tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65899419613354709642024-03-19T23:17:29.464+00:00Reiki Druid's RamblingsI teach Reiki and facilitate Meditation groups.
I ramble in the wild edges and urban spaces.
I follow the seasons' circle. I tell tales,
My allotment by the sea is my haven and retreat.Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-90008228376623026732015-04-29T18:36:00.002+01:002015-04-29T22:10:11.309+01:00I have lost the plot<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes I admit it I have lost the plot about writing my blog, my note book is full of ideas for blogs but for the last two months these ideas just lay in my notebook . Why?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Well that is the question!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the subjects for some of the blogs I did not Post. I made notes about and even wrote rough copies of them but never published a blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Islamic State its message and attraction for some young people The sea mist of pollution drifts in from Europe</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking through Steep in Hampshire tracking Edward Thomas' path and listening to his poetry and prose.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bind Weed lurking at the edges of my plot seeking to spiral its way across it. My plot in early Spring. Making a wildlife pond on my plot</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Tai Chi with Andy and Mark</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These and other ideas were ready to edit and post but were abandoned. I will write a blog again here, perhaps tomorrow, at the weekend or maybe next month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time for tea and to walk Poppy Dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A meditation by Thich NHat Hanh</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Drinking Tea</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This cup of tea in my two hands</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mindfulness held perfectly</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My Mind and Body dwell </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In the very here and now</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>With Reiki light and blessings to you all</b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MerryB</b></span></h3>
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<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-73931299217375350322015-02-15T22:21:00.002+00:002015-02-16T07:13:07.511+00:00Poppy dog comes to stay and encounters Cats!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHDnAHzKp81ojnnWpJb-6iTU7CSzIu7PI4Jxa4xrWjGaEBHuseUIwmiDvTZ49Dx2Lg8TkWD007FxqpfKSi9d83jsVhWs-3-Pb7Nb5xktiyoclQs7Qn16uSyiMsE4VQuej5KJh3Cv0kkaD/s1600/Pops+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHDnAHzKp81ojnnWpJb-6iTU7CSzIu7PI4Jxa4xrWjGaEBHuseUIwmiDvTZ49Dx2Lg8TkWD007FxqpfKSi9d83jsVhWs-3-Pb7Nb5xktiyoclQs7Qn16uSyiMsE4VQuej5KJh3Cv0kkaD/s1600/Pops+1.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppy after cat attack</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Poppy dog as a pup went to a loving home, but there was one problem, her
new mum wanted a small lap dog, but her daughter bought her a fox terrier
collie cross - a Follie. The Blue Cross have stated two of the most
difficult dogs to re-home are fox terriers and collies, as they are working
dogs and have boundless energy and can be hectic! That describes my girl!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Poppy's mum found her impossible to walk, and too hectic to
let her have the run of the house, eventually she was tied up for 24/7 hours.
The Lady loved her but Poppy was the first dog she ever owned and she had
no idea how manage her. She tried her
best and had the courage to find her a new home because she loved her.
In November 2009 Poppy went to a new home but came bouncing back, because the new owner could not cope with a dog so full of energy. Poor Poppy bounced back two more times. It was after this I heard about her and thought, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Oh a collie
- Oh Lassie! </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Oh sigh how wrong I was! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Poppy Dog arrived six years ago
four days before Christmas. She was
given the freedom of the house. She pelted round the downstairs and then for the first time in </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">her life she encountered a cat, not just any cat but…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Tiddles an ex- feral feisty Queen who ruled the household with a firm
paw.</b></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiddles spies Poppy in the room</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After a rapid exploration of the downstairs Poppy decided to tackle the
stairs just as Tiddles was coming down. Tiddles
raised her hackles and spat, hissed and beat Poppy down the stairs. As
Poppy had never climbed stairs before she did not know how to get down so she
slid down dripping blood from her nose and landed in a heap at the bottom of
the stairs. I was really concerned and picked Tiddles up and gave her a
cuddle and some chicken. Raymondo cat watched through the banisters. It
was only later I saw the blood splatters on the stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Poppy had no idea about how to deal with cats, and was beaten up everyday. Tiddles and Poppy never bonded. Poor Pops lived with one enemy
in the house, </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While in the streets she,encounters many more. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3cy31S792koJ0uuYdBSiHVr4olNjkL6C2w38fBSK-2wMgjBS9WkLE7uUhSaAb2jLOLiEsA91DgKP0D4veyltccoq8Dr4oVKLmyNQZV64p45peRgIPVzyDJxxmlXUeQs-X1CX85WJU0zt/s1600/puss-154894_640+NIGHT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3cy31S792koJ0uuYdBSiHVr4olNjkL6C2w38fBSK-2wMgjBS9WkLE7uUhSaAb2jLOLiEsA91DgKP0D4veyltccoq8Dr4oVKLmyNQZV64p45peRgIPVzyDJxxmlXUeQs-X1CX85WJU0zt/s1600/puss-154894_640+NIGHT.png" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ollie cat lurks in the night for Poppy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Ollie is a lovely ginger tom cat who lives round the corner from our house. He frequently lurk waiting for Poppy to pass on our evening walk. He will spring out from under a car, over the
top of a garden wall or dive on her from the roof of a garage. He howls, hisses and spits as he springs on her. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Poppy </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">cowers</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> every time we pass Ollie's garden.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The worst cat Poppy has encountered was Harry a huge white tom. He lived
on our way to the allotment, he would lurk unseen and jump out at Pops claws
bared, hackles raised. He would walk crab like after us. Poppy would also walk
side ways so she could see where Harry was and if he was in striking distance. She would try to slink past but he always
saw her. Fortunately for Pops he moved away. However, there are black cats,
black and white cats, ginger toms for her to </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px;">encounter</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. All these cats treat her with disdain and greet her with howls
and hisses.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIFum7gr9WnxfIWMaCA61BBJVEbpccDL2Z0sQrn2GYv94PDAJ5kS5MxzHa_K2zi4Aajp0jgDz6V1vMqEE0PUuxtbd_dhLZ0ULQJ7L3wnX-ylNRtjYe37EfM22YY2RmyWnxn6DM91MCLzP/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIFum7gr9WnxfIWMaCA61BBJVEbpccDL2Z0sQrn2GYv94PDAJ5kS5MxzHa_K2zi4Aajp0jgDz6V1vMqEE0PUuxtbd_dhLZ0ULQJ7L3wnX-ylNRtjYe37EfM22YY2RmyWnxn6DM91MCLzP/s1600/003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to get Poppy in trouble</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Tiddles' son Raymondo cat would
streak out the door and jump up on the wall or table trying to avoid being chased
by Poppy. I put a gate up stairs so Tiddles and Raymondo could come and go as they wanted but had a space which was a dog free zone. Raymondo would poke his head between the banisters and call from the
upstairs, safe behind the gate. Poppy would immediately run upstairs and jump up clinging onto the
banister rail, Raymondo always stood just out of her reach but near enough to
hit her with his paws if he felt like it. He never used his claws on Poppy. This game would be repeated
every evenings. They enjoyed being together and often would be sleeping
nose to nose either side of the gate contented to be together. However, if Raymondo moved quickly down the stairs Poppy's sheep
dog instinct would come out and she would chase him to herd him back into the
house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We no longer live with cats . Raymondo, who was the last of a family of
five cats, died last August and Poppy dog is now No.1 in the household. There will be more cats in our house but for the moment Poppy is enjoying being pampered and not getting told off, by me, for
being aggressive to the cats. Yes I do know that it was the cats that were
aggressive to her but.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Pops dog is very gentle and sweet and funny. She still loves to chase a
cat, and I often get yanked up the road as she spies a cat, or she dives over a
garden wall. to see if there is cat hiding over there. She dangles over the
wall head down with her back legs on the other side of the wall as we haul her
back by her lead. In this position she is very vulnerable to attack from a
hidden cat’s sharp claws. Poppy has not yet learnt that cats should be
approached with caution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With gratitude for all the animals we have been privileged
to have share our home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">and for our No.1 Poppy the pampered dog<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With Reiki blessings to you all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">MerryB.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Over Christmas and the New Year I had a heavy cold and hacking cough.
to find relief from the symptoms I search my Herbal rescue basket, herbal
notebook and my collection of books on herbs. I was surprised to find
that chocolate was good for chest congestion. colds and flu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I had already brought some Fair Trade, organic raw cacao to make hot
chocolate for my visitors over the holiday season, I could now have some not
only for the feel good factor but also to help get rid of my cough and cold. -
Oh Yum yum or Num Num as my cat friends say!</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Chocolate has been maligned as the
devils food.</u></span></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">It has been accredited as causing tooth decay, obesity, acne, high blood
pressure, heart disease and diabetics. It has been cited as the cause of
headaches, heart burn. Chocolate that has high amounts of fat, sugar
added and too much could lead to weight gain which could lead to heart disease,
diabetics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hey isn't the sugar
and fat that cause the problem in some chocolate confectionery - not Cacao and Dark 60% Chocolate?</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chocolate reputation has been rising in the last few years as a
number of studies have suggested that it could be a health choices. Not milk or white chocolate but 60% dark
chocolate. Though no-one has suggested yet that is a health food<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #111111;">Cacao appears to
reduce risk factors for heart disease. Flavanols in Cacao beans have
antioxidant effects that reduce cell damage implicated in heart disease.
Flavanols — which are more prevalent in dark chocolate than in milk
chocolate. It also help lower blood
pressure and improve vascular function.</span></b><span style="color: #111111;"> (</span><span style="color: #111111;">Mayo Clinic)</span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dark chocolate
is rich in vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and
iron, which can aid in preventing stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease
and type-2 diabetes.( Women Health Review)</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are more health benefits from Chocolate which are well documented
in medical and health literature. Chocolate and especially raw Cacao is
good for you. but not in huge quantities, 1 oz a day is the recommended amount
to eat for health. I bought a 200g pack of Raw Cacao before Christmas and
have used only 70g up to today. I
have used it in drinks with milk or almond<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"> milk </span>on cereal, and with nut
butter and drinks for friends. 100g of raw cacao has 309
calories and only 9.5 g of fat and 1.5g of sugar.. These
calories have been spread over 28 or more days.
I have really enjoyed using it, and it has given me health benefits and has
been a great treat and pick-me-up when suffering the misery of bad cold and
cough. Yea - three cheers for Cacao! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chocolate and cacao contain caffeine but about 10 to 20 percent of that coffee. So it can be a good alternative to coffee to beat drowsiness, and without the jitters that drinking Coffee can sometimes bring. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">However gorging on chocolate may give you a high but then can quickly plummet you
into a slump. </span></div>
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<u>Chocolate Aztec gold to Fair Trade co-operatives.</u></h3>
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Thinking about chocolate made me realize that I knew very little about it where does the Cacao grows? Now I know it grows in Peru and along the equator. I am going to find more about the Fair Trade Cooperatives for farmers who grow Cacao</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">
I also did not know what the Cacao trees and its fruit and the beans looked like. I certainly do not think I have seen the flowers before. They are beautiful, would stunning be a better word? These produce the cacao beans which were the Aztec's gold.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">
I love this picture of Wild Cacao flowers.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocolate was not known in Europe until 1509 when Cortez was given it in a drink in golden beaker, he was interested in the gold beaker but the Aztec ruler Montezuma informed him the 100 of the beans was worth more than the gold of the beaker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cortez took chocolate back to Spain and it was kept a secret from Europe until 1660. It was most popular in Holland and England where milk and sugar was added, it was was not until about 150 years ago that it was made into the bars and the sweets we are so familiar with today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocolate is now in my Herbal Remedy basket for the feel good factor and for its health benefits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">My Conclusion is dark Chocolate and especially Raw Fair Trade, Organic Cacao is good for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you a believer?</span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">With Reiki blessings and a chocolate kiss</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">MerryB</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a link to the Kitchen and recipes for healthy<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/healthify-your-hot-chocolate-5-delicious-ideas-182918"> Hot Chocolate for you</a></span></b></div>
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Valerian <span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">- I am getting Sleepy</span></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrSYG8_V1jZcXpDsFGjJrQEt2s_asPfRU6Jj6iLhe76md3UL4ORA-bruPth202O11LZHKq_XaA5-bhhKnAB6VSuH3kVDjDf5QXE886JRNthLXJbQ9Ei9pGBHGCJqXZmU_wTcX88KPw1wL/s1600/mobile-valerian.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrSYG8_V1jZcXpDsFGjJrQEt2s_asPfRU6Jj6iLhe76md3UL4ORA-bruPth202O11LZHKq_XaA5-bhhKnAB6VSuH3kVDjDf5QXE886JRNthLXJbQ9Ei9pGBHGCJqXZmU_wTcX88KPw1wL/s1600/mobile-valerian.gif" height="180" width="200" /></a> After a stressful time before Christmas I found my sleep was disrupted and my back and shoulders and neck were aching. This pain, I suspected, was because I was tense rather than a strain from digging on my plot.. Finally just after Christmas I developed a heavy cold and cough, Then I was more frequently waking up in the night and finding it difficult to get back to sleep. During the day I felt exhausted. After a couple of day of this I set off find a herbal rescue remedy. I went to see my local Medical Herbalist. Sandy, After a consultation we decided that Valerian was the rescue remedy I need.<br />
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I used one teaspoon to make herbal infusion which I drank half an hour before I went to bed. It worked almost immediately, although at first I was still woken in the night by my busy mind chattering away, or a bout of coughing would wake me. However I was more relaxed and I was able to get back to sleep much more quickly. Gradually my sleep pattern has returned to normal. The aches in my back, shoulder and neck were eased effectively.. I used Valerian tea for ten days.. It seemed wise not to use it continuously but only when needed. It is not addictive but I did not want to become psychologically dependent on it to get to sleep.<br />
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The taste of Valerian is for many people unpleasant and often they add honey and lemon, or mint to it. I found it OK and took it straight without additions. <br />
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Healing with Valerian</h3>
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All parts of Valerian have sedative effect but the highest concentration is in the roots. Valerian has been compared to Valium, but Valerian is much safer and milder sedative and muscle relaxant and does not have side effects of Valium. Valerian is contained in many over the counter medicines to ease insomnia and to deal with stress.. In Germany over 100 medicines have Valerian as the active ingredient as sleep aids and tranquilizers, some of which are suitable for children over 2 years old.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">T</span>he Pied Piper of Hamelin musician and Herbalist</h3>
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The modern story of the Pied Piper has him enchanting the Rats with his flute playing but early German Folklore credits him as being a accomplished herbalist and he charmed the rats and children with the hypnotic effect of Valerian and his flute. It would have certainly worked on the rats Rats and cats love it and sprawl and roll on the plant in ecstasy. It has a similar effect on cats as catnip. Raymondo cat would bruise the leaves of catnip by rolling on them each morning. I had a supply of Pots for him to enjoy, If the Pied Piper had given the children a drink containing Valerian it could have relaxed any fears they may have had about following the Piper out of Hamelin<br />
