Posted in Short Stories, tagged autumn, crickets, dogs, lifestyle, nature, porch, relax, short story, song, world on October 25, 2022| 9 Comments »
Today, I sat in my rocking chair on the porch with my two trusty dogs at my side, soaked up the rays of the autumn sun and listened to the crickets sing.
When nature brings you bliss, the world’s woes drift away…
Give yourself permission to relax.
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Lessons of the Drum, tagged autumn, celebrate, color, death, grief, honor, inspiration, leaves, life, lifestyle, tree on October 18, 2022| 8 Comments »
There is a warm autumn breeze; I sit beneath the trees and watch as colored leaves fall earthward.
The trunk of the tree I am sitting under is strong; its roots are spread wide and deep. Yet, the tree is flexible and is able to bend when times get turbulent. That is why this tree has survived its many years on earth.
The tree’s large branches reach heavenward. Some of the branches are barren having lost their leaves. Still, other branches are alive with color. The leaves on those branches are preparing to make their descent but for the moment, they are full of life and enhance the world with their beauty.
I notice the leaves of this tree do not fight their ending – they have lived their life to the fullest – so, they simply let go and float gently earthward as if they are two stepping in time to a slow waltz. They dance, twirl and float earthward where they join other leaves, those that fell before them. The fallen leaves cushion the new arrivals. Their landing is soft, gentle. Each leaf is reunited happily with those that fell before them – these are their fallen family and friends.
Those leaves that remain high in the branches shiver with excitement and celebrate the life of the leaves that fell before them. They whisper to the fallen in the soft breeze, “We are in death, even as we live.”
Realization dawns on me, I am sitting beneath the family tree. The tree has been softening my sadness – my grief. It has not only been comforting me with beauty and dance but sharing ancestral wisdom as it welcomes another extremely important leaf home.
Celebrate life with every breath you take,
We both live and die in every moment,
Life is colorful,
Enjoy it,
Take comfort in the dance of the falling leaves,
Remember those who went before you,
They are never truly gone,
The circle of life is never-ending.
Gone but not forgotten…
“Falling Leaves,” is in memory of my Dad:
Franklin J. Andrus – May 28, 1938 – October 10, 2022
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Compositions, tagged gobble, inspiration, lifestyle, Thanksgiving, turkey on October 7, 2022| 7 Comments »
Feeling a little bit like a turkey lately?
It’s alright to be a turkey.
Feel free to gobble up the day!
Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!
October 10th, 2022
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Short Stories, tagged assailant, blog, corpse, fly, forensics, humor, lifestyle, mission, murder, short story, stealth, swat on September 20, 2022| 9 Comments »
The mission is murder.
The buzz word is fly!
In the name of fair play, I did warn them. I said, “If you don’t leave this premises, you will die! This is not your home. You are not allowed to gather here!”
But, they cannot help themselves.
It seems they have invited swarms more. The house is a buzz of activity. I am not as hospitable as they have assumed. They have over-stayed their welcome and have gotten on my last nerve.
They are pests. Pests that like to do the backstroke in my morning coffee or drown in it. They bug me, these uninvited guests. They steal the very food from my plate – pests. Their flying buddies like to swan dive into my hair or fly up my nose. They don’t understand the word, ‘No!’ It amuses these pests to touch my body with their creepy little insect feelers. They won’t stop. It gives them a buzz then they get high! They just won’t stop irritating me, even going as far as landing on my hands as I type this!
Enough!
The mission is now murder!
Fly swatter in hand, I am in full stealth mode. My trusty cat is assisting me in stalking the many-eyed prey! It seems that they have pestered her beyond her limits as well. She alerts me to their presence with her surreptitious cat call.
The flies think they will out smart me by camouflaging themselves on dark furniture or hiding in plain sight. I suppose they assume they can out maneuver me since they have thousands of watchful eyes observing my every move.
“Wrong!”
The swat team and I have taken down a number of assailants. Their bodies are piling up! Some of the fly survivors are conducting forensics on the dead or perhaps they are cannibals foraging on their own kind.
They get the smack down. At times, it’s a smorgasbord; multiple bodies with one swat or a two for one deal – a regular kill pattern for this experienced swat team.
It’s war. We have no mercy, the pests were forewarned!
Finally, after an hour of stalking and murdering flies, it has gone deathly quiet. The pests that are left have gone underground or into cracks or crevices. They are difficult to find.
But, I am smarter than a fly. I will patiently outwit them.
I only need to wait until the time is right before I raid their fly encampments. For now though, the swat team has further business to take care of. Death is cumbersome and we must dispose of the multitude of fly corpses before their living relatives feel the sting of the upcoming raid. There will be more bodies. The remains will be disposed of. This is not a game. This is war; I must take time to plan the next siege on these pests before the next swarm appears. These pests have eyes everywhere. I dare not rest, the swat team and I need to plan and perhaps rally more troops.
In the meantime, if any of you have had the intention of visiting in the form of an insect or let’s say; a fly on the wall; beware – my buzz word this season is, ‘Fly,’ and I’m on a murder mission.
All other company is welcome! Please feel free to bring your own swatter! Be prepared to raid flying pests when necessity warrants.
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Lessons of the Drum, tagged block, drama, inspiration, integrity, leader, life, lifestyle, moral, psyche, puzzle, short story, world on September 13, 2022| 14 Comments »
Let’s be real.
Life is a puzzle.
The world can be confusing, chaotic and merciless.
Reality in the real world means that life doesn’t always supply us with positive experiences.
