An Earth Month Challenge - Can you Match me?

I am listening to the wind wildly howling outside of my home. Although we are done with snow, Winter is definitely still trying to intrude on my Spring plans.  We did not have much snow this winter and I dislike not having a blanket of snow on the ground when the wind howls, I worry about my lavender which can dry out in strong wind. I worry about my thyme whose tiny roots can freeze without a winter blanket.  And I get concerned that the water table will not be properly replenished without the moisture of snow.

Wind can be an inconvenience to me when it blows my mulch around the backyard, and can be a threat to me when it becomes a destructive force during weather events, many of which have happened recently. But I remind myself that this wind is a gift. This is the wind that blows fresh air into my lungs. This is the wind that disperses the seeds that will be this summer’s bounty. This is the wind that will bring in the warmer weather to come. This is the wind that shapes the landscapes that shape my life.  

Every minute of every day in every season we receive gifts from the earth.  That’s why, to celebrate Earth Month this year, I decided to give myself an Earth Challenge:

List 52 reasons why I am grateful for the earth.  One for each week of the year.  The theme for Earth Day this year is Our Power, Our Earth and in these days of budget cutting it becomes that much more important to recognize what we receive and make sure we are protecting it for the future.

At first it seemed like a tedious task, but about halfway through I noticed that the more gratitude I listed, the more gratitude I felt, and the rest of the list was done in a flash. That’s the way these things work. Fear leads to more fear. Gratitude leads to more gratitude. And more gratitude leads to more gifts.

By the time I reached the end, I had renewed my appreciation and commitment to giving back to the earth as best I can. Isn’t that what Earth Day is all about? Good luck, and remember to share your lists to spread the gratitude!

This Earth Day, I Am Grateful For:

1.   The wind’s power and presence.
2.   The beautiful sunset today.
3.  The fresh drinking water that comes into my faucet from an underground well.
4.  The trees around me. I always feel sheltered. Not to mention their gift of oxygen!
5.  The seasons. They encourage me to remember that change is good and necessary. 
6.  The smell of lavender, which is very calming to me.
7.  Bees. Besides the gifts of honey and wax, they pollinate plants so that humans can enjoy the fruits.
8.  Rocks. Many indigenous people call rocks the grandfathers of the earth. They hold the wisdom of the earth as they humbly hold up my home.
9.  The knowledge and wisdom that I have gained from watching my herbs grow.
10.  The reliability of earth’s cycles (daily, monthly, yearly, etc.) is very grounding.
11.  The song of frogs in the spring. It makes me want to sing, too!
12. The smell of the air after a rain, the freshness of the cleansing rain-soaked soil.
13.  The few inches that my shoulders drop when I go into nature.
14. Turtles. They teach me patience and persistence.
15.  The satisfaction of planting a seed in the spring and watching it grow all summer.
16.   Spring flowers, which bring hope after a long winter.
17. The experience of absolute stillness and peace that can be found in certain places on this earth. It reminds me to slow down and listen.
18.  Medicines I have created that have come directly from the earth.
19.  The feeling of my bare feet in grass. Aaahhhh!
20.  The freshness of the air in wintertime, especially after a snow.
21. The smell of fallen pine needles in the sunshine
22.  The changeability of nature. It’s very rare to see the same exact thing twice.
23.  The extremes in nature that collectively create balance. Our earth has darkest and lightest, highest and lowest, biggest and smallest, hottest and coldest.
24.  Eagles that amaze me in their strength and power.
25. The clouds in the sky that warn of upcoming weather and amuse me with their designs.
26. The ocean. It can be a very relaxing place, but also exhilarating!
27.  The end of a hot summer day when the cicadas start calling, the fireflies come out, and the relief of coolness is finally felt.
28. Resources from the earth such as sun, coal, oil and wind that provide me with heat and power.
29. The times I have seen the earth physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually heal people.
30. Wind power the natural spin of a windmill, be it for power or to bring up water from the well, this natural method provides me with resources I need.
31. Human beings. We are as much a part of the earth as the crow that calls and the leaves that fall.
32. The diversity on this planet in people, plants and animals. This keeps our ecosystems strong and resilient.
33.  The yearly emergence of butterflies reminds me to live within the natural stages of my life.
34. The adaptability of nature and people.  
35. The dead squirrel in the road, it reminds me to slow down.
36. The song of the chickadee.
37.  Water. It can take any form, can serve any purpose, and keeps us all alive.
38. The light of sun and moon that brightens the dark reaches.
39. Zinnias, an explosion of color that can last all summer.
40.  A gathering of birds in the trees in the evening, the cacophony of sound makes me appreciate the noise of nature, especially when it can drown out the traffic.
41.   A meal made with freshly harvested herbs that allows me to enjoy the variety the earth has to offer.
42. The smell of lemon herbs as I harvest them and the brightening of my mood as a result.
43.  Rain as it nourishes the earth, feeds the plants and cleans the air.
44. A thunderstorm, renewing the nitrogen and reminding me that weather is a cycle.
45.  Natural barriers, a slope, a thicket, a collection of thorny bushes, to remind me that not everything is easy to travel though and although there are hard times, you can come out on the other side.
46. Sunrise. The awakening of the day gives a new start every time.
47. Deer prancing through a field.  Not only do they provide food, their playfulness reminds us that sometimes you can just run around and enjoy what nature offers.
48.  The sudden release of scent when I brush against scented geraniums on my steps, it reminds me to pause and experience my day.
49.  Planting seeds.  It is a belief in tomorrow and I can use the seed I harvested last year from wild flowers and annuals in my garden attracting pollinators and my gaze.
50.  A lunar eclipse, several of which will happen this year, reminds me of the vastness of our universe and the importance of the moon to our tides and seasons,
51. Herbs, the scent, the properties, the uses, they are my life.
52. Snow in Winter.  It brings me full circle to the dormant times that I know will give birth to a Spring and new beginnings.

 

Spring to Summer Muscle Massage OIl - Bath Blend of the Month

I don't know about you, but even though the days are warmer and I can garden (almost) I tend to get achy. I don't drink enough water, the house is dry, my exercise falls off because it is wet outdoors.  This is the time of swollen ankles and sore muscles.  So I whip up this massage oil.  I can smooth it into my legs and have the hubby do my shoulders. The oils help rehydrate my skin and the essential oils work on the aches.

Spring to Summer Massage Oil

This relaxing massage oil increases circulation and helps the body eliminate lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts for instant muscle pain relief. Essential oils provide deep relaxation and help alleviate pain.

• 3 ounces almond oil
• 1 ounce jojoba oil
• 10 drops birch essential oil
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil

1. Mix ingredients together and store in a tightly capped glass bottle.
2. Use as desired for massage, keeping away from the eyes and mucous membranes.