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The Greeks and Romans called Valerian Fu - phew -because of its taste, it was used as a diuretic, antidote to poison, pain relied and by Galen as a decongestant. Around the 10th Century it began to be called Valerian derived from the Latin "valeo" meaning " I am well". It was known in local folklore as "all well" suggesting its use as an ancient medicine. The term officinalis reflects the fact that monks and nuns distilled this herb in their herbarium still room. The 10th Century the German Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, a distinguished herbalist, recommended it as a tranquilizer and sleep aid.</div>
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Culpeper in the seventeenth Century described Valerian as:</div>
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As Excellent against nervous affections</blockquote>
During the World War 1 Valerian was prescribed for soldiers with shattered nerves as a result of the artillery bombardment and the horrors of life they had to endure on the battlefields. and in the trenches.<br />
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David Hoffman author of book Holistic Herbal calls Valerian<br />
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one of the most useful relaxing herbs.</blockquote>
I am glad that my Medical Herbalist Sandy recommended its used at a time for me of sudden stress and illness. I take most herbal remedies as a cold infusion or as herbal tea of fresh or dried herbs rather than taking supplements or over the counter medicines..<br />
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Growing Valerian on My Plot.</h3>
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I am wondering whether to grow Valerian on my plot, it is a hardy perennial. It can be grown from seed or root cuttings. The seeds however, have a short viability, therefore I would need to get a root. It grow in the wild in marshy places and damp hedgerows, It grows to 5 or 6 feet, the flowers are pale pink or white, the leaves grow in pair which distinguish it from Kentranthus-ruber or Garden Valerian. which grows leaves in groups and the flowers are like red spurs. Garden Valerian in the wild grows on cliffs and in stone walls. <br />
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Valerian officinals does have odour which the herbalist Michael Moor described as:<br />
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Like the smell of dirty socks</blockquote>
Hmm may be I will think again about growing it on my plot!<br />
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<b>To help with quieting the mind before going to sleep you may like to listen to <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">ELFENTHAL The early music ensemble playing "Caritas in abundat omnia" a chant composed by Hildegard of Bingen</span> </b></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZa95OgwCEU"><b><span style="color: black;"> Love lives in all things, from these lowest being to the highest stars</span></b></a></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Wishing You Good Sleep and Reiki blessing</span></span></h2>
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MerryB</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small;">PS Chocolate is another Herbal Rescue Remedy I used over Christmas. I will blog about this wonderful herb soon. Watch this space!</span></h1>
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<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-30824181432386135202015-01-01T10:46:00.001+00:002015-01-01T21:21:46.209+00:00Happy New Year to You, Ancestors - Jelaluddin Rumi<span id="goog_1315447799"></span><span id="goog_1315447800"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>Before I sit down to write to or email family,friends<span style="background-color: white; color: #007f40; font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and followers at on New Years Day I draw a card from </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">John Matthew's Shaman Oracle. I use this card to help guide my wishes for you all for the next year. Today I drew the card <b>The Ancestor of Guidance</b> Here is its guidance for you all in 2015. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xfx9efeo6MGhmONgHmFraxUiPJDVDInD7QsdSLlup7GwqecJi5rCok_KJaWOHKiCoWHki8k2cW8V0yZP10B0S5cqCeg21ymiRF3p6iT-wZ4Yox0HEBcCYtQmWJxAlhUc1Acv4oZ7IAyS/s1600/Lascaus,_Megaloceros+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xfx9efeo6MGhmONgHmFraxUiPJDVDInD7QsdSLlup7GwqecJi5rCok_KJaWOHKiCoWHki8k2cW8V0yZP10B0S5cqCeg21ymiRF3p6iT-wZ4Yox0HEBcCYtQmWJxAlhUc1Acv4oZ7IAyS/s1600/Lascaus,_Megaloceros+2.jpg" height="196" width="200" /></a></div>
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Ancestor of Guidance</h3>
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<b><i>I am the Ancestor of Guidance, I remember you and so watch over you. I guide your steps as you embark on your life-path and counsel you as you make important decisions. Because I am your family - however ancient I know well the deepest places of you heart and soul , and stand ready to assist you in discovering the path you need to follow. </i>John Matthews Shaman's Oracle</b></blockquote>
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The Elk or Stag is a powerful symbol found in Prehistoric Cave Painting and here it represent the guidance we can receive from our ancestors if we open our minds to listen to the ancient wisdom of our families. If you are seeking a new direction then the echoes of profound wisdom of our inner guides can help us find our way successfully, or give us aspiration to lead us forward on our life path This Card reminds us that we have the companionship of our Ancestors on what can sometime feel a lonely and difficult journey through life.<br />
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Here is a poem that illustrates our interconnecting to the the Wisdom of the Universe</h3>
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<b><i>"Say I am You" by Jelaluddin Rumi</i></b></h3>
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<i><b> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am the particles in sunlight,</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><i>I am the round sun.<br />
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To the bits of dust I say, Stay.<br />
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To the sun, Keep moving.<br />
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I am morning mist,<br />
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and the breathing of evening.<br />
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I am wind in the top of a grove,<br />
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and surf on the cliff.<br />
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Mast, rudder, helmsman, and keel,<br />
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I am also the coral reef they founder on.<br />
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I am a tree with a trained parrot in its branches.<br />
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Silence, thought, and voice.<br />
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The musical air coming through a flute,<br />
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a spark of stone, a flickering<br /><br />
in metal. Both candle,<br />
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and the moth crazy around it.<br />
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Rose, and the nightingale<br />
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lost in the fragrance.<br />
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I am all orders of being, the circling galaxy,<br />
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the evolutionary intelligence, the lift,<br />
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and the falling away. What is,<br />
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and what isn't. You who know<br />
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Jelaluddin, You the one<br />
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in all, say </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><b><i>I am. Say I</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-align: start;"><b><i>Here is a link to a beautiful video of this<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqVBGv2hpQ4"> poem </a></i></b></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Wishing you a Happy New Year</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>&</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Reiki Blessings and Light</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>MerryB</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></h2>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-17883096531484873572014-12-28T20:25:00.001+00:002014-12-29T15:53:31.311+00:00Happy Birthday Pops Dog<br />
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Poorly Pops bounces back</h3>
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Poppy dog started December being poorly, she was sick and did not eat for a day then gradually began to eat again small amounts at a time. Then she developed a cough which sounded just like the honking of a goose .She had a swollen glands and throat and a dry nose, She still wanted to go out for walks but she did not whirl like a dervish with excitement and did not hustle me up the road to get to the park. Shoes and socks were not snatched away as they were taken off, An annoying habit which frequently greeted us if we had been out without her, but life seemed duller without the chase to get them back. The neighbours' cats could put their paws in the garden without Poppy hurtling down the garden path to protect her territory, She seemed to have Kennel Cough so it was off to the vets. Who confirmed she had Kennel Cough but was recovering and needed no treatment </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3ELE_ZZIilIdHlyXB57LuPg1HBUrEkqHeiH-fY2DQfpLYHoJrm40ptSSfpiAGdK9lTOpUTzouGg9yO33zftp9gWHJd3e31TGjd8kkj35biLQNtzQVJ_KafCkE3fy2qB5x11jl8jyGg9u/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+050+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3ELE_ZZIilIdHlyXB57LuPg1HBUrEkqHeiH-fY2DQfpLYHoJrm40ptSSfpiAGdK9lTOpUTzouGg9yO33zftp9gWHJd3e31TGjd8kkj35biLQNtzQVJ_KafCkE3fy2qB5x11jl8jyGg9u/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+050+3.jpg" height="151" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twirling log roll </td></tr>
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Poppy bounced back quickly and once again hauled us out of the door, bouncing and rushing to get to the park the woods, beach or plot. She was able to run and playing with her friends and back to whirling and twirling in the street and park. Socks and shoes were once more at risk from a flying raid by Poppy dog seeking games and mischief.</div>
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Happy Birthday Poppy Dog.</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u6C4X2SSe60isdigEgYH2QfIFQR6RQOJWWCyOWWmFzvJ5Fgz2PKlrlTccBHH_W2hWhFTdxOe3xm4mhPMfHkG64HcbfLIXlBNQdpRUwqv6jDSQ_lToOUk8S_eem8gQnm_5R9NUaKh40N9/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+054+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u6C4X2SSe60isdigEgYH2QfIFQR6RQOJWWCyOWWmFzvJ5Fgz2PKlrlTccBHH_W2hWhFTdxOe3xm4mhPMfHkG64HcbfLIXlBNQdpRUwqv6jDSQ_lToOUk8S_eem8gQnm_5R9NUaKh40N9/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+054+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Poppy's Birthday is the 21st of December she had lots of presents squeaky toys, an Eeyore soft toy which she adores and runs around carrying it and loves us to play with it with her, she jumps runs and tumbles with it. She was given balls, and lights for her collar, which I love and she hates. One is already broken during a whirling moment. We cooked a special dinner of stewed lamb, for her, but best of all, I am sure, we went for a long walk to the sea, dog park and then had lunch at the plot, which she loves. She has a fan club among the plot holders and gets lots of cuddles, She rolls on the grass plays with her balls and squeaky gnome, barks at cats, seagulls, helicopters and the brent geese flying overhead to the mud flats in Langstone Harbour. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NSCTRE8r7WsUeYRAySXSzZQgpXIdzBVuS2eUK4kQf5lDMDxcdXfKFtl0otmIoPc5aausoNPSDzOqCgyWdJpZu2uNjKSSvRm6NfTn4r_X51LbsWPTu5IhrrPIFNDeJMntbvTvDr5HlRjF/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NSCTRE8r7WsUeYRAySXSzZQgpXIdzBVuS2eUK4kQf5lDMDxcdXfKFtl0otmIoPc5aausoNPSDzOqCgyWdJpZu2uNjKSSvRm6NfTn4r_X51LbsWPTu5IhrrPIFNDeJMntbvTvDr5HlRjF/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+006.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>Poppy's birthday is on the day of the Winter Solstice and there was a perfect sunrise to greet her on her special day. She is such a gentle, being and loves playing, walking, always looks with delight at the food we put down for her. She will come up and snuggle against us, enjoys being hugged, and having her tummy tickled. We are very blessed to live with her she brings joy and laughter to our home, banishing grumpy moods with her enthusiasm. What a lovely gift we got six years ago of Poppy Dog . I am grateful for saving yes to a friend who told me about her being tied up 24/7 as her owner could not cope with her hectic ways.</div>
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With gratitude for the wonderful animals who share our lives</h3>
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and planet</h3>
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Reiki Blessing to everyone.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOLaMDNSZ9VjyRpiRLaTWNWmEhUuXHEKfJqT6sgknp5zfYqd5y_O5XsDthJ0ZcZm4UmGbUV2hegyi1AUbq4RdlHb0cSnE0Cd61XzTR0_iq6qeP_sxqT5AdGG0OZfQtUCh9774S6fWM5bl/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOLaMDNSZ9VjyRpiRLaTWNWmEhUuXHEKfJqT6sgknp5zfYqd5y_O5XsDthJ0ZcZm4UmGbUV2hegyi1AUbq4RdlHb0cSnE0Cd61XzTR0_iq6qeP_sxqT5AdGG0OZfQtUCh9774S6fWM5bl/s1600/sunset+and+Pops+dog+061.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where has the squirrel gone?.<br />
The tree is Holm Oak 250 years old</td></tr>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-87778990243140874002014-12-07T19:59:00.001+00:002016-02-17T07:36:39.216+00:00The Oak Lore, Legend & Myth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtVrKsm2ju2Epl8Dx5BLCiIh5_ijAKH8yEsLdW6_CRcvNirFmo3HPygW7b-w6brVAB74fgY6u9BcXurysk0lTB4r9lDYCWuVgzrga2GbUa_4KIJyjA88hgi5FGRkqm-s9nHWsbYQx_lUF/s1600/oak-tree-70852_640oak+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtVrKsm2ju2Epl8Dx5BLCiIh5_ijAKH8yEsLdW6_CRcvNirFmo3HPygW7b-w6brVAB74fgY6u9BcXurysk0lTB4r9lDYCWuVgzrga2GbUa_4KIJyjA88hgi5FGRkqm-s9nHWsbYQx_lUF/s1600/oak-tree-70852_640oak+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Usefulness of Oak For Humans Created </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Its Place In Legend, </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Folklore and</b><b> </b><b>Myths.</b></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtVrKsm2ju2Epl8Dx5BLCiIh5_ijAKH8yEsLdW6_CRcvNirFmo3HPygW7b-w6brVAB74fgY6u9BcXurysk0lTB4r9lDYCWuVgzrga2GbUa_4KIJyjA88hgi5FGRkqm-s9nHWsbYQx_lUF/s1600/oak-tree-70852_640oak+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtVrKsm2ju2Epl8Dx5BLCiIh5_ijAKH8yEsLdW6_CRcvNirFmo3HPygW7b-w6brVAB74fgY6u9BcXurysk0lTB4r9lDYCWuVgzrga2GbUa_4KIJyjA88hgi5FGRkqm-s9nHWsbYQx_lUF/s1600/oak-tree-70852_640oak+tree.jpg" width="150" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Oak's huge structure and long life, provides timber which has
been used in buildings, joinery, fencing, and boat building
from early Celtic times into the present day. A matures oak's crop of acorns provides food
for both domestic and woodland creatures. While in Spring its bark is
stripped and used in the tanning high quality leather. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Oak is extremely durable and strong. In East Anglia the Sutton Hoo memorial
ship-burial made for a fallen King or
Hero was made of oak about 1400 years ago. The wood had disintegrated but
the the Oak left a imprint in the ground and enable a reconstruction of the
ship. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Oak houses and building before the 12th Century would perhaps only last
a generation as the wood post driven into the ground would eventually rot
away. <o:p></o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However in the 13<sup>th</sup> Century it was discover that:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.... a stone plinth and timber
sill along with the use of strong timber joints. The stone plinth consisted of
a line of stones, perhaps partly below ground as well as above, laid along the
foot of walls. On this was placed a sturdy wooden sill…. Green oak rectangular post were then inserted
into the sill and secured by mortise and tenon joints and held together by
oak pegs (http://www.today.plus.com)</span></b></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This solved the problem of oak posts rotting and building exist in the twenty first Century that were built in the 13th and 14th centuries </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Oak's use in Healing</span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Oak galls, made by the larva of gall wasp induce the oak to produce
chemical that form into abnormal growth or galls to encloses the developing
larv, these galls were ground and were used as a cure for problems with the liver.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The distilled water of the bud,
before they break out into leaves is... to assuge inflammation and to
stop the fluxes. (Culpeper -15th century)</span></b></blockquote>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The inner bark of the tree and the
skin covering were used to stop the spitting of the blood and the flux or as we
would called diarrhoea The bark is used by modern herbalist as an astringent, as a gargle for a sore throat and to
stop diarrhoea. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Edward Bach 's remedies were based on finding a cure
for physiological states and stress that depleted the
immune system. He also looked to Doctrine of
Signatures a medieval system in which the appearance and habit of a plant was
thought to indicate what it would cure. The Bach Oak remedy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">... is used to help us remain
strong in adversity, while at the same time we learn it is better sometimes to
let go rather than crack under the strain. (The Bach Center)</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Tradition Folklore healing would advise a person facing a difficult
situation or who was unable to cope with life to go to the
oak wood and walk three times round an oak. Then rest against it to restore
their equilibrium and to be guide by the wisdom of the Oak.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
The Oak Folklore and legend and myths </span></b></h3>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
The oak is strong and endures. Foresters traditionally used to pollard a
living oak tree back to the trunk for timber, the tree will re- row into a
dense canopy which may have been harvested again. Most of the
ancient and veteran oaks are pollard oaks they generally live longer than trees
that have not been cut back. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
The oaks has become associate with fire in legends and folklore.
