THE AUTUMN EQUINOX

One Autumn night, in Sudbury town, Across the meadows bare and brown, The windows of the wayside inn Gleamed red with fire-light through the leaves Of woodbine, hanging from the eaves Their crimson curtains rent and thin. As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be, Built in the old Colonial day, When men lived in a grander way, With ampler hospitality.......... (from Tales of a Wayside Inn by Longfellow) I love reading this poem at this time of the year and it always evokes for me the warmth of hearth and home...... It gives me the urge to get into the kitchen, tie on my apron and begin working on food treasures of the season. It's apple and pumpkin pickin' time....time for apples and cinnamon to scent the kitchen, pies placed in the oven and chutney simmering on the stove....all to put away for holidays. Squashes, tomatoes, herbs and all the last fruits of the garden come in to grace the table. Time for friends to get together and gather round ...........ah yes....the ancient ritual of the table. It is the seedbed of human communion that births and breeds friendships and relationships to stand the test of time. Come inside and light the fire. Put on the soup pot. Set the table. Raise a glass to the season!

Lo, The Winter Is Past.................

For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. the flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come............ Song of Solomon 2:11,12 Once again nature is gifting the earth her bountiful goodness. Spring following winter is indeed a gracious gift in this Northeastern United States. The air is crisp and clear, a fresh pallette of color returns to grey skies, the earth begins it's slow journey toward greening, and all around us bursts forth new life. Just as surely, summer follows spring. Hummmm......seems as if there are difinite laws governing the seasons. That creates an interesting concept to ponder....How well do we pay attention to our own personal journey that is governed by law? Do we listen to our inner guidance and take care of our mental, physical and spiritual health? We are always being given clues to follow. If we pay attention, we fare well. If we ignore, no so well. Much of our time here on earth is governed by our health factor. With a high grade of health our lives take on more purpose and become infused with the pure joy of being alive. We are reminded what to strive for in writings of Solomon, the book of Proverbs......"Keep your heart (spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23 Excellent advise in any season!

WINTER IS A TIME FOR ALL THE EARTH TO REST AND RENEW

Now that the holiday celebrations are over and our social lives have calmed down, we can concentrate on ourselves in a more focused and productive way. I've always secretly loved the way winter mirrors for us the chance to reflect and rearrange our lives any way we choose. What will we do different this year? I'm looking at lightening up my cooking and adding more raw foods to my and my clients diets. Healthy lighter cooking and lots of movement for stronger healthier bodies. Raw foods will add enzymes to create healthier cells and bolster the immune system. Movement in the fresh air adds lots of oxygen for the lungs and body. Clean clear water and great supplements of green alkiline foods. It is still true that the best things in life are free...............let's all reach for more health this year and improve the quality of our lives.