These Times

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These times demand the best 

of our thinking, feeling, knowing, being.

We are going to a place 

we have not been before.  

May we bring the best 

we were brought here to bring.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2011

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Quote

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The affinity of the human spirit 

for the earth and its beauties 

is deeply and logically rooted.

As human beings, we are 

part of the whole stream of life.

~~~~

Rachel Carson

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Singing Along

Kirksville Community Chorus sang Christmas Carols at 3 Nursing Homes last night. I just love taking music and energy to Elders, to folks who are stuck in bodies and spaces that just don't move like they used to. It's such a simple thing to do. The nods, singing along to old favorites, gentle smiles, for some brief flickers of recognition, and claps with once skillful and now awkward hands are huge rewards. (Note:  This little entry marks 1948 on this little Blog.  That's also the year that I was born.)

Data

Data mounts on the urgent need for humans to alter daily practice to preserve living systems of the Earth and sustainability for all those who follow. I know which side of this fence I sit on. And what shall I do today: A handmade Christmas gift rather than a store bought one. It's a lot more satisfying too. (Shhhhhh...don't tell anyone.)

http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/60291-ecosystems-shift-as-climate-changes

Pond Watch

December 6

December 18

Introducing Christmas Branch

We 3 C's have long been using Pine or Spruce trimmings for our Christmas Tree for quite some time. On December 12, we headed out with Saw and Eyes to the White Pines to see which Branches might like to become this year's Blessed Christmas Tree/Branch.  Two were selected.  Richard and Melanie sawed them.  Then the 2 of them secured them in place with 2 screws and a little board.  The Christmas Branch (which really was "2") was later put in a bucket with a big rock and water, and the decorating began. And so what are the "perks" for us of this little choice?

• We trim from Trees here.
• And yes, the Christmas Branch is spindly in today's standards.  But it was a gift of Nature and is just perfect.  Somehow, it reminds me of the Trees of my childhood.  They were perfectly imperfect too.    
• No Tree died.  
• The Branch is fresh, contributing the tiniest of scents to the house. 
• It isn't offgassing nasty chemicals into our house like the conventional ones are known to do.  We don't need to put scented candles or other nonsense to cover up the smell.  (It doesn't work anyway.)
• No chemicals were added to "green it up".  
• It isn't made from "oil" which is typical of conventional Holiday Trees.  
• It wasn't shipped in from China or some other remote part of the Earth, our Home.  And if you haven't figured it out, we 3 C's on this Little Farm are seriously trying to reduce our use of Oil and our impacts on other regions of our World.  (I hope Folks in those horribly affected areas know we are trying.)  
• We carried it on our own 2 feet and it was a nice 5 minutes walk in the fresh cool air.  
• No, it won't last as long as an artificial one.  As soon as it's done, we will compost it around the Blueberry Bushes, who will also be thrilled.  
• Those artificial ones will take forever to biodegrade. 
• Generally, White Pine holds its needles, but we may have a Needle or 2 to pick up.  Some folks say that real Trees are messy.  Nature is messy.  But you talk about a mess:  I suppose we can consider that Artificial Tree which will become long tired of use a gift in Full Landfills to those future Generations. Yes, that is a real mess.  Those future generations will be scratching their heads and wondering:  "What were they thinking?" "Were they thinking?" "Were they thinking about us?"
• And in this moment in time, we 3 C's can feel satisfied knowing that we have not knowingly contributed to the ill effects of the above.
• Are we perfect?  No.  Will we ever be?  No. But we have the satisfaction of using our Creative Gifts to try to a different route.

So, it is with great pride, love, and gratitude that we introduce to you this year's Christmas Branch.

 

http://www.science20.com/science_motherhood/great_debate_real_vs_artificial_christmas_trees

Simplifying Christmas

A few days ago, I ran into an elderly woman, a matriarch of her family, someone with long connections to this area.  Our families have known, loved her and respected her for a very long time.  She and I stood with our backs to the meat counter and she said:  "Christmas isn't fun like it used to be.  It has gotten way too complicated."  I would agree.  My family and I are trying to reduce the complications and keep it simple with the things that matter to us.   

I am pleased to report that I have always had a live Christmas Tree except for about 6 years when I was growing up.  I remember when Mother purchased the new "tinsel tree" which had Red Glass Balls and a beacons of rainbow colors shining on it.  I was in about the 7th grade and I was so very sad that we no longer had the living tree.  Those tinsel trees were all the rage, but they did not cut it with me.  Richard had always had a live Christmas Tree when he was growing up.  In fact, his family grew and sold Christmas Trees. 

Throughout our marriage, we have always had live Christmas Trees or live greenery.  In the last 15 years, we have had a "Christmas Branch".  We don't like the thought of cutting (AKA killing) a live Tree.  So instead, we just cut a Branch or Two from trees on our place, tie them together, and put them in a bucket which is then covered with the Christmas Tree Skirt I made some years back (and have not completed). 

We used to have a 7 foot tree and a myriad of ornaments.  I would buy them wherever I went.  I had a "collection" which included some additions for every year.  Over time, I concluded:  "That's not what Christmas is about. That's not what has meaning for our family."  So I culled the stock and sent some on their way to other families who would enjoy them.  The ornaments on our Christmas Branch are the old ones:  ones from my childhood, Richard's, Melanie's and ones from our shared experience together.  They are humble.  They are old.  Many are hand made by the children that we once were.  Some are worn, in fact, very one.  But they are so very beautiful.  When I put them on the Tree the other evening, I smiled and shed a few tears.  It just doesn't get any better than that.