There are times in life when the world seems to have a destructive strangle hold on your psyche. The foulness around you contains a sour stench and negative energy saps at every fibre of your being until you are completely devoid of inspiration. Puzzled, you become subconsciously stuck in a mire of difficulties, bogged down at every turn. If you allow yourself to stay stuck in this destructive mire, eventually, that is all that you experience – negativity, and the difficulties which come with a depressed mindset. Essentially, this means you have become blocked. (more…)
Posted in Winged Messages, tagged American Goldfinch, fly, free, life, lifestyle, nature, wings on August 23, 2022| 9 Comments »
Let go,
Spread your wings and fly,
Life is about making the right decisions and moving on,
Learn from the riches of nature,
The best things in life are free.
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Short Stories, tagged dehydrator, health, heat wave, hydrotherapy, lifestyle, Mother Nature, prairie, short story, sirocco on August 9, 2022| 10 Comments »
When it’s 32 degrees Celsius (86.9 F) but feels like 36 (96.8 F) and a sirocco is blowing across the prairie; you know that Mother Nature’s dehydrator has kicked in. During such heat waves, one must be sure to drink plenty of fluids and attempt to stay cool – hydration is the key unless you want to whither up like a piece of dried up old jerky!
Many people suffer immeasurably during summer months due to the onslaught of intense, desert like heat waves so they head to a body of water or a beach to help keep their body hydrated and their heads cool.
Hydrotherapy is the use of water to treat a disease or to maintain health.
The theory behind hydrotherapy is that water has many properties that give it the ability to heal. Water can store and carry heat and energy. Likewise, water can cool. It can also dissolve other substances, such as minerals and salts.
Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy or water cure, is a branch of alternative medicine, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy, that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment.
Drinking water also assists in maintaining mental clarity but, the sound of water can be calming and bring a sense of balance to one’s spirit when the day is just too hot to handle.
If my mental demeanor is at stake because life has become too fiery, I find the sound of water soothing. However, when Mother Nature’s dehydrator is full throttle, I enjoy going for a nice cool swim in order to refresh, calm and maintain my health.
Water heals.
The picture below is my idea of hydrotherapy on a day where it’s 32 degrees Celsius but feels like 34 with a dehydrating sirocco breeze on the prairie.
If a sirocco visits your area firing up your daily life until it’s too hot to handle, try hydrotherapy.
Ease your pain; take the first step; get wet; just plunge in; let water heal you.
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Short Stories, tagged gathering, inspiration, lifestyle, peace on earth, prairie, short story, words on July 26, 2022| 17 Comments »
I have no words today.
I’ve been off…
Gathering;
Sights,
Sounds,
Smells,
From an acrid landscape once purple on the horizon now turned emerald green.
Humidity drips from the atmosphere, as wildflowers dance and sway, perfuming the breeze.
The air is filled with music the song birds sing as they perch on branches laden with berries these bushes bring.
Bees hum in harmony in tune with the song, collecting sweet nectar as they work along.
On the grassland beyond, graze antelope and deer.
And, a coyote and pups yip happily from their den near here.
I lay back quietly on this quilt made of grass and soak in the scene as I contemplate what words would describe what happiness means.
So grateful am I for the serenity this Prairie Oasis brings.
Yes, I must apologize for my lack of words,
And, as for descriptions,
There’s simply not one single thing to describe,
Peace
On
Earth.
I’m off today, gathering – words.
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Winged Messages, tagged Guatama Budda, inspiration, kind, lifestyle, true, words, world on July 19, 2022| 1 Comment »
“When words are both true and kind,
They can change the world.” Gautama Budda
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
Posted in Compositions, tagged Canada, celebration, history, inspiration, lifestyle, medicine, moose, Moose Milk, prairie, recipe, self-esteem, wisdom on July 5, 2022| 10 Comments »
A few weeks ago during the last few days of a long drought, we had an early morning visitor arrive for coffee.
When a moose appears on your doorstep, intent on sharing your morning cup of coffee, it is always a special and sacred gift. Moose are predominately solitary animals who are able to survive within any territory be it on lands such as forests, and prairies, or wet areas such as rivers, swamps or lakes.
The moose is an animal of contradictions. It seems awkward and strange yet it is a majestic creature with tremendous grace despite its ungainliness. Moose have an undeniable sense of self and the simple fact that they are able to survive in any territory means that they have developed much wisdom. We found ourselves very fortunate to receive this visitor for coffee and take part in the medicine it offered.
Moose are associated with the north direction on the Medicine Wheel. The north direction represents wisdom. Self-esteem is the medicine of Moose because it represents and recognizes that balanced power has been used in a situation and that you should be congratulated.
The core of Moose medicine is in knowing the wisdom of silence, so that when it is proper to speak you can take pride in your words.
The Moose is a revered animal in the, “Great White North,” otherwise known as, “Canada.” 
Canada just had its 155 year celebration on July 1st, 2022.
Moose Milk; is a traditional Canadian cocktail with its roots in historical celebrations. The Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Army all claim to be the originators of the drink.
My exposure to Moose Milk has only been medicinal. It was a remedy used by my family to cure the common cold. It was a hot drink served in a coffee cup. The recipe consisted of whiskey, brown sugar, cream and boiled water. It has never failed to cure the most stubborn of head colds. The traditional Canadian cocktail differs from the one our family used as it can not only be served hot but cold.
We love cold drinks during our summer season in Canada and in the spirit of our Dominion Day celebration I have added a cold libation for you to try. It is a slightly different version of Moose Medicine, a bonus treat, to celebrate Canada’s 155th celebration. See the recipe below for ice cold Moose Milk. I hope you enjoy it throughout the hot summer months ahead.
Please use wisdom when consuming alcohol. Try to refrain from damaging your self-esteem or that of another by speaking when you could simply remain silent. Ask Moose to help you honor the gifts you can give and recognize your worthiness into the future. Remember to congratulate yourself for your successes in life. Enjoy!
Thank-you for following, reading, sharing and commenting – The Trefoil Muse
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