BLESSINGS AND LESSONS

To my delight, the world surrounding me this morning is white.  Even the tree branches are dancing in the wind.  If I was young, I'd bundle up and go for a snow walk.  There's nothing in the world like being the first one to leave footprints in the pristine blanket of white.  Age deters me from playful ventures, cuz I dare not risk falling and breaking one of my branches.

This last week I've been watching movies, one after the other.  Mostly rom-coms and mysteries.  A dialogue by one of the actresses playing the part of an earth-angel ended with, "Everything that happens to us is either a blessing or a lesson." 

Blessings bring us happiness and benefit our lives.  We see them as gifts from a Higher Power.  Lessons learned prevent us from repeating our mistakes.  The most precious life lessons can only be learned the hard way.  

THE GIOCONDA SHINE DOOR- Bucharest, Romania

Today's spotlight shines on The Gioconda Shine Door in Bucharest, Romania.  It features a replica of Leonardo Da Vinci's painting, Mona Lisa.  

The door is made of genuine leather and 31,707 Swarovski crystals, considered one of the most expensive doors in the world.

The Gioconda Shine Door

Shine doors describe high-end doors, with luxurious designs and decorative elements like crystals or intricate patterns. 

While researching today's spotlight, I came across a powerful sentence......

Let everyone sweep in front of their own door, 

and the whole world will be clean.

BLUE DOORS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

💙  In 1938, a national order in Greece mandated the painting of island homes in blue and white.  At the time, Greece was suffering an outbreak of cholera.  In an effort to curb the disease, the citizens were ordered to whitewash their homes.  The whitewash used to paint the houses contained limestone, which is a powerful disinfectant.  So, the citizens whitewashed their homes to reduce the spread of cholera.

💙 Greek fishermen painted their doors and shutters with leftover paint after painting their boats.  The blue color was made from a mixture of limestone and a cleaning product called loulaki, which was kinda like blue talcum powder most people had in their homes, making it both affordable and available.

💙  The white and blue colors of the Greek island homes became mandatory during the military dictatorship of 1967.  The regime believed the colors inspired patriotism and reflected Greek nationalism.  Eventually, in 1974, a law was passed that mandated the painting of Greek island homes in blue and white.  These regulations have now been relaxed, but the blue and white colors have become a huge draw for travelers.  Many of the island homeowners continue painting their homes blue and white because it's good for tourism.

Flag of Greece

💙  Blue and white are the national colors of Greece and appear on the Greek flag which consists of five blue alternating horizontal stripes and a white cross on the upper left corner.  Blue symbolizes the sky and the sea, and white represents purity, the struggle for independence, and the clouds and the waves.  The cross represents Christianity.

💙  The Greek Island of Santorini is known for its white architecture and blue-domed churches.  The most iconic blue domed churches are located on a cliff side overlooking the Aegean Sea.

💙  Greece is known for its culture, beauty and history. The Olympic Games and democracy originated in Greece.  

💙  Greece was the birthplace of Western philosophy by well-known thinkers like Socrates, Aristotle and Plato.  Their concepts spread and influenced people all over the world. 

💙 Greek mythology began as an oral tradition and was passed down through generations.  The legends were eventually written down as epic stories about Greek gods, the nature of the world, the origins of traditions and beliefs, and the weather.  Greek mythology taught the importance of bravery, intelligence and right and wrong, punishment and reward.  Modern-day scholars study Greek mythology to better understand their ancient society and politics.

💙  Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus believed that the universe is in a state of constant flux....that nothing remains the same and that change is the fundamental essence of reality.  Everything is temporary.  For us to better understand the world and be comfortable in it, we have to accept that nothing is going to stay the same. 

💙  Life is like a river.  It keeps on flowing, evolving and changing from one second to the next.....

1. Technology is a good example of constant change.  What is cutting-edge today will be obsolete tomorrow.
2. Social media platforms that are popular today may fade away.
3. Personal relationships grow closer or apart depending on circumstances or shifting priorities.  Personal connections are not permanent, nor should we expect them to be.
4. Fashion trends change from year to year, season to season.  Styles we wore a few years ago we wouldn't be caught wearing today.  Human expression is always evolving.
5. Economic trends, job markets and consumer preferences are always changing.  The stock market prices fluctuate throughout the trading day.
6.  Our environment, the natural ecosystems continually change because of the climate, natural disasters and human interference.  This reflects the ongoing transformation of Planet Earth.  
7. Personal health and well-being can change in an instant. Every human lives under the umbrella of lifestyle choices, age and unforeseen circumstances. 

