PEACE FROM ORIGINS OREGON

PEACE IN PORTLAND OREGON

From Portland Oregon, on this International Day Of Peace, I wish for peace on earth.

As a pacifist, I hold the hope for peace close to my heart every day. We, as a people have it within our own power to create peace, sending out the vibrations of love and peace, that will ripple across our globe, reaching countries in a state of war, for the children of war-torn countries, and the refugees these wars have created, we must keep the hope for peace alive in our hearts, and on our minds.

All people, from every walk of life deserve a life of peace and prosperity, as a people, we must realize peace and justice are possible across the globe, finding solutions, spreading the good word and becoming a part of a movement both beautiful and selfless, so we may realize peace in our own lifetimes.
It's a simple concept really, peace through justice, fair and equal treatment for all people, all through peaceable means. I will flow with this idea, putting it out into the universe, creating my ripple of love and peace.

Being from the beautiful state of Oregon, we are blessed by many people, organizations and businesses that create a way to benefit global peace initiatives around our planet, improving the lives of people around the globe.
It is to these people I am most grateful for, people like the young woman profiled below, a young Peace Corps volunteer...

A Peace Corps volunteer had a dream to use the nutritious leaves of the moringa tree to improve the lives of women in West Africa
Lisa Curtis witnessed the challenges that rural communities in West Africa face, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, she became one of those inspirational people that found a solution. 
What began as a solution to hunger, became something empowering to the women of West Africa, enriching the lives of all.

Read The Blog 

There is an interesting story behind this post, an inspiration, when two paths crossed.
When my husband Todd, out on a quick trip to the grocery store encountered Alex Bacher,  Brand Ambassador for the company  Kuli Kuli Foods, at the grocery store giving coupons to shoppers, his passion for social justice and environmental causes piqued my husband's interest, they had a conversation about the work we both do to promote peace and prosperity globally. Upon returning home and telling me the story about what the company does, the products they created to bring stability, nutrition and sustainability to an impoverished Niger.
How could I not be inspired ? 

So, on this of International Peace Day as the meditation for global peace begins, be inspired to shop only the companies that benefit our global communities and be part of the international movement that flows toward peace and justice.

Join us for a Global-Synchronized Meditation and Prayer for Peace in hundreds of cities around the world. In 2012, 248 cities participated. Last year, 564 cities joined and, this year, our goal is 1000 cities ... Join us at 12:00 Noon in your local time zone for the Peace Wave or at the Global Synchronized time of 12:00 Noon PST // 7:00 PM GMT. Listen to the Global Broadcast or find a live event in your city. 

Read the inspiring story about Kuli Kuli here:
http://kulikulifoods.com/about#our-story

PREPARE TO WEEP !  



 Time to Be The Peace !

LIFE AND LIVING IN LAKE OSWEGO OREGON

https://www.facebook.com/originsoregon

Transitioning to new beginnings, again....
I have been reflecting on my life, my path has been rocky at times, but I have always been happy, even during the hard times. Many of us are finding a new way, a new beginning, whether it is a new career, a move to a new home, or a change in familial status, we remain happy, living simply in our lives.

Living simply is the key to happiness, unburdening our lives, getting rid of all the stuff that weighs us down, like a dark cloud above us, our earthly possessions, and want for more, not only add a burden to our lives, they add more stuff to our beautiful planet.

Be happy with the blessings you have, your space, your family and friends, nature with all of it's bounty and beauty. Be in love and at peace with the world. Shine your light on each person you see, walk in nature, lean against an ancient tree, love a pet and be loved. Giving love and peace will bring it all back around to you. What a wonderful life ~ A beautiful world ~ 

My gratitude for my beautiful Oregon, and the blessing of living in Lake Oswego. 

As I embark upon a new venture, I know that in the flow of happiness and love for nature, my Origins Oregon will be received with open arms and loving hearts. Encouraged by friends and family, I am hopeful that Origins Oregon finds success. I will follow my heart....with gratitude.

