soulicious cafe

it's been so long since i've been to an open mic. stef, invited us to see her "spit fiyaaaah!" along with a few other good friends. i love the facial expressions i catch when folks are so focused on what they're presenting.








open mic @ soulicious cafe, norfolk, va every wednesday night around 8:30pm-ish

earthsong

"The spiritual journey does not consist in arriving at a new destination where a person gains what he did not have, or becomes what he is not. It consists in the dissipation of one's own ignorance concerning one's self and life, and the gradual growth of that understanding which begins the spiritual awakening. The finding of God is a coming to one's self." - Aldous Huxley


me, elle and nay went to Earthsong in Stuart, VA. i can't even begin to tell the story of our adventures there. maybe it'll transpire in a graphic novel. a story about three unsuspecting women traveling to the mountains that discover their super powers under the new moon to help humankind. hmmmmmm. maybe. so for now, i'll tell the story through the images i took while we were there.


here is a list of things i experienced during our stay:

- ate some yellow wood sorrel. "nature's candy" - cameron
- learned about tulsi basil, heal-all and lambsquarters
- i heart air potatoes.
- we harvested sweet potatoes.
- seeing sooooo many stars under the new moon sky while being absorbed in the quietness of mama nature.
- gathered black walnuts


- meditated in the dharma hall
- met sasafras trees and sour wood
- white pine needles have medicinal properties
- i discovered the "alien plant" in my back yard is a pokeberry which is toxic and invasive
- i learned the term "invasive"


- shared stories and culture with cameron, emily and summer
- taught summer how to play the kubing and appointed her the kubing teacher
- played the djembe drum and rocked out
- helped build fires to keep us warm
- met the crystal singing bowl


- drank lots of yummy hot teas
- bid the sun farewell at sunset and said "thank you for your presence."



many thanks to cameron, emily, summer and uni for a our first memorable experience at earthsong.

for more images at Earthsong in my facebook album
CLICK ===> HERE <===

Also, for more info about about Earthsong go to www.earthsongretreat.org

rice

here are some images i took of rice farmers doing there thing in Bataan, Philippines rain or shine.


i had flashbacks of Jet Li in Huo Yuan Jia. remember to enjoy the breeze when it comes your way for it's part of the journey.



palay [pah-lie] is unpolished rice. this palay was being dried out in the sun on the super roman highway near where my parents live.

silence speaks

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.” - Mother Teresa

an e-mail to mom

dear mom,

you're insight on taking care of plants inspired me to take action when i came back from the philippines. i don't consider myself having a "green thumb" but like you said, there's no such thing as one. you said, "taking care of plants is like taking care of a baby. you can't expect a baby to grow up on it's own if you just sit it there. you have to give plants their basic needs of food, water and sunlight."

i re-potted all the plants in the house and even bought a few more we saw at the store that needed a good home. i even bought a plant stand exactly like the one you used to have in the bay window of the kitchen. you know, they don't make those anymore. i purchased it from someone who was selling theirs on the internet.

it's been an exciting experience watching all the plants grow new stems and leaves. i talk to them too. i like to encourage the new buds to grow and i welcome them to the world. i've noticed all the original plants are growing so much faster, especially with the new soil. i can't believe we were starving them all this time.

i've attached a photo of my indoor garden. i know you'll be proud. i am my mother's daughter :) i love you and miss you lots.

-neleh

bark in the park

"bark in the park", sponsored by the humane society, is one of the largest doggie socials i've ever been to.



frosty paws eating contest

pink punk, blue bunny & open bars

in the past few months, shane and i had the honor of attending the weddings of two awesome friends we've known since college. i was not the hired photographer but that never stops me from capturing the story from my point of view :) click on the images below for a better looksee.

kim & gerald

d & ai

cheers to the newlyweds!