Julanne's Village Jewels

                                                                             NUN'S   ORCHID CURIOUSITY I'm NOTICING  my thoughts lately about aspects of life that interest me, that of NATURE, PERSONALITIES, THE MIND, to name a few. There's so much  to notice  and understand if we're in a place to open  up to and pursue some answers. I am so grateful I love doing this and I feel my life is fuller and even more mysterious than ever. When I go for a walk, I sometimes forget where I am or what I'm doing because I'm so busy gawking around to PAY ATTENTION to everything. Nature is the most fascinating to me and I certainly understand and appreciate the vastness of even a tree . . .When something is especially beautiful or unusual, I feel...

                                                                            WREN BALANCING Look at this little darling!! The WREN, probably the one that sings outside my bedroom window! She is as CONSISTENT as they come! I imagine she's the very same one that comes every year to serenade me so sweetly. She's like a loyal puppy dog! Oh to be that BALANCED! I am writing this in an attempt to shift my consciousness to something more creative and uplifting than from thoughts and feelings I have had the last few days. There is nothing really  wrong. . . just a slippage in PERSPECTIVE. It is not serious but it does involve CHANGE  that is uncomfortable. I can be the first to cheer for change but when it is acute, it hurts a bit because it means being vulnerable ...

                                                                      TREES OUT OF ROCKS USELESS Whenever we might see a wonder  in the world like this photograph, we might think that it is USELESS. If we look more closely, we can see that it is indeed  a wonder in this world! We've seen many 'rocks' that are just rocks but to see such a huge one with trees, living, growing trees,  shooting up to the sky, many years old . . . is remarkable! I read once that when tree cutters are looking for the best trees to cut down, they check & see if they are strong, sturdy, fragrant and USEFUL for making furniture, doors, floors, etc. If they do not have these qualities, they are considered USELESS and are left alone. Fair enough. There have been times I  have felt USE...

                                                                                     WOODS     ORDINARY When I think of ORDINARY, I think of something familiar, customary or usual , nothing particularly out of the ORDINARY. Like this photo, do you see it as ORDINARY woods or EXTRAORDINARY WOODS? I have never seen leaves like the trees/bushes in the foreground that are shown here so I'd have to say they are extra 0RDINARY. Most woods I see are very similar, which makes them ORDINARY to me and I seem to always like them, just as they are. I personally feel I am ORDINARY and I'm very pleased with that feeling. When I see something or someone who is ORDINARY, I feel comfortable, and I could approach them if I chose to. I resonate ...

                                                                                                                                        ANGEL TRUMPET REFRAIN This is an ANGEL TRUMPET plant from my back yard before Village. I always think of a ballerina dancing when I see the "skirt" part of her ' dress' swaying in the breeze! When I was a little girl I remember I squeezed a flower & destroyed it and vowed never to deliberately do that again. I have grown to respect NATURE, flowers & the like. I know so much more now! That vow  has spil...

                                                                            MERANGERS                                                                              Dan Schmidt FORBEARANCE We are in the beginning of a New Year. I really love this time of year, the holidays are over and it is time to look forward to coming days and months. Each of us has our own experience with this, I know. I see it as a time to appreciate what I have enjoyed and let go of forgotten events, mistakes, omissions etc and create anew. I read about FORBEARANCE rec...

                                                                                 MANDALA HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are in the middle of the SEASON, technically, & I have found it to be very pleasant and quite low key.  I'm choosing my way of celebrating very differently than most folks and it suits me well . . .virtually no stress and certainly no rushing about! As I've said before I am a NATURE girl and I discovered a book I love, How to Read Nature by Tristan Gooley, from the library. I have the audiobook but it comes in a regular book as well. It is fascinating all the things he talks about to 'look out for' when out walking or anywhere.! Things to look for , listen for, anyway you can use your senses! A  real eye opener! A very special gift...

                                                                                 AMARILLAS SEASONS GREETINGS! It has been a while since I have written and I must say I have missed it very much. I am feeling a resurgence in the past few days and decided it is time for me to reach out and to share with you. I'm happy to say I am learning to take one day at a time, one moment actually for the most part, and to do what I  feel like doing, and that hasn't been much. One step at a time, baby steps as they say, and it is working.  For one thing this season is a challenge for me. I'm slowing down to the point where I have to be very selective about what I do. It is a tremendous relief to really hone in on myself and follow my heart. I do notice when...

                                                                                           GRATITUDE  Here is a beauty to behold! The colors and the scene are magnificent! Whenever I see anything like this I'm immediately sent into a swoon with the generosity of our planet! Since Thanksgiving is very near, it prompted me to write to share my feelings about GRATITUDE and Giving-thanks for oh so many things! I'm particularly thankful for my health, my gifts of functioning even if a bit slower than before. I'm feeling more assured about my health and my path to being the healthiest I can be. I'm thankful for my interests and accomplishments and my endeavors, even though there are some activities I either cannot do or c...

                                                                                                                                                                    IMPERMANENCE This morning I found myself drawn to reading about John Muir, certainly one of my favorite people on this planet! He is my go to  inspiration and connection! I honestly have never read an author that speaks from his heart and his soul so eloquently and so sincerely and with such feeling! A true Naturalist, he is the one who op...

                                                                                       NATURAL BEAUTY As you know, NATURE is my most favorite 'things'! It comes in many forms but at the top of the list is National Parks. I just completed watching PBS National Parks, a 6 episode wonder of the most magnificent scenery and information I have experienced. I grew up 75 miles from Yellowstone Park and have precious memories of that spectacular experience! I clearly remember the marvel of Old Faithful erupting with in minutes of when it was scheduled to 'go off'. Seeing wildlife very often just driving along the road going from one site to the next, bears, elk, moose, deer, magnificent creatures! I'm so grateful I was exposed to all this when ...

