Tag Archives: Shel Silverstein

Monthly Museletter for the Merry Month of May 2018

Lunar_libration_with_phase2

“Lunar Libration” by Tomruen, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Women_dancing_with_veils_at_the_May_Day_Pageant_(4203250611)WC

“Women Dancing with Veils at the May Day Pageant” (not dated or attributed), via Wikimedia Commons

 

Happy MAY DAY! This month we’re busy with spring planting, spring weeding, and spring everything-else so the newsletter’s, I mean Museletter’s, a little lighter. And so are our hearts! Hooray for spring! Thank you again, Karla, for sharing your gleanings with us. ❤ —SK

P. S. If you’re from Colorado Springs and would like Karla’s full newsletter that includes local events, you can write her at karlaann45 @ gmail.com.

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By Alias 0591 from the Netherlands, Honeybee, via Wikimedia Commons

“Honeybee”, by Alias 0591 from the Netherlands, via Wikimedia Commons

“BEES made my lunch. Bees made my lunch. Thank you Bees! Thanks a bunch for my salad, my HONEY, my milk and my munch, cuz Bees, you made my lunch!”
—new chorus for the song DIRT MADE MY LUNCH by the Banana Slug Band

Water conservation worked in Capetown!

A Vimeo Staff Pick: Thomas Blanchard’s DANCE DANCE—flowers freezing & dye- inundated!

“We know that the hidden crimes of slavery and environmental destruction are not just inextricably linked but mutually reinforcing and reach around the planet.”—Kevin Bales, Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide and the Secret to Saving the World (2017)

The best film I saw at the Native American film fest: PEOPLE OF THE STANDING STONE: the Oneida Nation, the war for independence, and the making of America (27 min., 2017) It’s now in our local library system, with 45 reserves already!

“Nobody gets addicted to Kale—we’re addicted to CHAOS!
—Karla

2351_-_München_-_Maibaum Maypole in Munich, by Andrew Bossi via Wikimedia Commons

“Maypole, Munich, Germany” by Andrew Bossi via Wikimedia Commons

Is that a maypole in your village square, or are you just happy to see me?
(I’m almost embarrassed to admit I did not know the symbolism of the Maypole. And now I’m almost embarrassed that I do.) —S.K.
“The Maypole is a popular and familiar image of May Day and Beltane. A phallic pole, often made from birch, was inserted into the Earth representing the potency of the God. The ring of flowers at the top of the Maypole represents the fertile Goddess. Its many coloured ribbons and the ensuing weaving dance symbolise the spiral of Life and the union of the Goddess and God, the union between Earth and Sky.”
For the Beltane-curious, you can read up on May Day here.

SOLAR CELLS GETTING THINNER THAN HUMAN HAIR! 

We Missed Karla’s Birthday! (Happy Belated Birthday, Karla! I love your little birthday poem!)
“Happy Birthday to me. I’m seventy-three. All systems are working! I’m grateful and FREE!”—Karla, April 18

Many animals in my Tribe—The Silver Hairs—are in danger of extinction because of global warming. This film shows why.

“…thank you for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and a blue dream of sky, and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is YES!” —e. e. cummings

By Temtem at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

“Honeybee Swarm”, by Temtem, via Wikimedia Commons

This photo reminded me that in Colorado April is “swarm season”. Seeing a swarm up close is one of the most amazing and exciting things ever! There is no need to fear a swarm. These bees are full of honey on their adventure to locate a new home and so are docile—the chance of being stung is very low. If you see a swarm, please contact your local beekeeping organization; they have a network of beekeepers who would love to give these honey-makers a good home. Act quickly, though, as they’ll probably only be around for a few hours!—S.K.

“Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child. Listen to the DON’TS. Listen to the SHOULDN’TS, the IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS. Listen to the NEVER HAVES, then listen close to me—Anything can happen child, ANYTHING can be.”
—from Shel Silverstein’s illustrated poetry book WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

What if you could make money every time the wind blows? Matt Brown has an idea of how to make this happen for the people of Rhode Island!

