Happy Earth Day ~ International Mother Earth Day 2015

Earth Day ~ International Mother Earth Day 2015

 Earth day was founded by US Senator, Gaylord Nelson.  The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.  In 2009, the UN officially renamed the day as International Mother Earth Day.

On this amazing Mother Earth, we were gifted all that we need to live.  In return, we were asked to respect the earth and all that live on it.  

In this time in our Mother Earth's history, we have come to a place where we function more on our "wants" than our "needs."  We as a human whole, have lost what it means to respect, honor and live with our natural surroundings.  Earth Day was set up for us to remember the trees and why they are so important to to replace those that we take or have been taken...

We "want" many things that the trees can give us...so we take what we need to supply our want.  Animals in nature, need those trees to survive.  That IS their home, their grocery stores, their housing...what once was a rich and diverse home land, has now become barren or plantation of minimal substance...we have depleted so many areas that certain animals live in for our greed for need...as a result, many are now extinct or on the edge of it.

The saying, 'we must be the change we seek in the world' let us take this a step farther and say, 'we need show the change we seek on the earth' let us plant trees that are native to the area in which you live...watch them grow and see how grateful the animals are that will come and live and grow in the area you have replenished...Gift Mother Earth with some new native growth!  

While we are at it, let us pick up the trash we see in our area...we certainly wouldn't want someone to come to our home, our yard and throw their trash...

Have a wonder~full day!!!

Here are some images of animals, trees and their symbiotic relationships...

 

 

 

  

   

The Dance 4/10/15

In Ojibwe culture, the Aurora Borealis is believed to be the ancestors dancing...the Aurora's are different every time.  Depending on many variables.  If all the variables line up, we are able to see them this far south (Northern WI).  This was such a case on April 10.

I have loved the Northern Lights all my life.  It wasn't till I was in my 20's before I learned the Ojibwe meaning to them...I have always enJOYed them...especially when the colorful pillars show up!  They are like music floating up from the tubes of an organ as it plays scrumptious sounds to see!

As the dogs and I drove around to find the "best spot" to shoot (with a camera) the light show, I was remembering my mother and the times we enJOYed watching the light show and how she loved the stories of the Ojibwe.  How fitting it was, that she would dance for me on her birthday...love and miss her every day.

Thank you for the dance!

You are not alone

You Are Not Alone...

So often we feel as though we are alone in our suffering, in our triumph or any point in between.  If you are a believer in a higher Spiritual Being, such as a "God" or a "Creator" of some sort, then it is always affirming to find/meet 'like' minded/Spirited folks.  Sometimes that feeling may show up in some other form that is meant for you to connect with.

Just when you think you are totally alone, you look up at the sky to say, "Where are you?" or something like that, and there it is!  You can see the Creator of all that is, looking at you...and you know beyond any doubt, "I am NOT alone!"  Take that warm loving feeling and encircle yourself with the love of the Universe and all the Spirits out there that are truly pulling for you and are there to help you through life lessons here on this plane of existence...

We are truly blessed in so many small and yet profound ways...inJOY the day!

Seeing...

As Aristotle's quote, "The soul never thinks without a picture."
I am one of those people who lost her ability to 'visualize' many years ago. So when you say something like, "Imagine this room with soft beige walls and a built in bookcase on each side of a huge rock fireplace with a fire warming up the room. Isn't that beautiful?" I can't image that in my mind...I can, however, recall the feeling and the image of any number of times that I was sitting in front of a fire or a fireplace and feeling the warmth of it...so that is what I go by.

I love to capture all kinds of "images" in the real world, for others to experience and hold close to their hearts and in their minds eye for the rest of their lives.  It truly makes me feel good to see others enJOY the visions I share.  I also keep these images in my memory file to recall when someone starts to describe what they have seen...the excitement my mom had when she called me to tell me she had an Eagle fly right in front of her for about three blocks and how she was mesmerized by the whole experience...I most certainly recalled many of the times Eagles had flown over me or near me...