Oaks are taller than most other tree and are full of moisture which increases
its vulnerability to </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">being hit by lightening strikes. The lightning’s
intense electrical charge
travels into the trunk and instantly vaporizes the sap
and moisture into steam. The tree may then violently split or
explode and the sap from the heart wood may catch fire. Yet the Oak
lives on even though part of its trunk may be blackened and damaged.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8QZVJdYYCRzNLTohTVMw94tceqB41qrDfJfTyjdj7Qj4ic8sZudSHJmBvAsL-orFLgkXO0_f2XDTPejRc3g_DoFZrOI3TDtkdoO17B5TRoU7HM5cjZlidYGx49QqAKkrqpSnDVF6t8kO/s1600/fire-451795_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8QZVJdYYCRzNLTohTVMw94tceqB41qrDfJfTyjdj7Qj4ic8sZudSHJmBvAsL-orFLgkXO0_f2XDTPejRc3g_DoFZrOI3TDtkdoO17B5TRoU7HM5cjZlidYGx49QqAKkrqpSnDVF6t8kO/s1600/fire-451795_640.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The oak was used to kindle the fires at Celtic
festivals Beltane, lammas and Samhuinn. The use of Oak of fires also had a sinister aspect in history
and folklore. In Scotland if a malevolent witch or someone
accused of heresy was sentenced to death by burning at the stake, the fire was
made of green oak which burns slowly and gives off noxious fumes Traditional belief in oak’s
protective power, it was believed, would prevented the shade of the person escaping from the flames and haunting
the community in revenge for their hideous death. </span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oaks were often
planted by dwellings to protect it from a lightening strike:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is not wise to
shelter under an oak in a thunder storm!</span></span></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbISQMtwoxW_3P7FVnbP94Bz6P53Y3RcaylZfTzpQFfmYwO8XZJy8tZ-gCbUBroKlKinmj1M_IOejveXaLHNWrci7hnNsaPKxmnuQhVuE3zVQA5D34L7kh5yU19gLdtSHb-UkHaBwk-_-/s1600/images+fairy+changling.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbISQMtwoxW_3P7FVnbP94Bz6P53Y3RcaylZfTzpQFfmYwO8XZJy8tZ-gCbUBroKlKinmj1M_IOejveXaLHNWrci7hnNsaPKxmnuQhVuE3zVQA5D34L7kh5yU19gLdtSHb-UkHaBwk-_-/s1600/images+fairy+changling.png" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oak’s gives sanctuary and protection
from enemies and evil spirits. In Scotland a traveler sleeping in or
near a wild wood drew a circle round him with a oak staff to protect him from the attentions of malicious fairies. Oak baskets and cribs, it was believed, would stop the fairies stealing
a child and leaving a changeling in its place<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);">The word Oak in
Irish and Welsh also mean Chief. and</span></b><b> oak is
ranked as a Chieftain Tree in the Celtic Ogham. <span style="background: #EEEEEE;">Chiefs and Kings would plant an Oak grove around
their residence or fort as symbol of Kingship Strength and Fertility. In
the crowed rural homes the Oak woods would allow privacy
and sanctuary from prying eyes. Many children would
be conceived under the shelter of an Oak tree.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqjOf0EX57L5MomVRaDS03ndasEGsa9UmN5xYl2jqiZcuLpo6IcTAVHTp0aCShhqYuw4saYTmTpTr740H9KFivhObRt1Nq_lSB4KQ0QLCrRVuqBTPlSG_OtCj_0lUGGkcu8Hx1gT2euMb/s1600/tcroak2crouch+oak+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: right;"><b><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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Pagan era for ritual and ceremony. This was also true of the early
Christian church. Holy wells had Oaks growing nearby with its male powerful energy of
the universe combined with the female life giving trees, often the
Hawthorn and Willow.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
The Oaks were places where teaching and laws were given. King Edward The
Confessor in 1005 delivered The Charter of London by the scared Oak on Parliament
Hill. This Charter made London the oldest democratic City in the world. Over time, it became the first stepping stone to the emergence of the
Parliamentary System for the UK.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
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The Crouch Oak in Adlestone marks the boundary of Windsor Park is said to
have been planted in the 11th Century. It was a gathering place, marriages would
have taken place there until the Church stopped the practice. </span></span></b><b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The people gathered at the Crouch Oak to hear readings from John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible from Latin into into English (1382). Many hearing and understanding the Bible Texts for the first time in their own language. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 18th Century</span></span></b><b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Preacher John Wesley who thrown out of Oxford and his preaching was dammed as
blasphemous by the established church, preached to people under under the Crouch Oak. The oak's branches make a wonderful sounding board so the huge crowds that gathered to to hear him speak could all hear him clearly. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(243, 243, 243);"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<h3>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(243, 243, 243);">The Oak a symbol of courage &
determination to overcome </span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 242, 204);">adversity.</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Damage
by caterpillars can strip a Oak of its leaves and seriously
deplete its energy. However round the time of The Celtic Festival of
Lammas in August the Oak will grow a second growth of leaves which enables it
to recover from this damage . The wood sculpture David Nash believes the
insect can smell an ailing tree and this result in insect infestation.
The insects burrow under loose bark and into rotting patches on
the tree. The Oak responds by using its sap to form a callous which
prevents the insects burrowing deeper into the wood. The attack can
leave huge burrs on the trunk and branches. But the Oak:</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /> ... has the courage to survive despite the injuries it endures, it has a
determination to live and achieve its potential (David Nash)</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
The Celtic Tree Ogham Oracle</span></b></h3>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
My knowledge of the Celtic Tree Ogham is gained from reading the works of Scholars, </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and
three Wise Women who guide me in the realm of The Celtic Tree Ogham Oracle.
They are Liz Murray, Catlin Matthew, and Glennie Kindred. I
have absorbed their wisdom and combined it with my learning about
trees and experience of being in forest and woods.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
A Visualization and Meditation on the Oak</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Standing by a mature oak and looking
upwards I can see the strong boughs reaching up to the sky and imagine the
great roots that anchor it growing deep into the earth. One a sunny winter's
day the light that filters through the open canopy of its branches is dappled
and creates a magical space to stand or sit quietly and enjoy </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a wonderful
moment</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a perfect moment</span></b> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of interconnect with the oak,</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<h4>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Oak Tree of Knowledge</span></b></h4>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg2i6ZgfIuMpA6-pAzHeyF8sHfS6oPnAlCjEzzhK-EpCffuYULvcUGIoKOqdI2RiIlRbrp2dbuWTWbINi2gMTI52d3FcAMMKhiqWnmWNOVuNk4clBEjdWf0_W7xVgXKp54ywsfgClA3WG/s1600/images+duir+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg2i6ZgfIuMpA6-pAzHeyF8sHfS6oPnAlCjEzzhK-EpCffuYULvcUGIoKOqdI2RiIlRbrp2dbuWTWbINi2gMTI52d3FcAMMKhiqWnmWNOVuNk4clBEjdWf0_W7xVgXKp54ywsfgClA3WG/s1600/images+duir+4.jpg" width="162" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUvA3qYX8UJYV-ZNIwbB7UZgP7uy__NMivTEvaNWkBr6RqK5wXM4R8jv_KOd295nAx2upCzWXrbOp2D4h2Zt6_6v6HrR5tzGSzLr2t8U1Y-yJ6Aog-8GiVJ-YE0T3iXByJUZX4zYVBv48/s1600/images+duir+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: right;"><b><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Gaelic and Sanskrit word for Oak is Duir , which means door. If you draw the
Oak when casting the Ogham you should approach the Oak with respect and let
your presence be known. Touch the Oak gently, either with a hand or with
the mind and wait and see if the doorway to inner knowledge opens. If it opens
enter:<u1:p></u1:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">into the power of your imagination...
we are taught that imagination only reveals what is imaginary
that is not true Imagination is a faculty of the soul. the same way sight
is a faculty of the eyes. (Cailtin Matthews) </span></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
There are many reason The Seeker are drawn to the Celtic Tree Ogham Oracle. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> are some of the reason to seek answers from the oracle. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Needing reassurance whether it
is the right time to go forward with an action or project to<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">... have faith in your vision of what
your are working towards. (Glennie Kindred)</span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The seeker may have issues from the
past. The oak can give an inner vision which will lead to a new understand
the past. It may show the knots of bitterness which are blocking the way
forward, and give the clarity, strength and protection needed to clear the negative energy
and to move on to a positive path.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A seeker may feel lost, or maybe is
procrastinate about an ambition, dream or hope. May be fearful of failure
and be at a standstill, terrified of being expose ridicule or harm.
The Oak show how to have courage, and the strengthen of will to achieve a
goal.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The seeker is blocked from going forward in life. The Oak bends and moves in the face of a storm. If it didn't branches would be break and be ripped off. The Oak can show the Seeker that stubbornness is the cause of stagnation, or a desire always to be right or to win is destructive. Oak’s healing light can take away the seekers fear
of change. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
In the modern world stress caused by work, relationships, lack of money, or
life events may overwhelms us,. The seeker may feel as if they are running in
circles and getting nowhere. The stately Oak can give a place to be quite
and still and let the white noise of life, the chatter the mind, be still in
meditation and rest.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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Sometime in life any of us may feels exhausted and broken, seeing before us
a mire of unhappiness and darkness .But the oak teaches: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: rgb(243, 243, 243);">When all seems dark
the stars still shine trust and endure. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I hope the Stars Shine For you</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>With Reiki Blessings</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>MerryB</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in awe of Oak trees I feel them as a
powerful and magical trees and like their strength and security.. As a
child I discovered a huge oak tree in a boundary hedge of a farm. It was balanced on the edge
of a steep bank where part of the land had slipped away and exposed some of the
roots. The oak had been hit by a
lightening strike and split open on one side and the cleft was
a perfect spot to sit and read, I would snuggle in to the heart of the tree
with a book and my toys and happily stay for hours reading and using my
imagination to create games. I would make bonnets and tea sets from the acorn cups as a
gift to the fairies..</span></span></div>
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<tr><td colspan="2"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="texts_green">The mighty oak lives for hundreds of years and has provided a safe home for many generations of tree fairies; indeed, its leafy foliage makes an excellent shelter for a fairy house…</span><span class="texts_green">Clever use of clothing and colour enables tree fairies to 'disappear' into the leafy backdrop. Fairy garments are sewn from leaves and the fairies make new costumes whenever the seasons change. (Cicely Mary Barker)</span></span></b><span style="color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">))BARKER </span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved to clamber into the cavern of its exposed roots and
journey into my imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Down
at the bottom of the bank was a trout stream running with clear water and
I would play in it for a while before laying on the bank and and watch the shoals of minnows and sticklebacks
swimming past, Other times I stood on the footbridge over the stream and
look for river trout in the deep pools along the edge
of the stream or hidden among the over hanging
vegetation and rocks, Sometimes I would see rings of water as
a trout rose to the surface to feed on the mayflies, water shrimp,
caddis flies and other invertebrates. Other times just under the
bridge a trout would lay still in the water with its nose pointing up stream
waiting for insects to come floating by. Usually I would only catch a flash of
silver as the trout darted away as it spotted me before I even knew it was
there. After playing by the stream I
would climb back to the peace and security of my secret space away </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">from my older brothers teasing.</span></span></div>
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Even today I love to sit along side a great oak or walk round it and gently
touch its bark, and leaves enjoy the earthy smell of it. I collect a few acorns from a mature
oak sometimes carry one or two to empty places in wild areas and gentle push them into the soil to germinate in spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rambling among the Oaks of The New Forest National Park</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvoC37LgCz-7grocrfgqVvWkUOT137BG2eX79H177K6bfnasucvF-1-vprlypDI_cdhlhrDLY6roV8IGI0YBRQjLIqmVhrnURnd9GTX0TOl_D2RgNa_UBtUAe4-cdQDIvQICdIDyyWdvu/s1600/oak+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvoC37LgCz-7grocrfgqVvWkUOT137BG2eX79H177K6bfnasucvF-1-vprlypDI_cdhlhrDLY6roV8IGI0YBRQjLIqmVhrnURnd9GTX0TOl_D2RgNa_UBtUAe4-cdQDIvQICdIDyyWdvu/s1600/oak+leaves.jpg" height="200" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rambling in a ancient wood full of Oak trees is a joy at any time of the year but especially Autumn. Each year we ramble with Pops in the New Forest. We delight in scrunching through the layers of gold and red leaves as we walk along the paths meandering though the tree. The path pass alongside the</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> russet hues of patches of bracken</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am enchanted by the the changing moods of the forest created by the weather and season. In Autumn on a sunny day it is lovely to be out in the fresh air. I enjoy inhaling the smell of damp mosses and the earthy scent of leaf litter. It is is very deep under the oaks as the soft leaves break down quickly in Autumn, creating habitats for stag beetles and other invertebrates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stag beetles are threatened species globally, but here in the South of England they are surviving well, and they flourish in the New Forest. When we have been walking in the forest on a sunny evening or early in the morning we have caught a brief glimpse of them flying past.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W9fZpxYSjUi5tAu6G5RQG1mFjuu2eGI2GuXMen5VvB5jVlKC4lNqkSBS_60C1daT_XxCvsuOD9DKCGh-f7mI2wRtIWBPgGCkRSo1nzrPvN0RkC0pP6pVlPpXnDEeF5jhtIotjIvwh_8v/s1600/MilkyCaps_tn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2W9fZpxYSjUi5tAu6G5RQG1mFjuu2eGI2GuXMen5VvB5jVlKC4lNqkSBS_60C1daT_XxCvsuOD9DKCGh-f7mI2wRtIWBPgGCkRSo1nzrPvN0RkC0pP6pVlPpXnDEeF5jhtIotjIvwh_8v/s1600/MilkyCaps_tn.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year
the mild and wet weather has provided the perfect conditions for fungi to
flourish. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In October r</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ambling</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in the New Forest we saw near an oak
tree a group oak cap and milk cap fungi as well as different fungi growing on
the trees branches in cracks and splits in the trees. Fungi are
one of the oldest organism on earth and thrive on the leaf litter of oaks
rotting wood and dead animals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always feel privileged to see roe deer, fallow or red deer in the forest
while wandering along the edges of the forest.