Make a note of it: Full Moon on May 29th.

Judy-China-Dahlia

I had to share this beautiful bone china dahlia that a friend gave me in April. (Thank you, Judy!) Every time I look at it I will think of the beauty of of friends and flowers.

Until next month . . . have a beautiful May!

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Monthly Museletter—February 2018

Lunar_libration_with_phase2

“Lunar Libration” by Tomruen, via Wikimedia Commons

 

It’s time again for our monthly fun and educational compilation of the green, the furred, the finned, the extraordinary, and the thoughtful. Thank you, Karla, for sharing your newsletter! ❤ —SK

P. S. If you’re from Colorado Springs and would like Karla’s newsletter that includes local events, you can write her at karlaann45 @ gmail.com.

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Not through fear, anger & manipulation, but through LOVE, HOPE, and SMARTS: Bring it on, 2018! Humans around the world are our allies:

 

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Hug O’ War
a poem by the late Shel Silverstein
[author of A Light in the Attic]

I will not play at tug o’ war
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs,
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

(from Where the Sidewalk Ends: the poems & drawings of Shel Silverstein, published by Harper & Row Junior Books, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10022.Copyright © 1974 by Evil Eye Music, Inc.

Tom_Torlino_Navajo_before_and_after_circa_1882_Wikimedia_Commons

“Tom Torlino, Navajo, before and after.” Black and white photographic portrait of a Navajo by J. N. Choate, 1882. Image courtesy of the Richard Henry Pratt Papers, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, via Wikimedia Commons.

Stay watchful on behalf of our Native American relatives: There’s a new drive to privatize Indian reservations, and it has much in common with past efforts to steal Native land. Article from The Daily Kos. (Be sure to read the comments, toointeresting!)

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“We cannot live in a world that is interpreted by others. An interpreted world is not a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening—to use our own voice—to see our own light.” —Hildegard of Bingen

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Dr. Edith Widder’s TED talk on bioluminescence :

A new morning practice: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS and SEND SOME OUT!

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Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. –Goethe

 

Some bad news about chocolate (though it might get a lot better now that the problem has been exposed!).

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Straight Talk: Do we need to wipe our butts with virgin trees? NO! 27,000 trees are killed every day to make 85 million rolls of toilet paper used every day. It’s better to use sugar cane waste (bagasse) & bamboo, which are GRASSES. Grasses grow back in 1-2 years; trees take 30 years. Grasses produce 35% more oxygen than trees. Few chemicals are needed to process, so 70% of water can be re-used. Products are SOFTER, non-GMO, BPA-free, & biodegradable. Please consider switching to natural grocers” CABOO , Walgreen’s bamboo paper, or Walmart’s 100% recycled-content paper products.

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“Never be limited by other peoples’ limited imagination.”Mae Jemison

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Three New Year’s resolutions that could help everyone!
1. Curb your plastic use.
2. Meatless Mondays.
3. #MeToo media selectiveness. . . . Read the science-based details here.

And . . . one more resolution that’s bigger and far more important (and more good for you). From her extraordinary book Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe.

Maria-Rodale-Organic-Food-Quote

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These AFFIRMATIONS have served me well since 2015adopt any that appeal to you:

I surrender to the Flow. I am naturally joyful-my life works best when I’m having fun.
I am the author & illustrator of my life.
I am grateful everything works out for the highest good.
I easily give & receive energy & money.
I learn a lot by tuning in to the sacred Hum of Nature.
I am empowered to bless everything and uplift everyone.
I make myself better by clear positive intentions and actions.
The Truth is: Life is Miraculous and I can’t really die.

“After all these (Trump/Kim Jong-un) hissy fits I never want to hear anyone say a woman is too emotional to be president.”—Karla

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And . . . the best for last! This made me LAUGH and dance a little, too!

 

“All good things always rise to the surface, because goodness has no weight to hold it down.”—Karla

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