"Incredible change happens in your life

 when you decide to take control 

of what you have power over

 instead of craving control

 over what you don't."

  ~Steve Marabol

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

My yesterday was spent at a Signed-Sealed-Delivered movie marathon.  The episode where Oliver recites His Eye Is On The Sparrow made me cry.  Not only are the words emotionally touching, but they reminded me of Aunt Jane's funeral a few months ago.  She lived to be 103.  The soloist at her celebration of life sang that song based on Matthew 10:29-31.  The message is meant to give us comfort and reassure us during times of worry or sadness.  He keeps his eye on us and our earthly concerns and well-being.

These are the words that Oliver recites from memory in the movie:

Whenever I have sorrow,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies.

I draw the closer to Him,

From care He sets me free.

His eye is on the sparrow.

And I know He watches me.

His eye is on the sparrow.

And I know He watches me.

SEA SCALLOP

Sea Scallop

Second to lobster, grilled sea scallops are my absolute favorite seafood.  

Sea scallops are called bivalves, having two hinged shells, like clams and oysters.  The shells are scalloped with fluted edges, usually reddish-pink or brown in color.  Its lower shell is white or cream-colored.  They're commonly found on beaches and are fun for the seashell collector to find.  

Each ring on a scallop's shell represents a year of growth, similar to how tree rings indicate a tree's age.  Atlantic sea scallops can live up to 20 years.  Environmental conditions dictate populations.  There are more than 400 species of scallops found around the world.  They are one of the cleanest shellfish available.

Sea scallops can swim by opening and closing their shells.  They open their shells to filter plankton out of the seawater for food...the tiny organisms get caught in the scallop's mucus and tiny hairs move the food toward the mouth.

They can have up to 200 eyes, located along the mantle lining of their shells (photo left).  The eyes can detect shadows and movement, which enables them to escape their predators.  I should note that scallop eyes are one of the most unusual visual systems in Nature.  They're said to be similar to reflecting telescopes.  Their complexities are still being studied.

The scallop shell is imprinted
on milestones that show the way to
Santiago de Compostela

 Camino de Santiago in Galicia, Spain, is a pilgrimage route that traces the path of apostle St. James to the Cathedral of Santiago.  (Said to be the burial place of the apostle St. James.)  Along the route, the scallop shell is the symbol of the pilgrimage and is used in its Christian art and architecture, including doorways, arches and baptismal fonts.  The shell's grooves that radiate outward from a central point, have been interpreted as a metaphor for the rays of Divine light extending out to the world.  St. James is said to have used the scallop shell to pour water on his converts' heads in Baptism.  

Scallop Shell Art and Architecture
of Camino de Santiago

The scallop shell is a metaphor for a pilgrimage, emphasizing the idea that the journey is more important than the destination. 

Shell Oil Logo

Shell Oil's logo actually started out as the black and white mussel shell found on a beach in the Philippines.  Over the years, it has changed to the Scallop which is instantly recognizable in a bright yellow and red color scheme.  The yellow associates with energy and optimism, and the red associates with power and strength.

All my life, I've been fascinated with seashells....the tiny structures in which a sea creature once lived on its own journey,  While most scallop shells share a similar fan-shape, each scallop shell is slightly different...in color, growth variations and the patterns of its ridges. Regions, habitats and species play a significant part in their uniqueness. 

If I was to choose one tiny piece of Creation to  remind me of the Divine Force in my life, I'd quite possibly opt for the shell of the sea scallop.  Looking at it from bottom to top, it embodies the concept of life fanning out in stages from baby to child to adolescent to adult to its sacred end.  From the top to bottom it mirrors how we individuals walk side by side through life toward the same destination.

FRIED EGG JELLYFISH

The Fried Egg Jellyfish's bell looks like a sunny-side-up fried egg.  The center of the bell (yolk) is raised slightly and can be up to 2 feet in diameter.  The outside of the bell is more flattened and is a creamy yellowish color.  

Fried egg jellyfish live in the Pacific Ocean from Chile to the Gulf of Alaska.  They also live throughout the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.  They prefer to be alone and don't swarm.  The only time these jellies are together is if they all get caught in the same current.  

They don't do much, they're lazy swimmers.  They can swim when they need to.  Their bell pulses as they move.