Roe deer tend to be solitary and will quickly disappear into the depths
of the forest when disturbed. Fallow deer stay together in groups they will draw away when they hear us, but then stop and watch us
rambling along. In mid October in certain places in New forest you can hear
rutting stags barking and perhaps the clash of horns as two stags fight for dominance
over a group of does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Autumn the
squirrels are busy collecting and hiding food for winter, you see them quite
often scurrying about on the ground and in the trees making the most of the
rich food of seeds and nuts on the forest floor. However they do not have them all to themselves,
badgers, deer, cattle and pony’s feast on them and they are joined by
commoners pigs which allowed to roam in the forest to gorging themselves on the
acorns, beech masts and chestnuts. The commoners have the right to turn
out pigs into the forest between 25th September and 22nd November each year </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pigs eat
huge quantities of acorns and that help to stop the pony and cattle
eating too many acorns, which can cause them to become ill and
sometimes die. I have heard pigs and boars in the forest but I am wary of
disturbing them while they are eating. Those guy are big and getting
bigger. All the acorns and nuts are just right for fattening the pigs up
for Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ssh don't
tell them that! Let them enjoy themselves for the time being!</span></blockquote>
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Until the 12th Century there were Bison roaming freely in the New Forest
They have recently been re-introduced but they are not allowed to roam free. I
am glad about that as the males are grumpy beast and can run at speeds of 35 mph.
Being Charged by a herd male bison is not on my wish list to
experience before I die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The open canopy of oak trees allows sunlight light to filter though to the
floor and it providing In Spring perfect conditions for bluebells and
primroses to grow but these are dormant now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWrHqIEuj2_QUKdHC-qan5FmHze6m_5XJzi9vQTVBUtt-oIbpGSnlgeVo68lIpsiaY6purv_hPuiGefxk2JKVKjmICSxnkxcB9_jeMTBy2XhuwCaawYzqVRM4pHHTHHwlilJBMxZw4DhI/s1600/Purple+Hairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWrHqIEuj2_QUKdHC-qan5FmHze6m_5XJzi9vQTVBUtt-oIbpGSnlgeVo68lIpsiaY6purv_hPuiGefxk2JKVKjmICSxnkxcB9_jeMTBy2XhuwCaawYzqVRM4pHHTHHwlilJBMxZw4DhI/s1600/Purple+Hairstreak.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A Purple Streak Butterfly</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sheltering in the oak are the pupa of purple streak butterflies, whose life cycle begins on the oak tree.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The oaks
holes and crevices in the oak bark are favorite nesting spots for the
pied flycatcher or marsh tit and woodpeckers whose old nest holes provide shelter for many creatures. 500 hundred different species
of insects have been found on a single oak tree. This food supply of insects encourages British bat
species to roost in the oaks and to fed on the rich supply of insects in the tree's canopy. They use old
woodpeckers holes or under loose bark for their roost.. It is easy to see if they are living in the tree because </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">below the roost are </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stains of droppings and urine. Oaks are alive with myriad
of creatures that live on it and in it. If you walk quietly and at times when the forest is not busy with walkers, or foresters you may be privileged</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to catch a fleeting glance into their lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wild
woods and forest is a wonderful place to ramble any season. I respect and admire all trees and love to be among Ancient and Veteran oaks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">..</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With Reiki blessing and gratitude to you and to the wild wood trees</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and all its living creatures</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Merryb</span></div>
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<u><i><b> A link to my Story: <a href="http://reikidruidsramblings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/gog-and-magog-tall-story.html"> Gog and Magog</a> -</b></i><i><b><a href="http://reikidruidsramblings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/gog-and-magog-tall-story.html"> the famous Glastonbury Oak</a>s</b></i></u><br />
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<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-57118724784048218552014-10-30T11:37:00.003+00:002014-10-30T21:04:11.775+00:00Spinning Pops' Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday night was a clear and dry as Pops I set off for our walk. We wander around tree lined streets and were heading home. Pops was relaxed and her tail was wagging as we ambled along.. Boom there was thunderous bang followed by a circle of blue stars shot up over our head. Another huge bangs followed and the night sky filled by green shards creating a huge a ball overhead. Yet more loud bangs rendered the peace of the evening. Pops was terrified, and laid prone on the ground panting. Above us there was a chattering of starlings whirling and circling blindly in the dark. They had been blasted out of their roost by explosion and garish light. Their safe haven was shattered that evening..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I managed to get Pops home. She crept along along crouching low to the ground, while every so often looking up at the sky fearful of more explosions . Down the street doors had opened some people where peering out of windows. A neighbour in that street must have called the police I heard the siren coming nearer as we went indoors</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next day I check on the internet for firework and found lot of category 4 & 5 fireworks to buy on-line. The description of one called The Big Ball, a category 4 firework, fitted exactly what I had seen. I could have bought one on the internet for £12.97. Category 4 fireworks under UK law can only be set off in by professionals. This firework was launched in an urban garden in a terraced street. Oh No!. I must not rant about fireworks as this a tale is about Pops dog. But....No get on the story MerryB!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSDAQ3uAyFmKrI8CYhtsVQWRioU5RMkQrc-tq_4GpoUq-E1Rwrh6kAzbSozUtH8RGYjHeLNW17pHuRm89FbvUtgrLQ7FmWQsO0z7bR_hL_lmWpMPtdtPErCZUFELqw2iyhNqBWUiPrNy8/s1600/Pops+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSDAQ3uAyFmKrI8CYhtsVQWRioU5RMkQrc-tq_4GpoUq-E1Rwrh6kAzbSozUtH8RGYjHeLNW17pHuRm89FbvUtgrLQ7FmWQsO0z7bR_hL_lmWpMPtdtPErCZUFELqw2iyhNqBWUiPrNy8/s1600/Pops+2.jpg" height="320" width="177" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Pops has been frightened next morning she wakes very anxious with her naughty button switched fully on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The mystery of the missing socks had to be solved.</span></b> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 pairs of socks had been drying on the airer but now there was only two odd socks there. Who could have taken them? Could it be?</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Yes,</b> as I suspected it was Pops! The evidence was clear. She was in the garden tossing an olive green sock and barking at it as flew up in the air. Outside, I found three other socks, one had caught on a branch of the rambling rose one was trailing in her water bowl, one half buried in the back bed, Other are still missing. I had no choice but to put on odd boot socks as we were going to the plot that morning. Oh sigh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way to the plot I was dropping off some books at my friends Sue house for the Animals Asia Charity. Pops bounced out of the door full of energy ad launched herself blindly into the road. I hung onto her lead and dragged her back onto pavement and sat her down, until I knew it was safe to cross the over. There was a look in her eyes that foretold she was ready to whirl and twirl her self into any mischief she could. I sighed.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The incident of puddling pee.</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This occurred, as I was poop scoping. I had put the two bags of books down by my feet. Pops was behind me as I scooped, I stood up and To my horror I saw a trickle of urine puddling round the bags. Oh Pops! I had to admit this was not entirely her fault she had peed behind me and the camber of the pavement made it run down and encircle the book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived Sues house without further incident but she invited us in for a cup of tea. I was wearing my allotment boots so I was a bit wary about stepping onto her white carpets and even more wary about Pops entering in her current mood. Sue was insistent we should come in . Before we went in I explained <b>The incident of the puddling pee</b> and the bags of books. Sue just accepted in the casual way of a true dog lover. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The whirling dervish and the bitten leg</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We sat in her conservatory which had a lovely pale pink Indian carpet on the floor. Pops decided to yap and whirl in circles trying to catch her tail. Pops' yap is ear piercing, I know she uses this method of annoying people when she wants to get her own way. Pops wanted to go to St James Green for a run and to the allotment. she did not want to stay at Sue's while I drunk tea and chatted! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vintage Izzy dog had been woken up by Pops yapping and came grumping into the room. She sloped under my chair to sleep again. Poppy pocked her nose under the chair and yapped at Izzy. Izzy startled awake snapped at Pops and sunk her teeth into my leg instead of Pops nose. I was by embarrassed Pops behaviour and Sue was mortified that Izzy had bitten me.Oh Pops! .</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chasing squirrels and woofing at helicopters and cats</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually Pops and I set off to the St James green, where she played with a very elegant and even tempered Saluki.. She and Pops played together a game called <b>hunt the squirre</b>l, they saw a squirrel and were off. The squirrel darted up the tree and jumped from one tree to another before it drop to the ground in a different place The two dogs circled round and round the first tree sniffing frantically as they search <span style="color: #7f4523; line-height: 115%;"> for it. The squirrel seemed to wait to
be spotted on the ground by the dogs. Who eventually saw it and ran
in pursuit. The squirrel promptly sprinted up into the tree'
canopy. The circling and sniffing would being again, and again, and
again....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were there for an hour before Pops always took herself off to the gate indicating that she wants to go immediately. So ever obedient I set off to the allotment with her bouncing along in front. Once she had her brunch, she woofed at the coastguard and navy helicopters flying to and fro from the harbour. Whirled and twirled as passing cats came into sight and yapped to to get someone to play with her. Eventually she laid down bathed in dappled sunlight under the cherry tree. I worked on the plot, for an hour before our lunch Afterwards she lazed again, until it was time to set off for home. Tail up she power walked home in a relaxed and happy mood. The naughty button switched off..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed The Spinning Pops' Tale</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">With Reiki golden light and blessings to you all</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Merry b</span></b></div>
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<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-17398430391279379742014-10-16T19:57:00.002+01:002014-10-21T19:47:26.410+01:00What Use Are Wasps?<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">L</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ast Friday was a day of sunshine and showers here in Hampshire,
fortunately while I was at the plot there was mostly sunshine. I enjoyed
being there with Pops, she was noisy at times because there where a number of
navy and military helicopters flying overhead, far more than usual.
