Category Archives: Meditations

They’re working me to life!

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Bill D.

When I arrive, the surgery waiting room already has a sprinkling of families and friends anxiously waiting to visit their loved ones who have been escorted by nurses to the Pre-Op room beginning at 6 am.  By 7 am, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Corgi, Flowers, Gardens, Health, Larry, Meditations, Mindfulness | 2 Comments

RAVing about thriving

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Bill D.

A glorious sun rose above the early morning mist as I arrived for yet another happy day of working as a volunteer in Kaiser Permanente’s state-of-the-art San Diego Medical Center,* which is celebrating its first birthday this month on April … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Gardens, Health, Meditations, Mindfulness, RAV4 Hybrid, San Diego, Zen | 3 Comments

Spring flowers – 2017

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Bill D.

After record breaking winter rains, a deep snow pack, and a horrible political winter, our California flowers surged forth reminding us that life triumphs death and that there is still hope and time to nourish each other and our planet.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Deserts, Flowers, Gardens, Meditations | Comments Off on Spring flowers – 2017

Japanese Friendship Garden: Oasis of serenity

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Bill D.

Located in the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park, the Japanese Friendship Garden is an oasis of serenity amidst a bustling city and its freeways.  Per the “Japanese Friendship Garden of San Diego Visitor Guide,” this garden is named “San-Kei-En,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Gardens, Larry, Meditations, San Diego, Tourist destinations, Zen | 2 Comments

A Peruvian Apple Cactus interlude

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Bill D.

(Updated August 20, 2015) We were surprised to see a flower bud because just two months earlier we had placed Peruvian Apple Cactus cuttings into large planters filled with a homemade cactus planting mix containing potting soil, coir, perlite and … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Meditations, Night photos | Comments Off on A Peruvian Apple Cactus interlude

A pitahaya summer interlude

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Bill D.

(Updated July 25, 2015) It began with the waxing of the Full Buck Moon.* It was almost like praying. Our White-fleshed pitahaya, Hylocereus undatus, began to send a bud towards the heavens as it did last August under the Full … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Meditations | Comments Off on A pitahaya summer interlude

A night-blooming interlude

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Bill D.

Magic energy seemed to be in the cool night air on the eve of summer solstice as our night-blooming cereus opened its flower buds… Revealing its stamens and stigma… Six blooms opened at the same time… Adding grace, beauty, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Meditations | 4 Comments

Space gleanings

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Bill D.

“The fourth pebble represents space, space that is within me and around me,” says Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.  See his “Pebbles Meditation” in his book, A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles.  “Breathing in, I see myself as … Continue reading →

Posted in Meditations, Night photos, Our Safari | Comments Off on Space gleanings

Ocean gleanings

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Bill D.

We can see the Pacific Ocean from our house on the San Diego coast but we can not hear or see its waves.  So to round out our camping season, we pull our Airstream Safari on a 45-minute drive up … Continue reading →

Posted in Meditations, Ocean, Wildlife | Comments Off on Ocean gleanings

Mountain gleanings

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Bill D.

San Diego has beautiful camping parks along the Pacific Ocean, mountains and desert, all within a two hour drive from home.  Our camping season is from fall to spring because we choose to avoid the summer heat and/or crowds.  Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Meditations, Mountains, Wildlife | Comments Off on Mountain gleanings