Their lifespan is only half a year.  They usually hatch from their eggs in the summer months and die by the winter of the same year.  Despite their short lives, they are important to the marine ecosystem...by eating plankton (algae, protozoa, small crustaceans and fish larvae.  This helps prevent overcrowding of these microorganisms. Crustaceans are named after the Latin word crusta, which means shell.

Jellyfish drift along in the depths of the ocean, carried by water currents without resistance.  This effortless existence personifies the idea that we, too, can move through life without needing to control every aspect of it.

The phrase be like a jellyfish, encourages us to go with the flow and trust in the world around us.

MANATEE - Gentle Giant

Manatees are very intelligent.  Their closest relative is the elephant, although they look more similar to seals and walruses.  The average adult is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. They move through the water at about 5 mph.  

Manatees are considered to be nice because of their gentle disposition.  They don't have any significant predators, so they don't have aggressive behaviors to defend themselves.  They are curious and will approach a human because they're inquisitive.  They communicate with each other with chirps, whistles or squeaks.  These sounds are used for maintaining contact with one another, signaling distress or expressing enjoyment.

Manatees use their tails in an up and down motion to propel themselves forward.  They tend to be solitary animals or maybe in pairs or very small groups of six or less.  When they're in a group, they're called an 'aggregation.'   

Manatees live in warm, coastal waters, rivers and springs in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico and Florida.  They can live in both freshwater and saltwater.  The Western Indian Manatee, known as the Florida Manatee, is the world's most humble creature.  They don't know any form of aggression.

The main threat to manatees are collisions with boats.  They feed and rest in shallow waters, which makes them vulnerable to boats.  Remote-controlled flood gates have also crushed manatees.  Entrapment in flood gates and navigation locks regularly kill manatees and is the second leading human factor for their deaths.  Sadly, manatees are dying in high numbers because of runoff from factory farming.  When the runoff reaches the ocean, it helps the toxic algae to bloom, and that is what destroys sea grass.

The manatee is a slow, gentle and large creature, earning the nicknames of gentle giant or sea cow.  Like cows, males are called bulls, females are called cows and the babies calves. They are incredibly graceful creatures and play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.  Manatees eat a lot of sea grass and keep the grass short, which helps maintain the health of the sea grass beds.  

The manatee's presence encourages us to embrace and explore the depths of our emotions with gentle compassion and acceptance.  Modern day human existence can be upsetting and divisive.  The manatee's spiritual energy can help serve as a compass, showing us the way back to a place of inner peace.  

BLUE SEA STAR

Blue Starfish have five arms and can be up to 12 inches across.  They live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...on coral reefs, in sand and under rocks.

Starfish have no brain and no blood.  They use filtered sea water to pump nutrients through their nervous system.  They don't have gills, scales and fins like fish do.  They aren't classified as fish, so scientists prefer to call them Sea Stars.  They cannot survive in fresh water.  If they somehow lose one of their arms, it can take up to a year to grow back.

The blue sea star digests its prey outside its body by extruding its stomach out through its mouth and consuming the meal.  Once the food is digested, the stomach is drawn back inside the body. 

The blue sea star moves by using hundreds of tiny tube feet that are on its underside.  The tube feet extend and retract, essentially walking or gripping onto surfaces in order to move around.  They're slow moving, and it would take about a week for the sea star to walk a mile.  

There are about 2,000 species of sea stars.  The sea star represents our ability to renew ourselves.  We have the power to reinvent ourselves by breaking patterns and resetting our moral compass.  There may be times in our lives where everything seems broken beyond repair.  In those times, the sea star inspires us to align ourselves with a determination to not give up.  

A group of sea stars is called a galaxy.....the sea stars on the ocean floor mirror the stars in the sky. 

THE 7-COLORED TANAGER - Brazil

This brilliantly colored songbird is found only in the humid forests of northeastern Brazil.  Sadly, this species small population is declining as a result of forest loss and trapping for the illegal cage-bird trade.  The main threat is deforestation for conversion to pastures and sugar cane plantations.

Their Tiny World

"While I am watching the birds I believe I am comparatively immune from the assaults of life.  The very indifference to humanity of these wild creatures affords me a certain safeguard.  Where all else is dangerous, hostile and liable to inflict pain, they alone can do me no injury because, probably, they are not even aware of my existence.  The birds are at once my refuge and my relaxation."  ~Anna Kavan

 "But look around at this world, how perfectly it's made.  Flowers can't move, yet the insects come to them and spread their pollen.  Trees can't move either, but birds and animals eat their fruit and carry their seeds far and wide."  ~Nahoko Uehashi

SEAHORSE

The Seahorse is the only fish species that can hold onto your hand.  Yup, they use their monkey-like tails to hold onto things.  This helps them from being pushed around by the sea currents.  This is interpreted as a spiritual reminder to remain grounded, even when the world around us feels like a turbulent ocean.

