Souvenirs [Search results for study

  • my dream...

    my dream...

    When you stop worrying about other people's thoughts of how you are living, a deeper appreciation for the gifts you are given starts to emerge...

    Take for example the degree I studied in college: Environmental Science

    At that time, there were only two universities that offered a degree in that area of study... that was just over 10 years ago even... University of Montana, and a minor only at Southern Illinois University.

    Being that I was absolutely in love with my best friend, I still pursued that degree...
    Contrary to what SIU even wanted, I pursued that dream...
    I actually had to talk the Administration Office at SIU into letting me study for Environmental Science as a major... with projection charts and an essay! My focus was not on engineering, but the social science behind the human relationship and their perceptions of the environment and how I could change the world!!!
    Currently, almost every University provides a degree in Environmental Science... it's one of the fastest growing areas of education.

    My "plan" was to become a guide for Sierra Club in the mountains — sharing my passion for nature while inspiring others to embrace their passions... their dreams... no matter what other people are telling you.

    Dreams are essential to a happy life...

    I'm not telling you to go and forget your obligations... believe me when I tell you that my first priority is my vocation as wife... then mother.

    but that doesn't make me stop dreaming

    who doesn't like that exhilarating feeling of a new idea!! or reading something and saying almost out loud "yes!! I want to do that!!!"

    being a dreamer doesn't mean you have your head in the clouds with your rose colored glasses on...

    No one can escape the hardships of life... no one

    but why do you see some people succeed? and you don't??
    why is it that you work so hard and then your efforts don't get noticed???

    First of all know this...
    every single thing you do effects others

    If you have to lock yourself in your room with that bar of sea-salted chocolate and warm cup of milk at night so you can read your new Joel Salatin book to escape the stress of the day... you are effecting others

    When you pick your elderly neighbors apples and share your making of homemade jelly and delicious pie... you are effecting others

    As you sit here are read this and wonder what you can do to help others while pursuing your dreams... you are effecting others

    Here's a start:

    1. Get a piece of paper (or print out what I have below)
    2. Write down one dream you have always wanted to do
    3. Look at what you wrote
    4. Study what you wrote
    5. Say what you wrote out loud
    6. Start telling other people your dream
    7. Stop any negativity that comes into your thoughts in doubt pursuing that dream
    Every action you perform is working toward that dream.

    The people who achieve their dreams do not talk negatively or sarcastic, and ruin everyone else's lives in the process... think of what your priorities are, make sure you are fulfilling those... but do not forget your dream.

    I may not be an Environmental Scientist like I thought or am a Sierra Club guide in the mountains, but my dream of changing the world is happening... with every word... every thought... every action I do.

    here's something for you to print out and use in your pursuit of your dream:

    Instead of guiding others in the mountains, I guide at least six others daily to acheive their dreams too
    and as far as my husband??. .he still has dreams... big dreams actually
    but together, we are helping persue one another's dreams
    peace + blessings,

  • honey harvest...

    honey harvest...

    the warmer months here in Illinois have brought so many flowers in bloom — even though they fade as fast as the moisture after a rain storm

    we have had a very interesting last few weeks
    :: a bee swarm
    :: a new hive
    :: thistle control

    on a calm day you can hear the relief from the heat when the bees zoom around up and under the cucumber plants, inside the lettuce plants or taking refuge beneath the large towers of broccoli

    when my fingers around the tomato plants pinching off the suckers, i keep hearing the bees just happy as can be walking around the blooms... busy busy...

    they are never lonely while they are in the garden

    as i am out there tending the plants, i wonder how it is gathering the pollen from warm plants — rather than cool and wet from a morning dew... are they more content? do they get agitated with the heat?

    after countless days now living amongst these amazing creatures, I would have to come to the unscientific conclusion that yes indeed they get agitated with the heat... they are protecting the hive even more (I can vouch for this, for I am the recipient of their eagerness to protect their hives from 'danger' — my sore neck is testimony)... the prairie clover was not in as full abundant glory as it was last year (most likely because of the heat and the timing of the burn we did)... we even have foreign bees — visitors mind you — that struggle between the many zooms from our bees

    it sounds as though we are out there amongst a swarm of bees doesn't it?

    

    honey frame waiting to be uncapped
    well, at times it is like that... talking a stroll from the back door to the potager is a journey (albeit a short one) that is surrounded by blooming catmint, roses, primroses, hydrangeas, foxgloves, snapdragons, iris, peonies, daylilys, monarda, daisy, lavender (yes, we sure do cram it all in a small space!)
    these little black bottom 'visitors' (not our bees) compete for the pollen, but ours win in the end... they have a home here — even though the 'visitors' are welcome (they are pollinating) — however, our bees are well loved and cared for... there is so much to learn... I don't think anyone will ever truly understand and figure out the bees' life, even though many have tried, and I would love to count myself as one of those individuals some day... I would love it someday for Jason and I to have more hives, and study them, grow more flowers for them, and aid in the development and awareness of the honey bee... how fragile they are! 

    shaving off the caps...

    we are so happy to share our 'pure prairie honey' once again... it will be ready for purchase soon, and I will make sure to post on it when the bees' honey is bottled and ready to ship

    thank you all for your support from last year's harvest... it is vital for our planet Earth to have the honey bee thrive...

    xo+pure prairie blessings,

    all photographs taken 2 days ago during our honey harvest