The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Cathy, Neshema, Jerry, CWYA: Thank you for your responses to the wonder that I saw this morning and the sense that I had of the miraculous. Amazing to me how a tiny creature can use its tiny little adhesive like feet to crawl up an almost 3' flower stem and perch itself directly in the center of the cone with such precision.
Loved the learning on totems, Ko kees, and the question about them being poisonous? Don't know about that. I do know about the night choirs as the singing males call out to the silent females to come and play together in my little pond. I'm not always grateful for the music at 2:00 a.m. - especially when I hear piercing screams. I've just never seen these tiny guys perched on my flowers - and previous to this day - half submerged in the water on a pebbly ledge of the pond.
I just love little things. Always have. Still do. I hope all of you witness a wonder today in your lives, too.
And Jerry - I prayed for a miracle on Monday. I just didn't expect to see a tree frog as the response. Grin.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Thursday 12th of September 2013 12:20:50 PM
-- Edited by grateful2be on Thursday 12th of September 2013 12:21:34 PM
Update on treefrogs in America. The answer is no, they're not poisonous - unless maybe we eat one. This is a species of treefrog in my garden today that makes itself comfortable in the petals of roses and it climbs trees as well. I don't think it is the singing variety. I've had those. too. They look like toads, are larger and dark, and I don't gaze on them with as much wonder. When I get enough of the night choir, I wait until morning to cover my pond - they're usually gone then. It discourages them from returning at night. The iridescent green tree frog is not the same species.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Thursday 12th of September 2013 02:35:18 PM
-- Edited by grateful2be on Thursday 12th of September 2013 02:37:25 PM
This morning, a beautifully clear and sunny day in my locale, I went outside to my garden where I noticed a lone pink cone flower amidst the others that have all bloomed and turned brown and hard. I noticed a lump of something in the center of it. I walked closer to investigate. It was an iridescent green tree frog - no bigger that an inch long and 3/4s of an inch in width perched silently as it warmed itself in the sun. I got my phone to capture the wonder of it in picture form. I was disappointed because there was a line of numbers running through what I wanted to capture to review later. What I had witnessed was to be witnessed in its natural state in the moment I saw it - not later. I felt gratitude for the ability I was given to see something that simply was out of my control to produce and in my control to witness. My mind was clear of others' business, the past, the future when I saw it. I simply was in my garden - nothing more.
The experience made me wonder how many miracles I have missed in my lifetime because I was mentally caught up in the past or in the future? I guess it doesn't matter now. What matters now is that I am more willing just to be where I am as I am than I once was. Thanks, HP. Thanks, Al-Anon. Thanks, MIP.
What a beautiful story. I'm sure I too have missed many miracles in the past so reading this is making me aware to take that moment in time and look at our day in the different light. To take that moment in time to just enjoy my life and witness God's miracles.
My day today go's with a smile on my face....
__________________
Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
The experience made me wonder how many miracles I have missed in my lifetime because I was mentally caught up in the past or in the future? I guess it doesn't matter now. What matters now is that I am more willing just to be where I am as I am than I once was. Thanks, HP. Thanks, Al-Anon. Thanks, MIP.
Wonderful story...and I agree...some things are meant to view that moment and not after....In native american culture of which I am , we call them totems (lessons, teachings) anyway, totems can come in the form of an insect, animal, flora, whatever......
I remember I used to be terrified of hornets....why??? so I did some research on them and I am looking and looking and finally it hit me.....hornets have a "hard" outter structure...I guess it is their exo-skeleton....and it hit me.....I was getting "hard" myself....a hard exteriour so nothing and noone could get in my protected space....well...its ok to put up chain link fences so I can SEE the people and open the gates for the safe ones, but to put up "hard" walls is NOT good for me...
I accepted this about me and resolved to be cautious, but not so rigid w/the walls
I notice that I lost my fear of hornets.....not yellow jackets, though..their stings are hard on me, but the other hornets?? I ignore them and if one gets in my house I can actually "shoo" it out of my house w/out wanting to "oft" it with spray.....
NICE story, G......really love your stuff
__________________
Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
Sis call the ag department of the local college if they have one or the state department and describe that critter...what looks like a miracle could have you praying for one. We have cuties like that which invaded Hawaii, all islands, several years back. They are called Coquis (Ko kees) for the sound that they make...at night and LOUD!! Visitors think and call them singing tree frogs. That isn't a song and they don't do trees. I hope it's a cutie who just wants to make you smile as it already has. ((((hugs))))
Arent green tree frogs poisonous or i am i a complete clue less on my nature database? But seriously what a beautiful, beautiful reminder, grateful. my hp sometimes not only drops pebbles in my pond, s/he also gives me little snippets of wonder like you experienced in your garden. i would notice that as often happens, roses with thorns come to mind, our lessons have a sting, usually, but also are beautiful to take the 'sting' out of it, so to speak. did that make sense, i hope? my stupid computer, aaargh! mostly no capital letters today and difficult punctuation.
I hope it was the answer to your prayer on Monday...In the book "Animal Wisdom" frogs are deemed to be associated with happiness, regeneration and transformation.
Perhaps one of the most unusual frogs in Arizona is the barking frog, which is found in rocky outcrops where it lays its eggs in relatively dry crevices, and the young develop entirely within the egg and skip the tadpole stage. Thus, despite the relatively few species overall, Arizona can claim to have a richly diverse amphibian fauna.
Arizona has 24 species of frogs.
LOL....you got me looking at Arizona Fish and Game website at frogs. LOL
I don't see many frogs but the Tarantula's are are great too look at and play with.
__________________
Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
I just love the exchange of information that goes on here. Paula, thanks for the info about frogs. I have to tell you they are everywhere in my garden this year. The almost sparkly green tiny tree frogs and the long, regular green frogs. I understand that the color green can represent hope and it also represents everlasting love. So maybe the response to my prayer did have something to do with the frogs.
Cathy, I'd never think I'd see frogs in Arizona. Thanks for letting me know this. Now, as far as the tarantulas - how do you know which you can play with and which you need to leave alone?