It is also one of the few species in the animal kingdom that form lifelong pair bonds.  Once they find their soulmate, they stick together no matter what.  It's said that if a mate dies, the other seahorse soon dies.  They can't live without one another.

These small un-fish-like creatures are actually fish and quite the romantic underwater creatures.  When two lovers meet and greet each other in a nose-to-nose embrace, they  twist their tails together and dance by swinging and encircling each other.

Seahorse is named for the shape of its head that looks like the head of a tiny horse.  Even though they live in water, they're poor swimmers.  They are masters of camouflage, tho, which means they can change their color to orange, red, yellow, green, pink and brown, even with dots and stripes.  They do this mainly to hide from predators.

Hang onto your hats.....male seahorses are responsible for pregnancy and childbirth.  They carry the eggs in a pouch on their underside 'til they hatch.  Seahorses eat almost constantly because they have no teeth or stomachs.  They suck food through their snouts like a vacuum cleaner.

There are some 50 different recognized species of seahorses.  They're all similar in appearance and camouflage behaviors.  

Once seahorses wrap their tail around something, they will not give up.  This makes them the ideal symbol of persistence and deep commitment.  Seahorses remind us of the importance of someone to rely on when the waves of life get too rough.  Ancient sea lore depicts the Seahorse as the protector of sailors.  

Up until my research about this odd sea creature, I admit to not really liking them.  Goes to show the more we know about something, the better.  Learning one new thing every day keeps us mentally flexible.  

In a world of fish, be a seahorse and navigate through life's currents with the grace of a seahorse in a coral reef!

SKUNK

Striped Skunk

In my opinion, today's spotlight shines on the animal that drew the 2 of spades and lost the bet.  Poor little things come equipped to protect themselves from predators, and for that reason no one wants to be around them.  Through no fault of their own, they are born with special glands under their tails that create an oily substance known as skunk musk.  When a skunk is threatened, it can spray this musk for up to ten feet and its odor can be detected for up to 1.5 miles.  Before spraying, the skunk will stomp the ground with both front feet, raise their tail and charge forward, followed by stomping backwards and sometimes dragging their front feet.

Skunk Family

Oh, trust me, I know first-hand the offensive odor that these adorable creatures spray.  When we were kids in grade school, Jimmy K. got sprayed by a skunk on his walk into town to school.  When the nuns realized what was going on, they ran up and down the halls, their black shoes clomping and their rosary beads jingling like it was Christmas.  It was total turmoil before the women in black and white ordered him to return home and not come back till he didn't stink.  Poor Jimmy started crying and turned to take the walk of shame back home.  The rest of us kids stood at attention like we were in a military inspection....we didn't dare move or say one word.  It was a WWJD moment.

The skunk teaches us humans the importance of setting boundaries and defending ourselves when necessary.  It also represents the balance between light and dark, the yin and yang.  

The word SKUNK has several meanings, like last night Jack got drunk as a skunk.  Skunk can refer to a type of marijuana, an unpleasant person, or a lopsided victory in a game of competition.  The team with 0 score got skunked. 

There's the saying, What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.  This means that people will judge us by our actions--not our intentions.  Every time we do, or don't do, something, it either works for us or against our image and self-publicity.  We judge ourselves by our intentions.....others judge us by our actions.

CHIFFCHAFF - A Small Warbler

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaffs can be seen in Europe, Asia and Africa.  They are greenish-brown above and off-white below.  They're named for their simple double-noted chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff song.

Chiffchaffs are known for their energetic tail flicks, which are visible as they perch on tree branches.

They can imitate the songs of other birds, up to 20 different species.

Females build dome-shaped nests for their babies near to the ground, covered with leaves and lined with soft feathers.
    
This small migratory bird is the messenger of springtime as it returns from its winter migratory home.  It symbolizes not only the change of seasons but also resilience and renewal.  Such a small soul is a profound metaphor for the enduring power of nature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson referred to nature as the Universal Being.  It was his belief that there was a spiritual sense in the natural world around him.  My soul feels that very same way.  We who have reverence and genuine respect for Nature are blessed to recognize in Her  being a library, a chapel, a symphony, an art gallery, a ballet, whispering winds,  a garden, an earth light, a night lantern, a lullaby and a playground. 

