Our Infrastructure and the 'Stocking up message' May 30th Newsletter

Hello From Herbs & Things

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
~Henry David Thoreau~

Finally a little bit of refreshing rain...Ahhhhhhhhhh.
What a wonderful weekend though to start off the summer. I hope every one's memorial weekend was safe and you reflected on those who have and are serving our country. Without them we would not be the country of free speech, will or the land where dreams can come true. But, most importantly, now that the weekend of remembrance marked on our calendar is over, we should not forget to continue to be grateful and thank them for a job well done everyday. So please continue to remember those who have and will put their lives on the line for our beliefs, beyond when the calendar says we should...God Bless.

I love, love, love the raised garden beds. I am already looking forward to next years garden and putting in more raised beds! Or maybe, it won't be to late, Rick will be on vacation the week of June 9th, then again maybe not, he wants to try and finish the last four windows in the house, and then we can get it sided. Plus, Spirit gave me an awesome idea for Kellie's new Reiki Room, I am so excited and I know...after much thought and wondering for many months, that this is the right idea...yea...I'll share it once we get started on the project, maybe when Rick is on vacation. I am sooooooo excited:

The response the last...very long...newsletter generated was wonderful. I was glad. Because it made many of you pause for a moment to realize the why of your struggles and unhappiness and that it is important to take the time in finding...The Who YOU Are, what God has intended for you and the importance of what you do. Even if right now to you... that ' what you do thing' seems trivial or without purpose as opposed to what others are doing, and to remember what ever it is you are doing, or even not doing is an important cog of the Wheel of a great plan, and if one cog does not do what it was made to do, then the Wheel will be out of balance. Thank you so much for all your input, questions and sharing...I love it. I have a couple comments in the What Readers have to say portion of this newsletter. Again thank you, I was so nervous putting that email out, but alas, again Spirit was right:)

I know I said, I wasn't suppose to say anything anymore, but there's been prompting for me to mention it again...
Stock up for Winter. Relearn the basics of cooking meals at home, eating as a family, having supplies in the home to do this, supporting local farmers so the farm land is not depleted.
Winter as I believe I finally figured out is metaphorical for...hard or difficult times...or less than perfect circumstances...like being with out electric for weeks.
Then I learned a little about our countries infrastructure and...the stock up thing had more punch to it.
The USA's Infrastructure is in decline...http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/americas-crumbling-infrastructure ...(watch the mini video)
and the report card is not good...though this report card is 3 years old, we've, I don't think, have seen much of an improvement,
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/
We don't think of our infrastructure often and we do take it for granted, even though we drive on declining roads every day. What we do know and see because it affects our day to day travels is our roads and bridges are in poor shape. But what we need to understand are the consequences of this declining infrastructure via the big picture. Our infrastructure is not just our roads, but includes, our electricity sources, dams-levees, lakes, rivers, canals, airways, roads and bridges, and that this infrastructure that is a 'main line' of our existence in this country today, is rapidly deteriorating threatening to cut us off, from many of our food and good sources. The way I understand it, if our infrastructure collapses then we as a country will collapse. If we look and pay attention we can see the signs that this catastrophic event is well on its way to coming true.

Think about it, if just one part of our infrastructure, such a the electric grid were to go down, for what ever reason, and we were without electricity for a week, two weeks or three, the impact could be catastrophic. What impact would it have on us. It would make us vulnerable to many things. No electricity, means...no gasoline, in some homes no heat, no banking, no subways, trains, airplanes, grocery store freezers to keep foods cold, our own fridges and freezers not working, water pumps not pumping water, toilets not flushing, no driving to the store for groceries 4 times a week, no air tracking devices or satellites to tell us what's going on, no radio, TV...and other things we take for granted every day. Are we prepared as a country to be able to survive if our infrastructure were to collapse? Are we ready to live as a third world country? Does this mean you should be 'stocked up'. I believe so.

Another small part of our infrastructure in danger is our bridges. Most of our bridges are over 50 years old and are quickly deteriorating and were not made to handle the volume of today's travel. And the possibility of them collapsing is high, cutting connections to many areas that supply us food and goods. Thus... if we have no bridges, trucks can not bring in foods, goods, nor can we have access to other cities or states we depend on. Because we depend so much on our bridges and roadways to keep us connected and running, we've eliminated or closed many of our water ports, making it difficult for ships to come in and out. What about the canal that use to be the 'gate way' to and from different areas?

