Last Week of September

The days and nights are changing; Monday was the first official day of autumn. In just five days, our woods went from green to orange, red, yellow and gold.












We picked a bucket of apples and, using the handcrank cider press, made some delicious cider.






















We grew two good sized Blue Hubbard squash, with seeds from the late Gordie Thurber, via his brother, Dave. Can't wait to cook and freeze the squash for winter soups.

Don't you love my Finnish floral boots, (Marimekko pattern) a gift from dear old friend Riikka of Finland?

With the changing temperatures, the trees change and we start a slow fire in the woodstove. In these familiar seasonal shifts, I find both comfort and ritual. For me, such changes stimulate a reflective moods, as I look both back and forward. In this state, I am especially drawn to the inspirational words of German genius Rudolf Steiner:

“What is to be Real in the future is borne today in us ... Man must in deed become a creator, must form of himself that which will be his future world.”

I harvested the largest pumpkin from the garden and placed in on the mailbox.

Generous Second Graders

As these pictures reveal, Michele Streeter's second graders at Island Pond Elementary School are dear hearts. Following my program on India, with a special focus on the recent devestating floods in the Bihar state, the kids started talking about how they could help the poor.


Cooper donated all the money he had in his pocket (see him here [above photo], handing over one of his dollars!) Ryan promised he would do "all my chores" and pledged his full allowance and piggy bank. Other students were equally committed to supporting orphans and displaced families in India.

We created a few craft projects the class will make this month, which the class will sell to raise more Bihar Relief Funds. Through Sujata and Nitya (Jain)Naidu in Bangalore, we will make sure the monies get to those most in need, around Calcutta and other distressed communities. Incredibly, more than three million people lost their homes when rivers overflowed.

Besides talking about what India needs from us, we had fun learning some of the ancient nation's beautiful customs. We greeted each other with "Namaste", dressed Mrs. Streeter in a gorgeous sari and wore a bindi on our foreheads. Here I am putting a bindi on Danielle (below).



How heartening it was to tell the story of India to a group of 7 year olds, and have them respond with such great compassion and generosity. May we all follow their example, may the children lead the way.

Presenting to the Michigan Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, (MHPCO)

(L to R Jeff Towns, President/CEO; MHPCO Hospice Aide Scholarship Award winners:Marva Kumah, Arbor Hospice Residence; Pam Coleman, Community Health Center of Branch County; and Tina Jones, Harbor Hospice; Maureen Prest, Hospice Aide Conference Chair, Hospice of Michigan)
At the invitation of the Michigan Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, (MHPCO), I presented an Armchair Yoga and Self Care Program at their annual convention for hospice caregivers. We met last Thursday at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing, Michigan.

The lovely day included honoring outstanding workers who serve the dying, as pictured here. Also pictured, the book table where I signed copies of the 10th anniversary edition of For Goodness' Sake. What an honor and pleasure it was to spend time with such compassionate and loving people!

First Week of September in the Northeast Kingdom

The Peace Pole proclaims, MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH, in English, Finnish, Hindi and Gaelic.

Flox and black eyed Susans and hybridized daisies fill the autumn gardens.

Can you see our little Haskell, the white Maltese, standing in the background on this sunny morning?

Our barn reflects the day and season.

I picked a bouquet for you today!

The garden is still feeding us beautiful tomatoes and summer squash. We see rainbow colors of breathtaking beauty wherever we turn. We say "thank you" for this bountiful harvest, sustaining our bodies and souls.