Nature's message to humanity is simple:  

Nature doesn't need people. 

 People need nature. 

ZEBRAS

Zebra

The Zebra, with its black and white stripes and bold personality, is a symbol for feeling brave.  Bravery is the courage to stand firm in the face of adversity, to defend oneself against threats, and to remain true to one's identity despite external pressures.

When we hear the term 'zebra' we immediately think of the black and white striped animal that lives in Africa. In the world of medicine, the term 'zebra' serves as slang for a rare or unusual medical condition.  This originated from a quote by a Dr. Theodore Woodward, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the 1940s when he told his medical interns, "When you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras." This metaphoric statement was meant to remind them to consider common diagnoses first rather than jumping to rare diseases.  He chose the word 'zebra' to represent rare medical conditions due to the animal's uniqueness.  Just as the zebra stands out with its black and white stripes among all the other brown animals, rare diseases stand out among more common ailments.  

Each zebra has a unique pattern of stripes, like our human fingerprints.

There are three types of zebra as shown in the photo to the left....The Grevy's has thin and narrow stripes, the Mountain has broad stripes and the Plains Zebra has broad and narrow stripes.  No one knows for certain why the zebra has stripes.  Some say it's for camouflage, others claim it's for social recognition.  Others say the stripes serve thermo-regulators...black stripes absorb heat in the morning and warm up the zebras, and the white stripes reflect light more and help cool them as they graze for hours in the blazing hot sun.  There's also the theory that the stripes protect the zebras from biting flies. 

A group of zebras is called a dazzle or a zeal.  The male is a stallion, the female is a mare, and a baby a foal.  They're known for their powerful kicks and can run up to 35 mph.

Shel Silverstein wrote.........

"I asked the Zebra, are you black with white stripes?  Or white with black stripes?  And the zebra asked me:  Are you good with bad habits?  Or are you bad with good habits?  Are you noisy with quiet times?  Or are you quiet with noisy times?  Are you happy with some sad days?  Or are you sad with some happy days?  Are you neat with some sloppy ways?  Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?  And on and on and on and on and on and on he went.  I'll never ask a zebra about stripes.....again." 

The spiritual message the zebra brings is BALANCE.  The black and white stripes represent opposing forces that coexist in harmony.  Black and white, yin and yang. 

When I see a zebra, I think of an optical illusion. 

DUSKY LEAF MONKEY

Dusky Leaf Monkey

In this age of social chaos, it's refreshing to learn that there is one sweet-natured primate left on the planet.  Yup, it prefers to focus on reconciliation in the event of aggression within the group.  The Dusky Leaf Monkey, found primarily in the tropical forests of Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, is one of the cutest monkeys ever.  They communicate in murmurs and squeaks that are absolutely adorable. 

Their babies are born bright orange and at around six months they develop their adult dark grey coat.  The adults have white circles around their eyes and their mouths.   This white color pattern is shown also on top of their heads and on their stomachs.  Interestingly, they have a 4-chambered stomach, similar to a cow, allowing them to digest the lush jungle foliage that makes up the bulk of their diets.  

 Their hands and feet are very similar to that of humans, with well-developed fingers and opposing thumbs.

AFRICAN PROVERB:  You cannot convince a monkey that honey is sweeter than banana.  This proverb means that it's pointless to try to convince someone who is stubborn or set in their ways.

POLISH PROVERB:  Not my circus, not my monkeys.  It's a way of saying.......don't drag me into your drama and your issues--I'm not getting involved.

SOUTH SUDAN PROVERB:  When the monkey can't reach the ripe banana with his hand, he says it is not sweet.  This means that someone will often criticize or downplay something they can't attain or achieve.  Essentially they are making excuses for their own limitations instead of acknowledging their inability to reach it.  It's a metaphor for people who dismiss opportunities or successes they cannot access, often by claiming it isn't valuable or desirable.

Monkeys play center stage when it comes to proverbs and sayings.....

Make a monkey out of someone:  to make someone look foolish or silly.

Monkey business:  describes dishonest behavior.

A monkey on your back:  a problem that's difficult to get rid of or solve.

Monkey's uncle:  to express surprise, amazement or disbelief.  "I'll be a monkey's uncle!"

Brass monkeys:  cold weather.

The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail:  The more someone achieves, the more they show off.

Monkey around:  behave in a silly way.

Monkey see, monkey do:  copying someone's actions.

More fun than a barrel of monkeys:  means to have a lot of fun. 

If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys:  means you get what you pay for.