What If one of the dams out of the 85,000 dams in the USA alone...were to collapse or have their earthen walls breach, which because so many of them are in such decay with no inspectors to inspect them or people to repair them, they are listed as high risk dams, it would kill thousands of people and animals and wipe out two or three states at once, much of which is farm land, by flooding the lands in no less than two feet of water 100's of miles away or at least 40 feet in areas closest to the dams.
I could go on and on about the other infrastructures that could affect our way of life.
But instead I'll just say...again...Stock Up...what could it hurt.
This message I think was confirmed by a visit from a Red Squirrel and Chipmunk
What does Squirrel 'speak' of...
Activity and Preparedness.
They are most often seen digging up and burying seeds and nuts, stocking up for a later time
Red squirrels are the sentinels of the forest...and tell of strangers.
With their chattering and scolding they are literally reporting what's going on...in the forest.
Red=Passion and Strength
Negative qualities of Red...anger, aggression,impulse

Which brings me to something I wrote a few nights ago in my bedside journal
Kalamunda (my spelling Calamunda, can't tell a c from a k while half awake:)....
a word derived from two Noongar (an indigenous Austrailian language) words:
Kala meaning 'home' and munda meand 'forsest', hence 'A home in the forest'.

And then there's Snake...a Grey snake (garter snake) that has taken residence around the house and garden.
For about three weeks now, I see 'her' where ever I go, in the garden, by the decorative pond, in the garage, just laying in the grass looking at me as I pack the shop up for Farmers Market. Though snake is not one of my favorite animals, I find them interesting, and they are beneficial to have around the garden. Snakes eat insects and unwanted rodents, and not only are they beneficial to the garden they 'speak' volumes too...
What does Snake 'Speak' of...Movement, Transition, Change and Healing
Look for changes in conditions and movement to new life and a rebirth of powers of creativity and wisdom.
The ability to absorb more knowledge.
Higher forms of discrimination and spiritual idealism.
COOL:)
Grey=Initiation, imagination
Yellow=Communication, optimism, inspiration.

More people have mentioned the animals seem different this year and we've discussed this too at Spiritual Gab.
Even, people who are not really into that the animals 'speak' have noticed the animals seem 'friendlier' or not as afraid.
Have you noticed you can walk closer to birds before they fly away? Or deer? Have you noticed there is just something different about the animals? Have you noticed that they seem to look right at you, as if they have something to say? If you have noticed, do you have any idea why?
I think...it's because the 'veil' is thinner, and that veil, as Linda read in the bible, might be our own personal veil lifting. Meaning that because the animals are already connected to the higher source all the time and now because we are becoming more 'aware' and connected, the birds and animals don't fear us or are as leery of us as they used to be. Because we have a better understanding.
Do you have any ideas on this? Have you had experiences where you feel more in touch with the animals... If so, please I'd love to hear.

Have you noticed too, Orioles, so many people have Orioles this year near their houses.
I've had a pair for a few weeks and I am so enjoying them. In fact they were walking around on the porch, and trying to get some dried nectar off the porch that had dripped on the concrete...So cute...
What does Oriel speak of...
Oriole
Is a harbinger of of positive energy, blessings and unions.
Speaks of weaving new sunshine, and is the bird that speaks the most of summer.
It's song and bright colors 'speak' of golden sunshine coming into your life, within a two to three week period after it shows up.
Signified by they have 4-6 eggs that hatch in a two week period.
It 'speaks' of weaving new sunshine into your life, rediscovering your inner child and a renewed sense of joy.
The colors.
Orange=Warmth, Joy, Creativity
Black=Protection, birth, magic.
Numbers 2,4 & 6
2=Feminine, Dreams, Cooperation
4=foundations, patience, builder
6=home service, family.

Gotta love it when the Animals 'Speak'
'
Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
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Herbs & Things

Herbs & Things Email May 22nd...Being true to who you are

Hello From Herbs & Things:)God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom
to know the difference (from the Serenity prayer)
Reinhold Neibuhr

Hello it’s me, MIA Kellie. I’ve not forgotten you…I've been getting gardens in, putting fences around the gardens to keep unwanted critters out, mowing lawns and the Medicine Wheel and trying to listen to ‘the voice’.