Peace ~ Holly

WHERE THE MASON BEES GO IN WINTER

The Mason Bee with beautiful jewel tones

Most gardeners don't realize the vast number of bee species there are.
I have provided housing for our Oregon Native*, the Mason Bee. I observe, with fascination the comings and goings of my little, stingless friends, as they flit among my flowers, creating a beautiful abundance of flowers and vegetables.

Mason bees are solitary bees that typically use tubes, reeds, and holes in wood for their nesting sites.  Each female is a queen and will lay her egg in gathered pollen.  She’ll separate these pollen/egg chambers with bits of mud, leaf, resin, etc. depending on her species. Each region in the U.S. has it's own native bee, so do a little research to find out which bees live in your area, it will be worth the small effort it takes to create a home for these hardworking pollinators. 

My mother always told me that,  "we should all have something to look forward to, this will keep us happy and alive". The Mason Bees, as they leave the warm comfort of the nest, each individual bee having it's own little space, is one of the things I have to look forward to each Spring, with glee.

In the Winter months, these little blue beauties, after a busy spring, the females will die in early June, their eggs hatch into larva which eat the pollen in June/July, and these larva then spin cocoons in July to metamorphosis into adult bees (still in cocoons) by October.

The vast number of bees in your yard are independent female bees showing up only at specific times of the year.  Each female is a queen, and they live their short life placing pollen and eggs into holes in twigs and reeds or under rocks hoping their progeny will remain undisturbed. So, please leave those stumps in your yard, as the Mason Bee will naturally create it's own home in those old stumps. 

The Bee Garden

Grow your organic bee garden, build a simple bee box, and they will come. Considering our planets decline in the bee population, it is our responsibility to protect our pollinators. Providing a home for bees is a feel good accomplishment, a great hobby, while doing your part in saving the bees. 
The loss of bees has serious consequences for plants, wildlife and yes, human survival.

The bee is my totem, my friend, my purpose.

A BUTTERFLY LEGEND

For the love of butterflies...

A simple native american poem about the legend of the butterfly. All my life, I have loved and protected butterflies and bees....my totem, I have been told, is the butterfly....my wings are delicate, as my heart is pure love, the dust from my wings may easily be rubbed and weakened, only then do I remember that my strenghth comes in flight and fancy. 

An Indian Butterfly Legend

If anyone desires a wish to come true they must
capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it.

Since they make no sound, they can’t tell the wish
to anyone but the Great Spirit.

So by making the wish and releasing the butterfly
It will be taken to the heavens and granted <3

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REUSE PALLETS FOR THE DECK

This reuse project using pallets to build simple, yet beautiful patio or deck furniture on a budget. Easy to customize to your own taste...

For the most part, these pallets are just attached to each other. They were then given legs and a coat of paint. As simple as that part may be, commenters raised a few concerns. A few people noted that many wooden pallets aren't safe because they're treated with chemicals. Before jumping into the project, you'll want to be sure you don't acquire any that were. This article on Green Upgrader explains how to tell.

Another concern was putting together cushions, but commenter deesel18 explained how it's done:

You can get big blocks of foam at craft and fabric stores and cut them to size. Then you can sew covers for them. I made an outdoor foam block to put under my dogs bed, I just used spray adhesive and pressed the fabric on since it was waterproof and I wouldn't need to put it in a washer.

Aside from those two concerns, it seems like this is a pretty simple furniture project you could manage yourself in a weekend or two and save a bunch of money.

REUSE AND RECYCLE FOR THE LOVE OF OUR PLANET

From the Recycled Art Foundation...these unique and amazing ideas should be an inspiration for us all to reuse everything imaginable, to lessen our load on our beautiful planet, to have a smaller carbon footprint and feel better about our place on this earth.

Be amazed and inspired ~ Origins Oregon

REUSED LAMPSHADES

A BUS STOP FROM AN OLD BUS

FORKS

GREENHOUSE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES

INSPIRED ARTISAN WARES FROM BIKE CHAINS

 INSTRUCTIONS TO REUSE LIGHT BULBS FOR PLANTS

MADE ENTIRELY OF BOTTLE CAPS

LOVE THE EARTH ~