 When I think, I feel and it is a 'vision' perse, of feelings. It is that, which made this quote so simple and yet profound.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY~You'll be fine

Here is a 'thought for the day'

"And after all The dead ends and the lessons learned
After all The stars have turned to stone
There'll be peace
Across the great unbroken void
All benign, In your time
You'll be fine, In your time" ~Bob Seger

From time to time, we seek answers, advice or words of wisdom, from the Universe, our guardian angel, spirit guides, neighbors, strangers, the wind, the dog...sometimes, they come to us in the words of a song. Words that pierce your very soul and unlock those doors to freedom...freedom from whatever you were seeking...these words by the song, In Your Time, by, Bob Seger hit that point and helped me to let my brother go toward the end of his life's journey here...
So, thought I would share it with you.

Have a great night and a better tomorrow!  Smile, because you can and you deserve it...remember, 'You'll be fine!'

Here is the full song:
In Your Time Bob Seger

In your time
The innocence will fall away
In your time
The mission bells will toll
All along
The corridors and river beds
There'll be sign
In your time

Towering waves
Will crash across your southern capes
Massive storms
Will reach your eastern shores
Fields of green

Will tumble through your summer days
By design
In your time

Feel the wind
And set yourself the bolder course
Keep your heart
As open as a shrine
You'll sail the perfect line

And after all The dead ends and the lessons learned
After all
The stars have turned to stone
There'll be peace
Across the great unbroken void
All benign
In your time
You'll be fine
In your time

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

This year has been, for the most part, a nice one.  Kevin worked for TJader, and was home every night.  That was really nice.  He worked for them in the past.  

This past spring Kathy, a photographer friend of mine and I took a spring trip through the Bad Lands of South Dakota, by Devil’s Tower, in northeastern Wyoming, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and through the Potholes of North Dakota as the last part of our wildlife photo trip.  

We saw so many amazing things…the first thing that amazed me was how stunning the Bad Lands are in the spring!  It bloomed in all directions…seeing baby animals, spring birds on their way back north…wild horses of North Dakota…was really moving…however, the birds we saw around the potholes could not be out done!  I have never seen anything like it!  I can’t remember the number of bird species we saw that day, however it must have been near a hundred…can’t wait to go back!

The photography business has picked up this past year.  I signed up for a lot of art and craft fairs…wow…that is a whole different kind of life style!  Kev and I were gone 1-3 weekends every month…sometimes it was just Saturday and sometimes two days.  Juggling the craft sales and photo sessions/weddings…at times was tricky.  Lol!  We learned a lot and had fun…I will do that again this summer.

This past month we said good bye to my dad’s last living sibling, my Aunt Sis (Gloria Quam).  It is strange to think of our generation as the “elders” now. Guess that means we better start sharing our knowledge with the younger ones…any that will listen.  Lol

We wish you all the very best that life can gift this season and throughout this coming year.  May you all be blessed with a wealth of health, love, peace, joy, many amazing memories and laughter…lots of laughter! 

Kevin & Anna Merritt

Kevin playing around with my new wreath...I think he just likes his picture taken!

Festive fun...

WOW! Did you see that!?! The flowers just bloomed for you for Christmas!

31 Year Reflection

Earl "Marty" Martineau and me...lol

Reflection....

From zero to fifteen I learned a lot from the dad of my dreams…he was tall, handsome, smart, loved me beyond understanding…he taught me to dance, draw by dots, cards, games, my favorite being pool, shoot a rifle, then a hand gun and I was so happy when I won for the first time in our target practicing…he taught me to fish and to be a good person.
My father, Earl “Marty” Martineau, was truly a funny man and loved to play tricks on us kids, he fixed everyone’s stuff when it broke, he would sit on the porch steps with me and explain why something wasn’t a good idea or the concept of “walk a mile in someone else’s moccosins.”  He showed me how to live a more traditional life with some very deep seeded values from our Ojibwe background…In the past 31 years, my mother has helped me to hone in/grow into most of these traits and the ones she couldn’t (didn’t like), my boyfriend, now husband Kevin, took over.
Today, I love him just as much as then and I still miss him terribly!  I know that you are happy for your daughters and very proud of us!   Love you daddy and I am so happy to know that you are still by my side.

 My dad playing around!!!  hehehe

Earl "Marty" (my dad), Paul and Berwyn Martinday

 Marty and Billy Jones (a neighbor)

Marty and Gerry (Dresser) Martineau
Dad and mom
1981, not long before he walked on.

 Jo Ann and Marty (brother and sister)

Earl "Marty" Martineau
spent 8 days from spending 11 years in the Army

Estelle "Stella" (Gouge) Martineau and son Earl "Marty"

Paul and Earl "Marty" Martineau