.....is an unspeakably perfect miracle.

Walter "Walt" Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality.

Born on Long Island, Whitman worked as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk, and – in addition to publishing his poetry – was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War. Early in his career, he also produced a temperance novel, Franklin Evans (1842). Whitman's major work, Leaves of Grass, was first published in 1855 with his own money. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an American epic. He continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892. After a stroke towards the end of his life, he moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. He died at age 72 and his funeral became a public spectacle.

Thought you might enjoy this fantastic quote from the great Walt Whitman.

Until sometime in July,

Much love,

Donna Rae

Burn In The Goodness

Yummie Lentil Loaf

Yummie Lentil Loaf Recipe

Ingredients:

▪              1 onion diced

▪              2 garlic cloves finely chopped

▪              1/2 red chilli finely chopped

▪              2 T olive oil

▪              1 1/2 cups of cooked lentils

▪              1 carrot grated

▪              1 zucchini grated

▪              5 mushrooms chopped

▪              3 artichoke bottoms diced

▪              2 egg whites, beaten to fluffy, 2 egg yokes

▪              1/2 t salt

▪              1/2 t sage

▪              1/2 t italian seasoning

▪              ¼ cup bread crumbs

▪              1/4 cup tomato paste

 Steps:

1.             Preheat oven 350 degrees

2.             Saute onion, garlic and chilli on medium heat for a few minutes

3.         Smash about 1/3 of lentils and leave remaining whole

4.             Place the onion mixture and all the other ingredients into a bowl and mix well

5.             Pour into the prepared loaf pan

6.             Bake 50 minutes or until loaf is cooked through, a little brown around the edges

7.             Let the loaf sit in the pan for approximately 10 minutes before turning it out and slicing

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If you never knew what goes on in the garden when you aren't paying attention, watch this ... Some of the finest photography you will ever see.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0 

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Hello Friends, When you get a few minutes, you must check out the above you tube video, it is simply amazing. My favorite is the bat footage. I happened to do my Qi Gong practice right after watching it and a beautiful hummingbird joined me drinking from some lavender . He was darting in and out and causing all kinds of stirring up among the bees and butterflies that were also there. I've been exceedingly busy and preoccupied with the Medical Qi Gong training I'm doing. It's very complicated and important to teach correctly. Next week I return to Santa Cruz for 9 days. This quest is certainly part of what I plan to do with my time in my 60's. It's powerful stuff and takes a tremendous amount of focus to really understand. I hope you are content and healthy. We learned last week that a dear person and next door neighbor of ours in Maine was just recently diagnosed with a Glioblastoma, a brain tumor that generally takes a progressive course. He has completed surgery and will start radiation and chemo soon. He is a rock of a man who is always there when you need him - digging rocks out, helping shovel sand, giving (good) advice, not to mention sitting down to watch the sunset over the lake with a fine glass of wine. A number of wonderful musicians have recently passed away. One of them is Robin Gibb. He said before he died, "Even if you live to be 100, it's not long enough." Love each day, each minute. And each smiling face that turns your way, let your smile reflect in their eyes, and theirs in yours and burn in the goodness that is there in each one of us. Namaste, Donna Rae