However focusing on digging a bed ready to plant broad beans and sitting
with Pops for lunch I was happy. I harvested some vegetables, and cut the
last of the sunflowers, then Pops and I started for home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was walking through the allotments a
man came up to me and asked were plot 141 was I showed him on the map and asked
if he had been given that plot. His reply was:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No I am a pest control officer from the council we have had a
complaint, I have come to destroy a wasps nest." </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mood plummeted I felt saddened, there is too much casual destruction of wildlife with a puff or
a splash of chemicals. I asked him,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why? All the wasps in the nest
will be dead in couple of weeks when it gets colder."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his answer was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a complaint so we need to destroy
them. Anyway what use are wasps? they are not like Bees!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was stunned and tried tell him how useful
wasps are.. He was not listening and two plot holder there agreed
with him. One echoed the question “What use are
wasps?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt angry and worried for my girls, wasps, on my plot who have
never caused myself or my neighbours any problem. when the Queen left the nest and the last brood of new queens and drones flew away, I made the female workers a fruit pile semi
buried in the soil. Neighbours often
give me windfalls from their fruit trees to give to the girls.( See po<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">st </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><a href="http://reikidruidsramblings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/close-encounters-on-wildside.html" target="_blank">1st August 2014</a> )</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Willful and destruction of
wildlife at the allotments is carried out not just on wasps, some people
poison rat and, though illegal, foxes. On other plots
caterpillars, and insects stand no chance. These plot holders wage a chemical war on all creatures. Often putting out double or triple the amount of poison recommended
by manufacturers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have very few pests on my plot thanks to the wasps and lady birds, other predators and birds.. However, before I being rambling or rant back to the questions- What use are wasps?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bees, wasps and ants are among the most important animals on the planet and are essential for the health and survival of countless other species - ourselves included." </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> BWARS' patron George McGavin</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The usefulness of wasps is something people often wonder about. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Wasps play an important role as early pollinators in the UK,’</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">However, wasps eat caterpillars and aphids. Gardeners should welcome them with open arms!</span> <b><span style="line-height: 18px;">Matt Brierley,</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> RSPB</span></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We should celebrate wasps and all creatures if we wish to conserve our plant. If we believe in the importance of conservation of the living World, we must recognize that all creatures matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was taught to love the natural world by my parents. When I learnt Reiki one the Ideals was</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be grateful for all living creatures.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later I explored Druidry and deepened my connection to nature. the wheel of the year and to our planet - Mother Earth. I celebrate the World's diversity and care about conserving all living things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Chris Packham's answer to the question:"What are wasp for? " is:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My reply is, "What are you for?" I'm a great fan of wasps. I have a nest of them in my stables and they're very happy; I'm very happy with them, too.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also a fan of wasps, I feel privileged to have a nest on my plot. I remember as a child we had a wasps nest in the roses that grew over the front of the house I did not get stung. Now Bee stings! But that is a ramble for another time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki Blessing </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MerryB</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNF5ZHEqHS8i7CW1sSObRfu7ld5BKzDuzbqJh1tCmXUP0pu1UwwlvRmCi0jTD9iFzIHqK1T0LqH-4PGJsxFjelfOk8mXZhwl_uGT8qZPmzr70Qpj4KZohm6jcuvjQJ1-VIqBv4T1sCk-V/s1600/piedfly_tcm9-335638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNF5ZHEqHS8i7CW1sSObRfu7ld5BKzDuzbqJh1tCmXUP0pu1UwwlvRmCi0jTD9iFzIHqK1T0LqH-4PGJsxFjelfOk8mXZhwl_uGT8qZPmzr70Qpj4KZohm6jcuvjQJ1-VIqBv4T1sCk-V/s1600/piedfly_tcm9-335638.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pied Flycatcher's catch wasps<br />as do brave Dragon Flies</span></td></tr>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-51885978872770503562014-10-09T18:14:00.004+01:002014-10-21T19:49:44.654+01:00Autumn meditation<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">This morning it was a misty, chilly dawn, I could hear the fog horn of ships coming and going to and from Portsmouth Harbour. The spiders webs were fringed with dew drops and I had to put on a jumper before I went outside. Pops dog stayed in bed until the sun came out.</span><br />
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Now the sun has burnt through the mist and it is a beautiful sunny day. The seedlings in the green house have needed to be misted over again as they dried out since early this morning. It is a day to relish and enjoy being outdoors which is what we have been doing this afternoon. .I love to crunch through the fallen leaves and Pops plays and tumbles among them enjoying the scrunch of leaves beneath her feet.. The vintage trees in the park have leaves of of green, yellow, orange and copper brown. The autumn display is beautiful, however as I look at them I see how much we need rain the trees are so dry the leaves and branches hang listlessly. Autumn's colours may last longer this year, but that is not a good thing it brings the reality of climate change right to our doorsteps. In September, here in Hampshire, there has been only about an inch of rain altogether. The earth in my allotment and garden is dry and dusty. I love the sunny days but the trees need rain.</span><br />
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We are being eased into the Autumn by fine weather. At first there is equilibrium between day and night, Eventually the dark evenings will edge into afternoon.the weather will become rainy, cold, windy The last of the Summer flowers will be caught by the frost and blacken and die. The oaks, chestnuts, beech and silver birch will drop their last leaves. The seeds they dropped at the beginning of Autumn, will be covered in leaf litter, or wind. mice, squirrels or children will have spread the seeds far away from the parent tree ready to germinate next Spring. When the trees have prepared the fruit and leaf buds for the next year the sap will turn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">inwards and they become dormant. The bare outline of the trees will be will be seen stark against the Autumn sky</span><br />
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Now and then I catch a myself feeling,a hint a regret, because this lovely year's Summer and the Indian Summer we have been enjoying is coming to an end. As the wheel of the seasons circles round. Each season is special brings has its own purpose and delights. Autumn and Winter are dreaded by many people. The Dark nights are feared and associated with ghost ghouls, and even danger. But inside our homes we feel safe once the doors are closed and the windows shut and the curtains drawn.</span><br />
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My Celtic ancestors saw the darkness differently:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> "as a place inside us where we touch and experience our spiritual roots and was known as the Mysteries." (Glennie Kindred) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">I am blessed with a warm and cosy home, with those I love around me. I have books to read, I write and review my journals and practice Reiki and Mindfulness meditation. I love coming in after I have been outside on a cold wet day and relish the:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">:... cup of tea in my two hands.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">Mindfulness held perfectly </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">My mind ad body dwells</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">In the very here and now</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">Thich Nhat Hanh</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">I am outside a great deal in Winter as I garden, have an allotment and Pops dog to walk. Many times I look outside and want to stay warm and cosy indoors. . Autumn and Winter are important times in the garden preparing the earth for spring clearing and mulching beds for next years crops pruning or planting spring bulbs.</span><br />
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Once I am out doors I am at peace and well being.. one of my joys is planting spring bulbs . Each year I buy more bulbs for my allotment and garden and the wildlife area at the allotment. I love choosing the bulbs and taking them home ready to plant. When I go out to plant them I place each one carefully and mindfully. My mind is filled with imagining the beautiful flowers that will greet us Spring.</span><br />
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Planting them can be shared as well with loved ones. Children love doing being involved and the expression on their face when they see their bulbs flowering in Spring is wonderful. These hardy early bulbs will come to flower through whatever the weather throws at them snow, gales relentless rain. They brighten the coldest wettest darkest grey day in late winter early spring</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Mindful Meditation Planting Spring bulbs</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> Takes a Spring bulb and looks at it closely,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> the texture, The colour, is it firm or soft… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Imagine you can see
the person who grew this bulb.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">The person who packed
it, the people who transported it to the supplier<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The person who served
you at the store or the delivery person</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And be grateful to
these people. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And to the sun, rain
and earth that nurtured it </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">Pause for a moment
and examine your past year,</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> What have you learnt, what was good, what
things did not flourish?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">What is a project or
dream you want to achieve by next Spring?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> Place the bulb in the pot or into the earth </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">And cover it with soil <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;"> See the bulb growing under ground sending down
strong roots<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">To nourish it and
anchor it firmly</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">To begin the work of growing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">To allow the leaves and buds to push though the earth</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">to emerge safely into the light</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">Imagine yourself also
putting down essential roots </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">to grow your project into a reality next spring<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04;">(This can be done as a group meditation where each person in the circle reflects on the past year and tell the others of a project or dream they want to achieve by next Spring)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki's light and blessing to you all</span></div>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-10871324634830252262014-09-28T08:10:00.002+01:002014-10-30T15:13:16.649+00:00September's Bounty<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the month of September when all the intensity of the sun mellows and the activity of sowing and growing crops, and watering, become less hectic and there is time to reflect and enjoy the time spent at the plot harvesting apples, squashes, the last of the beans and tomatoes. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyVqvb6B4SQ9osRHlAOZ3Sr8eAeWuNhsMvBfko560K6dm_qGMTQn-xaRwjLYy2pIBKe0CwRV5HSoRWaPQZwaK5WLOayLA7d6mG9ReA-W6DA6Y3BjgrKUOCG42G9_IDVD59f0GPWj8g5Mm/s1600/September+2014+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyVqvb6B4SQ9osRHlAOZ3Sr8eAeWuNhsMvBfko560K6dm_qGMTQn-xaRwjLYy2pIBKe0CwRV5HSoRWaPQZwaK5WLOayLA7d6mG9ReA-W6DA6Y3BjgrKUOCG42G9_IDVD59f0GPWj8g5Mm/s1600/September+2014+033.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My golden hop has flowered for the first time. To begin with I thought it was a male plant but then the flowers grew and the back, sides and roof of my shed became smothered in golden flowers which I will harvest for garlands for the Winter Solstices and Christmas. Soon it will have to be cut down, I will heap manure on the root to feed it for its new growth in spring.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For now I just enjoy sitting with Pops dog and enjoying its abundance and beauty against the blue of the shed and sky on lovely September evenings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in September Pops and I went for a wander to a lovely Park full of mature trees some of which must now be a hundred years or more old, there is an yew with branches reaching to the ground and rooted into the soil to renew itself, There are Horse Chestnut trees that drop chestnuts for the children to collect and to play the games of conkers . In the early evening there are children chattering and whooping as they find them in the grass under the trees, even adults pick them up partly, I suspect, from nostalgia for childhood games of conker, but this is rationalized as being to deterring spiders from coming indoors. I also love to collect conkers, some to put into my winter bowls of potpourri, but also because of the sheer beauty of the gleaming brown fruits. Also to remind me of happy memories of collecting conkers as a child..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While walking Pops to the park we turned to the East and there before us was the Harvest full moon, which this year was a a Super Moon. It was hanging low in the sky as it orbits the earth. The Moon glowed golden in a blue sky and as the sunset it became flushed with pink. As usual my camera was in my rucksack at home so I did not get a picture of it. However, here is a picture of the Super moon over Blackheath by Mike Meynell. What a beautiful picture. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Equinox on the twenty third of September marked the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn and the drawing in of the days and the dark nights leading up to the Winter Solstice on the twenty first of December when the light begins to return. . Already I can feel an urgency growing in me to get jobs down at the allotment and in the garden before the bad weather comes and much shorter days set in. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Monday it is the feast of Michaelmas a Christian feast to celebrate Michael the Archangel and all the other Archangels. It is traditional seen as the day that God ordered Michael to throw Lucifer out of heaven. It is said that the devil fell into the middle of a blackberry thicket and</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his angry fiery breathe set them on fire. Lucifer surround by a ring of fire </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stamped on the blackberries and spat on them to quench the fire, or as the Celts say pissed on them to put out the fire.. That is why we shouldn't eat blackberries after that date. People say we do not eat them in October because the sun is not strong enough to ripen them and misty, dampness of autumn turns them mouldy. Some of us know the real reason!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michaelmas is associate with eating certain foods just as there is a Traditional Christmas foods, At one time Michaelmas was a great feast day and the traditional meal was goose, with potatoes and carrots, and Blackberry pie or dumplings. I will not be eating goose as I am a vegetarian. I have from my plot have some Picasso Potatoes and lovely rainbow carrots which I sowed at the end of July and are ready for harvesting now. I will will also cook some blackberries and James Grieve cooking apples and make some dumplings, These were also harvested from my allotment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In the last week Michaelmas daisies are beginning to flower on my plot</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and in my garden. They are actually an Aster first introduced into this country from America in 1633 by John Tradescant the Younger a 17th Century plant hunter and gardener. The plants became known as Michaelmas daisies because they bloom in late September at the time of the feast of Michaelmas. I love their with vibrant colors which flower just as other flowers are fading. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a long while they seemed to go out of fashion, perhaps because they suffered badly from mildew but new breeding techniques seems to have overcome that problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Anyway I could write more but it is time for Pops walk so I will stop and take her out. Look out for the full moon on the 8th of October it will be a blood moon. Those of you living in North America will get the best view of it but you will have to get up early to see it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">With </span></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reiki blessing to every one,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Yesterday morning there was a lovely dawn,the waning moon was slowly sinking on the horizon as th</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">e sun began to rise. The day turned out to a be happy day working in harmony with a group of people who all love nature and care about wildlife.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> I went to my plot and had planned out what I would do there. Weeding and watering were a priority but like all best laid plans I actually got very little done except the watering.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">My lack of progress on the plot was all because of a causal comment to Jenny on the Community Plot, Growing under a Hazel hedge on their plot was a pine tree which had seeded itself and grown to about three foot tall.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> I said</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">"Why don't you put that pine on the wild life area",</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">"Great idea we could do that." Jenny said.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I looked round and i was the only person there I guessed I was part of the we. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">"Michael could help". I said </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">"Good i</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">dea", she said</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;">She pottered off and return with Michael who was eager to help</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 20px;">So began the battle to get the pine sapling out from within the hazel hedge,. Michae, a giant of man plunged a long fork deep into the ground and levered it up all round the pine tree, </span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Michael worked the fork, while I, having fought may way into the hazel hedge</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> held it back so that he could see where to work After a lot of effort we realized it had grown through the membrane and this need to be cut before we could get the tree out. We also carefully scrabbled with our hands to get the tap roots out unbroken. Eventually it was free and we discovered there was not one tree but three small trees..