Grease monkey:  a mechanic who works on automobiles or aircraft.

A monkey suit:  a tuxedo, can often make a man look a little foolish. 

There are about 267 species of monkeys in the world.  Humans are more closely related to apes than monkeys.  Humans and apes share a common ancestor that lived between 7 and 9 million years ago....according to the theory of evolution.

My personal....humble....complex....and baffling curious question:  At what point in the evolutionary process did the SOUL come into existence?

PANDA BEARS

Panda Bears - Hugging is their ultimate way to express affection.

The panda is native to China, where it is regarded as a national treasure.  It often serves as a national symbol at international events and is gifted to countries on a 10-year loan basis as part of diplomatic exchanges.  A country can only receive them if they have good relations with the People's Republic.  They're mostly found in the mountain ranges of Central China and mainly in the Sichuan Province.  In China,  pandas are also known as white bear, bamboo bear and large bear cat.

The panda has a history of 8 million years.  Even though they look soft, cuddly and huggable, they have a dangerous side when they feel threatened.  They like to avoid confrontation, but will attack to protect themselves or their cubs, if provoked.  They have physical strength and powerful jaws and teeth.  They have a bite strength similar to that of a lion.

Pandas eat mainly bamboo and drink fresh water from rivers and streams that are fed by melting snow on top of the mountains.  

Did you know that in 1961, March 16th was declared National Panda Day?  Pandas are considered an umbrella species.  Protecting them and their habitat benefits other species.  Conservation efforts to protect pandas indirectly protect other endangered species that share their habitat.  A 2015 publication by The Society for Conservation Biology revealed that preserving the panda's natural habitat helps 70% of the country's forest birds, 70% of mammals and 31% of amphibians. 

The panda is a symbol of peace and friendship in China.  It represents conservation efforts worldwide.  Its image is globally recognized and used in wildlife conservation campaigns, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection.

 The name "panda" is believed to be derived from the Nepalese words "nigalya ponya" meaning bamboo eater.

Panda Wisdom:  Sometimes the best action is inaction.

COFFEE

"Stressed, blessed and coffee obsessed."  

Most of the world's coffee is grown and harvested along what is called The Bean Belt...along the Equator.   According to the International Coffee Organization, Brazil produces about one-third of the world's supply.  That's twice as much as Vietnam, the second-place holder.

Coffee Flowers

Coffee flowers have a heavenly fragrance, but not like coffee.  At one time coffee was botanically misclassified in the same family as jasmine.  It's no wonder, 'cuz the two flowers have a similar scent when in full bloom.  Jasmine happens to be my second favorite fragrance after gardenia.

Coffee Cherries

The coffee plant produces cherries ranging from green to reds to yellow.  The coffee "bean" is really the seed of the cherry.  Coffee berries are picked when they're deep red.  

The cherries are then pulped to separate the beans, which are then dried and roasted.  The cherries are a trendy new super food that's used in supplements, juices and herbal teas.  Cascara, a/k/a coffee cherry tea, is an infusion of dried coffee cherry pulp.

 

Coffee has been a mainstay all my life.  Straight up, black and strong.  My maternal gramma shared her cups of coffee with me when I was about seven years old.  In my childhood mind, it represented a blessed ritual that I wanted to always hold onto.  And, I have.  

"My birthstone is a coffee bean." 

SNOWY OWLS

The Snowy Owl (a/k/a polar owl, white owl or Arctic owl) is native to the Arctic tundra regions of both North America and the Palearctic.  It is one of the world's largest owls.  

Palearctic Region

The snowy owl eyes are yellow and proportionately smaller than most owl eyes.  They cannot move their eyes, so they look around by turning their heads.  Their necks are flexible and can rotate about 270 degrees.

Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is often active during the day, 'specially in the summertime. 

Some years the snowy owls stay in the Arctic year-round.  Other years they migrate south to the northern United States and southern Canada.  In New York and New England, snowy owls are regular winter visitors.  In the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and eastern Canada they appear only some winters.  Massachusetts has some popular sighting areas for snowy owls, including Westport, New Bedford, Nantucket, Orleans, Duxbury Beach, Cranes Beach, Salisbury State Park, and Plum Island.  What drives them south is not the cold temperatures, but rather food. 

Female snowy owls are white with dark brown bars on their feathers, giving them a salt-and-pepper appearance.  Male snowy owls are almost completely white, and they get whiter as they age.