  PATH This might look familiar (it's actually taken in Oregon) but it serves to represent my point, PATH. There is one way to reach such beauty and it is by taking a PATH. I'm truly in my element just looking at this beauty!  I have been a bit under the weather and feeling 'out to sea' and certainly not 'myself'. I find that when this happens to me it is best to S T O P, look and listen!  I'm feeling very lethargic and unable to keep up the pace I was on, so I was having a hard time not blaming  myself for this change. I was feeling old  and quite useless and uninspired. Out of that came a gift (I knew it would show up sooner or later) in the form of a book,"THE INNER WORK OF AGING"BY CONNIE ZWEIG.  Anything new & different can bring about a new perspective, as we know. This book opened my eyes and heart to new POSSIBILITIES to actually LIVE   while  my body continues to do what it has been doing for awhile . . . AGING!  I can honestly s...

                                                                                                TREES AWESOME This photo isn't especially beautiful, but it is AWESOME! I don't remember where this photo was taken but I obviously couldn't leave it behind! Some of our most AWESOME moments aren't  always beautiful but they are indeed, AWESOME! One of the most significant aspects of this photo is that one must look  up  in order to see it fully! For me it is a slight reminder of how I must look up  in order to see what I want and  what's next? Since I have moved into my new apartment, I'm NOTICING I'm happier in general and I can't account for exactly why,  except that I feel  ...

                                                                            MOTHER AND BABIES ADJUSTMENTS When things  change in our lives, even a tiny bit, we have to ADJUST to the new situation, do we not? You can well imagine how this mama duck had to ADJUST to having such a large family, but I'm very sure she did! Any change can be daunting or it can be pleasant and smooth running. My recent change in moving to a different apartment was the latter and I'm most grateful for the easy transition. I like my apartment and the setting  better  than the previous one! Fancy that? Since my move and my 'settling in', I have experienced some amazing changes. Quite by a unexpected chance, I have been able to change my health insurance and my doctor to much mo...

                                                                                      PEACE/ CHANGE I have just been introduced to a magical 'turn around' for me! I have been introduced to a musical experience the likes of which I have never  experienced before. You too can experience it as well. It is on You Tube on your phone or TV screen or computer called PLAYING FOR CHANGE! People from many, many countries are shown playing a musical instrument and/or singing, dancing and/or playing the same song at the same time. It's like a concert except each person is from a different country. There are children and people of all ages playing, singing and dancing in unison!  There are people from the United States, and each person no...

                                                                         WHITE BLEEDING HEART SUBSTITUTES SUBSTITUTES is a word I'm sure we're all familiar with! We all do it at one time or another. This concept can apply to cooking, baking, sewing, painting, writing, destinations, agreements, literature, movies,  closed facilities, on and on it goes! When we don't have the ingredient, part of a whole, answer, or whatever we want we are forced to SUBSTITUTE or go without, and few of us want to go without . . . I'm becoming very familiar with the art of SUBSTITUTIONS in a great many things! During any kind of shopping, I find myself having to choose  something different  than I had in mind. Sometimes to a immense surprise, I like it better!  For instan...

                                                                                                       BEES SYMBOLS OH BOY! It's been 11 days since I moved into my apartment! It feels even longer ago since I'm so well adjusted here! I'm loving everything about it, especially the view! I'm also getting used to the light switches being on the opposite side! About the 5th day after getting settled, I looked outside and my eye caught on a shape in  a tree on the other side of the lake. It was fascinating and I immediately saw it was in the shape of a Deer standing tall and looking straight at me. It was indeed a SYMBOL! I knew it was LOOKING OUT for me, night and day! It was a palpable ...

                                                                                                                  BIRDS NEST NESTING That is just how I feel, NESTING! The move went ever so smoothly and I am settling in to my new home. It feels surreal to me, seeing my belongings in their rightful places and I didn't move them! Virtually everything ready to be used and enjoyed! I LOVE settling in .. . One of my favorite things to do! (I'm beginning to 'get' that I actually live  here now!) I was offered a guest room for the moving day which I gratefully accepted and a friend and I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon waiting for the huge unveiling! It was ...

                                                                                   WHITE PEACOCK              MOVING The day is quickly coming, Wednesday, my MOVING day to building A-B! It seems so quick to arrive! I'm naming this gorgeous  WHITE PEACOCK to be my guide and my ? whatever the name is for safe travels. I simply love  this PEACOCK in all its elegance and beauty! Magnificent  Creature  of the Universe!  I feel his splendor and PROTECTION! I'm only 'being moved' across a lawn to a beautiful apartment with an even better view of Gin Lake than I have had! Imagine my delight! More lake showing surrounded by massive trees all the way around except from like on a clo...

                                                                     KINDNESS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I want to write about two very IMPORTANT aspects of life that I have experienced lately.      One is COURAGE! As I mosey through my life I'm very AWARE of situations people are experiencing that take enormous COURAGE. It doesn't matter how old one is, there are times when we are called upon to 'buckle up' and go through something. Such is the case of my 17 year old granddaughter. She had major surgery on her jaw! I had never heard of such extensive surgery and she was a heroine to be sure. She had the surgery about 4-5 weeks ago and is now able to eat soft food, (whereas before strictly liquid), she can now TALK . . . She has been the model patient, the surgeon is shocked at he...