Earth Day Lessons

Keep close to Nature's heart...

and break clear away,

once in awhile,

and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.

Wash your spirit clean.

~John Muir

Earth Day lessons from my nephew Benjamin

and his Labradoodle Lucy.

Play outside!

Hang in a flower bed!

Help in the veggie garden ...

And get seriously dirty!

Talk to the animals ...

And teach everyone to appreciate even the tiny

ones with 6 legs!

Make wishes on Dandelions

And enjoy the beautiful little moments on this

extraordinary planet.

And I would add ... give back and find new ways to leave as little footprint as possible on our beautiful planet.

I learned from my sister that you can use cloth napkins everyday and if you forget the reusable grocery bags in the car leave the cart and go get them! I also got a reverse osmosis water filter and the water tastes so much better than from plastic water bottles! I fill up my cute red stainless water bottle and I'm good to go! I recycle, buy used clothes and earth friendly cleaning products, eat as much locally grown food as I can, and I print on both sides of my recycled paper. Little by little I am adding to the list!

One of my favorite lines was by my friend Royce. He walked into my apartment and on seeing I had lights on in 3 rooms said in a deadpan voice, "Um, Al Gore called. Wants me to tell you to shut your lights off." Then he laughed, and so did I but I am much better now about shutting off my lights!

Some of my favorite places to give back and help the planet are World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation and Surfrider Foundation. And to find out where to buy locally in your area ... check out Local Harvest. My favorite eco blog that has tons of cool creative inventions and ideas is INHABITAT. Definitely worth checking out these sites!

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in,

where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.

John Muir

Happy Earth Day!

What are your favorite earth day ideas and lessons?

... back home to L.A.

I am back in Los Angeles, sitting at my computer and listening to Indigo Girls ... "Fly away little bird, find the song in you that no one's heard, strengthen your wings as you sing your solo flight, through this short life ..." Beautiful.

It's been pretty busy since I returned from Ojai Tuesday (thus the lagging on the blogging) ... writing class, figure drawing, cleaning, errands, the chiropractor (thanks to heavy and awkward luggage) and tonight a lovely evening with girlfriends! Nothing like good conversation at a wine bar with happy hour prices on food! If you live in L.A. check out Vinoteca in the Los Feliz area and order the happy hour pinot & the antipasto ortolano (add the goat cheese.)

I took these pictures before leaving Ojai. I love that my sister always has flowers in her home. I think I am going to do that more often. Even Lucy seems to appreciate them!

Lucy

Let's bring along the friend

who knows the art

of joyful living

to help us learn the same.

~ Melody Beattie

Lucy's Ojai Walk

I realize I am getting off the art a bit here, but I can't help myself and since I have been mentioning my puppy-sitting so much ... I have decided to share my daily Lucy adventure. This was yesterday in Ojai going up the road from my sister's house. Lucy the Labradoodle is only 5 months old and is already getting to be kind of a giant.

Meet Lucy- Destructor of hairbrushes, pajama tops, shampoo bottles, toilet paper rolls and trash baskets.

Lucy meeting goats for the first time. Very exciting.

Taking a break in the shade.

O.K., I have promised myself that I will bring out my sketchbook today and get to some actual drawing of oak trees. Why do I procrastinate doing something I love? I can't possibly be the only one who does this. I suppose I can always blame it on the heat.

"You are what your deep driving desire is."

~ Brihaduranyahn Upanishad

Hmmm.