Before I get into what they want me to share now…I want to say…I had such a Great time at the Colden Community’s first Farmers Market. I am so looking forward to being there again Jun 2^nd! What a wonderful job the girls from the Bread of Life did putting the market together. Thank you!

Ok so onward…amazingly what nature and the Medicine Helpers have been ‘speaking’ to me is right. Each animal that has come to me of late, ‘speaks’ of a shift. This was also confirmed at the last spiritual gab through Kathy H and her knowledge in astrology, and most recently in what I thought at first a disturbing dream of my house falling down, which merely signified letting go of old thoughts. So as you read in the June events page, the direction of 'things' at Herbs & Things is changing just a little. You may want to get a cup of tea and a snack this newsletter is long

Even as I write this, it’s with uncertainty of why I need to share ALL of this because it ‘seems’ to be so much, but I will because I believe it’s what I am suppose to do. Plus I received conformation of sharing it all, through a book and also at the Colden’s Farmers Market…so here goes…

Spirit/God/ The voice has been working diligently with me about the struggles I’ve had of late. I never was one to be jealous of what others had, nor did I care to keep up with what others were doing or had. I always walked and danced to my own tune and was content and happy with where I was, what I had and what I was doing. Life to me, in spite of any hardships put in front of me...was never a struggle.

To struggle and endure are two different things. I've had hard times, no money, no work, death, sickness, heartache; abuse...many things that go along with living life...yet though sometimes it was hard, I never struggled with day to day life.

So imagine my feelings, when I started struggling in everything I was doing and everything I was not doing. I found it a struggle to be. A struggle to lose weight, ‘hear’, ‘see’, get motivated, live life in general. I wondered why I was struggling when I did not struggle when I was instructed to put the Wheel in and that was no small feat. Why were so many other things that were huge in my life not a struggle, but now I was struggling with even the simple things of every day life?

The wake up came with that large brick at the Tree Whisperer workshop, I spoke of in the last newsletter, that not only made me see, but also made we take another look at what it is I am suppose to be doing, realizing I was not listening to the guidance of Spirit/God. Hence the struggle was not in what I was trying to do, but instead in what I was not doing.
What I was not doing was not heeding 'the guidance” and most importantly I was not being true to who I am, my calling, walking my own path and trusting that I will reach my goals no matter how impossible they may seem if I don’t rush it, and if only I trust.

‘They’ also have been trying to show me this revelation, through revisits to when I was a volunteer leader of the Galloping 4-H'rs horse 4-H club. Not through all the things we did, but more importantly…what the 4-H was about.

It was a time when Rick and I could barely scrape enough money together to have two dollars in our wallet, put gas in the vehicles, which were two old vehicles that were nickel and diming us to death.... yet...some how, some way, because the 4-H was fueled and driven by God/ Spirit, there was always money, much of which at first was taken from our own empty pockets, for ribbons, classes, judges, gas for trucking, weekend clinics, picnics, mallets for the polo team, and every year a wonderful year end awards dinner, where everyone, about 80 or so people, young and old, got some sort of an award. And though we had no money, it was a time of great richness and happiness.

In didn’t matter that leading the group involved many hours, of sunburned, dusty, tiring, work. Many miles driving and hauling, lots of weekends spent with kids, showing, camping, basically horses and kids all over the place. Sometimes I even wondered why I did it, but at the end of the day and I saw what the children had learned, the fun they had, and the confidence they acquired...thus something they’d take with them to adulthood... I knew why and it was all worth it, worth more than the last dollar from our pockets.

So I finally get what ‘they’ve’ been trying to tell and show me…I’d been listening to my non guided voice and comparing myself to others, of what life says I should be doing, instead of my calling. My calling of to help, heal, guide and direct those who come in to my life. My job or calling is to help people see their potential and reach their goals and remember their goals are not mine. To let them know they are heard and with right action and right prayer that even though there might be detours, if you 'listen' you will have everything that can make you happy in life, and that happiness is not revolved around the dollar, a fancy house, new cars or having it ‘all’.

So the reason I was struggling with this huge dream and goal I have for Herbs & Things, myself and many others, is because I was trying to force movement of those dreams and goals, which are so big they look impossible, because without a lot of money, it in my mind can never be, which caused me frustration. Thus I was shown through revisiting the 4-H, if I let God/Spirit/that higher source take the reins nothing is impossible. Hence…how they showed me was...
I was taken back to that time of two dollars in my pocket, on a summer day in 1977, as I was driving to go give a riding lesson, and I heard, "any where you see horses in pastures, write a letter stating you are starting a 4-H for horses and wonder if those horses would like to bring their kids.."