</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />While the larger tree was soaking in my water butt we went to the wild life area and Michael dug a huge hole to accommodate the rootball, Chris got the compost and some manure from my plot and the tree was planted, watered and staked.<br /><br />The lovely thing about was this is that Michael's Mother is in hospital and he had been very upset and worried. He cannot speak very well so it is difficult for him to express his feelings The week before he came to the allotment on the Wednesday but had not done anything he just sat down, because he was so worried and sad about his mum illness. But yesterday digging out a Christmas tree appealed to him He want to help get the tree planted on the wild life area, which he loves working on. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">While he worked he told us he </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">want to show the Christmas tree to his mum when she was out of hospital. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">The tree has now been named <b>Michael's Mum's Christmas tree</b>. Michael wants to put a fairy on the top at Christmas time. Jenny has already penciled in a Christmas Party for the groups and I will help Michael make a fairy out of my willow twigs</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #274e13; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">.<br />Yesterday Michael left for home smiling and felt hopeful that his mum would come home from hospital soon,<br /><br />It was well worth spending the morning helping to move the beautiful young pine (pinus nigra) tree. It looks good on the wild life area, it has wonderful fragrance and will be a good habitat for birds and other critters there. Best of all planting it help Michael feel better.<br /><br />Just as we were clearing up on the wild life area the Hampshire Gardens lorry came in with wood chippings for the plot holders and logs for us. Beautiful piece of cordyline palm and holly which Jenny and I built into a new stumpery as a habitat for lizard, newts,beetles and<b> ....</b><br /><br />Eventually I got back to my plot and watered it, Had Lunch and then there was a cloud burst of torrential rain! Poppy and I went home and got very, very wet getting there.<br /><br />The community plot works with adults with learning difficulties, schools young carers, older carers and other groups.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">With Reiki Blessings to you all</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">MerryB</span></span></div>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-38330222900506568232014-08-01T06:39:00.002+01:002014-10-16T20:14:44.503+01:00Close encounters on the wildside<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Six-spotted Burnet</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Butterfly Conservation</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the fact that my allotment is filled with wildlife, I love the encounter I have while I am working or relaxing on my allotment. I saw a Six-spot Burnet moth on trefoil flowers in my wild flower patch. The hot weather has brought many many different moths and butterflies onto my plot/ I take great delight in seeing the flutter in out of my plants. I welcome the hungry caterpillars as well, despite the holes that appear in some of my plants.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I have been spending time taking part in the Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count*, Which focuses my attention on the detail of each each individual butterfly or moth so I can record my sightings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However I am still working on my beds and last week needed compost for the bed I want to grow my leeks over winter. I started to lift one of my compost bins only to be find, before I had moved it more than a few inches, I was surrounded by swarm of bumble bees. I managed to drop the bin back over the nest immediately and I stepped back and stood still. The worker flew around me and buzzed me some touching my face but did not sting me, when they were calmer I moved away slowly from that part of the plot. I hoped the queen would not decide to leave the nest but as the workers are still there I feel the disturbance disrupted them only briefly Before my attempt to move the bin I had not seen them coming or going, although I had seen numerous bumble bees on the comfrey which is growing along side that bin. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days later I lifted another bin and there were no mice, rats, only centipedes and millipedes I like to see these arthropods in my healthy compost, and I am a little in awe of centipedes as I remember seeing them in fossils, which my father told me where over 400 million years old.. In the bin there were large slugs with orange undersides and red wriggler worms in abundance, I always wonder where they emerge from. All these insects I transferred into my large compost bin which I had already emptied. They will help to start the composting process once more,.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I began to fork gently into the compost heap I discovered slow worms. I stopped loading my wheelbarrow and left half the compost. Most of the slow worms slid away under my water butt but I still left it alone so as not to create any more disturbance for them.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was another bin of compost that was ready to put on a bed I was making for florence fennel and for the globe artichokes plants which were ready to go out. This bin had a bottom opening, so I flipped it to warn any creatures living there that they were going to be disturbed. In seconds I found myself petrified with fright as worker wasps streamed out of the bin and surrounded me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Again I stepped backwards away from the bin and stayed still. Several wasps landed on my hands, several hovered inches away from my face buzzing very loudly. At i first thought how malevolently they were looking at me but when I stopped the story I was creating from my mind's fear and just looked I saw wasps had amazingly, complex and beautiful eyes and wonderful markings on their bodies</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My instinct was to run but I calmed my self with Reiki and stood still for what seemed an age until gradually the wasps moved back into the bin. The ones on my hands flew away without stinging me, Definitely it was time for a cup of tea and a cuddle from Pops dog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had no intention of destroying the wasps, but was uneasy about having a nest on my plot. When I thought about them I realized that I knew very little about their life cycle, except that they were predictors of aphids,caterpillars scavengers and also were excellent pollinators.. Most of what else I knew came from scary negative articles and tall stories about their aggression in late Summer and Autumn. There was also childhood memories of picnics in late summer with wasps wanting to eat and drink anything sweet and my mother putting a plate of food away from the table to keep them away from us.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got home I decided to find out more about them. The first sites I visited were all about destroying the nest there were shots of the amazing complex nests and other shots of the nest in segments showing the complex patterns inside the nest. I could not believe that in a black compost bin such an awe inspiring nest could be in it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I did not see any wasps entering the compost bin before I disturbed it I had seen small hover-flies going in the bottom of the bin. I believe these could be Vocucella zoaria The hornet hover-fly which lays its eggs in a wasp or hornets nest . The urban pollinators blog suggest that the females may come and go in the wasp nest because the female gives off a calming pheromone. Normally any intruder would be attacked if it tried to enter the nest.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At that moment in time the hive was active and its function was to provide for the larva and the future of the female worker wasps, the workers forage insects which they chew up and fed to the larva along with nectar. Then they drink the 'urine' from the larva to keep the nest clean. The 'urine' is sweet and gives the wasps energy to go off foraging again and again. The workers also feed and protect the solitary Queen. By July the Queen may have laid 2000 or more eggs. In late July and August the queen begins to lay male eggs and new queens' eggs. After this she leaves the nest and eventually dies in late autumn</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The worker continue feeding the male and queen larva until they too leave the nest. That is when the trouble starts, the worker bees have become addicted to the sugar. A fix that they got from the larva and search for new sources of sugar. This is the time we usually encounter them. I had no idea that I had a wasps nest on my plot until I disturbed them yet with the nest there may be 2000 or more wasps in it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the solitary queen leaves the nest and the last of the males and queens emerge and fly away the social structure of the nest breaks down. Not only have the workers lost their role they are also addicted to sugar and carbohydrates. So they go out looking for a sugar fix, they can become quite desperate and will fly around us as we eat outside looking not to attack us but for the sugar fix. Some of them will find it from fermenting fruit and then zig-zag drunkenly towards us.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother once she realized there were wasps around always place some sweet food, or a plate with a shallow solution of honey or jam </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the wasps</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> away from were we were sitting having a picnic and this seemed to work. She also used tea-tree, lavender, or citronella candles or oils as a deterrent. She had baking soda or aloe vera gel to hand in case of any of us should be stung. I cannot remember any one in our families ever being stung by a wasps but lots of bee stings. Once while I was a child a swarm of bees being moved by a bee-keeper escaped and landed on my face scary!..</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If we flap our arms and hands to shoo away a wasp it may feel threatened and respond by sending out a pheromone which lets other wasps from the nest know it is being attacked, Wasps are social animals and will respond to defend one of its group. If we swat them and kill them the brain of the wasp will still send out the same pheromone and more wasps will appear.. The Jam jar method of killing wasps will also attract more wasp in defense of the dying members of nest.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The female worker wasps are are only troublesome for a short while, because unlike honey bees, only the queens survive the winter all the workers and males die once the weather becomes colder. The queens will hibernate and in April will find a suitable place to build a new nest and begin the cycle all over again. Having wasps nest on my plot has benefited it. The wasps have been helping to pollinate my flowers, herbs and crops, eating predators and scavenging detritus.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My plot is a haven for wild life which are providing me with healthy soil to grow our cut flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. This week I found a pair of violet beetles living by day in the wood pile. I am not sure if it is these beetle are the ones I have seen flying past as I enter my plot early in the morning or if</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it is another type of ground beetle. The Tansy flowers are now a haven for red cardinal beetles and ladybirds. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Oh and there is the handsome fox club that visits my plot and which I see when I arrive at the plot in the early morning and the grass hoppers and err yes frogs... newts ...... all tales for another day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am grateful to all the creatures that live on or near my plot that keep it healthy and productive</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With gratitude for the wild life and bugs on my plot.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reiki blessings to you </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MaryB</span></div>
Websites<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">www.</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">butterfly</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">-</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">conservation</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">.</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #006621; line-height: 18px; white-space: nowrap;">org</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">http://www.buglife.org.uk/</span></h3>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-25692610806017059022014-07-10T19:11:00.003+01:002014-07-11T07:56:13.690+01:00Midsummer Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYVU_VGRwvA_a_yDT3JJJDR8VPiA9cjqoivD7-1HVnZK_B1nufB4-3l_k2MccjBjAoYjj5jLCH3_aoAn279OihvgK5vTfv6sfBYuw3TwolwYgJrSp-D0ga7aZ1oranYr12HOByxklnftO/s1600/garden+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYVU_VGRwvA_a_yDT3JJJDR8VPiA9cjqoivD7-1HVnZK_B1nufB4-3l_k2MccjBjAoYjj5jLCH3_aoAn279OihvgK5vTfv6sfBYuw3TwolwYgJrSp-D0ga7aZ1oranYr12HOByxklnftO/s1600/garden+020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">When the year get to Midsummer I find myself in a reflective mood, the Summer Solstice brings the the longest day and this marks the begin of the slow lengthening of the night and shortening of the day </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">until the Winter Solstice,when the cycle of year begins again and the light slowly returns.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">I love the light evening and often Pops and I go for late walks just wandering quietly, unless a fox or a cat crosses our path when Pops will lunge forward ready for a chase in which case I hang onto her lead and we fly along until the quarry has disappeared. then she goes into sniffer dog mode. As we walked last night we saw the moon rise in the East, It is nearly full, as I look at it I imagine the Moon Goddess Cerridwen</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> sending down silver rays of love and blessings from sky above. In the West the clouds were straggling across the blue sky colored pink by the setting sun.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">As we walk in the evening the air is full of the perfume of summer jasmine, honey suckle, plants that attract moths to </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">pollinate them, and we can see ethereal shapes flitting across our paths as moths are drawn fragrance of the plants. In my own garden the fragrance from night scented stocks evening primrose, honeysuckle buddleia and myrtle on warm night make it a delightful place to sit in the dark and watch the moths and reflect on 2014 and write my journal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMh1AwtGrN0hrF4MAq4-94tn-dlGLjTpVRHSxXI0U25l3zESwR29zfzucL3pSJT5mPrSREl0uCjD-QkE3VXLbtlJ5ngKd8K3ZDjr1BiaeleMq0vtMcMTQ2o1jwH43oOKVQPzVLpO4qFwm/s1600/garden+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMh1AwtGrN0hrF4MAq4-94tn-dlGLjTpVRHSxXI0U25l3zESwR29zfzucL3pSJT5mPrSREl0uCjD-QkE3VXLbtlJ5ngKd8K3ZDjr1BiaeleMq0vtMcMTQ2o1jwH43oOKVQPzVLpO4qFwm/s1600/garden+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #674ea7;">In the early morning the air in my garden full of fragrance from the shrubs and plants which draw into the garden bees butterflies, moths, hover flies and numerous insects to feed on the nectar or collect pollen The myrtle plant has just started flowering and will soon be filled with the buzzing of bees, some of which get quite dizzy on its heady nectar..The white Buddleia Davidii has tall arching branches and clusters of white flowers with yellow eyes. Its fragrance attracts ladybirds, lacewings and on a warm day and evening is full of interest and scent, it towers nearly twelve foot high and through it can be seen the summer jasmine full of flowers and the insects flit from one shrub to the next and onto the honeysuckle where bumble bees dive into the center of the flower and their "pollen buzz" vibrates the pollen loose and showers them with gold which they brush into their pollen sacks, sometimes they bite into the base of the flowers to drink the nectar and then zig zag off to another plant.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">On my plot the red clover is now finished flowering so are the poppies, borage, logan berry cransbils, but the cosmos flowers are nearly ready to open as are many others, the blackberry hedge is full of flowers, as is the dog rose hedge and the wild flower among the fruit bushes, but the rich easy food sources of late, spring and early summer have finished for the moment and insects have to fly further to find pollen and nectar. But soon there will be a flush of bee and insect friendly flowers opening. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">The herbs are beginning to flower, the buddliea-mint,the thyme in the fragrant lawn are full of flower buds, white, blue red magenta, the marjoram are sending up spikes of flowers, the hyssop, nasturtiums are flowering, and the tansy is sending up flower spikes which are loved by hover flies, lady birds but not the bees.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Somewhere on my desk must be the my to do lists for my plot but they do not seems to be so important now, the last vegetables of the summer season are ready to be planted and carrot seeds, beetroot seeds have been sown, The cold frame is filled wallflower, foxgloves, sweet williams, poppies, cornflowers all growing to be ready for planting in spring, in September more herbs and flowers will be sown to be planted out in 2015</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">For now, mowing the grass, watering and weeding are the main tasks of summer and of course harvesting the crops as they become ready. It is a time for friends to visit and share a picnic and while away a sunny evening. talking, reflecting and feeling gratitude for the all the living things that make our gardens and plots so fascinatingly interesting, bountiful and beautiful</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki golden light and gratitude For Mother Earth</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May the long time sun</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shine upon you</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All love surround you</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the pure light</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">within you</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Guide your way home.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rumi</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MerryB</span><br />
