Julanne's Village Jewels

Dan's photo? INTERIM You know what it is like when you are in ‘between acts’ . . .? An INTERIM, an intermission as it were? That’s where I am at the present moment. I am on the way to recovering from pneumonia, which is on it’s way out but left with no energy or ambition to do anything. I guess it is part of the ‘package’. What I am doing is realizing how much I have learned and absorbed these last 10 days, which is heart warming. I know that this will pass. It is IMPERMANENT. It is an OPPORTUNITY to LISTEN to my body and my heart and be STILL.   I’m doing what is absolutely necessary and no more. I had such a urge to write this morning and share with you all. I CLEARLY see the value in PRACTICING these ideals and truths so that when I really need them I have them tucked away inside to use. You have been a saving grace for me in allowing me to send my blogs to you, a friendly ‘ear’ and I realize, once again, how valuable that is to me, and I hope for you. It is ...

COMMITTEE MEETING DAN/ ELLEN LIGHT I’m beginning to see how LIGHT is a sheer blessing! The Village has been under siege of a new paint job for the last 3 weeks. It was my ‘turn’ to have my ‘wing’ done this week, 8 days in all, during which time they covered all the windows with sheet plastic.   LIGHT would come through but no ‘scene’ or view. I certainly have taken LIGHT and view for granted. I feel like an eye patch has been removed. I can’t complain because the painters have done a fine job and we have a gorgeous new home. I commend the workers for their patience and diligence. I’m realizing more than ever how well the ‘associates’ ( not employees) take care of us. They hire excellent people to do the job if they can’t do it themselves. We have had so little INCONVENIENCE, it’s amazing. Any change like this calls for an ADJUSTMENT on our part and we can choose how we want to handle it. Experiencing any inconvenience reminds me of the value of COMPASSION ...

MUSICAL NOTES COURAGE COURAGE comes in many forms, such as military people, mother’s giving birth, children going to school, teachers facing recalcitrant students, dealing with anyone who is very uncooperative, employers who are over bearing and prejudice, on and on it goes. Actually when I think about it we all are COURAGEOUS in our own world and our own strivings to make our life work. There are those moments when everything falls into place and we feel like we are sailing through our life like a light fluffy cloud. There are other times when we must face cruelty, disappointment, unfairness and anything that is a challenge. I know about COURAGE from many incidences when I feel panic, anxiety and overwhelm that are daunting. I’m discovering that when I NOTICE my feelings and sensations that are uncomfortable and I have a task to perform, or a place to go, that if I just BREATHE, pause and affirm that I have everything I need to proceed, I do proceed and with succe...

CLORODENDREN AWARENESS AWARENESS is becoming my middle name. Since I fell in February, I have become a ‘hawkeye’ everywhere I go and with every thing I do. I have been reading about AWARENESS for years, AWARENESS in how we CHOOSE everything. . . activities, foods, companionships, entertainment, books, etc etc. This is very important and very NECESSARY if we are to be happy and safe. Being AWARE heightens my CONSCIOUSNESS and abilities to WAKE UP and be ALIVE. AWARENESS also makes me even more aware and SENSITIVE to what is going on around me and how people are treating others.   At the VILLAGE I am keenly AWARE of how the employees (servers) are with residents. It is such a pleasure to talk or be with an employee and feel how he/she is with me. I have never experienced anything but COURTESY and HELPFULNESS! Now that is saying something! I APPRECIATE each and every person here for all they do. I have also NOTICED how some residents are with employees. This is ve...

ARTICHOKE WHAT IF How many times have you heard a child or an adult ask, “WHAT IF. . .? “ It is such a normal question because it is an unknown phenomenon that is perfectly natural to wonder about? WHAT IF the stars fall out of the sky? WHAT IF the sun or moon doesn’t ‘rise’ for no reason? What if I planted a yellow daffodil bulb and it came up purple? I don’t remember being particularly inquisitive as a child and it’s a pity. Most likely I was not paid attention to. Somehow had the idea that I should already know the answers to some of my ‘silly’ questions. No one ever told me ‘ there are no silly questions!’ This does not apply only to children . . . it also applies to adults, particularly elderly adults, uninformed or un educated adults who couldn’t possibly know the answer to their questions. I’m thinking of adults who are from other countries or inexperienced adults in some area. I had a ‘flash’ of insight about ‘WHAT IF’S’ the other day. ‘WHAT IF’ a pe...

NELLY MOSER CLEMATIS MOTHERS Today is MOTHER’S DAY! It is a day to celebrate our MOTHERS, whoever they are and wherever they may be. I remember my dad buying my mother a red carnation and me a white carnation corsage each MOTHER’S day to wear to church.   I always thought that was such a sweet gesture. There was no conversation about it, or even the reason for giving them, but I still cherished it. I was blessed with a wonderful MOTHER, in all ways. I knew she deeply loved me, cared for me, giggled with me and taught me many, many things. She was loving and kind and fun! She made me feel important and encouraged me in all ways. When I was 15 ( and again 17), my parents had a boy and later a girl. I was thrilled and always eager to ‘take care of them’, which I did a lot of! She appreciated everything I did and acknowledged me for my abilities. She never took me for granted or ‘overworked’ me. I know I learned about children from caring for my brother and sister. ...

Fushcia ADJUSTMENTS ADJUSTMENTS are the name of the game in LIFE! No matter what the occasion, there seems to always be an ADJUSTMENT of some kind to be made. This does not have to be a huge ADJUSTMENT, like tearing down a wall to replace it with a window, or pruning or repotting houseplants so they have room to absorb water and new soil. Another word for ADJUSTING is tweaking something, like turning a flower plant 1/4/turn. A basic reason for ADJUSTING anything is ‘CHANGING something that does not work well or serve us in a way it once did’. That encompasses a whole raft of different criteria, anywhere from a living condition, including the building itself or the people who live there. I have found it to be much more satisfactory to ‘move’ or change something that doesn’t work. However, if we can’t move or re-do some area of our life, then we can learn to ADJUST to it. First of all, I feel it takes a period of LETTING GO of the upset, disappointment, or hurt ...