Today I was scheduled to meet with Obama

November 25, 2013

I had a meeting with the president. Today. Obama.

He is coming to Seattle for 2 days, we were to have a meeting about the ACA and my personal story, as well as many others.   I was not allowed to tell anyone of this upcoming meeting.   It was top secret...        
     It was cancelled.  I came so close to meeting with him.
Yesterday the Governor's office wrote me to say the event was cancelled. They will try to set up another appt for another time.

sigh....another one slips away...
until next time
Vera

The Kimono and the Empress Tree

The Kimono and the Empress Tree

There is an ancient Japanese tradition for a family to plant an Empress Tree when a daughter is born. With delicate purple flowers in the spring and umbrella sized leaves, the 'Paulownia tomentosa' proved to mature at the same pace as the growing child. As tradition recalls, when the daughter was engaged to be wed, her tree would then be harvested and the lumber used to build a chest to store her Kimono.
The properties of Paulownia wood are perfectly suited to protect the delicate silk Kimonos.    During months of high humidity, the wood would protect the Kimono from mildew by absorbing the moisture. During the dry months, the wood contracted to allow air to pass through so the Kimono could breath.
Today, the Paulownia and the Kimono continue to be perfectly suited together, with no synthetic material capable of responding as well to the needs of the silk Kimono. While the Paulownia is a non-native plant to our area, it has proved to be incredibly prolific and beneficial. At maturity, an Empress Tree can absorb almost 25 gallons of waste water per year, release about 15 lbs of oxygen per day and is able to remove close to 50 lbs of carbon dioxide each year.

Written by

Georgia Doremus 

WWOOFER at Village Green Nov 2013

Life happens. I try to let it.

I had an idea or revelation about procrastination. I don't buy into the 'plan ahead' theory all the time.
In fact, most of the time I think it's BS....I know what you are thinking....lazy. But hear me out....
Let's say that I decide to plan a party in 4 weeks/6 months... does that really mean I need to do all the work in the first week?
No. It means I have to have an overall (loose) idea or plan, but does that mean I need to know how every detail is going to play out? No....I mean, really-HOW can I? things take time to unfold. To grow.
So, as I see it, it's like a seed being planted, that needs time to stratify (chill) before it emerges into a beautiful thriving blooming plant.  See where I'm going?
Allowing things to happen organically is how I try to take life, events and 'plans'
That is not always comfortable for everyone, as a matter of fact, it's downright maddening for some. I'm not generalizing all events or planning, so let's not get into a heated debate over that.
So, here's an example....much simpler than planning a party...the sink is full of dirty dishes and no one is home but me, the laundry is piled up, the floor needs vacuumed.
  I really want to do my Yoga, read, write or any other hobby that I have. It will still be there when I come back, I'm sure of it, and perhaps I'll be in a better state of mind to do these tasks, with a sense of gratitude, because I took care of myself before I did something that will recreate itself moments after I finish it.  I mean really, haven't you ever noticed how the minute you wash all the dishes, within minutes, there's a cup or a bowl or dirt on a freshly swept floor....
My yoga time does not multiply so rapidly, nor does my creative time...so I procrastinate. 
And you know what? Something really amazing always happens when I go with the feeling I have of letting it go for a bit. Something magical always comes out of it. An inspired thought, clear insight, a new understanding of myself.
Something  I read one time on a plaque somewhere said 'Boring people have immaculate houses' and let me tell you, I am NOT boring. So, next time you drop by my house and things are 'out of order' as they almost always are, I'll show you some really great project I've been working on and it will all make sense.

Pop up Holiday gift sale

                                                                           

                            

                     November 22 and 23rd 5-9pm             

               At the 'Tall cedars cottage'  10203 26th Ave SW 

            (next door to Village Green Perennial Nursery)