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<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-10762536179443462472014-05-23T17:34:00.003+01:002014-05-24T07:30:13.630+01:00No Rhubarb Crumble!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLsmRLRkJAMYmnVtw_uRFzZ3rEVouloZ9p5UEQzZQ4eVE3XwcPSSLF3vCx7FpCHjlyMnRDpd0ZXG7NjmlFtouFxd9r_1xUPIUdTTmbyQjWGxOrAB8cSJKtlsObBajYAGaV-4-eO_AsxyY/s1600/452rhubard+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLsmRLRkJAMYmnVtw_uRFzZ3rEVouloZ9p5UEQzZQ4eVE3XwcPSSLF3vCx7FpCHjlyMnRDpd0ZXG7NjmlFtouFxd9r_1xUPIUdTTmbyQjWGxOrAB8cSJKtlsObBajYAGaV-4-eO_AsxyY/s1600/452rhubard+flowers.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rhubarb flower by incredible edilble</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly I have report the demise of my rhubarbs at the beginning of May. They threw up lots of flowering spikes which I cut off and gave the plants a mulch of well rotted compost and manure but to no avail they were dying. When I started to dig them up the roots had gone to mush and there was no hope of their recovery.The crowns have served us well over several year. The original two plants were divided into four and had flourished for three or four years This year there will be no rhubarb crumble made from our own plant on the plot. This is sad because one of the joys of May, for me, is to pick and cook fresh rhubarb.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However the good weather over the past few weeks, has helped me to get on with my <i>"to do list"</i> for my plot. There is a new urgency now to prepare beds as the french beans, sweetcorn and squashes have all germinated in my greenhouse and will need planting at the beginning of June. I have plants ready to go into my cut flower bed and I need to sow leeks for transplanting in their final position in August and still the <i>"to do list"</i> goes on and on and on.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a start by digging a bed which had been flooded for several weeks in late winter. It has a lot of weeds growing in it, a wonderful crop of plantain, grasses and other weeds. I say digging but actually I have been using a garden fork which is gentler on the ecology of the soil and all the creatures living in it, which enhance the quality of the earth and benefit the plants.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to empty the large wooden compost bin which has been cooking grass and tough plant stems for three years. Hopefully there will be some good compost to layer onto bed 2 where I am going to plant the squashes and courgettes. I will sieve the compost before I put in on the bed and add some well rotted manure into the mix then add more compost for the young plants to be planted in. I am toying with the idea of getting a straw bale and putting that down first to make a real hot bed. But as for now I am digging the to remove the weeds. Luckily it was dug over at the end of December last year so the grass and weeds are not rooted in too deep.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only problem about emptying the large bin is disturbing all the creatures that have made it their home. For many years I have had bumble bee nests on the plot, sometimes in the one of the compost bins, I think my plot being flooded this year meant the queens steered clear of my plot. I have lizards and slow worms on my plot if they are there in the bin. I will leave the compost until September and go to plan B whatever that is! Slow worms are so vulnerable to us humans at the allotment strimmers cause harm to them, lizards and hedgehogs.. I found a slow worm on one of the allotment paths it looked as if a car had run over it but it was still alive. I picked it up with a handkerchief and moved out of the way. It shed its tail which fortunately was were it was injured. Many people do not realize that if you pick up a slow worm with bare hands the warmth of our hands can burn them as they are a cold blooded creature.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mmm maybe I will build<br /> a chamomile bench next.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My fragrant lawn is developing I have another tray of chamomile Treneague growing which I will take to the plot</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this weekend if it eventually stops raining. I have put in some chamomile lawn plants in already and they are growing well. By July the plants, I hope, will have merged together to make a fragrant space out side my shed. In the middle of which Pops dog has decided that the red clover plants will make a wonder bed for her under the shade of the apple tree. Oh sigh, I have another half tray of penny royal mint plants to add to</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the lawn they will grow under the apple tree as the prefer a shady position Maybe Pops will like them as an alternative bed! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been awful few days as far as the weather goes here in Hampshire, gloomy grey skies, blustery, chilly winds and heavy rain but hey the sun is breaking through now. I going to take Pops dog for a long walk through the park and maybe down to the beach. So I will wish everyone sunny days and good gardening.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki blessing to you</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MerryB</span></div>
<br />Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-33946879660963459922014-05-11T19:52:00.003+01:002014-05-12T18:58:36.222+01:00It cannot be May already!<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I go to my plot regularly and yet when I look round there seems to be so much to be done. Sometimes I feel I will never get all my beds ready for planting.I have to remind myself how much I have achieved since the beds became workable at the end of March. So this is a reminder to me not to get down about how much is still to be done.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I am down I make myself stand and look at all the plants that are growing now. So here is a snapshot of my plot as it was when I left it yesterday afternoon. My beds are numbered by me one to nine plus two Herb beds. The herb beds are flourishing, the lovage, angelic, tansy and my logan berry are in the bed alongside the shed and they are growing exuberantly and just about accommodate each others growth. I call this my thugs bed there is a cransbill on the edge of it., a lemon balm, and a bears birches not quite submerged under the competition. The bed by the gate is also growing well, filled with white and blue borage, cotton lavender, thymus, pineapple mint and Sage which is just ready to flower. That bed is full of colour and looks beautiful. </span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been given a banana tree which I will plant along side I will put a bentwood trellis behind it to act as wind break.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my trees are growing and full of fruit buds, as are the fruit bushes and all the cutting I took from them last year are growing and will be fruit themselves in a couple of years. However the grass is growing back despite being cleared twice from the beds. The garlic beds are doing well, even after being under water in February and March. My golden hop cut down at the end of September is growing well, with the blobs of blue which dripped on it. when I was painting my shed last week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shed being painted is another tick off my very large list of jobs to do. I cleared behind the shed, gave the inside a spring clean as well and cleaned and sharpened my tools last week. So more ticks for jobs done.. In front of the shed I am growing, I hope, a fragrant lawn. Yesterday I planted Chamomile nobile, a compact marjoram, Thyme Minimus, creeping Penny Royal, Acorn Marjoram. I also planted a Lavender Munstead which is an old fashioned lavender very hardy and does well in coastal areas. It has lovely violet blue flowers in summer. Eventually it will grow to 60 cm. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poppy dog has already tried out the plants for toughness when walked on sat on or laid on. She was a upset as she got hit by my broom which was propped against the shed and was blown across to where she was sitting by a huge gust of wind. She came to tell me enough was enough and she wanted to go home. The final straw was it began to rain and she plonked herself on the new plants and laid down/ I did not like to move her as she looked so fed up, but eventually she got up to collect a treat and the plants were fine. Phew.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have planted two lots of sweet peas Snopea a low growing self sporting plant, and Fragrant Mix, a bed of potatoes Duke of York and Anna, one bed of of chard and spinach, a new bed broad beans. The pigeons ate the ones I planted in November! I have put in new strawberries, the older plants are still in another bed because it too wet to grub them out and I decided to move them after they have fruited.. They are flowering valiantly despite.the grass that invaded the bed while it was flooded. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put tall willow hoops in front of the dog rose hedge to give the roses some support and all but one survived the gales, replacing that hoop is another job on my to do list. I have made an arch at the entrance to the plot which is looking wonderful. My plan is make a willow arch between beds 6 & 7 to grow the beans up. I made one last year which worked quite well but by August needed to be supported by bamboo canes. I am hoping that with the aid of Jim Longs book about using bentwood in the garden the new arch will be tough enough to bear the weight of the beans without aid from Bamboo. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I survey what I have done since March it quite a lot but two beds are full of grass and I need to hoe and weed the beds that are already planted.. Brambles from my neighbors plot and bind weed are creeping through into bed 8 & 9 and I know I need to deal with them soon. I am determined to try to eradicate it from these beds by the end of May as I have globe artichokes growing in the greenhouse. they will need to go in the ground in June. Oh sigh it makes me feel despondent to think about it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another area of concern is that the brambles I was trying to grow neatly along the edge of my plot decide urban order was not for them and they are thicken up ready to grow into a bramble hedge once again. I have decided it will be good to have a willow patch so far down the edge and then a lovely thick hedge of brambles along the rest. I will put in stakes and use rope to mark where I need to stop them growing beyond as it is on the edge of a disabled path. Hopefully it will not fall foul of yet another Health and Safety worry from a concerned busybody. the hedge which had grown for there for twenty years or more was grubbed out by the council because someone had reported a Health and Safety issue .it was well kept and was always cut back from the path, but Hey Ho a superb hedge and wild life habitat had to go!. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsjxZZRM3ChHEySSJWK3MXtZDOcodbDE226llwV0IYKaGANNR4Bwjvigg8y8vL4jrS2eQslTqws1Dw4B9O42RQNjNj3UkmRq64O-_BQ_N4z4tkZSlqP3nJjn1H0ekPRyvtACxvGgwdr7p/s1600/2+farm+Terrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsjxZZRM3ChHEySSJWK3MXtZDOcodbDE226llwV0IYKaGANNR4Bwjvigg8y8vL4jrS2eQslTqws1Dw4B9O42RQNjNj3UkmRq64O-_BQ_N4z4tkZSlqP3nJjn1H0ekPRyvtACxvGgwdr7p/s1600/2+farm+Terrace.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the well established allotments<br />
At Farm Terrace Watford<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/SaveFarmTerrace" target="_blank">Save Farm Terrace</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh I am moaning again I must think positively and believe soon all the beds my plot will be be growing vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs and the to do list will be complete, that is until I start another one .My plot is very peaceful and I feel privileged and grateful to have it. When I read about Farm Terrace's battle with Watford Council to keep their Allotments I realize how lucky we are in Portsmouth. But the developers have become Kings under the new planning laws the Government have introduced and all our allotments could be up for land grabs.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki blessings</span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and happy gardening </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy3_r1dZla0HBtMh2Khkfr34IMLG4ndbBUfja9RV9vXptsdFHOW05q4jiwO42poaJJS05F-yU1evyA9ant2ANwLj11vBgvZYxqwnYZS5TqmieWHvGkfAhh4DJKuh5pc2-GGS6EUZvOHEo/s1600/Plot+digging+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy3_r1dZla0HBtMh2Khkfr34IMLG4ndbBUfja9RV9vXptsdFHOW05q4jiwO42poaJJS05F-yU1evyA9ant2ANwLj11vBgvZYxqwnYZS5TqmieWHvGkfAhh4DJKuh5pc2-GGS6EUZvOHEo/s1600/Plot+digging+038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first flower on the Masquerade rose 2014,<br />
The rose bush is 20 years old or more</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"> .</span>Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-25470697795063970732014-03-18T10:01:00.002+00:002014-03-19T20:02:45.511+00:00Time To Start Digging My 'No Dig Beds'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #606060; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s time to Get
Digging. Normally I take a ’no dig' approach to the beds on my plot. I put
a dressing of manure and compost on the top soil in the Autumn and then sit
back and let the worms and frost do the work.
But this year, here in Hampshire, we have had almost no frost - at least not yet! My soil after all the rain became water
logged and is hard and compacted and frost and
ice crystals have not broken up the soil texture. Then the worms have
not been at their usual task of drag
down the compost and manure which usually disappears over winter. So it is time to get out the fork, spade and plank to stand on and start digging.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQXKgMNh4uxEMLOGLJop0RfxXTL6C3GLCjfwLIckrpSd-nmOlNYfCX6AggQCBMVZthVPKqcHu8sP7fR42808MvP_b-SbbdIQevvnL3ak-_M5sJQMKmS176NL4mwBxmLg9ySFac1UG3H-0/s1600/seaweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #d9ead3; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQXKgMNh4uxEMLOGLJop0RfxXTL6C3GLCjfwLIckrpSd-nmOlNYfCX6AggQCBMVZthVPKqcHu8sP7fR42808MvP_b-SbbdIQevvnL3ak-_M5sJQMKmS176NL4mwBxmLg9ySFac1UG3H-0/s1600/seaweed.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">lovely photo ofLangstone Harbour</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Emsworth Wildlife Society</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #606060; line-height: 115%;">I do not have to dig to deeply and I will be adding some seaweed to the soil. There are banks ofseaweed on the mud flats around Langstone Harbour but</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">it is designated a site of special scientific
interest or a special area of conservation and therefore should not be collect for the allotment. I use liquid seaweed extract and calcified Sea weed, from a sustainable source. Calcified Seaweed is a good soil improver, especially after such a wet winter. It can also be used instead of lime, it provides a useful source of </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">potassium</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">, magnesium and trace elements which may by missing from some popular </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">fertilizers.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">e. These trace elements are important for healthy growth .During the growing period I </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">use</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">liquid</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> seaweed extract as a foliar feed on </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">vegetable</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> plants and flowers.. It give a real boast to the cosmos plants after they have been flowering for a while and they flourish afterwards and flower </span><span style="line-height: 13.033332824707031px;">profusely</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> until the Autumn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13pt;">While I have been waiting for the soil to dry out enough to work on, I have made an arch to one of the entrances to my plot and moved my Tansy and a hyssop to new growing sites. One advantage of wet soil is that these deep rooted herbs came out of the ground easily. I have created a willow cage over the the Lovage as</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13pt;"> it</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 13pt;"> is near a path and it is easy to step on the growing crown. I made one also for the Bears Breaches plant (Acantheae) which I have grown from </span><span style="line-height: 17.33333396911621px;">seed</span><span style="line-height: 13pt;">. Again it is near the edge of a path and after three years waiting for it to flower I would hate it to be crushed through a carelessly placed boot. Here is a picture of what it should look like this summer. If it does flower I will have a great sense of satisfaction of having grown it from seed but perhaps getting a root division would have been quicker and easier. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past weekend was lovely and I enjoyed being at my plot pottering around the edges of the bed doing the jobs I could do. Maybe this week I will be even be able to cut the grass and dig some - a bed ready to plant my early Potatoes,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13pt;">!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>With Reiki blessings</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>MerryB </b></span><br />
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-86104871538036721732014-02-19T16:56:00.002+00:002014-02-20T06:03:05.539+00:00Working on A Paddy Field<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My plot is more like a paddy field than an allotment. There is about four inches of water on most beds. The fruit trees on my plot all survived the gales, the crab apple even had some tiny bunches of apples still on it. I had left these on for the birds but I think the wind and rain made it difficult for the birds to eat them. Usually they are eaten by February. My shed is still standing but it needs painting as the wind and rain has worn away the protective coating on the wood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw a couple of Queen Bumble bees out on Sunday I was pleased to see them but they were having to work hard to find food. I am not going to empty the compost bins to raise the level of my beds yet as there will be creatures and insects sheltering in them. The wild life must have been devastated and I was wonder how my lovely big worm will have survived. However,worms obtain their oxygen through their moist skin and do this through the air, but as water is H<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span>O they can get oxygen just as well from water. So they should be OK in the flooded beds</span><br />
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Kevin Butt from Lancaster University explain in a interview on the Naked Scientist Website:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people
think that if a worm is buried and gets flooded, then they would seek to
escape. But they don't need to because they can get
the oxygen they need from the water. However, quite often we see
earthworms on the soil surface or on pavements seemingly trying to escape from
inundation of water. Perhaps, it's not that, maybe it's
something slightly different - that the animals are actually trying to make use
of the moist conditions in order to move away from their burrows, if you like,
to pastures new so that they can mate with individuals that are not closely
related to themselves. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I can relax and stop worrying about the earthworms on my plot now it is flooded. They will survive! I will also let them wander to pastures new if the urge takes them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I intend to work on projects that I can complete round the edges of my plot, building and arch over one of the entrances to my plot. Putting in 5 foot stakes and supporting wires for my loganberry which is growing and growing. I planted it February last year and it is looking healthy and ready to crop well this year. I am also finishing my willow hoop fence which will support and frame my dog rose hedge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My potatoes are now chitting in egg boxes in the dinning room ready to plant next month when the soil has warmed up and dried out. What I may do is sandwich them between compost and then put a further mulch of well rotted manure 5/10 cm - 2 to four inches on top. This a method Charles Dowding recommended in his book Organic Gardening:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This gives a higher yield and results in fewer slugs and keeps the tubers white.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received a packet of annual flowers as gift last year and I sowed them in late September, I have 50 or more plants now and do not know quite what to do with them, they have grown really well, but I now need the space for sowing vegetables, herbs and flowers. They are now out ot the greenhouse, with fleece ready to cover them in case of frost. I have heartease, and white campions plants ready to go out but even in my garden the soil is too wet and very cold. So they will have to be nursed along for a while yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is plenty to do at my plot and in my garden but grey days do not inspire me to go out for too long. However, Spring is here my daffodils, violets, crocus and snowdrops tell me, and sunny warm days will return.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">With Reiki's golden light and blessings</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Merry B</span></div>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-40428013922507637492014-02-07T18:02:00.002+00:002014-02-08T17:50:34.028+00:00Weaving Willow on my plot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYhZmDWcb4TdAJGk5EB2AzqZglNOlgdI8M4DdLsRi6FYHyxQDW1_16XXe9UDmRKppBp5VwAmQBarluB5zCa-TsvbXIKikeCL8Y-Hfmu1-yldV1QOvFVM1_GllCVOKuS7Pyj8wMxkWlRBq/s1600/H60SCG01_3+Rhs+willow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYhZmDWcb4TdAJGk5EB2AzqZglNOlgdI8M4DdLsRi6FYHyxQDW1_16XXe9UDmRKppBp5VwAmQBarluB5zCa-TsvbXIKikeCL8Y-Hfmu1-yldV1QOvFVM1_GllCVOKuS7Pyj8wMxkWlRBq/s1600/H60SCG01_3+Rhs+willow.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a>I hated fences and barriers around my plot, but, last April faced with two industrial sized poly tunnels alongside my plot I have been thinking of ways to screen their hulking ugliness from my view. Last March I planted a hedge of dog roses along 4 meters on one side, and created a new seating,& potting area on the side of my shed, where I could glimpse part of the expanse of the allotments, I was given a roll of blue netting and so fenced off my top bed .. I hated it but, hey ho, if I was ever to get anything growing that season I had to put up with it. <br />