Another example of Mother Nature's art gallery.  If we don't search for the beauty here on Earth, we may live and die without ever seeing or experiencing it.  

ARKADIKO BRIDGE or KAZARMA BRIDGE - Greece

This old stone crossing was constructed by the ancient Greeks sometime between 1300 and 1190 BC....some 3,300 years ago.  The bridge was built with limestone boulders, smaller stones and small pieces of tile assembled tightly together without mortar.  It is 72 feet long, 18 feet wide and 13 feet tall.  

Credit: Flausa123/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

The bridge is still safe for pedestrian use.  Archaeologists conclude that its style suggests it was built for chariots.  It still has the curbs intended to guide the horse-drawn conveyances.  Originally, it would have been used to transport goods from place to place, but also would have been used by Greek military troops on their travels across the country. 

The Arkadiko Bridge is located near the modern road from Tiryns to Epidauros in Argolis on the Peloponnese, Greece. 

One can't help but wonder what things being built in 2025 will still be standing and in use 3,300 years from now.  

ANTARCTICA

Antarctica provides our world with stunning sites like the glacier ice formations, rugged coastlines, snowy landscapes, volcanic islands and stunning mountain ranges.   The geography of Antarctica is centered around the South Pole and south of the Antarctic Circle.  During the Southern Hemisphere summer months of December, January and February, the sun never sets....there is continuous daylight.

The continent of Antarctica is 1.5 times the size of the United States (photo right). Antarctica belongs to no one.  No single country owns Antarctica.  Instead, Antarctica is governed by a group of nations in a one-of-a-kind international partnership called the Antarctic Treaty, signed by representatives of seven countries:  Argentina, Austraia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.  These countries drew lines around their proposed territories, dividing Antarctica like a pie chart.  The United States and most other countries do not recognize these claims.  It should be noted that countries have placed their scientific study facilities within their claimed parts of the pie.  Other countries have constructed research facilities within the areas claimed.   

Antarctica has no official flag, since it isn't a nation nor is it ruled by a single government.  The most widely used flag is a plain white map of the continent on a pale blue background that symbolizes neutrality.  The flag was flown on the Antarctic continent for the first time in 2002.

The continent of Antarctica is capped by an inland ice sheet containing about 90% of the world's total surface fresh water.  The ice sheet is so heavy that it has pushed the land below sea level in places.

Emperor Penguins
Note the little one on the right wanting something!

There are no polar bears in Antarctica.  Their natural habitat is the Northern Arctic.  However, the Emperor Penguin is found only in Antarctica. It is the largest of all living penguin species, with a black head, chin and throat, with broad yellow patches on each side of the head. 

Emperors can swim underwater for up to 22 minutes.  They can slowly waddle across the ice for up to 75 miles.  The climate of Antarctica is the coldest on Earth.  The average temperature of the interior is about -71 degrees F.  The coast is warmer with average temps about 14 degrees F.  

In 1980, a tiny emperor penguin made international zoological history,  The chick was the first to be hatched and raised by its parents inside the Penguin Encounter at Sea World, San Diego, then the world's only successful emperor penguin breeding facility outside of Antarctica.  In 1982, the first hand-raised emperor penguin hatched.  Since then, more than 20 emperor penguins have been hatched and raised at Sea World.

 

Until today, I did not know that we humans have what is called The Penguin Rule:  The art of navigating 'icebergs' in conversations and not offending people.  It's the practice of being aware about the many subtle meanings that seemingly casual words might imply.  It's based on the idea that people interpret words differently, and that these differences can lead to misunderstandings.  The rule begs us to recognize that personal experiences and perspectives affect how we interpret language.  The rule is a guide for navigating challenges in life, such as adapting to change, persevering and maintaining balance.  

If Antarctica were music, it would be Mozart. 

 If it were art, it would be Michelangelo.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers around the world........May your day be filled with one of the many kinds of love!

Eros:  Romantic or passionate love, people let go of their boundaries and get very physically and emotionally involved.  Named after Eros, the Greek god of love and desire.  

Philia:  This is affectionate love, like the love felt for close friends and family.  A love between equals, those connected by the mind, and those who have shared hard times.  Named from the Greek philosopher Plato (the idea of platonic friendships).

Agape (uh-gape):  A selfless unconditional love for others, known as universal love.  A spiritual kind of love, involving enormous empathy.  Perhaps the highest form of love.  

Pragma:  A long-lasting love, or enduring love in relationships.  It's a committed, compassionate love that has endured and matured over time and has genuine meaning. 