HUH? I never even did 4-H myself, I showed strictly AHSA. What an odd idea?

Yet as soon as the idea came to me, I felt excitement deep within. So I composed that letter, sent it out locally to any home where I saw horses in the pastures and asked them if those horses would like to bring their kids to join a 4-H.

After a couple weeks into the 4-H I asked my sister if she'd be interested in being an assistant leader, and she said yes. For the first couple of years, we made the kids ribbons by hand from 1 inch wide ribbon and yarn made into pompoms that went on top. Each class had placings 1st-6^thwith the placing written in glitter, along with now the name of the club, The Galloping 4-hers. We made enough ribbons for 20 classes with 6 places for one clinic a month, then for the year end Family Brawl, which there were always enough ribbons for everyone.

The Galloping 4-H’rs grew from 5 kids into 27 and their horses. It was a successful, family orientated, fun filled group, run solely on love of what I was doing, donations from families, local sponsors for the polo team (a team that went to the national play offs, and came in 2nd) Flickengers food service donations of food (when ask by my mother) for the year-end banquet, and of course all under the direction by that higher source, all things that could not be done with those two dollars in my pocket.

So when 'they' tell me again, its not about the money, it's about being true to who I am, I think I finally get it, and it makes me realize too, sometimes to reach our goals, we have to do something not related to our goals at all.

This I was shown by being taken back again to a time of the Galloping 4-h'rs, when they showed at Erie County Fair. There were a lot of different classes for the children and their horses, Pleasure, Trail, Games, Walk Trot, Fitting and Showmanship...and more.
I had one young man his goal was… he and his horse be Gaming Champions at the fair. Thus he could not see the why of, nor did he like, doing Pleasure, equitation or most of all Fitting and Showmanship.

Protesting against the fitting and showmanship he’d say to me, “I don't need to know Fitting and Showmanship Kellie to win in games. I just need to run fast, know my patterns, and have my horse fit. I don't need to get all dressed up, acting all fancy and parade my horse around and show how much control and etiquette I have and that I know the parts of the horse. They should know I have control I can run my horse at full speed, steer her, and stop her. If that's not control I'd like to know what it is?"

My response, "Here’s the deal, you want to game, you MUST do Fitting Showmanship. But, you can't just muddle through it, You have do it like it means the world to you, like you love it and it’s the Fitting and Showmanship championship you want to win not the games. And if you can’t convince me, it looks like you love doing fitting and showmanship… then sorry you still don’t show at the fair."

I wasn’t even sure why I was so adamant about him doing the Fitting and Showmanship. I can tell you, he was not happy, but he did it.

It came fair time, he did marvelous in the games...he tied for Game Champion with a girl. The two each had their choice of how to break the tie, his, running poles, her’s fitting and showmanship. They chose, and then a coin was tossed to see who would win the pick for tie breaker. She won the toss...Fitting and showmanship was going to be the tie breaker class.

Long story short, he reached his goal of Gaming Champion through something he liked least...Fitting and Showmanship! There it was that thing that had nothing to do with the goal he wanted to reach but ultimately was the thing he needed to reach his goal.

After-wards, He came up to me and hugged me...and said..."Thank you Kellie for pushing me to do something I thought I'd never need. How did you know? I am so glad you were 'mean' and Made me do this. I am so glad. How did you know?"

I responded, "How did I know? I don’t know. It’s just something I knew you needed to do, but did not know why. Well now we both know the why.”

Which brings me back to my goal for and Herbs & Things, the community and nature, a goal that needs a lot of money…thus apparently if one reaches their goals by doing something that has nothing to do with the goals, I’ve been instructed that from now on, almost all classes and workshop at Herbs & Things, will be Free or by donation only. No more collecting money for the classes I, Kellie, offer… I’m still waiting for some answers on questions about the classes and lectures I teach, and as soon as I know…so will you

Oh…and one more thing. Since I’ve decided to listen and be true to who I am, and follow that path I am suppose to be on…I have no feelings of struggle, well maybe one struggle yet, weight. But I know that answer will come... when it is time.
Whew such a relief.




Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way

Kellie
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Herbs & Things