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I made a lovely willow arch at the entrance to my plot, but unfortunately when I cut my willows it was just before we had snow in Hampshire which lasted several weeks and the willows lost their flexibility, This year, having learnt a lesson, I am cutting the willows as I need them for a structure. I have started a willow hooped fence in the edge of one side of the plot to support the dog roses. The hoops are six feet high and they will frame the dog roses as well as support them. When the rain abates I will weave a wattle band across the top and bottom of the hoops to strengthen them and may be create a design for the center of each hoops also from willow. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGWsecD98geBqpXIRNGAoKVHEWXM44HQvM2D9R4eJ9oJBI-GupdFfdPtGNZgTGVyMSvO8JWpuIiU_NGVvPxCqzcWu_iNU4VlpFguJXP4-Gy3R2q10KUI3fCzkHjneiCttas4puvpKNFhH/s1600/Bentwood+Cover+lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGWsecD98geBqpXIRNGAoKVHEWXM44HQvM2D9R4eJ9oJBI-GupdFfdPtGNZgTGVyMSvO8JWpuIiU_NGVvPxCqzcWu_iNU4VlpFguJXP4-Gy3R2q10KUI3fCzkHjneiCttas4puvpKNFhH/s1600/Bentwood+Cover+lr.jpg" height="320" width="281" /></a>My Christmas "book stocking" contained Jim Long's book about making trellises gates and fences from bentwood, A great book with easy directions on how to make different structures. It is a books that has inspired me to be more adventurous about how I use my willows and other wood. I will be raiding my dead hedge for gate posts and bracing struts for my new Arch When the rain and gales eventually fade away in Southern England I will be making a gate, trellises, and an arbor for growing sweet peas and climbing beans. I made one last year which worked well but as the willow was brittle it had to be supported in places by bamboo as it sagged under the weight of the beans. This year I will use side braces and cross struts then it should last for three or more years. Oh that sounded almost professional! I hope to start work on the arbor in the next few weeks once the soil is a lot less soggy than it is at the moment and I wont sink ankle deep into mud. In the meantime I I will work on the the fences and the gate. </div>
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Other jobs I will get on with over the next few weeks is putting in new post and wire for my loganberry and post and wires for the grape vine. I grew this from a cutting and it is now big enough to be set in its position by my shed, yet.another screen for my plot, this time around my sitting area. </div>
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I am becoming a recluse? Err yes it seems so. Being shut off from other plots by the community plots' second ugly Poly tunnel was awful . However it is also means that I can quietly grow my herbs trees, flowers and vegetables in my own style, and nurture the birds bees, butterflies, insects and amphibian in peace. I am creating a lovely haven but also social spaces to share, with friends, and drink Rooibos tea blended with fresh picked herbs. Sunny days for Pops dog and I to look forward to in my retreat by the sea - soon I hope!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With Reiki Blessings</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">MerryB</span></div>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-76342916705486555462013-12-01T13:56:00.000+00:002013-12-01T13:58:41.178+00:00Marjorom - or is It Organeo?N<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ew blog has been published on:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://reikidruidsramblingsherbal.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Reiki Druid's Herbal</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A ramble through attributes of the herb Marjoram, how to grow and use in the kitchen and in healing. Two lovely Potato recipes are included.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Best Wishes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MerryB</span></div>
Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-84622777415938867662013-11-02T13:06:00.003+00:002013-11-02T13:07:37.140+00:00Dog roses and my Healing Garden I am have started two more blogs to make my sites a little less rambling (if possible. ) I have written a new blog and posted on this site<a href="http://reikidruidsramblingsherbal.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Reiki Druids Herbal.</a> Hope you enjoy a ramble through the post<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">With Reiki Blessings</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MerryB</span></b></div>
Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-25626687197209837512013-08-28T10:54:00.004+01:002013-10-25T10:38:31.755+01:00 A Tussle With Bind Weed.<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eW_-Fm5xSIWapgnhU29rudfOPwz4_LGHIVk2nQIFgLL_ynWP22UHxSgTzQDsOsRkpwsgI3Cwm0DVOOYzugLiUf92ir5fKQ3XPRsoUWjvhddw7wIbzOeLnu9NoX_omLAvU5n1EmCfjuob/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eW_-Fm5xSIWapgnhU29rudfOPwz4_LGHIVk2nQIFgLL_ynWP22UHxSgTzQDsOsRkpwsgI3Cwm0DVOOYzugLiUf92ir5fKQ3XPRsoUWjvhddw7wIbzOeLnu9NoX_omLAvU5n1EmCfjuob/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The neighbour behind me at the allotment neglects her plot and does nothing to deal with the bind weed that is over taking her plot. No that is not true she strims it!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I have dug, and feed my back bed the bind weed comes through to my side as it finds it easier rather than struggling through grass. Most of the back bed is covered with weed suppressant fabric. But undeterred the bind weed creeps over the fence or under the fabric and emerges into the light. I try to be philosophical about it, but every now and again I flip out and s</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wear and mutter about bad neighbours. This happened recently when I found that my crab apple tree was covered in bind weed which had thread it self tightly round branches and the trunk again. as you can see in the picture I had cleared it twice the previous month and once already in August. I was hopping mad I threatened the bind weed with a horrible end. I even contemplating getting a </span></span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">g</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">lyphosate weed killer but many of these de-nature the soil and kill off beneficial insects My plot is home to numerous bugs as my anger fell I decided digging it and hoeing will be my solution and I will get an 18 inch metal barrier between my plot and theirs. I will raise the fence to five foot either with netting or willow screening so if anyone sprays the plot behind it will help prevent the weed killer drifting over my plot and onto my crab apple tree.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQKTx-njn0U3NzeHFYvJ9e2MeQUQVjThlcRc-1uFho3O-1w30qI9zA1fE8d1hxUDvnOklA9sN-bY0-yTc8cCMpR4kv-1XfBFTT_HUq7BeExTKMgwm6IlyhDLKzvPKt64g3CCdB6n80m5b/s1600/crabapples+red+sential.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQKTx-njn0U3NzeHFYvJ9e2MeQUQVjThlcRc-1uFho3O-1w30qI9zA1fE8d1hxUDvnOklA9sN-bY0-yTc8cCMpR4kv-1XfBFTT_HUq7BeExTKMgwm6IlyhDLKzvPKt64g3CCdB6n80m5b/s1600/crabapples+red+sential.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; line-height: 21px;">My neighbours also have rampant blackberries which have also thrust themselves between the branches of the crabapple and sneak under the fence. and grass - Oh sigh! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> I love my young crab apple the spring blossom is beautiful and the as the fruit does not ripen until December the red apples glisten in the winter sun like Christmas baubles. I share my crab apples between the wild life and myself. Last year it was such a poor year for the birds I left all the crab apples for them.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFmHJzHqtfAd2bTGhqxBRsh-pKu8ZuEkGB7ngbe5XD9Q8RjfL_ZqECPd6uzL4_hyYqPSA9bma6UKFtnBr6aRXquHObaLJxPPzxK2R9S4N9s8YSDgolrvsd4AgUiU-B1djdNSqzazxgcr/s1600/the-little-engine-that-could--300x246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGFmHJzHqtfAd2bTGhqxBRsh-pKu8ZuEkGB7ngbe5XD9Q8RjfL_ZqECPd6uzL4_hyYqPSA9bma6UKFtnBr6aRXquHObaLJxPPzxK2R9S4N9s8YSDgolrvsd4AgUiU-B1djdNSqzazxgcr/s200/the-little-engine-that-could--300x246.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did think about moving my crab apple tree but it is established now and growing really well despite the bind weed, grass and brambles that invade its space. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is hard work ahead but </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">I will eliminate the bind weed by constant hoeing and digging. I will be chanting as Thomas the Tank engine did</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"> as he climbed the big hill: </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; line-height: 21px;">I think I can, I know I can </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defeat is not an option!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reik Blessings and Light</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Merryb</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>P.S. I will be writing a blog soon about the crab apple - myths, magic, and its place in the Ogham calender. </b></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-77549132170634453752013-07-30T19:12:00.000+01:002013-07-31T18:19:47.281+01:00Mint glorious Mints<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next year in my garden and in my allotment I intend to grow more mint plants , I hope to grow Corsican mint and Penny Royal as part of a"no grass lawn" outside my shed. I am going to divide the area into boxes about the size of a seed tray and growa mixture of mints, thyme, bellis, German chamomile, clover, and other low growing tough plants the area will only be three foot wide and six foot long.and should be able to be walked on and for Pops dog to lie on but digging is banned!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SjJR4wkP3MX2nbYEcruIsMoKJVxlHO1jne4FacvtJr9WskqpWBKiElm9imZ76P-yX7sice0fjF1MSFHbgqvX3Dpz6Czi_Ip9g5j_ok6gnjSk6OUBZ41AFhFkeXODqvUvnyaIpLpoOwDq/s1600/catmint_six_hills_giant__04934.1363604654.1280.1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SjJR4wkP3MX2nbYEcruIsMoKJVxlHO1jne4FacvtJr9WskqpWBKiElm9imZ76P-yX7sice0fjF1MSFHbgqvX3Dpz6Czi_Ip9g5j_ok6gnjSk6OUBZ41AFhFkeXODqvUvnyaIpLpoOwDq/s200/catmint_six_hills_giant__04934.1363604654.1280.1280.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am growing some of the plants in seed trays including penny royal..but other mints I will buy as plugs as most of the them are difficult to grow from seeds. I do grow cat mint and have visions of a beautiful border along my herb bed of this blue flowered mint. This has been a dream ever since I saw a clip of Pam Aryes sitting in her garden on a beautiful summers day along side a border of Nepeta in full flower.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find Cat mint grow well from seed and I have enough to grow a border around my herbs beds in the garden. and bowls for the cats, It grows well through April, May into June it reaches perfection tall, flower buds forming and that is when Ray cat nibbles and bends it and rubs his head along it and rolls in it. Then Pop dog who has ignored it previously discovers it and eats it and snuggles down on top of it and I am left with stalks. Oh sigh, I grow it for them but I can dream! I have not grown it at the allotment as I do like the idea of the numerous cats or foxes rolling in ecstasy on my herb bed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also going to grow more varieties of mint, I use so much mint in cooking, salads and teas and want to increase the amount and types I grow. My black peppermint no longer looks lush and flourishing but a tiny plant with small leaves, as I have picked it so often for tea. The spearmint is also a frail shadow of it self and certainly has not become invasive. These two are my favourite mint plants and are used almost daily for tea, in cooking or salads, and with fruit. I have never found mint invasive as I pick it regularly and only reluctantly stop picking the leaves when the plants needs time to renew itself</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new mint I am going grow next year is Moroccan Mint. It is one of the best spearmints and mixed with green rooibos tea is a lovely hot infusion or iced drink. A small amount of fresh peppermint adds a lovely zing to the tea. It also goes well with Chinese green teas such as the famous Gunpowder Green Tea which<b> All about Tea</b> mix into their blend of Tuareg Mint Tea this is really delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mints is used as herbal remedy for::stomach aches, headaches, stress and anxiety. It can also be used to soothe insect bites<span style="line-height: 12px;"> .It is a fragrant and beautiful garden plant</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">Buddleia Mint Norfolk Herbs</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">Chocolate mint Norfolk Herbs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway time for tea, I think fresh mint and green Rooibos tea.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With Reiki blessings and light</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Merryb</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsuDcUZa7Vyl7VulVjp5yszQisXm3fwkBwJST8Q2-MsNSzti_qLjg3FVN__o0Umw8zzpVe_LXJFKGaCy96xex8ftjY0IHoTeGgXMSA69_JN71PE-sooXEOac6xI2FqTma1HtlfMc1cgJL/s1600/Mint_Chocolate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X28kNEyXI_I9sGM9p8mTEAznqmuDG5YlOFxeo66xD6myF6UZ5oa3HeY8OsG49ik1HXHb5j6XHdkl-WwF5AGCBmplC75YnqeP9DjxDNd-0QBw3oFgeI6akDeU526Qq2hO1RS0_UQdySDF/s1600/Mint_Buddleia1+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oBUXGHqqV4P6gQsLydsw90pePg96_B3_hENyZJLL5BIWVMB9ZQTe8IoXOg6BLda-nSbvJqv2bKUFM_VnObFeIX-w_joM9_BqUPXxADWzaWCM2t0DZxd8DpSRyASvfO9ByBNMxGQJQBhh/s1600/mint_julep.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a>Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589941961335470964.post-73906062216499179692013-07-29T16:13:00.003+01:002013-08-02T10:09:46.303+01:00Donner and Blitzen and Pops<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9wa5azBkXqW6ecuVhnZXbb1zzqEC9fZSSqyqsBtcKdDNqhyphenhyphenM9hRhJHOdRG_um4DDxPmeuNkIb8_6sWQyKJr3wY6bzwHJjVxHPSoJFaSUqcZQbC8siHgNf6K-idq29zK2vYMqzcryy0Kw/s1600/Pops+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9wa5azBkXqW6ecuVhnZXbb1zzqEC9fZSSqyqsBtcKdDNqhyphenhyphenM9hRhJHOdRG_um4DDxPmeuNkIb8_6sWQyKJr3wY6bzwHJjVxHPSoJFaSUqcZQbC8siHgNf6K-idq29zK2vYMqzcryy0Kw/s320/Pops+3.jpg" width="179" /></span></a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pops is a gorgeous dog but she has cycles of harem sacrum moments, quite a few in the past two weeks according to my diary. these moments are often only funny in retrospect, The garden has borne the brunt of her activity but the house has not passed unscathed.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have been woken to the sound of Pops.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"murdering sleep, innocent sleep, sleep, sleep that soothes away all our worries.." (.<span style="font-size: x-small;">Macbeth)</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pops is having a panic attack and ripping the doors to pieces in the dining room trying to get out. I rushed down stairs to find Pops with her head stuck in that door. She had tried to escape through the smallish hole she has made in the door over the past four years. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cats stared with horror at the door and Pops head and retreated to their safe haven. flying past me as I stumbled down the stairs to see what was a wrong. Not only was her head through the hole but she was panting and drooling with fright, I did laugh but thought it would be wrong to get the camera out before I got her out of the hole she had got herself in.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why had she panicked? there was no wind, no noise, I extracted her head carefully and slipped on her lead and walked her into the front room soothing her and trying to think what was wrong what had changed, to make her so sacred. Then I walked back into the room where Pops sleeps to see what could have caused her distressed and then realized it was probably the new night light I had bought for her when her old one broke.</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Pops is also frightened of the dark and gets very distressed if she is left without a light. (She has so many fears caused by her first year of life before she came to me. But she is never aggressive.) I realized t</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he new light light had an led bulb. I then remembered Pops had been spooked by my Led torch when we have been out walking. I </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> unplugged it, turned on the main light and Pops settled down quietly to sleep. Wearily I trudge back up stairs, said goodnight to cats who were sitting on the landing watching Pops. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a calm few days Pops loved the hot weather and was outside from the moment she woke up until bedtime. She alternated between shady places and her sunny chair. Suddenly she decided to dig a new shady dell in the middle of my herb bed, All I can say is that the English lavender bush nurtured from a cutting to a two foot high bush was shredded to pieces and my sweet cicely plant was left dangling over a precipice only supported by Pops bottom as she lay comfortably in her new hollow. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pops chases flies and bees, usually unsuccessfully but last week she caught one - a bumble bee she shut her mouth and angry buzzing was heard from inside her head, she opened her mouth and out flew the bumble bee angry but unharmed. Bumble bees rarely sting as if they do the die almost immediately. I was so cross with her, but the look of bemused bewilderment and the shaking of her head and drooling tongue betrayed how frightened she was by the experience. Oh sigh Pops my little dog with little brain!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was the night of the thunderstorm at the first rumble Pops was ripping open the door and running round looking for a way out of the house. Chunks of doors littered the floor before I could get down stairs. I caught her and held her face and made her look at me and pay attention. Her fear and distress was obvious, I put her on her lead and took her upstairs, the cats fled into the linen cupboard, not because of the storm but the sight of the drooling trembling wreck that was Poppy dog. Pops struggled onto our bed and wandered in circles then jumped off and sat at the top of the stairs for a few hours before creeping downstairs to her bed. She did not get up until late the next morning. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wouldn't be without Pops but I do wish the wizard who fixed the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz could give her some courage and help her to stop being terrified by so many things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well here is the tale of two weeks of the mishaps in the life of Pops my beautiful, cowardly dog. Does Anyone know where the Wizard lives?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> With Reiki blessing to you and all those afraid</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MerryB</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> P.S Pops dog has just eaten my herb plants bergamot and sweet cicely leaving only a stump</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh sigh!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> PP.S Pops grab the post just as the Postwoman was putting it in to the letter box I had to apologies for her. Pops just wagged her tail and twirled and twirled trying to catch her tail.. </span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">. </span>Merry Ramblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811650968167919141noreply@blogger.com0