The Chinese name for the peony is sho yu. It means, simply, most beautiful. The poet Sensei Ogui finds a lesson in its moment of lifetime: Peonies bloom on peony trees. A cat doesn’t become a chicken. Tulips are tulips, not roses. Why can’t we realize this true fact? That to be me is great. … More A Lesson from the Peony
Appreciate the splendor of nature. This is what Thoreau would have us do. Look up and around, he would tell us, look to the west, to the wild, to the hills to the fields. Studies by professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan of the University of Michigan support his philosophy, telling us that all it takes is … More Twenty Minutes a Day
Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all. -Emily Dickinson Photo, flamingo feathers, by Mary O’Connor, © 2013
Said simply, these are ferns, one of over 12,000 species of this plant that adds loveliness throughout the world. As told by the Maori peoples of New Zealand, their story is one of healing and new beginnings, of peace, tranquility and spirituality. In ancient African symbology, they bring rain, luck, and prosperity. Through their unfolding, they … More In the language of folklore
Of all the gifts you might desire, I offer one—a wish that speaks of wonder, bids you rest by the side of the wandering river, watch it idle through meadows and fields, be soothed by the opus of crickets and frogs, caressed with the velvet dust of flight song, and feel earth’s soul. Together, may you … More The Wedding Gift
How long we wait, holding out for the warmth and lazy days of summer, setting up our props and toys, ready to be children again. – Summer Waits, photo by Mary O’Connor © 2013
Mother Nature offers her own line of floor coverings — recognized by their “money is no object” appearance, their brilliant colors, their inimitable down to earth feel. Check out my book, Life Is Full of Sweet Spots. You’ll find Mother Nature inside — maybe not her complete line of carpets, but most certainly, a full selection of eye catching … More Certified Interior Designer
Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes. – Carl Friedrich Gauss — Red-winged blackbird photo, Mary O’Connor © 2013
Can anyone name this delightful flower I saw in a field by the Connecticut River this weekend? Based on its shape and variegated color, my imagination saw it as an Indian Paintbrush. Curiously though, the images of my wildflower ID resources didn’t match when I later checked it out. Perhaps someone can tell me what it is? Maybe some kind of clover? In the meantime, … More Name this Flower
Brigitte Brüggemann is an artist who creates joy through color and light. Her work is inspired by nature and her connection to a spiritual reality manifested through nature and life. If she has any recipe for capturing it, it is simply to be present. Just be here, here and now. “I think the first thing … More Just be here, here and now.
Life Is Full of Sweet Spots 