you believe, as I do, that every flower and every
animal -- even every insect, even those I don't particularly admire -- is
VALUABLE and has a purpose in the scheme of things.
When I was less in tune, less patient, and less wise, but more knowing (I thought), I didn't think much about it, but I did always hear the calling of the plants and animals. It was unmistakable. I would "hear it" looking into the eyes of the animals -- the dogs, birds, rabbits, and many other animals my mother tolerated around the house when we were children. I "heard it" each time I took to the outdoors first time in spring with hoe and rake in hand, and seeds in a bag on my belt. I "heard it" when the flowers and vegetables, to my astonishment, grew! I "heard it" as I was compelled to fetch the watering can and go water because to not would insure certain death of those things in my garden patch. For if my body was this hot, how must they be? So in my laziness born of the heat, I'd reluctantly get the buckets....and then revel standing out there in the great heat, ever conscious of how it radiated from the mighty sun and down into the earth, then back up on my legs, stinging and burning if I stayed out too long. As I grew more patient and appreciative of the plants and animals and
acknowledged actively listening to them, something amazing happened! I
started to HEAR BETTER! Then synchronicity kicked in! And I started
being pulled towards the very people who could show me more! If I would
just listen. And the world of the web made it more probable, as the web
enables connections on a global level. Ah! Maybe that's why I was so
drawn to have my own web site! It was about what I still needed to learn.
Not just about the need to make money as I had thought at first.....fascinating!
So I met there Claire Hagen Dole (expert in all winged
So now everything has a soul and a purpose to me. So the ancient Romans and Greeks weren't wrong! And the Native Americans were right to honor the rocks and trees and wild things. And Henry David Thoreau was called into the woods of New England for two years to further hear what Nature had to say to him. Now life becomes so exciting! To imagine that even I can be privy to this listening! Even I, a girl from a small town in Michigan, by way of West Virginia. This is the wonder of it. And the Beauty. And why I plant flowers and love and respect the animals. Because they have something to tell me. If I will just LISTEN.....
Subscribe or Unsubscribe HERE to our * News Beams * from the Farm!From time to time, we will offer web-only specials and publish short stories about the Farm Dogs or the grandkids, and inspirations from life on the Farm in mid-Michigan, the American heartland. Seasonally, we will write to help Gardeners grow beautiful Zinnias, learn how to make a stunning bouquet, or how to collect precious seed when harvest is here. Let us know if you would like to receive them. We have moved our web to a new server and resized all photos for faster load times. As we approach another winter, I hope you visit us often to see our pretty pictures and read about the simple things we love most here. Thanks for being a customer! -Sharon Baller, President"To see life's passages through the eyes of your heart is to know that all is happening exactly as it was meant to." -- Flavia Weedn
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butterfly/moth creatures) and Molly Sheehan at
