Random Act of Kindness Tuesday-Saying Hello

One day, I was asked by one of my Viking Kiddos why I waved and said, "Hello" to the CalTrans worker. I explained that it was my way of saying, "Hello, I see you."

When the Viking Kiddos see a CalTrans worker and in our little town of Alpine the Sunrise Power link workers they will wave and say "Hello."

Why say Hello to a stranger?

Saying hello to someone, even if you don't know them, is a common courtesy. It means you are acknowledging their presence; you are saying that they are a person, too, and that they are important enough for you to say hello to

Benefits:

By saying hello, you are letting that person know that you noticed them, and that they matter. What a compliment!

Step It Up:

Don't stop at "Good Morning." Start a conversation with the other person, ask them how their day is going, or what their weekend plans are. Who knows, this person might just become someone special in your life, all because you took it upon yourself to say hello one morning.

Keep It Simple:

If you are shy by nature, you can simply say hello to the people you pass walking on the street. Just make eye contact and smile or nod. That is enough to make someone's day!

Personally Story:

I told this story to Viking Dad a while back. A few years ago I lived in a neighborhood where my house was at the end of a T-intersection. When I left every morning I drove by a house where the homeowner used to sit on her front porch and drink coffee. I started to wave at her when I left. At first she would give me one of those "You are one my crazy neighbors" looks. Then she started to tentatively wave at me as I went by. Eventually, she would wave and smile as I went by. It made my day to see her in the morning and this became our morning ritual for several years.

It came time for me to move and as I was packing up my house my neighbor came over to speak to me. At first I didn't recognize her because she wasn't in her bathrobe and was without a cup of coffee. I was blown away when she came and hugged me. She told me that those morning waves and that spontaneous act of kindness really helped her during a dark period in her life. She assured me that she would continue waving and saying, "Hello" to people as they drove by.

A simple act of kindness was a beacon of light for one individual. Can you be a ray of light for someone?

Manic Monday

Today's letter is brought to you by the letter "R" for Rain and the letter "S" for Snow.

What is that poem?
Oh yes, now I remember.....
"April showers bring May flowers."
It also brings on accidents, road closers, high winds, hail and snow.
My Manic Monday drive to work today.

Hay Bale Raised Bed Garden

This year our goal is to grow winter food for out chickens and to increase our own food yield. After some careful measurement we decided that part of our front yard would be dedicated to this new goal. Originally, I had planned to just buy sacks of good top soil and plop it on the ground and plant directly into the bags. Eventually, it would build up a garden spot. So, as it is explained in Mother Earth News.

Then after reading Maria Thun's Biodynamic Year and chatting with my Garden Guru I discovered that one could use old hay bales. Maria Thun uses oat straw in her green houses and my Garden Guru used hay bales from his pumpkin patch. I serendipitously was given six hay bales from my favorite coffee shops this weekend.

Biodynamic gardening is about creating a knowledge and closelness with the land. There is a self satisfying feeling knowing where things come from that go into the garden. The coffee shop I got the hay bales from is one of my work day retreats. The Owners are two of the sweetest, kindness and spiritually uplifting people I have met. I hope that positive energy is infused into the hay bales.

Viking Dad lined the hay bales along side the growing tire wall. The tire wall will become planter boxes too.

Viking Dad's scientific measurement. I couldn't tell him how big I wanted the holes to make and my sources have been rather vague. So, in true fashion I found a pot that estimated the size. "Here Honey, I want this big." Bless his heart he's used to my weird measurements.
Here he is using the pot to make his circles.

The First Hay Bale. This one was so full of mushrooms that we had to be careful cutting into the bale. But, just the rich future compost.

The first hay bale completed and filled with rich compost top soil. This particular bale was so soft we only could get three holes dug out. This bale will have broccoli. The second hay bale is destined to have corn and bush beans.

Maria Thun's The Biodynamic Year An awesome resource.

The page with the inspiration for the hay bale raised bed garden.



My Garden Guru name is Marshal. He is the other half of the dynamic duo of Cheryl and Marshal of Summer Past Farms in Lakeside, California. Check out their site and head and visit.

Act of Kindness Tuesday

The other day I read a post on my Friend's Facebook page that really bothered me.
She had witnessed a Mother holding a storefront door open for her son.
As he walked in he turned and said to his Mother, "Bros before Hos."
Not only did this child just call him Mother a whore but he never bothered to say "Thank you."

As I was researching and reading up on how to teach kindness to our children, this book was suggested by a Waldorf parent in one of my favorite "Mommy Blogs."

This book is called Puri The True Story by Robin Craig Clark.

It is about a family that while on vacation in Bali find and befriend a pregnant dog that they name Puri. Their act of kindness to this homeless animal creates and builds a lasting and positive friendship with the family and eventually Puri's adoptive family. It is beautifully illustrated that warms the heart.

As parents our actions speak louder then words. We are responsible as parents to model the kind behaviors we want our children to carry on. Modeling random acts of kindness in front of children will also inspire them to show kindness.

I recommend Puri The True Story and you can find it on Amazon here.

Monday Morning Madness

Monday Morning Madness.....

Are you still adjusting to the new time?
I was jolted this morning by my morning student sharing this wonderful video he found. He was so excited to find out that Kim Possibles's friend's pet was real.

Enjoy over a cup of coffee this video.

Spring Time!

My Beloved Sister and I have a running joke. She is my City Mouse and I am her Country Mouse. She also calls me Ouisie. Watch Steel Magnolias and you will know why. Hint: It's Shirley McClaines character.

One of my favorite Winter past times is drooling through seed catalogs. I love those pretty pictures of seeds and future plants. While my Sister decided which black dress to wear to a cocktail party I am trying to decide which variety of corn to grow. This year I am trying to find asparagus seeds.





When I was introduced to the World of Waldorf I discovered biodynamic farming. This will be my second year growing plants and food crops using Rudolf Steiner's ideas and methods. What is biodynamic farming? It is often called "premium organic." Harold Coven, Master Gardener at the Steiner College in Sacramento, calls it " having a relationship with the land." A healthy farm will produce everything it needs.

Last year we have started to actively compost "EVERYTHING" that can be made into compost. The fringe benefit, and much to the confusion of the garbage company, is that we have reduced our trash to one small curb side trash bin. The big benefit is the wonderful rich soil we have been able to use in our garden.

Another element to biodynamic farming is planting to the cosmic rhythms. Each plant is effected by the cosmic phases of the planets. Trust me I was pretty skeptical at first. However, the increase yield and the quality of flavor from last years experiment spoke volumes.

This year as I am selecting my seeds and plotting my plants I have added a new seed catalog to my collection.

My favorite catalogs in the past year have been:

1. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. They are Non-GMO and organic seed company. They have a wonderful site and blog to visit here.
It's probably a good thing that Baker Creek has a retail store in Petaluma, California and not in San Diego. I would be happily be paying their lightening bill.

2. Seed Saver Exchange. Non-GMO, open pollen, and heirloom varieties. Outstanding quality. One of my dreams is to visit their farm.
They have a wonderful site and blog to visit here.

3.My newest addition... Turtle Tree Seed Biodyamic Seed Initiative.
Each of the certified Demeter Certified biodynamic farms contribute seeds to this catalog. I know some of the seeds they use come from Seed Saver Exchange so it is a nice validation to see them support each other.
Their website is simple and can be visited here.

So, it is time to plant my fruits and roots.

Happy Planting...

Belated Reminder- Tuesday Act of Kindness.

This comes from Kim John Payen's Blog site. It sings volumes!