Caturday Compassion

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

(Albert Einstein) 

Compassion is the spontaneous wisdom of the heart.

(Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche)

Compassion brings us to a stop,

 and for a moment we rise above ourselves.

(Mason Cooley)

Just some of the kitties I encounter on my daily walks.  There are many that just want food.  And then there are some that want a whole lotta love.

Happy Caturday!

Books and Friday Flowers

 A few weeks ago I finished reading a book that my friend, Aruna, gave to me sometime last year (possibly even longer ago than that).

I've mostly been reading non-fiction but decided to see if Oleander Girl would be something that I could get through and it turned out to be an easy read.  Also timely since it is about family secrets stemming from racism and also touches on gender stereotypes and outdated beliefs of caste.  (I read the book Sister of My Heart by the same author many years ago and remember really liking it.)

The Language of Flowers was purchased at a secondhand bookshop (during a visit to Santa Fe, I think) and, as you can see, Oleander is given the meaning Beware.

I was told several years ago that it is highly toxic, but through online research, found lots of conflicting information on just how poisonous it is.  I don't plan on eating any part of it to find out.  :)  It grows well in our climate and has a lovely, sweet smell.

My lunch view.

A stop by the bookstore.

Bought more books but first I have to finish the two I'm currently reading.

Have a fabulous Friday!

Everyday Enjoyment

 The birds in yesterday's post are called white-eared bulbuls and these photos clearly show why they get their name.

They have been providing entertainment outside my windows all day long.

Made sabanek (spinach fatayer) for lunch today.  A very traditional dish that I've only made twice.  The first time the dough was too thick and I didn't put enough spinach inside.  This time they turned out much better.

Currently reading this book that I bought some years ago.

Someone must have recommended it but I don't remember who that might have been.

Sunset through the window screen.

Nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift.

(Steven Pinker)

Happy Thursday!

My Morning Wake-Up Call

 Over the past week, there's been a flurry of activity outside our windows.

Because they are tinted, there's certain times of the year that birds take a fancy to seeing themselves and will constantly fly at at the windows or knock with their beaks while they chatter and chirp.  Right now, that time just happens to be in the morning.  It's pretty entertaining for sure.

Today's breakfast was oatmeal with bananas.

I decided to do some cleaning in the kitchen this morning and, as often happens, it turned into a 5 hour spree.  Sometimes I just have to go with the urge to tackle chores I've been putting off for far too long, because it doesn't happen often.

After all that cleaning, I was ready for lunch so while cooking up some green beans, I sauteed chopped garlic and crushed walnuts in olive oil; heated up leftover rice with some soy sauce, then tossed it all together.  Super easy and yummy!

I caught a glimpse of happiness, and saw it was a bird on a branch, fixing to take wing.

(Richard Peck)

Wishing you a happy Wednesday!

Rampant: Good and Bad

Rampant:  everywhere, excessive, unchecked, unrestrained, flourishing, growing.

This pandemic we find ourselves in is not only a growing health crisis, it's had huge economic impact, and unfortunately an environmental one, too.

Everywhere I go on my walks, I find discarded face masks (and plastic gloves), both of which will remain a detriment long after the virus is over (or under control or eradicated, whatever happens).  We've become such a disposable society that no one seems to think twice about their use and it's obvious that too many people could care less about even properly disposing of them.

Every single day I find myself asking;

"What is wrong with people?"

(Sigh)

Found a lost little guy on the walking path today so propped him up in one of the fairy light trees that line the walkway.

I posted it on Instagram and a friend said that her kids have one.  Apparently it was a free gift that Emirates Airlines gave out to children.

Rain brings out a lot of surprises in the pots on my balconies.  

I did not plant one single thing here except a cactus pad that you can't even see now.  

There's so many different plants in there and they all seem to be flourishing.  I have absolutely no idea how a tomato plant sprung up right in the middle but there it is.

No flowers just yet but I can see they are starting to form.

When Aruna was here last week, this cute magnet of tomatoes was one of the gifts she gave me.

There's just one little problem.

Where shall I put it on my fridge?  :)

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Oh Happy Day!

Hello Sunshine!

Hello blue sky!

Made for a lovely walk this morning.

When the spirit of nature touches us, our hearts turn into a butterfly.

(Mehmet Murat Ildan)

Today's trash is brought to you by Burger King.

Find a bag, fill a bag ... that's what I do when I'm picking up litter.

Too bad people don't know how to bag up their own trash and find a trashcan in the first place.

I always carry food because there's always hungry kitties to feed.

So thankful for good weather again after a week of storms.

Happy Monday!

Cleaning Up and Comfort in a Bowl

 Good morning!

We had several thunderstorms roll through overnight and the last one had us laying towels around the sliding glass door in our bedroom at 3:30 a.m. this morning.  When strong winds blow rain in that direction, we always get a little leakage, but this time it was pouring in.

The curtains needed washing after this week of rain so I took them down and started the clean-up and drying out.

Had a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.  I just pour some oats in a bowl, add a dash of salt, a good sprinkling of cinnamon, a little bit of maple syrup and water, mix it around and heat in the microwave for a minute then top it with walnuts, frozen raspberries and flax meal.  Still have some soy milk to use up so added a splash of that, too.

I pretty much eat everything in a bowl, usually with a spoon (even salad, unless there's a lot of lettuce).

Lunch was leftovers from yesterday:  mixed vegetable coconut curry over rice with siracha and nutritional yeast on top.  I don't follow a recipe, just throw spices in until I get something I like.

(No bowl needed for dinner because I made homemade mini-pizzas.)

I thought we were supposed to see the sun today but it's just been dark and gloomy so I've stayed home.  Sunshine is predicted for tomorrow and the rest of the week and I am so ready for it.

Have a blessed day.

World Soil Day

Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as soil.
(Hugh Hammond Bennett)

 The United Nations officially adopted December 5th as World Soil Day in 2014 in order to bring awareness to the importance of healthy soil through sustainable practices that encourage biodiversity.

Unfortunately, much of the food grown in the United States is treated with harmful pesticides in order to increase farm productivity.  Fertilizers are then used to bring life back to the soil that's been killed off by the pesticides.  Monocropping (such as corn, soybeans and wheat) further depletes the land of any nutrients and without nutrients in the soil, farmers are basically left with land degradation.  It's a vicious cycle that needs to be remedied.

Saved some seeds from a bell pepper and planted them today.  Whether they grow or not doesn't matter since it costs nothing to try.

I've got lemon and tangerine plants that I successfully sprouted from storebought fruit.

I put them outside once they were established and they are a bit waterlogged right now from all the rain, but hopefully we'll get a drying out period coming up this next week.

My husband bought a birdseed mix that I put out in a bowl on our balcony.  Not sure what's all in it, but today I found seeds that had been dropped and actually started sprouting in some wet leaf litter.  I put them in a small pot and we'll see what happens.

We had sunshine this morning but it's rained again this evening and more is expected throughout the night.

Neighborhood ducks are enjoying the puddles, but I'm ready for a dry spell.

How's the weather where you are?