Philautia (fuh-LAH-dee-uh):  Love of the self, or self-respect.  The ancient Greeks thought that loving yourself meant you had a wider capacity to love others--something that is desperately needed in today's world.  Aristotle said, "All friendly feelings for others are an extension of a man's feelings for himself."  There is a negative type of self-love...self-obsessed narcissism.

Storge (store-gae):  Family love, or the love felt for parents, siblings and other family members or old friends that feel like family.  Involves safety, security and support for one another, as well as the joy that comes from having shared memories.

Ludus:  Playful love, involves teasing, joking and bantering.   Typically doesn't involve serious emotional attachment or commitment.   

Mania:  Obsessive love, or co-dependency, which can lead to jealousy and possessiveness.  Now considered to be symptoms of an unhealthy or a toxic relationship, rather than being a positive kind of love.

Isn't it interesting how love makes the world go 'round, yet only one day out of 365 is set aside to honor and celebrate it.  Today we make sure to express our genuine love and appreciation to those who are special in our lives.  

Valentine's Day is a chance to consider just how rich, diverse and beneficial every form of love is in the human experience, whether it comes from family, friends, pets, neighbors or community. 

THE SWAN

Tundra Swan
Photo: Mark Boyd
Audubon Photography Awards

Swan is the honorary symbol for  wisdom, balance, graceful poise and inner beauty.   Inner beauty is brought to light by kindness, compassion, love and honesty.  The spiritual energy of the swan inspires us to seek clarity within ourselves.   

The swan represents peace and tranquility with its serene presence on the water.  Seeing a swan gliding on a lake can evoke feelings of serenity and tranquility. 

Female swans are called pens, males are cobs and young swans are called cygnets (sig-nets).  A group of swans is called a herd, bevy or flock.  Swans in flight are called a wedge or a flight.  Swans on the ground are called a bank, most likely because they flock next to the banks of rivers and lakes.  I would share the reasons for calling them pens and cobs, but I find several explanations and don't know which is the reliable one.

The Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Whooper Swan and Tundra Swan live in the Northern Hemisphere.  The Black Swan, the Black-necked Swan and the Coscoroba Swan live in the Southern Hemisphere.  In 1984, the Mute Swan was declared the National animal of Denmark, where it is a cultural symbol.  It is the main character in Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling.

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter swans get their name from their deep, resonant 2-note call.  They almost always have solid black bills, with the black markings extending to the eyes.  The bill is typically straight, and there is often a red 'lipstick' marking where the upper and lower bills meet.  Trumpeter  swans are larger than Tundra swans.  Tundra swans usually have yellow markings below the eyes.  The trumpeter swan is the largest waterfowl in North America and the largest swan in the world.  The trumpeter is the largest, tundra swans fly the farthest, and mute swans are the most aggressive. 

The trumpeter is native to the United States with a remarkable recovery record.  In 2015, the estimated population size exceeded 60,000.  In 1932, a total of 69 trumpeter swans were known to live in the U.S.  The near extinction was caused by inadequate wildlife regulations that resulted in over-harvesting for the ornamental feathers trade.

Tundra swans live up to their name by breeding in Arctic and subarctic regions; they migrate south in the winter.  They are also known as 'whistling swans' because of the sound their wings make when a flock flies overhead.

Mute Swan

Mute swans can fool us as they glide gracefully across the water.... but, watch out cuz they can become one of the world's most hostile waterfowl species while nesting and raising their young.  They've been known to turn over kayaks and canoes and continue to attack the person in the water.  The mute swan is anything but silent, making a variety of bland sounds.   However, it is the least vocal of the swan species, and that explains their name.

Black Swan

The Black Swan is the only entirely black-colored swan in the world.  It's bill is a deep orange-red with a narrow white band toward the end.   Black swans are native to Australia.

If someone refers to something as being 'a black swan,' they're referring to a completely unexpected or unpredictable, but extremely high-impact, event. Examples:  Covid pandemic, terrorist attacks of September 11.    

Coscoroba Swan

The Coscoroba Swan is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands off the southern tip of South America.  It is the smallest of the birds called swans and looks a lot like a goose.

Whooper Swan

Whooper Swan have a triangular patch of yellow on their black bill.  This species lives in Asia, Europe and North America.  The name refers to the call of this swan...a series of loud 'whoops' kinda like bugle calls.  

Black-necked Swan

The Black-necked Swan is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands and Uruguay.   It is the largest of South-American waterfowl.  It has a striking blue bill with a large red knob at its base.