Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years. Bettejo is a regular columnist in the Garden Island news and is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam." www.bettejodux.com |
Spring has sprung
The grass has riz. I wonder where the birdies is?
Wonder no more, dear reader, they're all singing their hearts out in my jungle. Waking up-and going to bed in my barn/house-is like waking up in an aviary. A feathered chorale fills the air with perfumed sound. If I could cage several in happy cages and install one in every household on Kauai the happiness factor would rise a thousand percent.
Another clue about health and happiness on Kauai-anywhere for that matter- is the importance of green plants in your life. I've read that it is most important for the human eye to see green living things, but what I know is: first came the grass, then came the trees, then came life on planet earth, our home.
We all know green living plants are the best photosynthesizers. They turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. A day spent in the woods, or in a tree strewn park adds years to your life. Lying down on a clean green lawn or meadow can, if you allow it, fill you heart with joy. Add bird songs, blue skies, a sweet pineapple juice rain and sunshine-maybe a good book- and you have everything you need. It's a universal truth. Try it.]
Maybe part of what made my 83-year-young journey possible were the years I spent riding in those long tall gloriously green fields of sugar cane. I was out there five days a week-my leopard, Beauregard, was a union horse-with the field hands and the mules. They loved us. We loved them back.
Here is a really good suggestion about making your life better. Grow house plants. Honest. Find a container-pottery, ceramic, porcelain, glass or plastic-fill it full of the good earth. Potting soil isn't that expensive and a bag goes a long way. I'll be happy to share some of Ari's composted poop-then find something green you like- it doesn't have to be exotic-and stick it in feet first. There are plants that love to grow indoors Experiment. Water it with coffee grounds, slip it some cut up pieces of banana skin, egg shells or even talk to it. Touch it. Dust it. Give it a name. It will become as dear to you and your family as a four-legged pet. Easier and less expensive to care for, too.
Fill your house, every room-living, bedroom, bath and kitchen-with life. Turn it into a green house.
Philodendron is a good plant to start with. The name means tree lover. It's beautiful foliage and there are several hundred species. Organic wheat-grass in little pots on table tops and clustered in corners-some plants like company-can end cut up and sprinkled on top of soups and salads. You can drink it, too. Herbs and sprouts are neat and tidy. Great aromas! Mixed in with hard-boiled-free range eggs-bread-less egg salad sandwich style- and feel the energy.
Someone wrote, "If you want to be happy overnight, get drunk. For a weekend get married. For a lifetime learn to garden. Indoors.
Bettejo, a few years ago with her nephew.... |
P.S. Our local newspaper , The Kaua'i Garden island news ran a story about the wild chickens of Kaua'i. The chickens are everywhere and most consider them a nuisance. The story really had me going for a while until I realized the author of the article 'April Fuhl' is April Fool! Very funny, check it out! Mahalo to editor-n-chief Bill Buley for having a sense of humor!
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/something-to-squawk-about/article_b5c77456-b969-11e3-a45d-0019bb2963f4.html#.UzsJrdlGAew.facebook
P.S.S. Kaua'i blogger Andy Parx talks of the recent ultralight fatality and what really happened! Great blog!
http://parxnewsdaily.blogspot.com/2014/04/ride-painted-pony-let-spinnin-wheel-turn.html
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