Musings

11:37 PM Ilona
Lovely thoughts from a weaver of words, tapestries of journeys through a beautiful and rich mental interior. Take time to enjoy.

Musings of a far away trip...
Oh, it was a far away land,
across the ocean and desert.
We arrived and crossed most of Syria.
There is a point where one can stand,
and look upon the Tigris River,
Iraq and the mountains of Turkey.
It is from here,
a far away village,
that is the home of the artist who painted the above picture.
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Fairy House

3:53 PM Ilona
Since writing about fairy gardens everything in that garden genre catches my attention. I can't help myself!
The glass is used in the walls and pathway of this fairy house, and in the tiny blue Chihulyesque sculptures that pop up in the fairy garden.
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Planned Obsolescence?

12:06 AM Ilona
My twisted sense of humor considers this the best Father's Day post I've read.


Eventually they learn to read and you're useless again.

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My Favorite Painting

9:46 AM Ilona
This is my favorite picture for many reasons. One is the stillness, another is the work ethic, the quiet content of daily mundane work.
clipped from www.nytimes.com


“The Milkmaid,” an oil by Vermeer from the 17th century, is headed for an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Organized to honor the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic voyage to New York from Amsterdam, the show, Sept. 10 through Nov. 29, will focus on old masters who, like Vermeer, were active in the period of exploration, trade and artistic flowering that occurred during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century.

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Sunshine Makes Me Feel Good!

3:13 PM Ilona

There's been so much concern over too much rays, that sunshine has been shunned for years now. Now there is evidence that Vitamin D helps the immune system ward off viruses, so maybe my favorite way of feeling good is allowed!

It has been decades since I sunbathed with regularity, but I do put in some guilt free time in a reclining chair on a lovely summer day now and again, because it makes me feel better emotionally. We don't have to spend time during the high noon blast of UV rays, but early morning and late afternoon sunshine, especially while walking by flowers or gazing through the trees, just makes me feel more right with the world.

All the better if sand and water are involved, but I'll take my landlocked doses of sunshine in my garden or taking walks.



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Garden Therapy

12:00 PM Ilona
Science discovers one reason we find solace in the garden
Getting dirty may lift your Mood

Bacteria found in the soil activated a group of neurons that produce the brain chemical serotonin

Treatment of mice with a ‘friendly’ bacteria, normally found in the soil, altered their behavior in a way similar to that produced by antidepressant drugs, reports research published in the latest issue of Neuroscience.

These findings, identified by researchers at the University of Bristol and colleagues at University College London, aid the understanding of why an imbalance in the immune system leaves some individuals vulnerable to mood disorders like depression.

Dr Chris Lowry, lead author on the paper from Bristol University, said: "These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health. They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt."
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Fresh Juicy Fruits In Season

9:42 AM Ilona

Biting into a peach in August, one that has ripened on the tree and has sweet juices that fairly drip as you break the skin, or the burst of s sweet cherry in July, is more than taste. It is scent and feeling and experience of the season.

We often eat to lift a mood, but so often that is mindlessly with an approach that can leave us feeling less satisfied and poorer in experience than before. we also can buy fruits of all kinds throughout the year... but this is not the exciting pleasure of fruit in its season. There is so much more within a fruit that is ripening in its own time, well grown and eaten at a peak of readiness.

Each location for the cultivation of fruit has its own particular range of flavors, and when visiting those places it is always a highlight to taste the seasonal fruits of a place. I remember the breakfasts of mango, guava, and other more exotic fruits in Brazil. With their strong coffee and mild cheese it was the best way possible to start the day. In my own locale after recently finishing the sweet cherry season, the experience of the cherries bursting with juice and flavor fresh from the refrigerator was worthy of note. Taking ones sweet time in eating impressed the memory long afterwards.

Hurriedness is not how we should eat anything, but especially not a just-ripe, sun -filled, wonderful fruit. That is something that should be savored, delighting the eye, then the nose, and finally consuming with all the relish due a fine food.
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Ten Foods To Eat Every Day

12:09 PM Ilona
I found an old blogger friend blogging on exercise, and I really got a lot from her posts. She has a list of 10 food listed from an health article:
  1. Spinach
  2. Yogurt
  3. Blueberries
  4. Oats
  5. Carrots
  6. Oranges or Fresh Orange Juice
  7. Lean Protein
  8. Nuts
  9. Whole Grains
  10. and I added egg

That is her list.

I recall reading something like this, too, especially when she mentioned that tomatoes and black beans were on the list, but she substituted.



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